Protecting Children Online: Safeguarding Against Risks in Apps and Chatrooms

Are your kids being entertained or endangered?

Apps can open doors for kids to learn and grow. But they can also open pathways to harm if you don't take precautions.

The internet offers kids vast opportunities for learning, socializing, and entertainment. However, it harbors many potential dangers. Apps and chatrooms are designed for interaction and fun but can also be breeding grounds for predators. Parents, guardians, and educators must be proactive in safeguarding children online. A 2024 Kids Safety Survey revealed that 42% of parents said their kids had been exposed to dangerous content.

Predators often exploit the anonymity provided by the internet to target vulnerable children. Apps and chatrooms that facilitate communication can be particularly risky. Predators use online personas and may pose as peers, gain trust, and then exploit that trust to manipulate or harm children. The risks include exposure to inappropriate content, cyberbullying, and even attempts at physical contact.

Popular Apps and Platforms at Risk

Several popular apps and platforms have been identified as having potential risks due to their popularity among young users:

Social Media Platforms

 Apps like Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok are widely used by children and teens. Predators may use these platforms to send direct messages, comment on posts, or share inappropriate content. In addition to predators, kids are exposed to cyberbullying from peers and strangers. Snapchat posts disappear in 24 hours. Predators can take advantage of this by sharing explicit content. TikTok and Instagram content can be hard to monitor, and kids may run into offensive or explicit content.

 Watch for these other potentially dangerous social media apps too:

• Reddit

• Facebook

• X (formerly Twitter)

• Tumblr

• YikYak

• WeChat

• Marco Polo

 Video and Streaming Platforms:

Live streaming and video apps have largely unmonitored content. Kids can often use these apps to access content that could be blocked elsewhere (like video game footage or explicit music). YouTube video content is not screened specifically for children. Even YouTube Kids can show children inappropriate or dangerous content.

Watch for these potentially dangerous streaming and video apps, too:

• LiveMe

• Twitch

• Gab

• Rumble

• Discord

 Chat and Gaming Apps:

 Apps that allow for text-like conversations pose a serious problem for kids because they are a way for them to connect with strangers directly. Chat and DM features can also be embedded within social media like TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook Messenger. Some of these apps also include a video chat component. Many online games, such as Fortnite, Roblox, and Minecraft, have chat functions that can be exploited. Predators may use in-game chat to ask questions, test the child's boundaries, and groom them for exploitation.

Watch out for these potentially dangerous chat apps:

• WhatsApp

• Discord

• Telegram

• Clubhouse

• Kik

• Threema

• Viber

• Omegle

• Marco Polo

Please note that kids can also use seemingly harmless apps like Google Docs to have real-time conversations and collaborate to write messages to others without leaving a paper trail.

How to Protect Your Child:

Smartphone apps for children offer opportunities for connection and education. However, parents must ensure that kids can only access their approved apps. Here are some ways to monitor your child’s apps:

• Evaluate your child’s phone regularly and look at their current phone apps.

• Set up Ask to Buy (for iPhones) or Purchase Approvals (for Android).

• Install a parental control app for content filtering, message monitoring, and app management.

Discuss the dangers of social, chat, and streaming apps with your child. Offering guidance can ensure they will navigate apps safely long after leaving home.

More Things to Consider:

It’s important to consider that apps can be renamed or hidden. Apps can be hidden by changing the icon through a “shortcuts” app on iPhone or Android phones. The original app is then removed from the home screen. Kids may also delete and re-download an app as needed. It’s important to check the purchase history in addition to checking the phone.

Secret storage apps also allow users to keep photos and files disguised as inconspicuous apps on their phones. Children may hide inappropriate photos sent to them by online sexual predators. Here are a few secret storage apps to watch out for:

• Best Secret Folder

• Calculator#

• Locker

• Secret Photo Vault

• Privault

 Opening every app on your child’s phone is important to catch workarounds. Rely less on the actual phone display and more on the app library that can be found on iOS devices and Android purchases.

The internet provides children with vast opportunities for learning, socializing, and entertainment, but it also harbors significant dangers. While apps and chatrooms are designed for interactive fun, they can become breeding grounds for predators. Therefore, parents, guardians, and educators need to remain vigilant and proactive in safeguarding children's online activities. Trees of Hope has a wide variety of prevention resources for parents, teachers, and caregivers. Our latest publication, Protecting the Vulnerable, empowers families of children with disabilities with the knowledge and skills to reduce their child's risk of harm effectively.