I remember the day my daughter was born. The world was so different then. The original iPhone would be introduced to the world 8 months later and nothing would ever be the same. In just over 15 years the smartphone has exploded with over 2 million apps ranging from games, to social media, to productivity tools, and banking. If you can dream it, there’s likely already an app for that.
Is every app bad? Clearly the answer is no. Smartphones in general have provided so much good for the world with access to learning, maps, and more that have advanced society forward. The challenge is that advertising and big tech have started using principals of human psychology, and in particular, teenagers as a means to profit.
“Time has always been the world's most valuable resource and app makers have made it their business to capture our teenagers, and everyone else's, time with zero regard to the risks associated with it.”
You have to know that I am not anti-apps or anti-smartphones. That is, until it starts stealing our happiness and limiting our potential. An app used incorrectly will have a negative impact on happiness.
1. TikTok
TikTok always starts out fun but it quickly becomes anything but that. Why is it #1 on this list? TikTok is the app that all other social media apps emulate - because it’s the king when it comes to stealing teenagers' attention and when you’re the king of time, you’re the king of advertising dollars.
The algorithm: TikTok’s algorithm doesn’t care if a teenager is 13 years old, it still feeds the teen risky content. The problem with the algorithm is that it immediately knows what peaked your interest and it serves you more of the same - the result is an endless spiral of dangerous content.
Time Waster: No app steals a teenagers time like TikTok. Teens, on average, spend nearly over 82 minutes a day on the app, endlessly scrolling the app and comparing themselves to others.
Dangerous content: From drugs, to vulgarity, to scantily clad girls/boys it’s not good but it doesn’t end there. Depression, suicide, identity, self harm, and dangerous challenges. The list goes on and there is a 100% guarantee your kids will see this type of content.
2. SnapChat or as I call it, CrapChat
SnapChat was created by a fraternity brother for one purpose only: send nude pictures. 280 million people use CrapChat to send 5 billion disappearing messages every day. The risk of this app does not outweigh the benefits.
“While we can oftentimes trust our own teens, it's hard to trust other kids who can pressure our teens into sending nudes. ”
SnapChat is also a favorite app of online predators who use the app to take advantage of kid which could also lead to sextortion. Sextortion is the practice of getting teens to send nude pictures and then threatening to show the pictures to parents, friends, and the whole world if the teen doesn’t send the predator money.
SnapChat is wildly popular amongst teens but CrapChat is one of the worst plays they can spend their time.
3. Instagram
Teenagers are trying to find out who they are. They aren’t kids anymore but they aren’t quite adults either. They are seeking acceptance and love, they want to feel valued and important. Enter Instagram and it’s dangers. Instagram tops the list when it comes to damaging a teen’s self-worth. Kids are going to Insta to “escape” the pressures of real life only to feel worse about themselves. According to Instagram’s internal leaked documents,
“32% of teen girls feel bad about their bodies and Instagram makes them feel worse.(1)”
Why is this happening? First, we only see people curated, perfect lives on instagram. Second, Instagram’s features - likes, comments, views, and follows - are a perfect storm of doubt. Teens post something on Instagram and don’t receive as much engagement as someone else or a past post. This starts a cycle of spiraling happiness. We start question our worth, asking why not as many people like us, and seeking the approval of others. The cycle continues when the teen then posts something a little more risque to feed the algorithm. This comprises the teens values and further impacts mental health. The cycle continues as the teen attitude and demeanor change.
4. Discord
Discord made popular by gamers. It was a place to to gather together to talk about the video games as you met people online. Now? Games still gather but so do others to message with random people.
The bad: The app is filled with unmoderated chat rooms. The messages are filled with pornography, vulgarity, bullying, and hate speech. If your kids spend time on this app, there is no way around it. They will see and hear these things. It’s unavoidable.
“Our 12 year old son was mentally and spiritually destroyed on this app. We stared investigating his change in attitude and discovered horrible things in the chats.(2)"
Pay attention to any shifts in your kid's attitudes if they have this app. This is an app that shouldn't go unmonitored.
5. YouTube and YouTube Kids
YouTube…seems innocent enough right? You can find
anything on YouTube - good and bad. The unfortunate part is that the bad is really easy to find, even if you aren’t looking for it. Last week I asked a group of 100 Kindergarten through second graders how many had seen something they shouldn’t have seen on YouTube. Nearly every head nodded.
I hate YouTube because kids waste so much time on the app. Watching other people play video games or do trick shots instead of…actually doing it yourself. That’s a tough pill to swallow.
YouTube Kids isn't "safe" just because it's labeled for kids. many creators are adding suggestive videos, innuendos, and indoctrinating ideas into their videos.
We can no longer just say “it’s a cartoon so it’s ok”. That’s no longer the world we live in. We have to be vigilant and protect our kids even when it seems like what they are watching is innocent enough.
6. Pinterest
Pinterest is a favorite amongst DIYers and those getting house or clothing ideas but don’t be fooled. Teens can find anything on Pinterest. From TikTok videos to pornography. I think this is one of the sneakiest apps out there because it’s a true wolf in sheeps’ clothing. The app doesn’t offer any settings or protection against explicit content and messaging is allowed which makes this app a playground for predators.
“The algorithms on this site can lead to horrific, traumatic content on suicide, death, and drug use. Stuff a person can't unsee.(2)" - Robert, Parent
The warning advice for Pinterest is to not be fooled by its traditional use. This app is anything but traditional when it comes to safe for kids.
7. Omegle
"Talk to strangers!". You read that right. Talk to strangers is Omegle's tag line. What could go wrong?? Well, everything. Omegle is so bad that Apple and Google took it off the App Store but kids can still access it online. This site pairs you with "completely random" people, unless you enter in your hobbies, then it will pair you with somebody with similar interests...or at least pretending to have similar interests.
“I am constantly insecure about my looks and body, but when I go on Omegle I constantly get groomed, called beautiful by men and boys who are admittedly very attractive. They are playing on your insecurities, be careful.(2)” Teen, 16 years old
There are bad apps and websites and then there is Omegle. It's the worst of the worst when it comes to harming kids.
There's no shortage of dangers in the App Store. Talk with your kids and help them recognize and identify the dangers so that they can be their own first line of defense.
What other apps have you found to be risky for teens?