Apps you DON'T Want Your Kids to Have!

In a recent article from CBS News, we find the average age a child owns a cell phone is 10-11 years old.  You can read the article here.  Furthermore, a study by Pew Internet Research,  in this article from CNN, found that kids typically have their first social media account by the age of 12.

As parents and educators, we need to be vigilant about the apps our students are accessing.  Most social media is blocked while students are on our TCS network.  However, if students turn off their WiFi and use cellular data, we cannot block the content.


Most of the apps reviewed below have an age restriction. Since there is no viable way to prove age, many students use a false birthday to gain access.  Use this review to educate yourself about these apps and make an informed decision regarding use by your child. If you do not want your child downloading apps without your permission, you can set restrictions easily on their phone.
To set restrictions:

• iPhone users go here
• Android users go here

Sneek (Formerly uMention)

"The fastest way to share photos with your entire school" according to the iTunes description of this app.  You simply take a photo, add any caption and post it anonymously.  It goes nationwide instantaneously.  It is rated for 17 year olds for frequent, intense mature, suggestive themes, profanity, and crude humor.  No age verification process. I tried to log into Sneek and it would not allow me access until I granted permission for it to access my photos and microphone....NO WAY.  

Shots of Me

This is a "selfie" app. It allows users to post a pic and share it with users. It allows a caption and private messaging only.  So, while the public will not see the comments, cyberbullying could take place through the private messaging.  This app seems harmless but it allows locations and time a photo was posted making it really easy for a predator to locate someone.  You can turn off the location in the apps settings if you were aware of it.  

Fess

This is a free app specifically marketed for high school students.  You must have a Facebook account to use this because they troll your Facebook friends to make sure you have high school age friends. Fess allows the user complete anonymity to post whatever they want.  This type of platform is where a large majority of cyberbullying occurs.  Fess has some guidelines on cyberbullying, but the follow through has not been verified.  Parents be aware that this app and apps like this (Yik Yak, Whisper, Secret, etc...) are used by students to post threats or other inappropriate statements about other students.

OoVoo

Kids can use OoVoo as young as 13 years old (no verification process) on their smartphone or on a computer.  This app allows them to video chat with up to 12 friends (or strangers/predators), send video messages, upload videos to YouTube and instant message.  I think it is self explanatory why you would not want your child to be able to send videos to strangers or view videos from strangers. 

Cydia:Jailbreak and Icon Hiding Apps

This is an app that allows a tech savvy child the opportunity to hack into their own device to lift restrictions that parents have imposed.  They can then download apps that are not even available through your typical platform (iTunes, Google Play). It also allows the ability to hide icons on your phone, so parents would think they do not have the app, when it could just be hiding. The only vigilant thing you can do is look for the Cydia app icon and then you know there is likely some thing going on you need to investigate.  

For more app reviews, please click here.

Sources:  iTunes, CNN, CBS News

Investigative Report: Cybersafety

Once in a while, I read something and I wonder if it could be true of students in Trussville.  This is when I launch my own mini investigation to find out.  I am going to share with you my most recent mini investigation of our students regarding Cybersafety.

According to Common Sense Media, the most common Cybersafety tips for young people are:

• Never share your real name 
• Never friend people you don't know in real life - they might not be who they say they are
• Don't share where you live or where you go to school because someone could stalk you
• Don't share pictures of yourself in front of your school, home, mailbox (same reason as above)
• Don't ever meet someone in person who you met online

So, I put these 5 bullets to the test to see if our students were doing any of these things.  I was really surprised to find that I could prove they are doing bullets 1-4 quite frequently.  I would not be able to prove bullet 5 and I hope it is not happening.

I made up an alias on Facebook.  I attached a picture from the Internet of a young girl in a group photo.  I said I was from a different state but recently moved to Trussville and was attending Hewitt Trussville High School. Here are my findings:

Bullet #1: Students use their real name most often.  Very few students use an alias or a nickname.

Bullet#2: I began to send friend requests to students I knew personally (but remember, I'm not a real person).  I was shocked that 3 out of 5 students accepted my request almost immediately.

Bullet#3: I was able to see in the "about" section where they went to school.  If it wasn't there, they used hash tags that would lead me to them as well such as, #htswag, #hths, #huskyfast.  I did not see many students who had a picture in front of their house that would allow me to know where they lived.  It would be a front door, a fireplace, a room, but nothing identifiable.

Bullet #4: I could easily find these students at church! Our students post pictures in front of their church, in church shirts, with hashtags that have church names, etc....

Bullet #5: not addressed

WOW!  Our smart students, reared in good family homes with educated parents are not very cybersafe.  This has been an eye opening investigation and allows me to share with our school administrators areas that need some preventive education. As a parent of pre-teens myself, this investigation has caused me to be more deliberate in teaching my children how to protect themselves and be more cybersafe. 

P.S. I have since deactivated the account but within 2 weeks, my pretend Facebook alias had over 100 Facebook friends!  

Sources: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/

Heroin in Charlotte

A trend that has been growing over the last few years in the average family home is teen heroin use.  We often think of heroin use as an inner city issue, but it is an epidemic in our suburban American neighborhoods.  Heroin produces a similar high as prescription painkillers because they are both opiates.  Many teens start with prescription painkillers then progress to heroin when they cannot acquire the painkillers.
Most sources say the reason it has attacked our suburban American neighborhoods is related to medical insurance.  Most teens in this demographic have health insurance and can be prescribed painkillers which begins their opiate addiction.
I have read many stories written by families who have lost a loved one to heroin.  Similarities abound in these stories.  I think of Trussville when I read these stories.  I think of our students.  Read this story and become aware of the signs associated with opiate addiction.

Source:

Charlotte Magazine /

March 2014 /

Heroin in Charlotte