17 mobile apps that can put kids at risk: the sheriff's office

An Alabama sheriff's office has created a chart that includes 17 apps on an iPad.

The 17 smart phone apps presented "are just a few examples" of those that parents should know because they can put kids at risk, according to the Escorial County Sheriff's Office Facebook page.

"This post was created to get the message out to someone who could prevent a devastating event from changing the life of a child," said the sheriff's office.

Presented apps include everything from social media (Instagram) to dating apps (Bumble) to email applications (kik).

"We have to pay attention to the people with whom our children are talking. There are people trying to destroy the ones we are trying to raise, "the post says. "Some apps may be dangerous and may expose your children to a range of bullying problems and unwanted bad messages.Some apps may even give strangers the location of your child."

It should be noted however that the applications are not necessarily dangerous in themselves, according to the post. It is rather what can be done through the applications.

"Keep in mind that no application poses a danger in itself, but many offer children the opportunity to make bad choices …," officials said.

Here are the 17 apps on which the sheriff's office warned parents, as well as a brief description of each app provided by the sheriff's office of the county of Escambia:

• Bumble: This is a dating app, but "kids use Bumble by creating a fake account (with) a fake age," says the message.

• LiveMe: This live streaming video app "uses geolocation to share videos so that users can know the exact location of the broadcaster".
• ASK.FM: This app "is known for cyberbullying," according to the sheriff's office. He "encourages users to allow anonymous people to ask them questions … and get an answer".

• Snapchat: In this app, users can send photos and videos that disappear once viewed. Snapchat's "stories" allow content to stay visible for 24 hours, and users can see your location.

• Holla: A "video chat application that allows users to meet people from all over the world in just seconds … Critics say they have been confronted with racial slurs, explicit content, etc."

• CALCULATOR%: It was "one of the SEVERAL secret apps used to hide photos, videos, files and browser history. This application looks like a calculator but works like a secret photo safe, "said the sheriff's office. Business Insider reported that Apple had extracted this from the App Store in 2018, but that similar applications could still be downloaded.

• kik: An email application that "allows anyone to contact and direct a message directly to your child … The reason this app is so popular with teenagers is that users are allowed to create anonymous accounts …"
• Whisper: "An anonymous social network that encourages the sharing of secrets with strangers. It also reveals the position of the user so that people can meet. "

• The game by hot or not: "The purpose of this application is to connect," said the sheriff's office. It "encourages users to evaluate your profile, check people in their area and chat with strangers."

• Omegle: This random video chat app "promotes anonymous discussion with strangers".

• Yubo: A social application "designed to allow teens to flirt with each other in a Tinder-like atmosphere".

• LINE: "Another all-in-one mobile hub to chat, share photos and videos, and send free text messages and video calls."

• BURNBOOK: McClatchy has not found this app available in the Apple App Store or in Google Play. The sheriff's office said the app allowed people to publish "anonymous rumors about people."

• Wishbone: "An application that allows users to compare their children and evaluate them on a scale." The application says it has recently released an update and no longer allows for "publishing dangerous or very inappropriate content."

• Instagram: "Many teenagers and kids create fake account profiles to hide content from parents. Kids also like to send SMS with Instagram because the messages are deleted as soon as a user leaves the conversation. "

• Vora: "A diet app that allows a user to follow his fasting activities."

• Hide It Pro (HIP): This application is "disguised as a music manager, but it is really meant to hide everything from pictures and videos to TEXT MESSAGES and other applications".