TYLER, Texas — All week long we are breaking down the 15 apps you should be aware of on your kids phones. Today, we are taking a closer look at Holla, Hot or Not, ASKfm and Secret Calculator.
- Holla is an app that pairs the user with another person randomly once they filled in their profile.
The terms of service state that they will correct any information in the profile they determine to be incorrect, like age or gender. That said, this is one of those instances where it could be easy for a child to sign up and chat with someone they should not interact with.
- Hot or Not is pretty much exactly what it sounds like. Users post photos in the community rates the photos hot or not.
Like other apps we have covered this week, the company's terms state that you must be 18 years of age or older to sign up, but it is easy to get around the restriction on top of potentially seeing images that are not kid friendly.
There is also concern that it opens kids up to cyber bullying at a time when many already feel uncomfortable with their body image. - ASKfm claims to have over 215 million users, and they build the app as a "safe environment where you can express yourself freely."
Users have the option of asking questions and either making them public or staying anonymous. It may sound innocent, but searching through the app often reveals questions like sexual preferences, drug use and hurtful messages. - Last but not least is Secret Calculator++. It is called that because it goes way beyond a typical calculator.
This is one of several apps that kids can download that look just like standard apps you'd find on your phone, but hide things like photos and videos from the main gallery of the phone.
In the case of Secret Calculator++, it can hide photos, passwords, videos, and more. When you open it, it looks just like a calculator. But once you enter the correct PIN, it uncovers the secret menus, along with built in features to limit app usage on Android and iPhone.
There are also some solutions you can download that help protect your children, including Kaspersky, Boomerang and others. Be aware that most of them charge a monthly fee to monitor your kids' phones, but they do offer a solution that works across phones, computers and tablets.
You have a solution for all of the tech in your house.
And we spend a lot of time talking through the concerns of some of these apps, but it is not all doom and gloom. Tomorrow, we will share some of the success stories that have come from some of these apps as well as other channels like YouTube.
In the meantime, if you have any questions about apps email me at abaker@cbs19.tv.