Social media apps can undoubtedly be beneficial to teenagers in many ways. Depending on the specific app, it could enable communication with friends and like-minded people, serve as an educational or organizational tool, or help with fitness goals, to name just a few benefits.
However, not all social media apps are as safe as many teens presume. So, let’s take a look at four apps that teens should avoid.
1. Voxer
This smartphone messaging app features live voice, photo, text, and location sharing. It is a great app for sending and receiving short messages and users can chat simultaneously with multiple people. Voxer can be particularly beneficial for work teams.
But the app has also been gaining popularity among teens. And, sadly, Voxer has become well-known for its cyberbully users. There have been numerous incidents of teenagers falling victim to cyberbullies on this app and being exposed to harmful or obscene content.
Voxer remains popular despite it being linked to a number of serious cases of cyberbullying. As a teen, it is best to simply avoid the app. There are safer apps out there where you can better protect yourself against cyber bullies.
2. Bigo Live
While Bigo Live is a legit app, it is not recommended that teens under the age of eighteen use it. The reason? Scammers are rife on Bigo Live.
The live-streaming app enables users to showcase their talent and communicate with interesting people. It also enables users to earn money from their content, which is one reason it has become popular among teenagers.
The problem with Bigo Live is that, due to the content being user-generated, there have been numerous cases of content featuring bad language, violence, and even nudity.
3. Omegle
If there is one app that teenagers should definitely avoid, it is Omegle. The anonymous online chat service matches random users via a chat room interface, using video, text, and voice.
But the fact that users are anonymous is the big problem. Omegle has experienced a multitude of reports concerning exploitation and sexual abuse. Victims have been paired with sexual predators and exposed to illicit or exploitative behavior. Many minors and children have been victims.
More and more victims’ stories have started to come to light in recent times. And many victims are now seeking justice and compensation by joining an Omegle lawsuit.
If you or your kid has been a victim, you should consider joining the lawsuit. Look for a reputable lawyer who has experience with mass tort cases and who is representing Omegle victims to find out more.
4. Whisper
Whisper appeals to teenagers because it is a confession app. Users can make confessions while retaining anonymity.
However, cyberbullying is rife on Whisper, due to its anonymous nature. Furthermore, anybody can pose as a teenager on the app. That includes online predators and scammers.
The Whisper app also uses GPS location tracking to track nearby users. That means an adult predator could theoretically pinpoint a teen’s exact location.
In fact, that is precisely what allegedly happened in 2013 – a man, using the Whisper app, tracked down an underage girl and raped her.
As uncomfortable as that is to hear, it is important that teens and parents are aware of the potential dangers of some social media apps and that the teens actively use methods to protect themselves online, such as never sharing personal information and not engaging with strangers.
As long as teens stay savvy and responsible by learning how to stay safe online, they can enjoy using social media apps safely. But it is best to avoid the above four.
