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Popular Apps Students Are Using

Photo of a keyboard with a new key named social meida

Because apps change often, this is only a partial list of popular apps among students. Not all of these apps are used in negative ways, but parents should be aware of apps their kids are using and how they are used.


Tiger in sunglassesAfter School:  In anonymous user app, usually with explicit content. Although pulled from the Apple App Store, After School already has students using it. This app has potential danger because it allows anyone to "be verified" as a student at a school.


Whisper app logoWhisper:  Anonymous app that allows users to post text over images.

 


Logo for Askfm appAskfm:  A social networking app that allows users to ask and answer questions anonymously. Answers can be in text or video format, and users can browse others' profiles with the option of submitting questions directly to them.
 

 


Logo for Blendr appBlendr:  A flirting app (with no authentication requirements) used to meet people through GPS location services. Users can send messages, photos and videos and rate other users.

 


Logo for Burn Book appBurn Book:  Anonymous user app that allows students to post about various topics. The app can be localized yet allow you to see other area schools.

 


Logo for Calculator appCalculator:  This password-protected photo app allows students to hide photos and videos behind an innocent-looking calculator app.

 


Logo for the app DownDown:  An app that allows users to categorize their Facebook friends as people they do or don't want to hang out with.
 

 


Instagram logoInstagram:  An app that allows users to upload or take photos and edit them to be posted on other social networks and shared with the Instagram community. Users can knowingly -- and sometimes unknowingly -- tag the location where the photo was taken (geotagging).

 


Logo for Kik messengerKik Messenger:  An instant messaging app that allows users to send video, images and texts quickly.
 

 


Logo for Omegle appOmegle:  An app mainly used for video chatting. Chat participants are identified only as "you" and "stranger." Users may link to their Facebook account to find chat partners with similar interests.
 

 


Logo for Poof! appPoof:  This app allows users to make other apps "disappear" on their phone. Users can hide any app they don't want others to see. Although no longer available for download, this app already has students using it.

 


Logo for Secret appSecret:  Anonymous app that allows users to post images and innermost thoughts. Users like and interact with the anonymous posts, which spread throughout the Secret community.

 

 


Logo for SnapchatSnapchat:  This app allows users to send images -- including explicit content -- to one another, with the images disappearing shortly afterward. Although users believe images are gone, Shapchat has been hacked, affecting millions of users.

 


Logo for TinderTinder:  A dating app that pulls information from users' Facebook profiles. Users can rate profiles and find potential dates via GPS location tracking.

 


Logo for Streetchat

Streetchat:  An unmoderated, anonymous image board that uses geo-location to connect users with others at the same school. Most pictures depict partying and sexual innuendo, and some are overtly racist and sexist. Bullying is always a concern with anonymous messaging and posting, and since Streetchat is local, the bullying can be targeted to the specific school audience.


 


Yik Yak logo

Yik-Yak:  This all-text app features gossip and can be localized. It is similar to Twitter and Reddit because of its social bookmarking aspect.

 


tbh logoTBH: TBH stands for “to be honest”, and the tbh app is a social networking platform where users anonymously answer questions/polls about their classmates. Even though the questions/polls are approved by the developers, tbh can still promote bullying and make it easier for students to become a target.

 


YouNow app logo

YouNow:  A live video streaming app. YouNow clearly forbids nudity, sexual content, and bullying in its guidelines, but there's no promise of oversight. Profanity is prevalent.

 


TikTok logoTikTok is an app that gives users the opportunity to create and share short-form videos with friends, family, and the entire world.  The app is especially popular with young people, who enjoy using its tools to combine video, music, and graphics into funny sketches and creative shorts.  TikTok runs on both Apple and Android phones and tablets and has a 12+ rating so that parents can use the device-level parental controls provided by Apple and Android.