Have you ever been concerned with what your kids are doing on their phones? I sure have. Our world is full of information and mixed messages about screen time and what's available to users. I am an avid user of my phone and computer, so I am not against screen time. As a teacher, it has proved to be especially useful during the shift to online learning platforms during the COVID19 shutdown. However, I also want to explore and be sure whatever my teens are using is something I am familiar with and can communicate with them about intelligently. Below are my reviews of a few popular apps. I have not covered every aspect of each app, but using some research explored a few that kids are using. I included some concerns as well as links that will be of benefits to parents as you work to become more knowledgeable of the digital world. The last section provides some ideas for safeguards that you might put into place. Rather than list them for each specific app, I created a general section as many of the safeguards you could use for one app, crosses over to safety for all apps. I have listed a variety of references used in gaining knowledge of these apps. Check them out if you would like recent research to use as a lens into the digital world.
Good luck exploring, I hope this helps. Remember, the world is moving quickly. What is hot now, might be cold tomorrow. Keep exploring on your own and stay ahead of the harm that can occur from just not knowing.
Google Voice: This app is easily downloaded and provides an alternative number that can be used on your phone. As an educator, it has allowed me to communicate with parents and students without giving my personal cell number to them. At the same time, I use the same phone for personal and professional communication, so I don’t have to worry if I have the right phone with me at any time. Although it does open me up to liability by using a personal phone, it confines my usage to a completely professional level in that the Google Voice Number is solely used for school contact. I have been able to contact parents for instructional assistance, participation concerns and positive communication. I have used it to contact students with Zoom invitations, tutoring on assignments and positive communication as well.
Group Me GroupMe is an App that several colleagues have recommended especially for student leadership groups. It allows me to quickly send out information to the entire membership or to just the officers in a separate group as needed. The biggest downfall showed up for me when I decided to use this for a family group as well. The issue became the number associated with the account. The GroupMe account is linked to my Google Voice number to maintain the line between professional and personal; however, creating a family account on GroupMe then became part of my school number so to speak . So, if you're working to maintain separate lines between numbers, you would need to set up GroupMe accounts on each. That could be a bit cumbersome, but it would maintain privacy.
VSCO is a popular app with high school students. It is described by the app store with the tag line: Photo and Video Editor. The app store describes it as ‘photo and video tools for creators by creators’ while What is VSCO? (2020) states it is “Similar to Instagram, the app allows users to edit and add filters to photos before sharing them. Users can use the filters and save their photos without sharing them on the network if they prefer.”
I found the app to provide easy editing tools. Even as a novice when it comes to photography, it was easy to change the photo to eliminate flaws and create a few simple videos. It was time consuming and the tutorials were limited in providing information as to how to use the app efficiently, but with trial and error, easily accomplished. Photos can be saved or posted, or saved by sending on a text message format.
Warnings: VSCO allows people to follow others and see the work that is posted; however, there is no way to see who is following and deny them acceptance to follow. In essence, a child could have a variety of people as followers that are unknown to the child or parent. This seems like it opens the door to a predatory issue. In my short time using VSCO, I was able to follow someone I do not know and then message them. That is concerning as a parent and teacher. These types of unfamiliar communications would never be permitted in person, yet often on the web, they are condoned, perhaps by an adult’s innocent ignorance.
If you are a teacher and you used VSCO in the classroom, even if the work was only being saved and shared with the teacher or thrown up on the screen for class time viewing, should a discrepancy occur outside the classroom, the question becomes, who is liable?
Another warning is the idea that this app encourages people to “embellish their online personas even without straightforwardly lying about who they are” (Dennis & Harrison, 2020, p. 6). Our society is obsessed with how we look so this idea that you can alter pictures to gain acceptance is concerning. Personally, I want my children to feel accepted because of who they are and not because of how they look. My concern is this embellishment has far reaching implications. Students begin to hide who they really are in lieu of a glorified self. It becomes easier to ‘fudge’ through life’s challenges because the truth can be easily hidden. In turn, these embellishments can also lead to cyberbullying. Dennis & Harrison (2020), report, "Identify construction has become big business as evidenced by the popularity of apps such as facetune, SnapSeed, and VSCO. The very premise of these apps is that we want to augment reality in some way. In a broader way, honest conduct online affects issues as diverse as online plagiarism, fake news, and intellectual piracy. These are online versions of age-old vices, of course, but how we apply honesty in this digital context is especially important if we consider how dishonesty in the digital world often has far greater consequences. Gossip or slander, for example, have far greater chance of having life-altering consequences when they are disseminated online" (pp. 6-7).
We also need to be aware of personal attacks with any of these computer apps. However, with VSCO, like many other apps that promote pictures, it is easy to use someone’s post in a negative manner. There is always the possibility of editing someones post to create a cyberbullying situation. In fact, It has happened to my child, so I know first hand how devastating it can be. We really need to figure out this cyber bullying thing and clinch it. This is probably one of my greatest concerns with the multimedia platforms.
Lastly, appropriate posts in general are concerning. As I scrolled through a variety of posts, I found many less than modest pictures. As a parent I was unaware of VSCO until recently. Family Online Education states, “Because fewer parents are aware of VSCO (sorry parents), teenagers often use it to share their riskier photos. These can range from pictures with liquor bottles and vape pens to selfies dressed inappropriately” (“What is VSCO?,” 2020). Parents should be warned to follow their children or have other security safeguards in place to protect their children.
https://www.fosi.org/good-digital-parenting/what-vsco#:~:text=VSCO.
Instagram, like VSCO, is an app used for editing and sharing videos and movies. Since its beginnings, many changes have taken place. However, the premise to interact with others through pictures remains the focus. Photos/videos can be saved or posted according to Murgia (2017); however, I was unable to save mine without posting it. It could be due to my lack of experience, but I was not offered an option to save outside the post as I was with VSCO. Settings are easily used and privacy settings can be employed. It is easy to see who is following and possible to remove/block unwanted followers with the click of the button. Editing tools are easy to use and support is available. Unlike VSCO, this app is a free resource in its basic form.
Warnings. I spoke to several students about using Instagram in the classroom. They felt it would be a great tool to use for a ‘bell ringer’ (the activity students engage in while attendance is being taken) each day. The teacher would simply create a group story the class could read or watch followed by personal engagement which would allow for students to interact quietly. I am a bit apprehensive about this as not everyone has access on a phone. This would mean that it would need to be downloaded on each iPad, which should be doable in terms of accessibility (as we are a 1:1 district), but opens the district to liability. In fact, I am not even sure if the district would approve it. If security measures are unavailable and/or not implemented, the school could be liable in the event of cyberbullying, trolling, or inappropriate content. The other issue is the idea that some parents do not allow students to use these accounts. On student explained she would be in an ethical dilemma as her parents have told her no social media until she is eighteen. If I required it then she felt she would be forced to engage in opposition to her parent’s authority.
Another concern is the kind of photos and videos shared on Instagram. In the short time I scrolled (approximately two hours), I saw an overwhelming amount of scantily dressed teens, often dancing provocatively to music, young girls attempting to be sexy in the way they dress or look, pictures of young people doing adult activities, and other less than virtuous behaviors, music and communication. Granted, there were also many funny, enjoyable, appropriate posts as well. Parents and teachers simply need to be warned and take safeguards to protect young people in the best measure possible.
Lastly, Forbes (n.d.) reports that Instagram is not encrypted; hence, users “need to switch from Instagram to a private, secure alternative” (n.p.). They propose that Instagram is a “marketing platform” and will share information as well as advertise specific products according to content in personal messages. Encryption should be reviewed more, but on this post, suffice it to say that we should all be exploring the safest platforms. If the app is not encrypted, I don't want to use it as an educator.
These links may help you navigate the safety concerns of Instagram.
https://www.familyeducation.com/teens/a-parents-guide-to-vsco
Tik Tok has created a lot of laughs between my daughter and me, as well as in my classroom. It is a creative outlet in which short videos can be recorded, edited, and then shared across a social media platform. It allows for the integration of music, other users in the form of ‘challenges’ and dancing as well as many other features. Familyeducation states it is now the “leading app destination for short-form mobile video content” and it allows users to “create short-form lip sync videos, and merged the apps” (“Everything you’ve ever wanted to know about TikTok as the parent of a teenager,” 2019).
The app does allow for followers; however, the owner can see who is following them and choose to block or allow them to follow. TikTok can also be linked to an Instagram and youtube profile. The app requires users to be at least 13 years of age.
Warnings. There is much controversy surrounding TikTok. While it provides many cute, humorous posts, many are adult themed, and pose risks to the user. In fact, a lawsuit in India claims, “TikTok has become a medium of ‘unfiltered sexual content, and harming the youth of the country’ (“Is Tik Tok tarnishing PM’s image?,” 2019). The article continues to expand on linking usage of the app to “criminal incidents, including deaths” calling for a ban on the app as a solution (“Is Tik Tok tarnishing PM’s image?,” 2019). In addition, “BuzzFeed News dove into the issue of men preying on young girls’ TikTok profiles, where illegal relationships were popping up like lights on a map” (‘Popular video app Tik Tok poses valid concerns-and its up to us to confront them – Gateway,” 2019). I realize these present some very extreme viewpoints, but perhaps they will encourage you to be diligent in monitoring the TikTok (and other) app if used by your teen.
The age limit is 13, but that is difficult to enforce. The one thing that was consoling is that TikTok website actually provides a place for parents to be involved in the account of a child. I have included this link as well as others below.
Another concern is the accumulation of data in a way that exploits its users for profitable gain, politicizing, education or cultural influence. I realize I'm including some research in this blog, but I think it is best to be well informed. I am very concerned about the accumulation of data and the impact surrounding it. According to Zhang (2020), “tiktok is no longer just an entertainment platform with a technical background” (p.7). They expand by saying, “now it is connected to e-commerce platforms” (Zhang, 2020, p. 7). This is concerning in that TikTok is intentionally using data to entice and indoctrinate children. Rationalization is offered stating that the purpose of recording and storing data goes deeper than simply commercializing them. Rather, the intention is to create a “Video encyclopedia” which will in fact provide a digital legacy in history. However, this free usage of TikTok comes at a hidden cost to consumers. Van Dijck (2013) states From the very beginning, the most central principle for digital platforms are underpinned by the notion of ‘free’ (Jenkins et al., 2013), but actually platforms obtain user’s data and attention sources, normally converted into ‘traffic’ in form of statistic and are always ‘monetized in the form of selling screen space for advertising and product promotion: refined demographic clusters of user data offered great potential for mass customization’ (as cited in Zhang, 2020, p. 8-9).
In other words, they are advertising and politicizing based upon the content/data they collect, store, and analyze In addition, some political platforms are addressed on this app making it appear as if they are attempting to sway the belief system of the teens. One such topic is Abortion. It would be smart to check this out for yourself. I have included a variety of links to assist you in your investigation.
https://support.tiktok.com/en/safety-hc/account-and-user-safety
https://support.tiktok.com/en/safety-hc/account-and-user-safety
Twitter is a microblog service where users “send and receive information real time, on the website, from mobile applications, or via SMS messages” (Tang & Hew, 2017, p. 97) called tweets. Its kind of fun to see how much info you can fit in the 280 character limit. Sometimes teens use abbreviations that may make it difficult to understand if you're not familiar with tweet language. Its easy to set up an account with an email. Users can follow or be followed. It is easy to follow people you don't know or be followed by others. Symbols are used in tweeting. For example, # is used before words which in turn becomes a way to search for a specific topic. You can reply or send a post to a specific person by using @before their user name. Threads are used to have conversations between people.
Warnings. Concerns with twitter revolve around privacy, age of users and followers, content, and retweeting.
Privacy can create issues when using Twitter. While followers can be blocked, students can be followed by someone they do not know or follow. While a person must be 13 to open an account with an email, it is difficult at best to control this. Even at 17, in the classroom, the teacher runs a risk if a parent permission is not physically in place between the school and the parent regarding use of Twitter (or any social media) in the classroom. Parents, ask questions about what apps your children are using in school. Also, help your children use the privacy settings as they require the user to manually change them in settings. For example, the location setting must be turned off for privacy. Even when communication is shared in a group setting, Tang & Hew (2017), point out that the use of hashtags (#), opens the door for people not enrolled in the class “to participate in the class discussion” (p. 107). While this broadens the views of the group it also raises potential concern about the privacy of the students. Parents should be clear about who their teen is to interact with for safety.
The amount of content shared is limited to 280 characters, so using twitter to articulate thoughts can be difficult but fun. Tang & Hem (2017) suggest using hyperlinks to expand content; however, this can be suspect in that “clicking on the hyperlinks will bring them out of Twitter to other sites” (p.110). These types of transitions can also lead to distractions for students while using the app, ultimately diminishing the time spent on the actual educational content intended by the teacher. A study conducted by Alrajehi (2016) found that students “think that Twitter is an effective way to communicate with others”, and “its interactivity and exchange of views”; while at the same time, “twitter is a very strong reason which distracts students from studying, wastes time, and reduces direct communication with people” (p.7).
Retweeting, is suggested by Twitter. However, this can result in some issues of it’s own. If a student’s tweet is retweeted (also known as subtweeting) and then the owner of the tweet removes it, this does not mean the retweets will vanish. One of the main concerns with this is that retweets for high schoolers often assume some attachment to cyberbullying.
Links you might find helpful:
https://usa.kaspersky.com/resource-center/preemptive-safety/twitter-tips-for-parents-of-teens
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/social-media/what-should-parents-know-about-twitter
https://www.bark.us/blog/twitter-monitoring-7-things-parents-need-to-know/
https://resources.uknowkids.com/blog/bid/222528/9-things-parents-should-know-about-twitter
WhatsApp is a free “downloadable app that uses your phone’s internet connection (wifi) to send messages, photos, videos, or files. It also allows users to make real-time video calls” (“Is WhatsApp safe for Kids? Here’s what parents need to know,” 2020). WhatsApp seems to be unique in that it provides texting and calls without a phone plan.
As long as an internet connection is available, the app allows communication to occur. This might be great if you want to save money, and who doesn't? On the other hand, if you ever stop phone service as a consequence, well your teen just got around it by downloading the WhatsApp on their phone.
Contacts saved in the phone are recognized and used in the app seamlessly. The app allows messages to be sent or received in real-time, “both one-on-one and in closed membership groups. Moreover, the users’ ability to switch between group and private conversations is considered one of this applet’s attributes” (Kashy-Rosenbaum & Aizonkot, 2020, p. 1).
A group conversation is called a broadcast and allows a group message to be sent, but all responses go only to the originator of the message.
Warnings. One of the main concerns for parents and educators is the cyberbullying that often accompanies this app. Kashy-Rosenbaum & Aizonkot (2020), claim “Alongside the many benefits of using WhatsApp it also has negative effects, among them uncontrolled exposure to diverse uncoordinated content and an increased risk of exposure to network bullying” (p.2).
While privacy is always an issue, the good news is that the WhatsApp is fairly safe. USA Today (2017) reports that the app is encrypted end to end which provides a safety for users that many other social platforms do not have. That means that only the sender and receiver see the information and not even the app itself (which by the way is owned by Facebook) sees the communication. They claim, “One big plus for WhatsApp: it’s tied to your cell phone number. With most social apps, there’s a discovery element where you can seek out random users. Unless your kid is freely handing out their phone number, it’s tough to just find someone at random” (“WhatsApp: Kids are using it like crazy.
If your child's teacher wants to use the app, go ahead. Studies have shown an increase in learning when the app is used in the classroom. Cetinkaya (2017) found that the WhatsApp can be a positive influence in educational environments but report that students were distracted if messages sent disrupted the flow of the lesson or were off topic. Encourage your child's teacher to establish clear expectations for students and monitor on-tasks/off-tasks behaviors. Everyone will benefit from that.
Links that might help:
https://nationalonlinesafety.com/guides/whatsapp-online-safety-guide-for-parents
https://protectyoungeyes.com/apps/whatsapp-parental-controls/
Safeguards: The most important thing I can say about safeguards is to be diligent and purposeful in educating yourself to the digital world. If you hear of a new app, research it. Check out sites that are available online to get information about what it is, how it is used, and reasons to be concerned. Then, talk, talk, talk. Be sure you communicate with your child about the app. You as the parent have a great opportunity to teach by modeling and communicating. Take advantage of your influence. Teens usually want your guidance even when they act like they don't. Don't be afraid to set time limits and accountability practices within the home as well.
Every adult should be concerned enough to teach ethical digital behavior. Adults can provide guidelines, expectations and rules, but “rules are not enough, as they must be applied in a way that aligns with the moral purpose of the rule concerned” (Dennis & Harrison, 2020, p. 5). They go on to suggest teaching digitally “character based” responsibilities which will encourage students to choose the right behavior because it is the right thing to do. They suggest this can be accomplished through character education specifically geared to the digital world. They identify this as teaching “cyber wisdom” (Dennis & Harrison, 2020). One of the best teaching tools, is being a role model. So demonstrate digital responsibility to your kids also.
Talk to your kids and then 'Follow' your child, don't be afraid you are invading their privacy, rather think of it as protecting their future. Some ways to engage with your kids on the apps they are using include creating a family Instagram story one night a week together, TIkToks are especially fun to do with kids as well. Engaging with your teen will help them see the importance of digital responsibility and can bridge the gap of the great digital divide between parents and teens.
References
Alrajehi, M. (2016). Twitter uses and gratifications of high school students. Global Media Journal, 14(27), 1-7. http://ezproxy.liberty.edu/login?qurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.proquest.com%2docview%2F1882393830%3Faccountid%3D12085
Carpenter, J. P., & Morrison, S. A. (2018). Enhancing teacher education…with Twitter? Phi Delta Kappan, 100(1), 25-28. https://doi.org/10.1177/0031721718797118
Cetinkaya, L. (2017). The impact of WhatsApp use on success in education process. The International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning, 18(7). https://doi.org/10.19173/irrodl.v18i7.3279
Dennis, M., & Harrison, T. (2020). Unique ethical challenges for the 21st century: Online technology and virtue education. Journal of Moral Education, 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1080/03057240.2020.1781071
Dorai, G., Aggarwal, S., Patel, N., & Powell, C. (2020). VIDE - Vault app identification and extraction system for Ios devices. Forensic Science International: Digital Investigation, 33, 301007. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsidi.2020.301007
Everything you've ever wanted to know about TikTok as the parent of a teenager. (2019, November 8).
FamilyEducation. https://www.familyeducation.com/teens/what-is-tiktok-a-helpful-guide-for-parents-of-teens (n.d.).
Google will let everyone migrate from hangouts to chat for free in 2021 – TechCrunch. (2020, October 15). TechCrunch. https://techcrunch.com/2020/10/15/hangouts-meet-chat/
Inside VSCO, a Gen Z-approved photo-sharing app, with CEO Joel Flory. (2019, December 5). TechCrunch. https://techcrunch.com/2019/12/05/inside-vsco-a-gen-z-approved-photo-sharing-app-with-ceo-joel-flory/
Is Tik Tok tarnishing PM's image? (2019, November 19). Free Press Journal. http://ezproxy.liberty.edu/login?qurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.proquest.com%2Fdocview%2F2315355333%3Faccountid%3D12085
Is WhatsApp safe for kids? Here’s what parents need to know. (2020, March 7). McAfee Blogs. https://www.mcafee.com/blogs/consumer/family-safety/is-whatsapp-safe-for-kids-heres-what-parents-need-to-know/
Kashy-Rosenbaum, G., & Aizenkot, D. (2020). Exposure to cyberbullying in WhatsApp classmates‘ groups and classroom climate as predictors of students‘ sense of belonging: A multi-level analysis of elementary, middle and high schools. Children and Youth Services Review, 108, 104614. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2019.104614 Keir, T. (2015).
Secure vault apps for iOS. MicroMart, 104-107. http://ezproxy.liberty.edu/login?qurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.proquest.com%2Fdocview%2F1650887555%3Faccountid%3D12085
Murgia, M. (2017, October 6). The secret life of children and their phones. FT.com. http://ezproxy.liberty.edu/login?1960178609qurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.proquest.com%2Fdocview%2F1960178609%3Faccountid%3D12085 (n.d.).
Ohio Department of Education. https://education.ohio.gov/getattachment/Topics/Teaching/Educator-Conduct/Licensure-Code-of-Professional-Conduct-for-Ohio-Ed/Licensure-Code-of-Professional-Conduct.pdf.aspx?lang=en-US
Pittman, M., & Reich, B. (2016). Social media and loneliness: Why an Instagram picture may be worth more than a thousand Twitter words. Computers in Human Behavior, 62, 155-167. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2016.03.084
Popular video app Tik Tok poses valid concerns-and it's up to us to confront them - Gateway. (2019, November 12). University wire. http://ezproxy.liberty.edu/login?qurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.proquest.com%2Fdocview%2F2313992357%3Faccountid%3D12085
Rehm, M., & Notten, A. (2016). Twitter as an informal learning space for teachers!? The role of social capital in Twitter conversations among teachers. Teaching and Teacher Education, 60, 215-223. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2016.08.015
Tang, Y., & Hew, K. F. (2017). Using Twitter for education: Beneficial or simply a waste of time? Computers & Education, 106, 97-118. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2016.12.004
Twitter’s doubling of character count from 140 to 280 had little impact on length of tweets – TechCrunch. (2018, October 30). TechCrunch. https://techcrunch.com/2018/10/30/twitters-doubling-of-character-count-from-140-to-280-had-little-impact-on-length-of-tweets/
What is VSCO? (2020, November 25). Family Online Safety Institute. https://www.fosi.org/good-digital-parenting/what-vsco WhatsApp: Kids are using it like crazy. Here's what parents should know. (2017, June 7).
Why Tik Tok ban won't suffice? (2019, April 17). CIOL. Why Tik Tok ban won't suffice? (2019, Apr 17). Ciol, http://ezproxy.liberty.edu/login?qurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.proquest.com%2Fdocview%2F2210414314%3Faccountid%3D12085
Zhang, Z. (2020). Infrastructuralization of Tik Tok: transformation, power relationships, and platformization of video entertainment in China. Media, Cultural, & Society. https://doi.org/10.1177/0163443720939452