The internet and technology has become such a wonderful tool for schools, businesses and families, especially right now with the pandemic. But it also has its negatives as well, especially for our students. We want to bring awareness about the dangers of overuse of technology as well as dangerous websites and apps that kids should not be on. We have increasingly seen more and more issues at school that have come from the technology and or apps that are being used outside of school. Setting boundaries and expectations, having open discussions about technology and safety with your student are important. The more you have the open dialog with your students about technology, the more they will be willing to confide in you and come to you if there is a problem. Here are some tips for setting those expectations: When developing a plan for technology use, consider your child’s input. Although you are the parent and ultimately are the one to set and enforce expectations, getting input from your child can help them to feel valued in the process. A great way to do this is to create a technology plan or contract that you both contribute to. When talking about expectations for technology, it is important again to involve your child. Ask your child what he/she thinks the consequences for misuse should be. Establishing these expectations ahead of time will allow for fewer arguments and misunderstandings if/when something does happen.
Below I have listed apps and websites that parents should be aware of. These apps and websites market themselves to the young and can be very confusing for them so please keep a look out for them. On my school website I have linked multiple articles that go into further detail about each app and website so I encourage you to check them out.
Apps and Websites that are potentially dangerous
Meetme
Omegle
Grindr
Tiktok
Skout
Badbod
Bumble
Snapchat
Kik
Live.me
Holla
Whisper
Ask.FM
Calculator%
Hot or Not
Zoomerang
Parlor
Tellonym
Bigo live
IMVU
Houseparty
Look
YouNow
Monkey
Amino
Qooh.Me
Pro-Ana Websites
YOLO
Links to articles:
15 apps every parent should know that could be potentially dangerous
A Complete Guide to Potentially Dangerous Apps for Kids
18 Social Media Apps and Sites Kids Are Using Right Now
Websites And Apps To Be Aware Of: A Cheat Sheet For Parents
16 Risky Apps Parents Should Be Aware Of (and Why!)