Parents Beware … Sheriff’s Office Highlights Risky Apps for Kids

As the amount of apps targeting children and teenagers continues to grow, so do the dangers, said Geauga County Sheriff Scott Hildenbrand.

The sheriff’s office recently highlighted nine apps parents may not be aware of that could potentially harm their youth.

“The internet offers endless exciting opportunities for children to satisfy their natural curiosity, explore interests, find entertainment and discover new things. It’s a world at their fingertips — a TV, a textbook and a means to their curiosity,” the sheriff’s office said in a Facebook post. “However, not everything on the internet is appropriate for children. It’s easy for them to access unsuitable content or fall victim to fake news, misinformation and predators.”

Hildenbrand said people will try and take advantage of children through online platforms.

“A lot of times, they’ll try to send their messages, try to elicit photos from them,” he said. “They try to friend them, act like they’re good friends and sometimes even offer money.”

West Geauga Schools Superintendent Rich Markwardt said while school districts do what they can to protect students, parents have the greater responsibility.

“Schools can and do alert parents to online dangers that can hurt children. However, ultimately, it is the parents’ responsibility to determine the degree of access to technology that their children have and to establish parameters around its use,” he said. “Young kids should not have unsupervised, unrestricted access to the internet. We don’t allow an 11-year-old to drive a car.”

Chardon Schools recently hosted an assembly for the Do It for James Foundation discussing the dangers of the apps and how students can become victims of predators, said Chardon Schools Superintendent Michael Hanlon.

DIJF formed after Streetsboro High School student James Timothy Woods, 17, killed himself in 2022 as a result of online cyberbullying and harassment.

Chardon Schools also hosted a parent night with the same presenters to raise awareness about protecting children online.

Kenston Schools teaches online safety both in the classroom and through district leadership, said Kenston Schools Superintendent Bruce Willingham.

“In our district, we address the risks and concerns associated with these apps in our technology classes, as well as through discussions with our counselors and principals,” he said. “Educating students on responsible digital citizenship is a priority for us.”

The district is also planning a parent night to keep families informed, he said.

“Anytime your child has a phone, a smartphone, parents need to be involved in what they’re doing with that phone, what they’re looking at, what they’re downloading,” Hildenbrand said.

The sheriff’s office gave the following break-down on the latest apps posing the highest risks to teens:

Roblox is a game where users explore fantasy worlds, solve puzzles and create their own game, however there are dangers that come with it. These include inappropriate content in games, threat of online predators in the chat feature, real in-game purchases and cyberbullying.
Calculator% appears to be a typical calculator phone app, it is a tool meant to hide photos and videos. It allows users to hide content they don’t want others to see behind a password. Risks include online predators, secret conversations with strangers and inappropriate and unsafe hidden content.
Whispr allows users to send anonymous messages, photos and videos to and from strangers in private. The risks that come with this app are talking to strangers, sharing inappropriate content and cyberbullying without consequences.
Discord can stream videos live, view others livestreams and chat with others. The app is geared toward gamers, but channels can vary in interests and topics. Discord has risks of inappropriate content in chats, cyberbullying in servers and messages and unregulated voice chats with strangers.
Tumblr is a blogging platform where users can share text, photos and other media to different communities. Tumblr has risks of inappropriate content, cyberbullying, privacy issues and risk of addiction.
Yubo is a mix of social networking and live streaming through live chat rooms and streaming with random connections. Dangers include exposure to strangers, encountering inappropriate content, children sharing personal information and cyberbullying through live videos.
TikTok users can watch, share and create videos of dancing, lip-syncing and other trends. Dangers of the app include viewing inappropriate content, interaction with online predators and strangers, easy addiction to the app and cyberbullying through comment sections.
Monkey users can video call with strangers live. According to the Sheriff’s Department, some of the dangers include exposure to strangers, possibility of explicit language and content cyberbullying kids during calls and privacy risks due to children unknowingly sharing personal information. This post received 6.4 thousand likes and 24 thousand shares.
Snapchat is an app where you can share temporary videos and photos that disappear after 24 hours. In addition, you can send messages that disappear and track friends’ locations. Their post says dangers could include inappropriate messages, interacting with strangers, live location tracking and cyberbullying.

The sheriff’s office provided the following recommendations to keep children safe:

Discuss Online Safety

Have open and ongoing conversations about the dangers of chatting with strangers online and explain the importance of never sharing personal information, including their real name, location, or passwords. Remind them to never share personal info or accept friend requests from people they don’t know.
Keep the lines of communication open so your child feels comfortable coming to you if they encounter anything suspicious. Let them know they can come to you if they experience bullying, inappropriate content, or anything that feels off. Come up with a plan for what to do if they encounter uncomfortable situations.
Encourage kids to be open about what they’re doing on their devices.
Teach your kids about the importance of being kind online and encourage them to block or report harmful users.
Explain why anonymous chats can be risky and encourage them to talk to you about anything uncomfortable and encourage kids to connect with friends they know.Use Parental Controls

Some apps have options to restrict features, set restrictions, limit purchases, and block inappropriate content. apps from being downloaded.
Enable features like “Safe Direct Messaging” and monitor who can send them messages or friend requests.
Use Family Pairing which lets parents control screen time, messaging options, and privacy settings.
Look for age-appropriate, moderated servers you can join or monitor.Monitor Activity and Screen Time

Regularly check in their activity, including posts, interactions with others, their experiences and who they’re playing with.
Set limits on how much time they spend on apps each day.
Regularly check your child’s device for apps that may be hiding in plain sight, like Calculator%.Set Privacy Settings

Make sure their account is private and they only accept friend requests from people they know, so only people they approve of can view their videos, posts, follow and can message and comment.
Adjust the settings to limit who can message, chat, and join games with your child.
Limit who can message or view your child’s activity. You can also turn off the ability to chat entirely.Keep the App Off-Limits

Consider not allowing the app on your child’s device, especially if they’re underage. Use app management tools or settings to block or restrict access to apps.Set Boundaries