{"id":4682,"date":"2017-09-14T08:00:41","date_gmt":"2017-09-14T07:00:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/screentimelabs.com\/?p=4682"},"modified":"2022-03-18T05:33:52","modified_gmt":"2022-03-18T05:33:52","slug":"five-messaging-apps-that-are-unsafe-for-pre-teens","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/screentimelabs.com\/blog\/five-messaging-apps-that-are-unsafe-for-pre-teens\/","title":{"rendered":"Five Messaging Apps that Are Unsafe for Pre-teens"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Parental<\/p>\n

Snapchat<\/strong><\/p>\n

Snapchat’s already fairly notorious for how it automatically deletes messages after a set time, at least in theory. But problems go well beyond the app’s mechanics<\/a>. Advertisers can easily monitor conversations, and indeed as Snapchat struggles to prove itself financially, it’ll likely offer up more data and give advertisers more opportunity to snoop on kids.<\/p>\n

Kik<\/strong><\/p>\n

Kik has a plan<\/a> involving artificial\u00a0intelligence that will likely give parents pause. Simply put, the company is developing marketing robots or automated chat systems that contact users directly and attempt to get them to click on a link, buy something, or otherwise market directly to consumers. While, at the moment, these chatbots are clearly identified and usually will only show up on the app if contacted, it’s not difficult to see automated chatbots being sent out to try and lure kids to marketing campaigns. There’s nothing in place to stop individuals from doing this. So it’s one to be wary of.<\/p>\n

Line<\/strong><\/p>\n

Line is a fairly new app, at least to Americans; it’s largely been popular in Japan and only recently has begun drawing attention in the US. The main point of concern is \u201cHidden Chats,\u201d which, unlike Snapchat, will completely erase a Line chat from both devices used in the chats and off company servers. That makes recovering those records impossible, and it makes figuring out who kids are talking to, tricky.<\/p>\n

\"Parental