Using decoy apps to hide content on devices or anonymous apps to post things you wouldn’t share in real life can expose children to variety of online issues if misused. Learn more about what these are and get pracical tips to keep young people safe.
Anonymous apps can expose children to a range of online risks, including inappropriate content, cyberbullying and sexting.
Under the cover of anonymity, people may feel less accountable for what they say and may share things that they would not on open social platforms.
See full guide on Anonymous Apps to learn more:
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The Ask.fm app is an extension of the desktop site, where users can ask and answer questions, either with their name or anonymously. Ask.fm’s reputation as platform for cyberbullying was highlighted in the past and the organisation has since worked with anti-bullying charities to help create safety tools and policies to deal with this and other harmful content on it’s platform.
Key safety features:
Cost: Free | Minimum age: 13
Risk: Exposure to inappropriate content and
The omegle app is a Free online chat site that is used to talk to strangers through a webcam.
Like Chaftroulete, the app randomly pairs users with each other for anonymous one-to-one chats.
Cost: Free | Minimum age: 13
Risks: Exposure to sexual content and other types of inappropriate content
SayAt.Me is an Android only app that allows you to ask questions to others and get ‘honest feedback’. Like similar apps, it can expose children to cyberbullying as young people may use anonymity to harass others. Also, getting honest feedback can impact young people self-esteem if comments made are hurtful and cruel.
Cost: Free | Minimum age: 16 (with parental consent)
Risks: Cyberbullying
Whisper is an anonymous messaging app where users are encouraged to share stories they wouldn’t want to put their name to. Whisper includes a category whereby users can search for ‘Meet Up’ – in this category there can sexual images and messages. Whisper is rated 17+ in the app store, but many teens could use it regardless.
Cost: Free | Minimum age: 17
Risks: Connecting with strangers, location sharing, cyberbullying, inappropriate content
Like many anonymous apps, Tellonym allows you to ask and answer questions about users on the platfrom anonymously. The app can be linked to other social media accounts (Instagram, Twitter or Snapchat) to allow user to get incoming messages from friends and people they don’t know. Connecting Tellonym to other platform increases the risk that strangers could target children across platforms.
Safety on the Tellonym
Cost: Free | Minimum age: 17
Risks: inappropriate content, cyberbullying
Like many anonymous apps, Psst! Anonymous allows you to share secrets, daily experiences without sharing your identity. You can vote, comment and private message others on the platform. This can exposed young people to incidents of cyberbullying as some use the anonimity to target others and say things they wouldn’t say in real life.
Also, like Snapchat, once a message has been opened it is deleted within 30 seconds however, you cannot screenshot conversation for later viewing which means if you are receiving inappropriate content, you are not able to collect evidence.
Cost: Free | Minimum age: 17
Risks: inappropriate content, cyberbullying
In order to throw off the unknowing eye, decoy app icons often look like a regular camera icon, music app, photo app or a calculator. These apps are great for securing sensitive information from strangers, but they also make it difficult for parents to monitor what information children are accessing and holding on their devices.
If misused, they can be used to exchange explicit content that can be harmful to children’s wellbeing. Also, as a parent it’s important to have transparency with your child about how they use their devices, these put a barrier to this which can make it harder to protect children from online risks.
If you do spot a decoy app your child’s phone it’s important to;
Expert advice article: Why kids choose decoy apps and why parents should care – by Toni Birdsong McAfee Family Safety Evangelist
Read article
Appearing as a calculator icon, the only giveaway that this may actually be a decoy app is if you see more than one calculator icon on your child’s device. Private information, videos and photographs can be hidden in this app.
Cost: Freemium with in-app purchases | Minimum age: No minimum age
Risk: Sharing or recieving inappropriate content
The Photo Album Vault appears as a typical lock screen and allows you to store photos in the cloud with unlimited storage. You can also take and store videos and photos in the app.
Cost: Free with in-app purchases | Minimum age: no minimum age
Risks: Sharing or receiving inappropriate content
The Stashword app cannot be seen as it is an extension to messages only. It requires a PIN or fingerprint scan in order to open private messages. You can erase conversation easily and it can also be used to save and manage passwords.
Cost: 99p Minimum age: No minimum age
Risks: Sending or recieving inappropriate content
The Keepsafe app allows you to store photos and videos behind a PIN, fingerprint touch ID and military-grade encryption. There is a free and paid version of the app based on extended features like advanced security features, such as fake login PINs, break-in alerts and the ability to disquise the app as something else.
Cost: Free with in-app purchases| Minimum age: no minimum age
Risks: Sharing or receiving inappropriate images
See more article and resources to help children stay safe online.
