Icons that should make you ask questions

Red Flag Apps

Icons that should make you ask quesons

October 2017

Department of State Health Services, PHR1

6302 Iola Avenue

Lubbock, TX 79424

Taiya.jones@dshs.texas.gov

806.783.6481

The following is a list of the most commonly used applications within the app store.

Name of App Icon Description & Comments

SnapChat

 Allows users to send photos and videos which are then

“deleted” after viewing

 Location features that shares exact location and address

 Used to send racy/crude pictures and sexting

 Users can screenshot and save photos regardless of

“deletion”

Messenger—

Facebook

 Popular app connected to Facebook’s messaging

feature.

 Allows users easier access to their messages

Instagram

 Allows users to share photos and videos publicly and

privately.

 Connects across platforms: Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr,

and Flickr.

 Cyberbullying and vicious comments are common.

 There are privacy settings but many users do not update

them and share publicly

Facebook

 Allows users to share updates, photos and videos.

 Watch, interact, and create live videos

 Play games within the application, share content, and

internal messaging

 Content is not controlled and can be mature.

 Profile creation makes it easier to connect with

strangers, phishers, and scammers.

 Uses internet connection to message and call.

 Frequently used for sexting among teens.

 Predators and other strangers can connect to teens with

ease and without being traced.

The following is a list of the most commonly used applications within the app store.

Name of App Icon Description & Comments

Twitter

 Tweets are photos/videos and 140 characters of text.

 Pornography and other mature content is frequently

found on this site.

 Another avenue for strangers to connect with teens

anonymously.

Kik

 Rated age 17+ but there is no age verification system.

 Uses internet connection for messages.

 Frequently used for sexting among teens.

 Has also been connected to cyberbullying.

Tinder

 Rated age 17+ but privacy policy allows registration

13+ (connects to Facebook)

 Location-based dating service, mostly anonymous

hook-ups among college-aged populations.

 Geo-location and anonymity increases the risk of

catfishing, sexual harassment, and stalking.

Dropbox

 Cloud service for photos, documents, videos, and files.

 Connects to all of the users devices.

 Hacks have shown the dangers of storing unencrypted

and/or sensitive information in this app and other

cloud services.

Tumblr

 Rated age 17+ but there is no age verification.

 Access to pornography, violent, and mature content.

 Privacy settings are difficult to set up making content

public..

 Can glorify self-harm and eating disorders.

The following is a list of the most commonly used applications within the app store.

Name of App Icon Description & Comments

Live.ly

 Video streaming service, live streams allow access to

nearly anyone.

 Predators can view victims in an unedited and intimate

moment, with little to no incriminating data.

 Infrequent use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs,

cartoon and fantasy violence, profanity, and crude

humor.

Yarn—Chat

Fiction

 Users create stories that can include mature content.

 Rated age 17+

 Classified as thrillers, romance, and are created in “text

messages”.

Hooked—Chat

Stories

 Very similar to Yarn except the age restriction is 12+

 Advertises as thrillers and material can become

mature/sexual.

mai Social

 Users create an avatar and use them to post on social

feeds that anyone can see.

 Includes messaging features.

 Users can also video share with themselves or their

avatar.

Wishbone—

Compare

Anything

 Users judge different polls and compare answers with

friends.

 Users can create polls which can lead to cyberbullying

and other forms of peer comparison.

HMU– Get

More Friends &

Views

 Users advertise themselves to create more followers on

other social media sites like Instagram.

 Users can search by age, gender, location, and interests.

 Post photos, text, video, or chats.

The following is a list of the most commonly used applications within the app store.

Name of App Icon Description & Comments

goocha– nice to

meet you, my

friends

 Purpose of this app is to advertise other social media

accounts and gain more followers.

 Very similar to HMU.

After School

 Anonymous messaging and location service.

 Connects to the users school and creates school chats.

 Location and contact is readily available for predators.

 False sense of trust because all users should be

classmates.

 Organized into “subreddits” that range from baking to

pornography.

 Mature subreddits only ask if the user is 18+, no

confirmation.

 Posts are frequently profane, suggestive, and violent.

LinePlay

 Users create an avatar and use them to post on social

feeds that anyone can see.

 Includes messaging features.

 Connects with random users.

Amino

 Communities, chat, forums, and groups.

 Users post blogs and polls.

 Users can create polls which can lead to cyberbullying

and other forms of peer comparison.

ASKfm

 Users interact in a Q&A format with friends and

anonymous users.

 Can ask other users questions anonymously, can

promote cyberbullying.

 Content is mature and can include profanity and drugs.

The following are the most common texting and phone apps.

Name of App Icon Name of App Icon Name of App Icon

TextFree &

TextFree

Voice

(calling)

IMO

Yellow–

Make friends

for SnapChat

GroupMe

*group

messaging

Line

Mingle2

MarcoPolo

Live

WeChat

AntiChat

Viber

WePhone

TextMe!

Text Now

PlayStation

Messages

Sideline

Tango

Chat Now

(Omegle)

Texting apps are dangerous for teens as it allows them to anonymously talk to anyone. This can promote

cyberbullying and other forms of harassment. Largely used for sexting, increased profanity, and other mature

content. It also allows children to connect with strangers and potential predators with little or no incriminating

data or means of tracking predators. *Similar to Kik and WhatsApp.

Most apps have a 17+ age rank that is not enforced.

The following are the most common texting and phone apps.

Name of App Icon Name of App Icon Name of App Icon

Talkatone

FreeTone

HiTalk

Discord

Free Calls

and Texts by

MO+

Dingtone

KakaoTalk

MOCO

Sarahah

Hangouts

2nd Line–

Second Phone

Number

Changer App

Monkey

*Video chats

with strangers

ooVoo

*Video chats

HOLLA–

best random

video chat

Whisper-

Share,

Express, Meet

Chill– Find

Chill Friends

with Same

Interests &

Views

Text Burner

-Anonymous

Texting

Private Phone

App

Houseparty

Texting apps are dangerous for teens as it allows them to anonymously talk to anyone. This can promote

cyberbullying and other forms of harassment. Largely used for sexting, increased profanity, and other mature

content. It also allows children to connect with strangers and potential predators with little or no incriminating

data or means of tracking predators. *Similar to Kik and WhatsApp.

Most apps have a 17+ age rank that is not enforced.

The following apps are considered “Dating” apps

Dating apps match people on similar interests, location, and include “like” features which allows both parties to

express interest and then opens private messaging between the two to set up meetings. Sexting and other mature

and suggestive themes are used in these messaging platforms. These are dangerous for children and teenagers as

they are easily deceived and the applications share personal information and locations. Typically connects to other

forms of social media like Facebook. *Similar to Tinder. *All dating apps are rated ages 17+

Name of App Icon Name of App Icon Name of App Icon

Bumble POF Grindr

Hookup

Now– Meet

Attractive and

Secret Dating

MeetMe KKFriends

*Connects to

Kik Messenger

App

Hookup

Dating

OkCupid

Anonymous

Chat

Rooms,

Dating

DOWN

Dating

Zoosk

Wild: Hook

Up, Meet &

Dating

Pure

Anonymous

Clover Her—

LGBTQ

Dating

Cupid

Dating

Match

Hinge:

Dating and

Relationships

The following apps are considered “Dating” apps

Dating apps match people on similar interests, location, and include “like” features which allows both parties to

express interest and then opens private messaging between the two to set up meetings. Sexting and other mature

and suggestive themes are used in these messaging platforms. These are dangerous for children and teenagers as

they are easily deceived and the applications share personal information and locations. Typically connects to other

forms of social media like Facebook. *Similar to Tinder. *All dating apps are rated ages 17+

Name of App Icon Name of

App

Icon Name of App Icon

Dating hub

– flirt and meet

free singles

online app

Fling Dating

– Meet New

Single, Chat

Flirt & Match

One Night

Stand– Adult

Hook up

Tonight

Klique–

Meet New

People

Naughty–

Hook Up

Dating App

The

League...

Feeld–

Dating for

couples and

singles

Ashley

Madison:

#1 for Affairs

Sudy-Sugar

Daddy

Dating App

Meetville–

Meet & Chat

with Singles.

Dating App

Jack’d– Gay

Chat &

Dating

Tagged

Most dating apps include location services which can tell other users when and where they have

come in contact with your teen. This is dangerous as far as stalking and making location easily

accessible for predators. Dating apps typically show up in the lifestyle section of the app store but

many messaging apps can be used to meet strangers as well. Messaging apps should be treated

with the same vigilance as dating apps on teens phones.

Dating apps typically connect to other forms of social media, like Facebook, giving users

complete access to photos and other personal information.

These apps are rated ages 17+ but there is little or no maintenance of the restriction. Some apps,

like Bumble, allow users to register at 13.

Name of App Icon Name of App Icon Name of App Icon

Vine Safe

Uploader

for

SnapChat

Live.me

Periscope YouNow UChat

Megastar:

Discover

Talent

Musical.ly Twitch

Hypstar–

make and

share videos

BIGO

LIVE– Live

Stream

IMVU

*Photo

Sharing

The following are video applications

Video apps allow users to livestream and post staged videos of themselves. Content can be very

mature including sexual behavior and drug/alcohol use. These applications are popular among

predators as they can view unedited and intimate moments of people with little to no

incriminating data. *Similar to Live.ly

Name of App Icon Name of App Icon Name of App Icon

Best VPN

Proxy

Betternet

Hotspot

Shield VPN

& Wifi

Proxy

VPN Proxy

Master

Unlimited

vpn

The following apps are considered Proxy or VPN apps

Proxy servers work as a secondary computer which sends a users internet requests through them rather

than the users IP. Many teens use these to bypass blocked websites and apps when at school. VPN’s add

security and privacy for a user by connecting it to a private network. VPN’s are used to hide browsing

history.

Name of App Icon Name of App Icon Name of App Icon

Happn

*also used as

a Dating App

Badoo

*similar to

Happn in

location sharing

Meetup

Skout Orbit–

Who’s

Nearby?

Find My

Family,

Friends,

Phone

The Game by

Hot or Not

Fake-A-

Location

*sends a fake

‘GPS reading’

The following are location applications

Location apps allow users to see who is near them and can record and show locations of

any

user

you have passed. Can be used as a tool for predators and stalkers as some apps update locations in

real time and some, like Happn, have a timeline that records the exact time and place of each

encounter with a user and gives you access to view their profile.

Name of App Icon Name of App Icon Name of App Icon

Private

Photo Vault

Keep Safe

Private

Secret

Photo and

Video

Calculator

Don’t

Touch This

Secret Apps

Lite

Photo Lock

Vault

Calculator+

The following are privacy applications

Privacy apps allow users to store photos, videos, and other files, as well as bookmarks and web browsing

history in a password protected application. These apps are an indicator that a child or teen is trying to

hide mature/inappropriate content. These applications are not as safe as users assume them to be and can

be hacked into.

Media applications are constantly changing and new applications are created

daily. Vigilance is the most important factor in keeping children safe from

advantageous apps. For more information about practicing safe social media

use, please visit any of these resources.

FamilyEducation.com

TheOneSpy Blog

ModernMom.com

KidminTools.com

Common Sense Media—Dropbox

Gaggle.net

CarefulParents.com

Recent updates by Samantha Curtis

TTUHSC Department of Public Health

samantha.n.curtis@ttuhsc.edu