I would like to finish out our technology series with simply listing some frightening trends.  Please be wise.  You can’t afford to be uninformed.

Snap Chat – This iPhone app allows users to send photos that will “self-destruct” within 10 seconds, encouraging kids to feel more comfortable “sexting” with peers. Once the recipient opens the pic, the timer starts and the image destructs once the time has expired. This app gives kids a false sense of security in sending inappropriate pictures or texts; however, damage can still be done within a specified time frame.  Talk to your child about the dangers of sending risky photos.  The recipient is able to take a photo of their screen with the text is showing.  This creates a problem when that recipient forwards or shows others.

Chatroulette - Log into the site and people are randomly connected — over video, audio, and text — with another person logged into the site.

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott has issued a consumer alert warning parents to keep their children away from video chat Web site Chatroulette.

One estimate, from the Texas Attorney General’s investigation (http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest/stories/030810dnnatchatroulette.18a0fb88b.html) is that nearly half of the people found on the site were behaving in inappropriate ways.  Just what you would want your middle schooler to be party to, I’m sure.

An analysis of Chatroulette traffic earlier this year by RJMetrics provided the following results:

• 89% of single people were male, 11% female. In fact, you are more likely to encounter nobody at all than a single female, and twice as likely to encounter a sign requesting female nudity than you are to encounter actual female nudity
• 1 in 8 sessions result in something R-rated or worse, including explicit nudity, and lewd act.

Puff or Blow Skirt - Beware Peeping Toms! Although these apps are not full nudity, your children can blow a lady’s dress up … literally. Once downloaded, the user can blow into the microphone or use a swiping motion to lift the skirts of girls in pictures. While most are wearing underwear, it still sends the wrong message.  Do we really want our children participating in something like this as a joke or to pass the time?

Poof by Cydia – With one touch, Poof makes apps disappear before parents’ prying eyes, allowing young users of “jailbroken” iPhones to virtually hide apps they don’t want you to see. All your little tech genius needs to do is open <i>Poof</i> and select which app he or she wants hidden, and you’ll never know it’s there.

KiK Messenger – This kicky app for all types of smartphones is a mini social network. Similar to iChat or Google Chat, users can talk to multiple people, upload pictures, files and even send built-in greeting cards or sketched pictures. The reviews read like dating ads, with users looking to get to know more people. This app has become a way for teenagers to sext with strangers. Make sure you talk with your kids about the dangers of “meeting” people online!

There certainly is a lot to consider and we have only scratched the surface.  It is our job as parents to be informed.  The sad truth is much of the material that you as an adult would view on some of these sites or by using the apps could cause a problem for you.  Yet, we are allowing our children to access them even if unbeknownst to us.

Many prayers,