As always we are working to update our Technology Handout. Please click here for the full document. The most recently added apps are the following:

BeeTalk: This messaging app is very popular with teens and has a big focus on VIDEO and LIVESTREAMING which is super not good for impulsive teens or tweens who may lack the sound decision-making skills they will have in their early twenties. Your child could easily see something inappropriate on someone else’s video or send something live. It also features a “whisper” messaging designed to disappear; it’s features like these that kids use to get around a parent who checks their text messages. So, if your kid has BeeTalk, it’s a dangerous app, and you should definitely delete it.

Spotafriend: Ugh, this dangerous app is basically like Tinder for teens. HARD PASS on that one. Look, parents, we need to make sure our kids know that there are PLENTY of ways to meet people that DO NOT INVOLVE SOCIAL MEDIA. Yikes. Meet a real person, like, IN PERSON, at school, at church, by joining a club or youth group, etc. Bottom line: your underage child should not be using an app to meet “new people” (i.e. STRANGERS) in your area

Flinch: Eeek, this one actually DOES make me Flinch. It’s basically a dumb game that can turn into a cakewalk for predators. This app is a live staring contest between users. That’s right, your kid and another user face off via live video and facial recognition software decides who laughs or flinches first. Ummm…screenshots of your child’s face and a live video link to your child’s location? NOPE.

(Jenny Rapson of foreverymom.com.)

So, let’s not only start out praying for our kids in 2018, let’s start out diligent and on guard to what snares are out there for them.

My love,