Know Your Kids Apps #1

By Nick Leith | Posted: Tuesday March 1, 2016

Each newsletter we will investigate an app that students at Casebrook are being spotted with on their personal phones and devices.

As parents it's really hard to keep up with the info around all things new and exciting to 11-13 year old's in the 'app world'. Please take a couple of minutes to find out about the apps your kids are using and how they are using them...used correctly they can really useful and enjoyable, but often 11-13 year old's are not equipped with the social skills to make choices that protect themselves and their peers from harm or future consequences.

The articles posted each newsletter will be quoted from the Common Sense Media website

INSTAGRAM:

Instagram lets users snap, edit, and share photos and 15-second videos, either publicly or with a private network of followers. It unites the most popular features of social media sites: sharing, seeing, and commenting on photos. It also lets you apply fun filters and effects to your photos, making them look high-quality and artistic.

What parents need to know:

• The terms specify that users should be at least 13 years old
  
• Teens are on the lookout for "likes." Similar to the way they use Facebook, teens may measure the "success" of their photos -- even their self-worth -- by the number of likes or comments they receive. Posting a photo or video can be problematic if teens are posting to validate their popularity.
• Public photos are the default. Photos and videos shared on Instagram are public unless privacy settings are adjusted. Hashtags and location information can make photos even more visible to communities beyond a teen's followers if his or her account is public.
• Private messaging is now an option. Instagram Direct allows users to send "private messages" to up to 15 mutual friends. These pictures don't show up on their public feeds. Although there's nothing wrong with group chats, kids may be more likely to share inappropriate stuff with their inner circles.

Article Source: 

https://www.commonsensemedia.org/app-reviews/instagram