#ANONYMOUS TEXTING APPS SIMULATOR#

Users can send direct messages to each other, so there is the potential for interactions with strangers.

Discord is a voice and text chatting tool for gamers that has over 100 million users.

#ANONYMOUS TEXTING APPS SIMULATOR#

Common Sense Media makes this recommendation: “While older teens and adults who understand the tongue-in-cheek approach and mature content will likely get a kick out of this simulator, BitLife – Life Simulator is definitely not appropriate for kids and younger teens.”.Users are asked to make adult choices, like whether to have a one-night stand or use drugs.BitLife is a text-based, life simulator app.The app has a lot of ads and users might feel pressured to make purchases to get more followers and likes.Zepeto allows users to interact with strangers through an anonymous follow function and direct messaging.This fast-growing app allows users to create animated versions of themselves and then interact with other users in a chatroom.What parents worry about: Entertainment apps can offer access to inappropriate content and potential interactions with strangers. Secret messages are encouraged, and users can access X-rated stickers and plug-ins.Telegram allows users to send texts, images, and videos.Users can share their locations and contacts while messaging, but that feature can be turned off.The app allows users to send unlimited messages and photos without worrying about data limits.WhatsApp was ranked 13 th on Apple’s list of the most popular apps of 2018.The company that makes Kik offers a safety guide for parents.Kik has been in the news because of cases involving online predators.Kik is reportedly used by one-third of American teens 13-17.What parents worry about: Any messaging app can lead to inappropriate conversations and raises the risk of exposure to predatory and inappropriate behaviors. Several reviews mention users exposing themselves or engaging in sexual activities during chats.Users engage in live video chats with strangers.

Throughout the day, she receives notifications when a new friend is “in the house.”) My extremely social child uses it to chat with a group of friends. (Author note: I had never heard of Houseparty until this year, but it has become ubiquitous in my house.

Privacy settings can also be used, and chats can be locked to reduce the risk of strangers joining a chat.

There is an option to add people nearby, but the location service can be turned off.Users can only add people they already know through Facebook or their contact list.According to Bark, a parental control phone tracker app, Houseparty doesn’t monitor chats, which raises the risk of kids being exposed to inappropriate content.This group video chat service is reportedly the fourth most downloaded app and 60 percent of its users are under 24.What parents worry about: Live video apps can raise concerns about privacy and the potential for inappropriate content and interaction with predators. Yik Yak is rated 17+, but it does not have age verification, and much of the content is not suitable for young teens, including sexually explicit content.It is now back online featuring “Community Guardrails,” meant to deter such behavior, though these guardrails are user-enforced. Yik Yak was previously removed from the app store for allowing anonymous cyberbullying and hate speech.

Users post messages, and anyone in the area using the app can respond. Yik Yak allows users to anonymously connect with other users within a five-mile radius.

Anonymous texting apps