Tech specialists are warning parents about hidden risks children and teenagers face on popular social media platforms, including online predators, cyberbullying and sexual content.
Bark Technologies, a tech company with an app that monitors texts, emails, and social media accounts, identified apps parents should monitor closely.
Titania Jordan with Bark Technologies highlighted three primary red flags on social media platforms: disappearing messaging, built-in location sharing and features designed for meeting new friends.
“Overall, consistently we saw that Snapchat was in the top of the most-dangerous apps. As well as Telegram, Discord, Instagram, TikTok and Roblox,” Jordan said.
The first red flag tech specialists identified involves messaging features where content automatically erases or disappears.
“Children have a false sense of security when they go to send a nude photo or video or just something they wouldn’t be proud of getting out there,” Jordan said.
Despite claims that content disappears, digital media sent through these platforms frequently remains on digital servers for up to 30 days.
“That media, that data can live on a server for at least up to 30 days. It doesn’t actually necessarily disappear,” Jordan said.
Additionally, recipients can instantly capture and save images or videos using screen capture features before automatic deletion occurs.
Location tracking represents a second red flag on social media platforms. Built-in GPS features on certain applications enable both friends and strangers to view a child’s physical location in real time. These tracking capabilities can expose specific details about where a child is located, including their exact position within a home or building.
The third red flag involves platforms designed to connect users with strangers, where encrypted messaging creates monitoring challenges. Individuals seeking to harm children online frequently utilize encrypted applications.
“Strangers that are looking to hurt children online are moving to encrypted apps, like WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, Kik, that are not as easy to monitor,” Jordan said.
To counter these risks, tech specialists advise parents to delay granting social media access to children and to thoroughly research application safety features beforehand.
“You do not have to give your child the access they are asking for that all their friends have before they are ready to handle it mentally and physically,” Jordan said.
Snapchat’s website states it has rolled out a new experience for users aged 13-15 where they can create and showcase their stories in a profile visible only to their accepted friends. Content and videos from students in this age group will no longer be distributed to non-friends, improving privacy.
Channel 11 reached out to the other social media and gaming platforms and received the following statements and additional information:
“Discord is deeply committed to user safety, and we want our communications platform to be the best place for friends to connect before, during and after playing games. Our terms require all users to be at least 13 to use Discord, and unlike social media platforms that use algorithms to select content and maximize engagement, our service strives to enable organic, real-time interaction and connection. We use a combination of advanced technology and trained safety teams to proactively find and remove content that violates our policies. We maintain strong systems intended to prevent the spread of sexual exploitation and grooming on our platform and also work with other technology companies and safety organizations to improve online safety across the internet. In addition, the Discord Family Center empowers parents and guardians with tools to help their teen have a safer experience online while maintaining privacy.” – Discord Spokesperson
A TikTok spokesperson says the company recognizes special safeguards are required to protect teens online, so they offer age-restricted features.
Accounts for people under 18 are automatically set to private, limiting who can follow them, view or interact with their posts, and read their bio.
Direct messaging features and livestreaming are not available to anyone under 16.
TikTok also says they offer Family Pairing, which lets parents and guardians to link their accounts with their teens to manage content, privacy, and well-being settings. Parents can set it up with just a few clicks.
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