Recently AFA has been given information highlighted the risks of children being exploited via various apps on their phones and other devices. Many of these apps have a minimum age of 13 years or older. These apps can include:
Ask.fm
BBM (Blackberry devices)
Badoo
Chatroulette
Clash of Clans
Club Penguin
Facebook (Facebook Messenger)
Flickr
FMyLife
Google+
Grindr
Guy Spy
Hot or Not
Instagram (and InstaMessage)
Keek
Kik
Minecraft
Moshi Monsters
Moviestar Plannet
My LOL
Myspace
Omegle:Talk to Strangers
OoVoo
Pheed
Skout
Skype
Snapchat
Snog
Tango
Tinder
Tumblr
Viber
Vine
Yik Yak
You Tube
There are ways which you can control what Young People are doing on their phones. The following can be downloaded:
OURPACT – Is available on mobile phones that operate on the i0S system i.e. iPhone. This is a parental control app in order to teach children about proper device use and responsibility. You can manage the child’s screen time through this app, enforce bedtime and manage study time. You can link more than one i0S device if you have more than one child and can manage it all with the once device.
- You can also block internet and apps at a touch
- Allow website and app access, whenever you feel your child needs more time
- Block all third party apps i.e. Facebook, snapchat, Instagram, twitter etc.
TEENLIMIT – This is the alternative to OURPACT but for android devices. These apps allow you to manage the phone without having to confiscate the phone from the young person. So you can pick and choose what aspects of the app you want to use, as I am sure that teenager aren’t going to appreciate us dictating to them and cutting them off on their phones. So these needs to obviously be used in partnership with the young people.
Also for other options:
BT INTERNET – If our families use BT for their internet they can control all devices logged onto the wifi online. So this may be a little less imposing.
AFA believes strongly in the importance of Young People learning to use the internet safely.
Please speak to your Placement Manager for more information or carers can attend our Core Training course Internet Safety and Computing to learn more. This course is run by a CEOP ambassador.
Also, please go to www.thinkuknow.co.uk where you will find information for you and also to share with children and young people in your household.