My opinion on an app

I recently went looking at  different apps that the young students might be using, and came across an app that I wanted to share. It is called "KIK". I don't know if any of you are using it, or even have little ones using it but this is just my personal opinion on this app. Kik lets you connect with people you want to talk to, and it doesn't matter how or where you met them...at school, social app or on a gaming site.

When I searched i found lots of information about it. It says there is 185 million people love and are connected with Kik.  That got me thinking "How many of those users are being careful and responsible?" The good thing is it states that you never have to give out your personal phone number and you connect on your terms.  Young people need to be taught what is safe and secure.  Are we teaching them those values? It states that 40% of the users are from the ages of 13-25.

Some of the reviews of this app state that there is no monitoring of what is being sent to the users. However;there are ways to block users like any other apps. The content you share can be shared virtually and it doesn't disappear. There are eye-catching adds that may entice the users to pick which ones that they want to interact with.  There are 25 fashion, retail, non-profit and many more to choose to follow them in conversations.

Kik has made little profit selling stickers on the app so they recently introduced a point system which can reward users for specific tasks.  The app runs like a text messages with push notifications.

You can get videos sent to you. In an instant if you like the video it can be sent out to all your contacts.  That scares me.  However, with any mobile device it is our responsibility to monitor what our little ones are doing around us.  Do research about any product before you allow your little ones to use them and always add them so you can be connected with them.  This world we live in is not always safe and secure.

Please remember that this is just my opinion on this subject.  I'm not suggesting to download this app or delete the app.  All I am suggesting is to do your homework and protect your little ones.  Just be very cautious about what you are letting your students or your own children use.