We all know that the Internet is greatly useful and fun, but at times it can also be very dangerous. Recently experts of the University of Texas in Dallas have done a study and they found that 72 out of 100 mobile apps of kids misuse their sensitive information.
Additionally, these apps use captivating concepts to mislead innocent kids. Many dating apps, games, and chatting platforms are very risky. For instance, Omegle. Is Omegle safe for kids? Well, such types of apps misuse kids’ data and threaten their online safety.
What Is The Requirement Of Such A Study?
Kids enjoy using devices a lot. Most of the time they use smartphones to play games or to have fun on social media apps. But not all apps give safe user experience.
A few apps misuse kids’ sensitive information. Many chatting apps indulge in selling data of user’s chats to third parties. Teens sometimes use such platforms thinking that their chats are encrypted and then they get trapped in the hands of hackers or bullies.
Apart from that, many apps act as one-to-one chat platforms that connect two strangers. These apps are full of adult content and many pedophiles use these platforms to trap gullible kids.
Moreover, data selling, hacking, offensive language, hate-driven content, unlawfully retrieving sensitive information, etc are common issues with many apps today. How can you protect your kids from such an unsuitable app?
Well, you can use Bit Guardian Parental Control. It is an excellent Android app blocker that blocks all the improper apps and allows only child-friendly content in your kids’ device. Overall it helps you to limit, monitor, and protect your kids’ online movements with multiple useful functionalities.
What Does The Research Reveal?
The research reveals plenty of reasons why malicious entities choose mobile apps for kids. According to safety experts, social media apps and smartphones affect childhood adversely.
Mostly, kids own a smartphone before the age of 11, but many kids use devices even before that. There’s no safety involved when installing apps, so as soon as children learn how to navigate the App Store or Google Play Store, there’s no one to guide them about what kind of malicious apps may end up on their smartphones.
Also, the study explains that every mobile phone has a printed circuit board layout standard to guarantee the best design possible, including the required safety barriers.
But with the advent of technology, now hackers also know how to bypass such mechanical aspects. They can easily insert the malicious system straight into your children’s device.
Meanwhile, they can get a few details of your kid. This mainly involves but is not limited to your kids’ names and geographic location.
The Study Emphasise On COPPA Guidelines And Parental Controls
The experts of this study emphasize on following the COPPA guidelines.
The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), expects websites and apps to ask for parental consent before receiving any data from anyone below the age of 13.
But only a handful of apps follow these rules. Apart from that, child experts also suggest using Parental Control tools. With the help of a reliable child monitoring tool, your kids can have safe digital navigation.
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