LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Law enforcement agencies across the country including Las Vegas police have shared a list of 9 apps they say all parents should be aware of.
Shauna Johnson is the mother of two teenagers including her 19-year-old son Tavis. She knows all the apps he uses.
"First it's really hard to keep track,” Johnson said. “Because things change daily."
"I use Snapchat with my friends,” Tavis said. “We always send photos and stuff like that. And we're always doing dumb videos of each other."
But when we showed her the list of nine apps...
"My goodness! I can honestly say out the nine. Two."
She was only familiar with two of the apps police say pose safety and security risks.
"Honestly I wasn't aware that it was this many apps. And they're disguised. You're thinking they're something else!"
Like the calculator app which is not a calculator at all.
“Yeah I've heard about that one in school and stuff like that,” said Tavis. “You just hide photos all that stuff."
Tavis also knew about Kik, which allows anyone to directly message your child from anywhere.
Here's what parents can do:
- Familiarize yourself with the list. The FBI recommends that parents:
- Approve every app your child downloads.
- Monitor who your child ads and communicates with on apps.
- Talk to your kids about and check their privacy settings.
And it doesn’t hurt to be like Tavis' mom.
“I’m curious,” she said. “Not nosy like they claim I am,” Johnson said laughing. “But curious. And as a parent we have to find ways to try and fit in to their personal life and way of being."
