I Mean, How Dangerous Can They Be?

As an avid Buzzfeed reader, facebook-er, and instragrammer, I thought that I was up to date with all the trendy social media, messaging apps, but in reality, I’m not. There are so many more apps that the teens of this generation are using, that I don’t know how they keep themselves safe and keep private matters actually private. So in thinking that I’m not the only clueless one out there, I made this questionnaire to ask those out there, can you guess the possible dangers of these apps and websites?

1. You know Instagram. But DO YOU KNOW INSTAGRAM?

   

   Other than uploading beautifully filtered pictures of your kale breakfast/lunch/dinner, what other ways can instagram be used by predators?

    Publicly post personal information that should not be shared.  We all do it anyways.

   Publicly post personal information that should not be shared.

   We all do it anyways.

    Post pictures of a broccoli instead of kale.  Because broccoli taste so much better than kale.

   Post pictures of a broccoli instead of kale.

   Because broccoli taste so much better than kale.

    Uhh... post sausage leg photos.  I just wanted to show off my tanned perfect summer bod. But I don't have one so I'll use a sausage.

   Uhh... post sausage leg photos.

   I just wanted to show off my tanned perfect summer bod. But I don't have one so I'll use a sausage.

   Correct! 

   Wrong! 

   Many times pre-teens and teens give away personal information that should not be shared even though they probably just had the talk about not doing that. They can put their first and last name, birthday, gender, phone number, and even whether they are single or not. Furthermore, Instagram is totally anonymous and a person who is posing as a different person can follow them.

1. Do you know... what Kik is?

   

   Because I have no idea what that is.

    It's an app that you can learn how to kick objects back to its place.  It's all about 5-minute organizing.

   It's an app that you can learn how to kick objects back to its place.

   It's all about 5-minute organizing.

    It's an app that let's you text without a phone number.  It was designed for mobile devices and tablets that allows users to share messages, photos, artwork and other multi-media content.

   It's an app that let's you text without a phone number.

   It was designed for mobile devices and tablets that allows users to share messages, photos, artwork and other multi-media content.

    It allows travelers to find a place to "kik" back for the night.  It's similar to Airbnb, where you use it to find a place to sleep for the night, that is more homey, and less expensive than hotels.

   It allows travelers to find a place to "kik" back for the night.

   It's similar to Airbnb, where you use it to find a place to sleep for the night, that is more homey, and less expensive than hotels.

   Correct! 

   Wrong! 

   Great you know what it is! You may be smarter than I. But did you know...

   Kik has an iTunes Rating of 17+ for its “Frequent/Intense Mature/Suggestive Themes” but is accessible by anyone who has the desire to do so. Also, it has the potential to expose teen users to adult content. In addition, sexual predators can anonymously message them, posing a significant risk of interaction with sexual predators.

1. Can you "Whisper" your way through this question?

   

   This app allows you to post your secrets that you may never tell anyone, except the population of people who uses this app. What can be so wrong about "whisper"-ing you ask?

    Others may take advantage of your secrets/vulnerabilities.  #InternetTrolls #sexualpredators

   Others may take advantage of your secrets/vulnerabilities.

   #InternetTrolls #sexualpredators

    You want to shout things out loud, not whisper!!!  Unless you have bronchitis and can only wheeze or whisper...

   You want to shout things out loud, not whisper!!!

   Unless you have bronchitis and can only wheeze or whisper...

    This app makes me feel like I can read people's minds.

   This app makes me feel like I can read people's minds.

   Correct! 

   Wrong! 

   What can't go wrong when you are telling your secrets to the whole world??

   Because many children are drawn to communicating with strangers, feeling that their secrets are safer with them than with their friends, this app is a perfect tool for sexual predators to find their weak prey. There is also the risk of putting personal vulnerabilities onto an online platform and ableing others to victimize you.

1. Sméagol on Omegle.

   

   Sméagol decides to try Omegle out which is an app that lets you talk to strangers around the world. You get paired up with him and he wants to know some personal information about you. .. what should you do?

    Ignore him. Instead, go crawl in the corner and fondle a ring.

   Ignore him. Instead, go crawl in the corner and fondle a ring.

    Give your personal information and invite him over for some adventure.

   Give your personal information and invite him over for some adventure.

    What are you doing. Close that app because you should not be on that website to begin with.

   What are you doing. Close that app because you should not be on that website to begin with.

   Correct! 

   Wrong! 

   We were taught as a child not to talk to strangers.

   But Omegle goes against all we learned. It offers a platform for users to start a chat with strangers from all over the world on a variety of topics. However, with teens who believe that it’s secure to share information with strangers, this can be very dangerous.

1. Vine. Vine. Grapevine? nope, this is VINE. (whut)

   

   You don't climb this vine. You watch these vines. Some are so smart, it's like magic tricks. This can't be of any harm, right?

    Who are you kidding. The world isn't made up of rainbows and unicorns. There are pornographic content on that thing.

   Who are you kidding. The world isn't made up of rainbows and unicorns. There are pornographic content on that thing.

    I just want grape juice. Is that so wrong?

   I just want grape juice. Is that so wrong?

    Vines are so cool. I don't know what you are talking about.

   Vines are so cool. I don't know what you are talking about.

   Correct! 

   Wrong! 

   Vine is an app that allows users post and watch infinitely-looping six-second video clips.

   Most of the videos may be creative, funny, or thought provoking but it is full of inappropriate videos. Also, because the videos are public by default, unless you set it on private setting, anyone can see your videos.

1. Tinder: Helping you light your fire since 2012

   

   Tinder? what is that? A must-have app for camping enthusiast?

    No, you're wrong. It's an app that people can use to call technicians to change their lightbulbs.

   No, you're wrong. It's an app that people can use to call technicians to change their lightbulbs.

    No, you're still wrong. It's an app that can spark that creativity lightbulb in your mind.

   No, you're still wrong. It's an app that can spark that creativity lightbulb in your mind.

    No, it's a dating app that promotes meeting with random strangers.

   No, it's a dating app that promotes meeting with random strangers.

   Correct! 

   Wrong! 

   Tinder isn't a fire-lighting app.

   This is a dating app that allows users to log in with their Facebook profile and connects you with others who have similar interest or any other similarities. Any random stranger can hit you up for a conversation or to meet. And 7 percent of the user are 13 to 17 years of age. Why does anyone in that age group feel the need to date...?

1. Burrrrrrrn Notes.

   

   Does this have any relations to Tinder? Am I the only one seeing the similarities here?

    Maybe Tinder works to provide that fire to burn your notes from the last semester of school.

   Maybe Tinder works to provide that fire to burn your notes from the last semester of school.

    No. They don't have anything to do with each other but it's dangerous nonetheless.

   No. They don't have anything to do with each other but it's dangerous nonetheless.

    Hmm... I don't know about that but damn, these names are on Fire!

   Hmm... I don't know about that but damn, these names are on Fire!

   Correct! 

   Wrong! 

   Just put simply, it's a Snapchat for your text messages.

   As long as you have an email address and your recipient has one, you can send text messages to and receive from them. You also have the freedom of how long you want it to be displayed. Although no pictures or videos can be sent, who knows what you can write in the text messages...?

1. Yik Yak.

   Yik Yak. YAK YAK YAK YAK *drop the bass https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEbttfJYRXE Is this a sing-along app?

    Yeah! I love Kendrick Lamar! YAK YAK YAK YAK

   Yeah! I love Kendrick Lamar! YAK YAK YAK YAK

    No, sadly this isn't. It's similar to Whisper though. I guess if you want to you can whisper yak's while yik-yak-ing

   No, sadly this isn't. It's similar to Whisper though. I guess if you want to you can whisper yak's while yik-yak-ing

    Yik Yak is an app that teaches you how to imitate animal noises.

   Yik Yak is an app that teaches you how to imitate animal noises.

   Correct! 

   Wrong! 

   Yik Yak.. with such a cute logo, it is a dangerous app.

   As the anonymous users are allowed to post anything and comment or like any within your location. This has a history of encouraging cyber bullying and terrorist attacks thanks to the anonymity that it advertise as its main strength.

1. *SHnapchat!

   

   *shnap* you got a chat incoming!

    Woooo~ lemme get at dat.

   Woooo~ lemme get at dat.

    Don't snap at me.

   Don't snap at me.

    Snapchat! I only have 4 seconds to see the photo! 4 second is so short!

   Snapchat! I only have 4 seconds to see the photo! 4 second is so short!

   Correct! 

   Wrong! 

   Snapchat allows you to capture an image or video and send it another person for a specific amount of time. After that time is up, the picture/video automatically disappears.

   This gives the teens illusion that they can sext because the image will disappear automatically. But the truth is that nothing sent over the internet disappears. There are things such as screenshot on mobile phones.

If you got to this point of the quiz, I suggest you check out http://sosclassroom.org/instagrumblr/