Technology can be scary! It's challenging trying to keep up to date with fast changing apps and websites that can be potentially dangerous to our kids.
The SK Tech Coaches want to help by sharing a monthly app review to keep the community in the know when it comes to helping our kids stay safe online.
What are the potential risks?
- By default the ‘hide location info‘ feature is switched off which means users share their location of when they post a video, we recommend disabling this option.
- By default all musical.ly accounts are set to public. Be sure to switch to "private" on the settings page.
- Users may be exposed to bad language and content of a sexual nature.
- Users can comment on other videos, this leaves the potential for online bullying or negative comments.
- Many underage accounts with large amounts of followers.
- Users should also be aware there is currently no option to delete your account. musical.ly is working on adding this feature.
Common Sense Media has an extensive review of the app.
Find more Parent and Kid Reviews Here
Top Reviews:
Caution! Very fun but not for Tweens!
This app is so easy to use and allows the creative juices to really flow. It seemed potentially much more desirable than having the kids stare at the TV for their downtime entertainment. My kids had worked together and used our pets, stuffed animals and even we parents got in on making some pretty hilarious music videos. The BIG problem is that a lot of the available music and sound bites contain all the very adult language and innuendo you hear on the radio. So when left to her own devices, I found my 10 year old lip syncing to suggestive lyrics she didn't even understand. And dancing and gesturing the way a rock diva does- not the way I want her spending her free time. What's worse is that the rating system becomes addictive (see the reviews by the kids) She and her friends kept pushing the envelope to see how many "likes" they could get.
Hard to Protect Kids
While this is really fun for the kids and you can have a "private" account, there is a Search Icon on the home page which opens them up to any and all adult videos. In addition, when they open the App, adult videos come up unprompted. This is not an App that parents can fully supervise. Very disappointing.
Report Inappropriate Use to Musical.ly
Hi - When used the way it should be (and with parents using it with the younger kids or at least within eye/earshot) this app is great for kids! I contacted musical.ly about the concerns on pornographic and other inappropriate issues raised in some of the comments below. These instances can be reported to them via email at info@musical.ly and / or through the app itself so the company can take action.