The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office is warning parents about apps that could put children at risk of being targeted by predators.
Following a recent bust of 25 suspected child predators and human traffickers, Sheriff Tom Knight said “social media has made it easier than ever for predators to connect with children.” He said that means “parents have to be more vigilant about what their kids are doing online and on their phones.”
Here are some apps he says parents should be wary of:
– Meetme: It’s a dating social media app that allows users to connect with people based on geographic proximity.
– Grindr: This dating app is geared toward gay, bi, and transgender people. It gives users options to chat, share photos and meet up based on a smart phone’s GPS.
– Skout: It’s a location-based dating app. While users under 17 years old are unable to share private photos, kids can easily create an account with an older age.
– Whatsapp: This is a popular messaging app that allows users to send texts, photos, voicemails, as well as make calls and video chats.
And – Snapchat: It’s very popular. While the app promises users can send a photo or video and it will disappear, recent features allow users to view content for up to 24 hours. Snapchat also allows users to see your location.