Digital media and applications provide children with opportunities to communicate, express creativity, connect with peers, and share their emotions. However, these platforms can also serve as channels for cyberbullying. Numerous free apps and websites allow users to search for others and share information anonymously.

Parents may not always be aware of the apps their children use or the risks associated with them. Cyberbullying can occur subtly within apps and sites, including through disappearing texts, videos, and web calls that don’t appear in call or message logs.

Additionally, some apps facilitate access to adult or harmful content, and privacy and location settings can make users more susceptible to stalking, cyberbullying, and exposure to inappropriate material

For additional social media, gaming, photo, and video apps click here.

After School
An anonymous user app, usually with explicit content. Although pulled from the Apple App Store, After School already has students using it. This app has potential danger because it allows anyone to "be verified" as a student at a school.

Ask.fm
A social networking app that allows users to ask and answer questions anonymously. Answers can be in text or video format, and users can browse others' profiles with the option of submitting questions directly to them.

Badoo
Parents need to know that Badoo​ is an adults-only app for online dating-style social networking. With more than 200 million users worldwide, the app (and companion desktop version) identifies the location of a user by tracking his or her device's location and then matches pictures and profiles of potentially thousands of people the user could contact within the surrounding area.

Bigo
Bigo is a free 17+ app that lets users make video blogs or livestream their activities with the object of monetizing their videos. Livestreamers receive live commentary from other users, and the app lets you search for nearby users.

Blendr
A flirting app (with no authentication requirements) used to meet people through GPS location services. Users can send messages, photos and videos and rate other users.

Bumble
Bumble is similar to the popular app, "Tinder" however, it requires women to make the first contact. Kids have been known to use Bumble to create fake accounts and falsify their age.

Burn Book
Anonymous user app that allows students to post about various topics. The app can be localized yet allow you to see other area schools.

Calculator%
This password-protected photo app allows students to hide photos and videos behind an innocent-looking calculator app.

Chatous
Chatous is a messaging app that allows users to chat with strangers, share images, and more. Not only does this app make it easy for children and teens to engage in age-inappropriate conversations, it makes it easy for predators to connect with potential victims. For these reasons, no child under 18 should use this app.

GroupMe
GroupMe is a messaging app that lets users send direct messages and group messages from mobile devices without message limits or fees.

Holla
HOLLA is a live random video chat social networking app that lets users conduct live video chat sessions with random strangers. Registration requires either your phone number or a connection to your Facebook account, and the app insists on accessing your phone's camera and microphone. Default settings upon starting the app connect you to live random chat with users who could be doing literally anything when you connect.

House Party
House Party is a video-focused social media app. Friends can communicate with each other via live video and texts. Because there's no screening and the video is live, there's always the possibility of inappropriate content for children.

Instagram
An app that allows users to upload or take photos and edit them to be posted on other social networks and shared with the Instagram community. Users can knowingly -- and sometimes unknowingly -- tag the location where the photo was taken (geotagging).
Parents' Guide to Instagram

 Kik Messenger
An instant messaging 17+ app that allows users to send video, images and texts quickly.

Live.me
Live.me is a live video streaming 17+ app. It allows kids to watch others and broadcast themselves live, earn currency from fans, and interact live with users without any control over who views their streams.

Monkey
Parents need to know that Monkey randomly connects teens with other Monkey users for a 10-second video chat. This app is rated for 17+.

Omegle
An 18+ app mainly used for video chatting. Chat participants are identified only as "you" and "stranger." Users may link to their Facebook account to find chat partners with similar interests.

ooVoo
Text and Voice is a free app that teens can use to group video chat with up to 12 people. ooVoo users also can send texts and make regular phone calls, including to international numbers (in-app purchase is required).

Sarahah
Parents need to know that Sarahah is a messaging website, where the messages sent between users are delivered anonymously.

Snapchat
This app allows users to send images -- including explicit content -- to one another, with the images disappearing shortly afterward. Although users believe images are gone, Shapchat has been hacked, affecting millions of users.
Parents' Guide to Snapchat

Streetchat
An unmoderated, anonymous image board that uses geo-location to connect users with others at the same school. Most pictures depict partying and sexual innuendo, and some are overtly racist and sexist. Bullying is always a concern with anonymous messaging and posting, and since Streetchat is local, the bullying can be targeted to the specific school audience.

TikTok
Real Short Videos is a social network for sharing user-generated music videos. Users can create and upload videos, remix others' work, or browse content created by other users and by famous recording artists.
Parents' Guide to TikTok

Tinder
A dating app that pulls information from users' Facebook profiles. Users can rate profiles and find potential dates via GPS location tracking.

Vero
Vero is a social media app that lets users post, share, and collect their favorite photos, links, videos, and music. Registration requires a working phone number, and the app asks for access to your contact lists and location.

WhatsApp Messenger
WhatsApp Messenger lets users start video calls and send encrypted text messages, videos, photos, and audio messages to people. Messages can only be sent to other smartphone users who also have WhatsApp.