With millions of different phone applications available to download, it
can feel impossible to know how safe each app on your child’s device is.
But there are a few applications that Knoxville police Lt. Warren Hamlin says are causing the most problems.
“The most things we see are dealing with Facebook, Kik and Snapchat,”
said Hamlin, part of the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit
within the Knoxville Police Department. “These are the three apps we get
the most tips about that are involved with adults trying to come into
contact with children.”The ICAC Unit receives about 300-400 tips
regarding children's internet safety every month, according to Hamlin.
“The biggest issue is that when kids are using these apps, they tend to
trust anybody, and they don’t always know who they are talking to,” said
Hamlin. “It’s fairly easy for criminals to create a fake profile and
act like they are another kid or a friend.”
Criminals often then begin asking for nude and risque photos, and things
go downhill from there. If sent, criminals often use these photos to
“sexploit” children, a form of blackmail in which sexual information or
images are used to extort sexual favors from the victim.
“Most children are afraid they are going to get in trouble and are
hesitant to tell a parent, teacher or authority figure,” said Hamlin.
“Eventually, kids will usually tell someone, but sometimes it can be far
down the line.”
Facebook, Kik and Snapchat, as well as other apps like Mappen, use your
phone’s location both while you are using the app and also in the
background, and can share it with other users.
Location services can be great for parents who want to know where their
child is. It also helps law enforcement find missing children and teens.
However, parents might not feel comfortable knowing that other people
can see where their child is as well.
www.ttspy.com/the-best-phone-hack-software-for-android-and-iphone.html
The Wall