Dear Parents: Not All Games and Apps Are Kid-Friendly!

In the world of tech, video games & consumer apps play a significant role, but it's important for parents to be aware of the types of games & apps their children are using. While some may perceive all games & most apps to be harmless, it's not always safe to assume. When it comes to video games, the ESRB ratings are in place for a reason, but at the end of the day... the game industry can't raise your children.

Locate the rating:

For Google Play apps, click on the app and you will find the rating at the top... just beneath the title of the game. The age rating is to the right of the game review score, and download count. Apps, Movies, and TV have ratings, but I realized that eBooks are not rated (from what I've seen).

For App Store apps, the rating is right next to the Game and App titles. Apple TV+ has a rating in a similar area as the Google Play ratings (slightly below the title). When it comes to books, there is no age rating here either.

It's worth noting that some apps ask for location information and may even contain location-tracking features. Select apps use this information to ensure that your mobile order is to the right location, but others have no need for it and may result in undesired use of this information if it ends up in the wrong hands. While some use a tracking feature, others ask for this information and it could be showcased on a public profile to be seen by someone unsavory. A number of popular apps are social media-based, and allow you to chat with others, which basically means your children have the ability to chat with anyone in most cases.

This increases their chance of hearing and seeing certain things you do not approve of. While these apps have an age range, anyone can misrepresent themselves to gain access to most social media apps. That includes your children, and on the flip side... we don't know if the person claiming to be a teenager is actually a teenager at times. Talking with your children to establish safe precautions and healthy habits as part of an agreement to have a phone, is probably one of the best routes to take. From there you can present the reasons why you want them to be careful with such a useful tool. With great power, comes great responsibility... literally. 

See: Tips for Keeping Your Kids Safe on Social Media

Chat doesn't stop at social media apps. There are chat features in select games that lack true regulation that also include the ability to share links. This can be concerning, as there are individuals who exploit any opportunity available to them, potentially exposing children to inappropriate content, and seeking out their location by request or by obtaining their information.

Knowing the apps on your child's phone, specifically to research them... can go a long way. By doing so, parents can thoroughly review each app by its name to determine if any raise concerns and require uninstallation. This can be part of an agreement established with your child in order to have a phone. We don't need to go down this rabbit hole... but there are parents who wish they established such an agreement before avoidable issues were ushered in.

Additionally, parents should check for a "Hidden Space" on their child's Android phone. To access this area, they can slide their fingers both upwards and downwards simultaneously (using two fingers) on the home screen.

• Within the app drawer, sliding to the right will reveal this hidden space.

Parents can verify what I'm explaining by navigating to the settings and scrolling down to locate "Hidden Space," which should be positioned just above the "About" option at the bottom.

If their Android phone has a different user interface, you can search for tutorials on YouTube to get assistance. Being proactive in understanding and monitoring the digital landscape that our children navigate is crucial for their safety and well-being. By staying informed and actively investigating the apps and features available on their phones, parents can better protect their children from potential risks associated with certain digital content.

If you were wondering if there was an easier route... don't worry, there actually is. Check out the links below for kid-friendly phone manufacturers... Gabb & Pinwheel. Both phones deliver the things your child may need, and nothing you don't want them to have. Apps they do have access to, have been vetted, and the controls are in your hands. So see if one of the options below works for you.

Sophima | Guest Contributor

                          + BLU 

Support us via the helpful links below!

Kid-Safe Cellphones + Smart Watches

Kid-Safe Cellphones w/ Remote Access for Parents

Brinks Commercial Products... Reviewed!

Before I jump in, I just want to give a shout-out to the Brinks team for supplying these products.

We were supplied with 4 products from Brinks commercial line for the sake of testing them out. Two products were selected for security, and two were selected as a solution for issues that required a solution. Did the products help? Let's jump in!

Now that you've seen the products, here are some installation videos.

The Brinks Commercial Keyed Entry Knob... is a sturdy commercial knob that can work for a home setting, but... it feels better suited for a commercial office door or one in a warehouse (for those who prefer a more warm look for their home). As seen, the installation didn't take long.

This keyed entry knob, works well for the office door it was installed on. The knob doesn't wiggle, feels secure, and serves its purpose. The screws are covered for a clean look, and if the knob needs to be replaced, the process to remove the plate is smooth (just have something to pry the plate off). One thing I will say is to keep the pin on the same keyring as the key unless you have a place to tuck it nearby. This was placed on an interior door, but it works for the exterior as well for increased security. This knob is an ANSI Grade 2, meaning that a ram would be required to hit this knob's face at least 5 times for the person gain access. This is straight from the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

So thinking of a person without a ram trying to gain entry, gives even greater peace of mind. On a lighter note, it also keeps us out of Daisy's office while she's in a meeting that doesn't require our presence. A sign could work for that, but... as far as security goes, a solid keyed entry knob works.

Price-wise, the keyed entry knob you see here is generally sold in a set with a deadbolt for $59.96 or so. Not bad for commercial quality, so if you want to grab one of these knobs... and can't buy it ala carte, you're good to go with the deadbolt (which is also saw and pry proof). Did I forget to mention the 10-year warranty? Well, you get one of those too + based on my research... the deadbolt is Grade 1!

Now let's jump into The Brinks Commercial Kick Down Door Stop.

Although it would be better placed at the outer part of the door that swings away from the frame, I have the door stop closer to the crack of the door. The drop-down going into the studio... doesn't allow for it to be placed anywhere else, but it works and doesn't require me to have something to hold the door separately. The Brinks Commercial Kick Down Door Stop is incredibly sturdy and doesn't do that flimsy crap the way some others do where they just drop down if they aren't pushed up into a holder. You can flip it up and it stops halfway and stays up without a cradle.

When it comes to the look, I'd probably say that the bronze or the matte black might be a bit more appealing for the home setting... but the satin chrome looks great as well. This door stop comes in at $22.98 which works for the quality because I've experienced some bad/annoying ones. Ever see the door stops that require assistance just to make them kinda sort of work? This has been going strong and... without it falling down on its own to potentially wear down the grip over time, helps it last.

Now let's jump into the Brinks Commercial Privacy Door Latch.

This privacy door latch is great for commercial and home settings. Don't think that commercial quality products are reserved for commercial properties only. You might see this near the door of your suite at a nice resort, but... you can also place it in your home as well. The quality of this product is undeniable, it's thick + sturdy and... the screws that come with it run deep so that it can't simply get kicked in.

I wanted to present this particular product because you never know who may be at the door and the traditional chain isn't as efficient. This latch only requires one move, you push and it lifts out to block the door from being opened further. This is great for general safety, almost like an extra layer of defense when you're turning in for the evening, but... it can also be an emergency latch in a situation when you don't have time to run into the home and lock the door because someone is behind you. Let's hope this never happens, but on the flip side... this is also a great latch to prevent small children from leaving the home and wandering around. That can increase a parent's peace of mind.

I was actually in one of the old office spaces when I saw a little boy around 3 years old standing near the busy roadway. He was playing with a ball and no adults were in sight. I dashed out and ran over to get him away from the road and asked him where his mom was, and if could he show me. He wasn't aware of my concern, but that could've ended badly. He took me across to a home on the other side of a little field where his mom and the babysitter were. Let's just say the mom wasn't happy that the babysitter was wrapped up in her phone while her toddler found his way outside to play. It was really weird, and I wasn't happy either, but... luckily it ended on a good note. I bring that up, because... that situation wouldn't have been a thing with this privacy door latch installed on the home out of his reach.

This ADA-compliant privacy door latch comes in at $25.98. Oh... and before I forget, this doesn't prevent the door from closing. There are products that will block the door and stop it from closing when they're in use, but... the start wearing on the door. If this is out while the door is wide open and being closed, the door will merely push it down and close it. On that note, it's for doors that swing in only, that's where the resistance comes in. By the way, you also get a 10-year warranty with this one too.

Last but not least, let's jump into the Brinks Commercial Door Silencer.

This product is fairly simple, you place them in little holes in the door frame and they reduce the noise and absorb the shock of a door being slammed. There are people who literally don't realize their own strength when it comes to closing a door, but it can urk you to hear a door slammed hard. Luckily this softens the blow, especially if you have something like a frosted, etched, or stained glass section on your door. A hard enough slam would surely shatter such a glass whether it be tempered or not. According to Home Guide, you're looking at $150 to $500 on average to get a glass replaced. When it's the glass in a front door, we're talking $150 to $600... so $5.98 for a pack of 12-door silencers is a great investment.

Easy Installation 5

Durability 5

Warranty 5

Price 5

5 out of 5 Cool Points

Support us below!

Thread Market Z

Stay here for $45/Night? Yes... Travel 4 Less!