We use a variety of factors. But our over-arching question is: What is the age at which children can have this app without a parent knowing they have it?
For all apps that allow minors to talk to strangers, that age is 18.
The same is true for social networks and messaging apps. A child can join Facebook or WhatsApp without being 18, but parents should know if their children are on them. As such, the SaferKid Age Rating for Facebook and WhatsApp is 18.
How do you determine the risks of an app?
We review the mechanics of apps. For example, an app that allows two strangers to meet and enter into a private chat room have high sexting risks. Apps that allow messaging between friends have sexting risks, too, but they are lower than for those that create 1-to-1 conversations between strangers.
What is the difference between Low Bullying Risk and High Bullying Risk?
It depends on the mechanics. Historically, apps that allow for anonymous posting and messaging have higher bullying risks than those that require posts to identify the user.
What is the difference between an app with Low Meeting Strangers Risk and one with High Meeting Strangers Risk?
Apps that are designed to meet strangers (e.g. make friends near you apps) have high risks of meeting strangers. So do public social networks such as Twitter and Instagram. Their privacy settings default to public which allows for interactions with strangers and a high likelihood of such interactions. Facebook has some risk, but the majority of its interactions are between a more tightly-verified community, and so it has a lower rating.
What is the difference between an app with High Sexting Risk and Low Sexting Risk?
Apps that are designed to meet strangers (e.g. make friends near you apps, dating apps, etc.) and apps with anonymous user IDs have higher sexting risks. Apps for messaging between people who already know each other and where meeting strangers is not the primary use case have a lower sexting risk.
What is the difference between an app with High Adult Content (Photo/Video) Risk and Low Adult Content (Photo/Video) Risk?.
Apps with high risk have frequent, easy access to adult photo/video content if the user wants it. Apps with low risk have infrequent, more difficult access.
We make an app and would like to appeal our rating. How can we do this?
We are happy to discuss your rating. If we have made a mistake or misunderstood something, please do let us know at Ratings AT SaferKid DOT com.
What kind of apps does SaferKid review?
SaferKid currently reviews apps for iPhone, iPod and iPad. We rate all kinds of apps, but we prioritize apps that endanger children.
