Another week, another social networking platform that we need to talk about. We, being parents and those who look out for safety issues that can cause them harm.
Introducing…
Smart phone danger app
For the last couple of days I have been reading about Tinder and playing with it on my phone so I could give you an honest idea what this is all about.
Simple…you download it, login through your Facebook account and using the GPS for your device, Tinder searches for other users near you based on the information from your device and your Facebook account.
Then, Tinder shows you all the people near you that are also using what has been described as the “One Night Stand App*”. Scary thing number 1.
Now the fun begins. You can scroll through the people who Tinder has feeds you with and start trolling scrolling through. Scary thing number 2.
All of a sudden you spot him or her and think…YES, I like! You also get to see any friends you share and interests you have in common! This sounds like love at first sight heaven!!
So you touch the heart and you have just shown you like your fellow Tinderer. (I don’t know if it’s a word, but since I said it, must be.) That person will now get the virtual wink and will have the choice of ‘♥’ing them back or X’ing them out. If it’s a match then you can start to use the chat platform built into the application. Awe…it’s a match made in cyber simplicity.
Don’t worry about hurting someone’s feelings. If you send an X the person doesn’t know. It’s a platform built on positive affirmation, not nastiness.
Here are scary things number 3 through 3000.
What stops someone from creating a fake Facebook profile and pretending to be a 17-year-old boy when in reality they are a 45-year-old man who is on a registered sex offender registry and is looking for young girls to victimize.
What if the Facebook profile smells good, looks good, sounds good but the person is a serial rapist?
Maybe that 40 something divorcee that seems like the perfect human is actually a bunny boiler that will NEVER let you go?
What can you tell about someone from an app that is nothing more that a superficial popularity contest based on pictures?
Beware of the 3 P’s: Pedophiles, predators and perverts.
Parents, if you see your kids have installed this app, PLEASE take the time to talk to them about Internet safety and information over-share problems. This brings up another point…Facebook. Take a look at your Facebook settings to see what you allow Facebook to share with third-party apps.
Will this App be hot? Yes, no doubt. Like all of the greatest platforms of late, it is based on visual stimulation first, information second, a distant second.
I will admit…while not being addictive, I found myself scrolling through the pictures and having a laugh or giggle at some of the people I was shown. I guess I live in a bit of a sheltered world…people actually post pictures of themselves like that??? I guess so.
Oh…I also see this as being a great platform for the escort and “personal services” industries.
♥ ‘ya later!
* http://info.uknowkids.com/blog/bid/309780/teens-flock-to-tinder-the-social-hookup-app?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_content=1179127
