Private Photo Vault App Review

‍

What is Private Photo Vault?

‍

It's exactly what it sounds like. An app to store photos privately, and not on the devices base camera roll. Oftentimes, people usethisapp to hide explicit images. The logo for the app can often look like another app, so it's often undetected.

‍

How Does Private Photo Vault Work?

‍

Users download this app and can begin storing photos here, instead of the photo app on their device. Almost always, the content within is private for a reason. Usually inappropriate or sexual.

‍

This app allows images to be saved here, making them undiscoverable.

‍

What Do Parents Need to Know About Private Photo Vault? 

‍

Sexting – The bust of a recent sexting ring in Canon City, Colorado involving over 100 middle and high school students put private photo apps in the spotlight.

‍

They’re everywhere – If you search for “private photo app” in the iTunes App or Google Play Stores, you’ll find many vault apps, including Gallery Lock Lite, Best Secret Folder, KYMS, Keep Safe, Vaulty, and Photo Vault. Some hide behind a “My Utilities,” clock or game icon. The more sophisticated versions even use the phone’s camera to take a picture if someone starts poking around the apps.

‍

Controlling these vault apps is simple – turn off app downloads! We recently wrote about this for iOS on our blog, and Android also has some (not as strong) Google Play Store controls through setting up restricted users.

‍

How to Make Private Photo Vault Safer:

‍

Regardless of the app, three actions mitigate the risks we’ve shared. We teach these actions in our parent presentations:

‍

1. Require approval for all app downloads.
2. Follow the 7-Day Rule
3. Enable in-app controls and settings

‍

We explain each of them briefly below. If you’ve already set up approvals for downloads and have used the app, please skip to the In-App Controls & Settings.

‍

Require Approval for App Downloads

‍

You can control app stores by requiring permission for apps to be downloaded. This is ensures your child doesn’t have access to an app without your knowledge. Here are the steps (for Apple and Android users):

‍

For Apple Devices:

‍

To require permission to download an app, you’ll need to set up Screen Time and Family Sharing (Apple’s Parental Controls). We explain this process step-by-step in our Complete iOS Guide (click here).  

‍

Once Screen Time and Family Sharing are established, here’s how to require permission to download apps on an Apple device:

1. Go to your Settings app.
2. Select your Family.
3. Select the person you want to apply this setting to.
4. Scroll down to “Ask to Buy” and enable.

‍

For Android Devices:

‍

You’ll have to use Family Link (Android’s parental controls) to ensure you retain control over what apps are downloaded. We explain this process step-by-step in our Android Guide (click here).

‍

Once Family Link is established, here’s how to require permission to download apps on an Android device:

1. Go to the Family Link App
2. Select the person you want to apply this setting to.
3. Select “Google Play Store”
4. Select “Purchases & download approval” and set it to “All Content.”

‍

Follow the 7-Day Rule

‍

This is our tried-and-true method of determining whether a specific app is safe for your specific child.

‍

Before you let your child use it, download the app and use it for 7 days.

‍

Create an account with your child’s age and gender and use it for 7 days. Play through a few levels, review the ads, see if anyone can chat with you, and poke around like a curious child.

‍

After a week, ask yourself, “Do I want my child to experience what I did?”  Even if you decide to allow them to download the app, now you have a basis for curious conversations about the app when you check in.

‍

Enable In-App Controls & Settings

‍

There aren't any controls, this app is meant to store secret images.

‍

Bottom Line: Is Private Photo Vault Safe?

‍

No.

‍

This app, and all others like it, encourage possession of inappropriate photos and videos. This app is not appropriate or necessary for minors.

‍

In our live presentations with students, we encourage the exact opposite, "no digital secrets!"

What if I have more questions? How can I stay up to date?

‍

Two actions you can take!

‍

1. Subscribe to our tech trends newsletter, the PYE Download. About every 3 weeks, we’ll share what’s new, what the PYE team is up to, and a message from Chris.
2. Ask your questions in our private parent community called The Table! It’s not another Facebook group. No ads, no algorithms, no asterisks. Just honest, critical conversations and deep learning! For parents who want to “go slow” together. Become a member today!

‍