What is the Private Photo Vault App?

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Description: On the surface, this application looks like a calculator but if you put in passcode it will open up a private area. All files are securely stored in the App and remain completely private and confidential.

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Category: Photo & Video

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APP Store rating: 4+ (there’s nothing insidious about it, but its inherent risk is off the charts high).

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What do parents need to know about Private Photo Vault? 

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Bottom Line – is Private Photo Vault safe?

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

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

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Two actions you can take!

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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!

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