What is the VSCO Photo App?

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VSCO (company website – Visual Supply Company) is a photo editing app that allows sharing to other apps like Instagram.

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Users create a profile and then can upload images for editing and organizing into categories like images, journals, or collections. It’s similar to other photo apps like Instagram, but it’s viewed as higher quality and it does not allow for social interaction within the app – it’s simply a place to create awesome photos. 

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How Does VSCO Work?

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The app is fun for creative expression! We love taking candid shots of friends or loved ones, and capturing those gasp-worthy moments of gorgeous nature scenes. This allows all those things to be magnified and encourages artistic design and expression with the various editing tools and features.

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Some have stated that VSCO is a more refined version of Instagram with a different goal. The rumor states the creators had hoped the focus would be more on photos and making them look “real” rather than on the social aspect of pictures that look “good,” as is the case with Instagram.

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There are no options to “like” a photo that can be viewed publicly, but the photographer can see, privately, those who “favorite” or “share” their work.

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This app has appeal for teens because it offers some anonymity. There is no public knowledge of affirmation and there is protection from public criticism. The description states “With no public followers, likes or comments, you can post what you like, when you like.” You are still able to follow and be followed with VSCO but it is not available for other users to see – just you.

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What Do Parents Need to Know About VSCO?

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Is privacy an issue on VSCO?  Although you can’t make your account “private,” young users can and should remove location information. So, this is important -> VSCO allows users to opt not to include location data in both the images they take or upload, as well as the images they share from the app.

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In-app purchases are available. Some of the these in-app purchases are completely free of charge. There is an option for an annual subscription which gives access to more exclusive editing tools.

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Is there porn in VSCO? Not that we could find. Some suggestive photos – scantily clad, but tasteful images. It’s typically hard to prevent inappropriate content from infiltrating apps where users upload their own content, so we’re keeping watch.

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Can you Direct Message on VSCO? Yes. But only with people who mutually follow each other. This is different and safer than Instagram, which allows anyone to DM anyone else, even if they have a private account.

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Parents sometimes have quite a few questions about direct messaging within the VSCO app. Their FAQ does a pretty good job explaining the basics of VSCO messaging.

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How to Make Bitmoji Safer:

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

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

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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.

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Require Approval for App Downloads

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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):

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For Apple Devices:

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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).  

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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.

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For Android Devices:

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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).

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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.”

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Follow the 7-Day Rule

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

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

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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.

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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.

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Enable In-App Controls & Settings

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There are no parental controls for VSCO. Follow the steps above before allowing your child to use this app.

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Bottom Line: Is VSCO Safe fior Kids?

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We found very few reasons to be concerned about VSCO. More often, it’s important for parents to understand that this is an app that kids might request in order to make their Instagram photos look better.

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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