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YOLO

What is the YOLO app?

Description: On Wednesday, May 8, 2019, YOLO became the #1 most downloaded app in the entire Apple App Store. Even if YOLO’s fame is short lived, that alone is an achievement that millions of apps will never claim.

This description comes from a TechCrunch article posted today:

“Built on top of the Snap Kit platform, YOLO uses Snapchat for login and Bitmoji profile pics to let you add an “ask me anything” sticker to your Snapchat Story. Friends can swipe up to open YOLO on iOS and send an anonymous question there that you then answer through another sticker posted to your Story.”

How to set-up YOLO:

  • Create a Snap in Snapchat.
  • Click the paper clip icon on the right of Snapchat.
  • Enable YOLO
  • Post the Snap to your Story.
  • Friends can post questions on your Snap.
  • User retrieves YOLO messages left in Snapchat through the YOLO app.
  • User decides which YOLO questions to post publicly in their Snapchat Story and respond via a sticker.

App Store Category: social networking

App Store Rating: 17+

  • Infrequent/Mild Alcohol, Tobacco, or Drug Use or References
  • Infrequent/Mild Realistic Violence
  • Infrequent/Mild Mature/Suggestive Themes
  • Infrequent/Mild Horror/Fear Themes
  • Infrequent/Mild Medical/Treatment Information

Corporate website: https://onyolo.com/


What do parents need to know about YOLO?

 

YOLO encourages anonymity. And it never goes well. It’s anonymous sharing. Anonymity has always created a breeding ground for hate and very poor teen decision making. The path of similar apps (Lipsi, SarahahAfterschool, Whisper, and Ask.fm) is paved with bullies and hurt kids.

We recently received this note from a distraught dad:

“It was recently discovered that my 14-year-old daughter, who unknowing has a Yolo account, was bullied after posting yesterday, that she was bored.

She then began receiving multiple messages to go “kill yourself.”

The Yolo Privacy Policy includes all the standard language. Including a direct statement about prohibiting kids who aren’t 13 from using the app, which is good. It is an app that wants you to invite all of your friends to also use YOLO, so be prepared for the YOLO app to want to access contacts and ask all of them to join the platform.

The best way to prevent YOLO is to turn off the App Store. We’ve written about this topic. It’s so simple and still not enough parents keep the App Store turned off. And, since kids are given the opportunity to invite other kids to “get the app,” unless you have it turned off or set up with Family Sharing, chances are at least one person they’re following will blanket their contacts with an invite.

Related Post: 3 Reasons to Keep the App Store turned Off

Yolo is full of bullies. So talk to your kids about bullies! Make sure they know how to handle a disturbing or really cruel YOLO post if you’re going to allow your kid to use this or any social platform. Put it down and tell someone. Two simple steps. They work for porn, predators, and bullies. One thing that makes this anonymous sharing app different from others is that user have an opportunity to screen the questions before answering them publicly. That means they’ll get to read everything before everyone else, but make sure they’re ready for what they might read.

Is Yolo safe? Protect Young Eyes App Review

Is Yolo safe? Protect Young Eyes App Review


The bottom line: is YOLO safe for your kids? 

Like we stated at the beginning, no, we don’t believe YOLO is safe or wise for kids to use. Or, if you disagree and want to give your child some experience with a tough app, then please at least wait until after they’re 16. Snapchat already gives too many kids too many ways to hide suspicious behavior and YOLO multiplies that temptation times 10.


Now what? Have you heard of Bark?

Are you interested in having greater insight into the social media platforms that your kids are using? Bark is one of the best platforms we’ve tested. If your kid is using social media, then they need Bark. We trust them and we think you should, too!

Bark Parental Controls
(Click/tap image to learn more)

*There may be affiliate links throughout this post because we’ve tested and trust a small list of parental control solutions. Our work saves you time! If you decide that you agree with us, then we may earn a small commission, which does nothing to your price. Enjoy!

 

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