App Watch: POPARAZZI

What is Poparazzi and how does it work?

Poparazzi is the latest trending social networking platform where your friends are your paparazzi and you are theirs. It’s the anti-self club where images that appear on your Poparazzi profile are made up of images not curated by you, but photos and GIFs that your friends post.

Like Instagram and TikTok the platform has quickly filled with tile style photo feeds, post counts, view counts and reactions (using a range of emojis). The app does not currently allow comments on Pops or direct messaging services which may leave users slightly limited with how they can communicate. The app also has a layer of gamification embedded through every user having a Pop Score, designed to get their users back and Popping regularly.

Learn the Poparazzi lingo:

Pop: a still image or GIF you have been tagged in
Pop Score: points are accumulated based on how often you ‘pop’ others
Featured Pops: a library of images and GIFS of other users of Poparazzi. Anyone who uses pop could end up as a Feature Pop.
Top Poparazzi: friends that tag in you images most often.

10 reasons why Poparazzi does not meet safety by design standards that we all expect:

Setting up a profile/account requires users to provide personal information such as first name, surname, age and mobile phone number. You cannot progress to use the App without supplying this information.
A user’s profile name is their first and last number as default. Whilst this can be changed later in the process users are not informed that this information will be used to create your username.
The app accesses your phone contacts and recognises who in your contact list has already created a profile/account and makes you ‘friends’ with them.
There is no way to make your account private with all images posted to your Poparazzi feed viewable by anyone who may stumble across your account.
Users have no control over what images/gifs (pops) are shared of you.
Whilst you can delete an image posted of you, others may have already seen, saved or shared it before you get the chance to review it.
Basic digital citizenship protocols such as seeking consent and permission to take a photo and post it to the platform are completely disregarded.
Any image of you, posted by your friends, can be shared to Snapchat, Instagram or via a hyperlink to What’s App or messaging services.
Terms or service state that photos posted to the platform are the property of TTYL (app developers) and you grant them a license to use, modify, publicly perform, publicly display, reproduce and distribute.
Deleting a Poparazzi account/profile is not easy and cannot be performed through from the App itself. Users must navigate to FAQ section on the Poparazzi website to a link to steps for deleting the account.

The final word

In the hyperconnected social networking age it’s already difficult for us to stay in control of our own digital footprints. Poparazzi takes all of this control away by promoting to their users that its fun to post images of others without their permission or consent.

With respect and consent conversations finally immerging as a priority in today’s classrooms, Poparazzi is simply disregarding all efforts to acknowledge the importance of basic ethical principals and values.

The sheer premise of this app being about others posting photos of you will leave users, particularly self-conscious teens feeling the need to regularly return to the platform to check in and see what has been posted of them.

You can report cyberbullying, image-based abuse and illegal or harmful content via the Office of the eSafety Commissioner.

We recommend the following steps:

Screenshot evidence
Report the content to the app/website
Block the user
Make a report http://esafety.gov.au/report
Talk to a trusted friend/adult or chat to someone at www.kidshelpline.com.au

The Cyber Safety Project FAMILIES PORTAL:

https://cybersafetyproject.com.au/families/

Building a common language in our school community, provides us with the insights and information about popular social networking and online gaming platforms for young people today. A positive and healthy family environment where digital use is encouraged, but managed effectively can be a tough balance. As a school community we want to ensure our children stay safe online and build positive digital habits and relationships online.

Please check out the Cyber Safety and Digital Wellbeing Online Workshop. Use the code word OATLANDS to get 50% off at the checkout!

Use the following resources to continue having these vital conversations at home. Having an open door policy for our kids to ask "why?" and understand the negative and positive experiences that can happen online are vital.

Conversation Checklist:

Family Digital Use Agreement:

CYBER SAFETY PROJECT BLOG:

Please read the following about the latest devices, apps and platforms that your kids might be using or wanting to use. Sam, Trent and Jaz have some really valuable information to share.

https://www.cybersafetyproject.com.au/blog

CYBER SAFETY TIPS:

When working on a device at home you may like to consider the following to keep your family safe online:

Setting clear expectations for use of and access to digital technologies and online experiences in their home and within public spaces
Engaging in ongoing conversations about Cyber Safety, netiquette and digital footprints to reduce the risk of misuse and cyber bullying incidents
Developing a shared language of cyber safety and digital technologies
Modelling, sharing and exploring the positive potential of the internet and digital technologies
Balancing screen time with other activities
Encouraging children to be in the same room as an adult when using their device, to promote safer use.
Using strong privacy settings and passwords and collectively updating these regularly
Being aware of the age restrictions for children using online platforms and social media apps (i.e. Snapchat, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok over 13+ years of age)

It is integral to establish clear protocols and procedures when working in online spaces, including reviewing and considering the safety and appropriateness of online tools and communities. Please use the resources below to assist your family with online safety:

The Cyber Safety Project

https://www.cybersafetyproject.com.au/

Office of the Children’s eSafety Commissioner https://www.esafety.gov.au/

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