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App Watch: Push It ‘Notifications’

Push It App Review

Push It! What was once a number 1 hit song by Salt-N-Pepa [80s/90s flashbacks] Push It is now a trending communication app certainly catching the eye and attention of young digital citizens. It has risen to high ranks in the top social app downloads so we spent some time using it to explore the security, safety and wellbeing risks for young people.

What is Push It?

Push It is a simple app with limited functionality. Its main function is to help users create their own custom notifications and ‘push’ them out to selected contacts.

Push It uses a follower/following method and allows users to send out a push text notification to everyone who subscribes to them on the app. Those followers can then respond to that notification to engage in one-on-one conversations. There is not much more to this application. Simply add Friends, push your own notifications to them and wait for a reply.

Push It is an accompanying product to a popular Snapchat anonymous messaging add on called Send It.

Cyber Safety Considerations

When reviewing a new application, we start with our three point safety check to uncover the following functionalities:

CONTENT: Could there be exposure to explicit or harmful content?
CONNECTION: Could my child be exposed to unwanted contact, communication or connections with strangers?
COLLECTION: What personal information will be collected, and how will it be stored and shared?

What did we discover?

Currently, Push It does not allow for users to view content other than text communication.
Notifications disappear after 1 single view. There is currently no way to review past notifications that have been sent or received. We predict this could lead to users misusing the tool to send explicit, inappropriate or negative comments. A screenshot to collect evidence of notifications or replies is the only way to keep a copy or history of communication.
Push It requires access to the phone contacts on your device. It prompts their users to invite friends to join via a prewritten text message invitation and a link to download the app. The app only works if you have notifications for Push It enabled.
We have concerns about Push It’s privacy policy. Their policy outlines their intention to share user data. To review their full terms of service click here:
Once you have set up your Push It account, there are no navigations available to log out of the app, or to update your privacy, security or wellbeing setting preferences. There are no options to report misuse or any help/support buttons.
Whilst the App Store lists the age as 17+, the Terms of Service for Push It outline that the app is not intended for children and requires users to be over the age of 18. You can have a child’s account removed from Push It by contacting support@getsendit.com.

Squid Game: Netflix record breaking series warning for parents and educators

Squid Game is officially Netflix’s most streamed series ever. The South Korean production features characters competing in a series of games where failure results in death. Games played will be familiar to young people including Red light – Green Light, Tug-of-War and Marbles. Characters are systematically tortured and killed for the sadistic pleasure of a game master. Adults have sex, and there are threats of sexual violence: women are grabbed by the hair and beaten. Themes concerning the highs one gets from gambling, winning, or conning money are also a focus.

How might young people come across Squid Game content?

Squid Game is streamed via Netflix and [currently] in the Top 10 most popular series in Search.
You can view clips, including preview and selected scene reviews via YouTube.
Short form video creations from users on Social Media (TikTok & Instagram).
Squid Game Halloween costumes are set to be the biggest trend for 2021.
Replicated themes in games including Roblox.

WHAT CAN PARENTS DO?

It’s inevitable that young people will come to learn of Squid Game. They may have come across it on Netflix or be encouraged to view the series by friends.

PLAN a conversation with your children to find out what they already know about the series, ask if they have seen any of the content and provide time and space to unpack how it has made them feel.

PREVENT access through using parental controls in Netflix to ensure Squid Game series does not appear on your profile. Use the primary account to ensure additional profiles cannot be created without the parental code.

You may also want to consider placing content restrictions for search on their devices using Apple Screen Time – Family Sharing tools or Google Family Link.

PROTECT them by providing strategies for how they can respond to a friend who may try to expose them to the content or concepts. Keep an eye on the trend, monitor the situation, and discuss the topic with other parents in your child’s friendship circle(s).

CONVERSATION STARTERS FOR BOTH PARENTS AND EDUCATORS

Why do you think Squid Games isn’t safe for kids to watch?
Who could you talk to if you see something, or someone shows you something that makes you feel uncomfortable online?
What can you say to someone who offers to show you something scary online?
If a friend asks you to play a Squid Game style game, what could go wrong?
What can you do if you feel uncomfortable playing a Squid Game style game?
Why aren’t violent games in line with our school values?

OTHER RESOURCES & GUIDES:

Author: Trent Ray (Co-Founder & Educator, Cyber Safety Project)

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/

P.E.