Various mobile apps are available for easy downloading of children. One particular app called Musical.ly is one app a lot of parents are being warned about. Many kids are opening themselves to possibilities such as cyber bullying and even for sex offenders.
According to Cyber Bullying Site, Musical.ly is an increasingly popular app for tweens and teens, even children alike. The app allows users to create and share short video to the public. Users can go along with the song of their choice as they lip-sync along. There are known to be 80 million registered users of Musical.ly with 10 daily active users.
The "Musers" as what Musical.ly users are called upload an average of 10 million, 15-second videos of themselves on a daily basis. The short clips showcase a kid dancing around while lip-syncing to a top hit that everyone loves. Musers or Musical.ly users can also make their videos fancier by adding color filters and even do their performance in elaborate costumes or amazing dance moves.
When a Musical.ly user uploads their video, it becomes a "Musical" where others are able to view and leave comments about it. Just like Facebook, videos can be liked. Other users can also subscribe to the person who they want to see more videos from.
While the app is mainly used for fun, as that is the main reason for its creation, Musical.ly has become a platform for the negatives such as online bashing and even fall victim to sexual offenders.
Different videos uploaded are made public just like any photos posted online from other social media sites. Once uploaded, the public immediately has access to it. The problem is Musical.ly shows actual movements and not just plain pictures.
We're in @billboard with @jacobsartorius @BabyAriel, @PerkinsDaniella & @Littlest_rebel. So cool! RETWEET this guys https://t.co/kMChPTLLh5
— musical.ly (@musicallyapp) October 20, 2016
A "Muser" acting and doing gestures while lip-syncing along a chosen music may invite other users to comment negatively making the uploader feel bad about him or herself. This could also be potentially more interesting and attractive to sex offenders who are also subscribed to the app.
As added by WKBW Buffalo, the Police department have increasingly been getting complaints that someone is talking nasty about a certain video- a potential beginning of cyber bullying. Musical.ly even with a private account can't control what comes up when one tween or child searches for videos which can sometimes be pornographic.
It is also possible to message someone using Musical.ly. Some offenders may pose as another "Muser," meet up with another kid and may end up in a compromising situation. Just like any other app which is available to kids, the app should be closely monitored.
Indeed, Musical.ly is fun to use as talent in dancing and creativity can be showcased. If the purpose is only for fun shared with friends, then there is no problem. Parents must be sure to make kids understand the limitation of using the app.
