App Reviews

What popular apps actually do, who uses them, and whether they suit children and teens.

App Reviews5 Quick Pokémon GO Facts for Parents in 2026Who runs Pokémon GO now, its age rating, how child accounts work, what it costs, and the real-world safety rules every family should set before kids play.
App ReviewsApps and Websites Parents Should Look Out For in 2026The kinds of apps and sites that cause the most trouble for kids in 2026, from anonymous Q&A and random video chat to AI companions, and what to do about each.
App ReviewsAfter School App: What the Anonymous School Message Board Was and What Replaced ItAfter School was an anonymous high school message board app pulled over threats and bullying. What happened to it and which apps fill that role today.
App ReviewsAppCertain Curfew Mode: What It Did and How to Set a Phone Curfew TodayAppCertain offered a remote curfew mode for kids' iPhones in 2013. It's gone now, so here is how to set a phone curfew with Screen Time and Family Link.
App ReviewsWhat Was ooVoo? The Video Chat App, Its Shutdown and Safer Options for KidsooVoo was a free group video chat app popular with tweens until it shut down in November 2017. What it was, why parents worried, and safer options now.
App ReviewsFlinch App: The Video Staring Contest With Strangers, Explained for ParentsFlinch was a video staring-contest app from the makers of ooVoo that matched kids with strangers. What it was, and how to handle random video chat today.
App ReviewsFooducate App Review: Is the Barcode-Scanning Nutrition App Worth It for Families?Fooducate scans food barcodes and grades products A to D. What the app does in 2026, what's free versus paid, and how to use it with kids in a healthy way.
App ReviewsFriends Are Fun! App Review: Friendship Storybook Apps for Young KidsFriends Are Fun! was an interactive iPad storybook about friendship for ages 2 to 8. What it offered, its status now, and how to pick a storybook app today.
App ReviewsFree Educational Apps for Kids That Are Actually Fun (2026)Free, genuinely educational apps for kids in 2026, from Khan Academy Kids and PBS KIDS to nature and space apps, and how to spot a free app that is not.
App ReviewsHello Vino Wine App Review: Is the Wine Pairing Assistant Still Worth Using?Hello Vino suggests wines for meals, occasions and your taste. What the app does in 2026, alternatives, and how to keep alcohol apps off kids' devices.
App ReviewsWhat Was Houseparty? The Group Video Chat App and What Teens Use NowHouseparty was a group video chat app teens kept open for hours until Epic Games shut it down in 2021. What it was, why parents worried, and what replaced it.
App ReviewsIs Snapchat Okay for Kids? A Parent's Guide for 2026Snapchat's minimum age, teen default settings, Family Center, Snap Map and My AI explained, plus the settings to check before your child starts snapping.
App ReviewsThe Lassy Project App: Community Child Safety Alerts and Today's AlternativesLassy was a child-tracking app that alerted parents and neighbors if a child strayed from a route. What it did, its status now, and how to use location tools.
App ReviewsKidzVuz Review: The Moderated Video Site for Kids, and Safe Video Options NowKidzVuz let tweens post video reviews checked by moderators before going live. What it was, why it's gone, and safer ways for kids to share videos in 2026.
App ReviewsLive Streaming and Kids: What Are the Risks and How to Manage ThemWhy live streaming is riskier for kids than posting videos, the age rules on TikTok, YouTube and Instagram, and what to do if your teen wants to go live.
App ReviewsMeerkat, Periscope and YouNow: Are Live Streaming Apps Okay for Kids?Meerkat shut down in 2016 and Periscope in 2021, but YouNow is still around. What happened to each live streaming app and what parents should know now.
App ReviewsMusic Discovery Services Beyond Pandora: A Family Guide to Streaming MusicHow Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, Pandora and Amazon Music help you find new music, and how to set up explicit filters and kids' accounts on each.
App ReviewsMusical.ly App Review: What Happened to Musical.ly and Is TikTok Okay for Kids?Musical.ly, the lip-sync app tweens loved, became TikTok in 2018. What it was, why it changed, and the TikTok settings parents should know about in 2026.
App ReviewsA Parent's Guide to Instagram in 2026: Teen Accounts, Settings and SupervisionInstagram's minimum age, how Teen Accounts work, the 13+ content setting, Sleep Mode and parental supervision, plus the privacy settings to review together.
App ReviewsDo Snapchat Messages Really Disappear? How Chats, Stories and Memories WorkSnapchat chats and Snaps can be saved, screenshotted and kept in Memories. How deletion really works in 2026 and what to tell teens before they hit send.
App ReviewsSnapchat Discover and Spotlight: What Your Teen Is Watching on SnapchatHow Snapchat's Discover content and Spotlight videos shape what teens watch and read, what parents can control in Family Center, and how to talk about it.
App ReviewsSnapKidz: What Happened to Snapchat for Kids, and What to Use InsteadSnapKidz was Snapchat's limited mode for kids under 13. It no longer exists. Here's what it did, Snapchat's age rules today, and safer options for younger kids.
App ReviewsVacation Planning Apps: Tips and Tools for a Smoother Family TripThe kinds of apps that make family travel easier in 2026, from itinerary organizers to offline maps, plus privacy and screen-time tips for traveling with kids.
App ReviewsWhat Is Tango? Is the Live-Streaming App Okay for Kids?Tango started as a video calling app and is now a live-streaming platform built around virtual gifts. What parents should know about its risks and age rating.
App ReviewsWhat Was Vine? What Happened to It, and What Kids Use NowVine, the six-second video app, shut down in 2017. What it was, why it closed, the 2025 diVine reboot, and what parents should know about short-video apps now.
App ReviewsWhat Is VSCO? A Parent's Guide to the Photo AppVSCO is a photo-editing app with its own community, messaging and shared Spaces. Here's how it works, its age rating, and the settings parents should check.
App ReviewsWhisper App: What Parents Should Know About the Anonymous Secrets AppWhisper let users post anonymous secrets over images. It is no longer operating. Here's what it was, what went wrong, and how to handle today's anonymous apps.
App ReviewsYik Yak: What Parents Should Know About the Anonymous Messaging AppYik Yak shut down in 2017, returned in 2021, and was bought by rival Sidechat in 2023. What it is today, who it's for, and why it isn't meant for younger teens.