BIGO Live (Rated 17+, Social Networking)
BIGO Live is a prevalent global free live-streaming application on iOS and Android platforms. Users can watch events unfold in people’s lives, participate in live game streaming, conduct live chats with global people, and go live at any time as social influencers. Presently, it has more than 400 million users across the globe.
On BIGO Live, users can make videos or go live and share their real-time activities with other BIGO Live users. Any user can broadcast videos at any time from anywhere. They will also get live comments from other users.
Why Do Kids and Teenagers Prefer To Use BIGO Live?
Live streaming is one of those trends that both teens and adults are following today. Teens and children are most attracted to these types of media. The app is easy to use and comes with many features.
Anyone can have an account on this platform and access the video call feature. Video functions come with filters similar to Instagram Stories and Snapchat.
What Should Parents Know About BIGO Live?
Flexible Age Restriction
The software lacks a reliable verification technique to determine whether users are under seventeen. Since it is no different than other available live-streaming apps, once a user has gained access, they can post and engage in videos with any other users. This makes it impossible to know the actual variables of another user’s identity. The software relies on its AI to confirm a user’s age. However, any user can easily trick the AI.
The Nature of the BIGO Live Culture
Many public statements and feedback describe a majority of content accessible on BIGO Live as “aggressive,” “filthy,” “mature,” and “inappropriate.” The live discussion on streaming videos can frequently spark bullying behavior. Broadcasters will do anything to increase their following and receive rewards from the app and their audience, leading to compulsive and explicit content.
Parental Controls
The BIGO Live app does not feature parental controls.
Potential Problems
Coming Into Live Video Contact With Predators
Since account verification is unreliable, your child or teen is almost inevitably setting themselves up to be filmed or watched by someone with bad intentions. This leaves a door open for someone to collect intimate information about them, including activity patterns and more.
Cyberbullying With A Heavy Impact
Bullying hurts in every form it is delivered. However, there is something exceedingly hurtful about being bullied face to face. When your child or teen is exposed to situations created by video calls or live streaming, things can become more difficult for them.
They are more intimately connected with any real-time behaviors they exhibited in their video, and to make matters worse, video content can be replayed and used as an emotional weapon.
Recommendations
I highly recommend that your child or teen not engage with others using the BIGO Live app. There are several other outlets for making video calls to family and close friends that are much more secure and safer than unrestrained communities like these.
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