”
I have recently received questions from several parents about a new app, TBH. TBH, which means: “”To Be Honest,”” is a social media app for teens 13-years or older.
TBH lets friends anonymously answer questions about one another. The questions are 100% controlled by the developer. This is intended to keep the questions and answers from becoming mean or insulting. Users can submit their own ideas for poll questions, but these are reviewed by the developer before being added to the question pool.
There are privacy concerns. App registration asks for users’ age indirectly by asking for the highest grade completed in high school or college. It also accesses users’ phone contacts lists and location to help the user identify the school they attend.
The user agreement also indicates that a chat feature may be included in the future. If TBH adds a direct messaging or chat feature, I will probably downgrade this app to “”Unsafe for Children.””
Here is how TBH sizes up in my “”4 Questions Every Parent Should Ask”” before downloading a social media app:
1. Is it age appropriate?
This app is intended for users at least 13-years-old.
2. Does it have privacy settings that can be made “Private?”
No. This app does not have privacy settings, but you must be invited or request to be “”friends”” on this app. Functionally, it is private.
3. Can strangers or anonymous users contact my child?
Maybe. You can search the entire user database by user name. Once you can “”add”” them, the person you added must “”accept”” the invite before any communication can occur.
4. Can I review past posts and comments?
Yes.
My rating: Use with Caution
