As parents, we always want to keep our children safe, but it's not always easy.
With most teenagers having access to the internet there is the constant worry of cyberbullying and online grooming.
It can be difficult to know what to look out for without coming across as too overprotective but knowing what apps and social media platforms your child uses are a good way to start.
This cheat sheet by Code 9 parents gives you a sample of the most common phone apps used by teenagers and what it is that each app does.
Most parents will be pretty familiar with apps like Instagram and Snapchat, but there are some on this list that I had never heard of.
Some of these apps allow your child to get into anonymous conversations with strangers and can be very dangerous.
Some teens have found themselves being harassed by bullies through these apps while others have unknowingly had conversations with adults much older than themselves.
The best thing to do as a parent is to check your teen's phone regularly, and if you find applications that you don't think are safe remove them from their phone.
They may be annoyed at you for a while but better that than have any harm come to them down the line.
The original post also warns that these unsafe apps often change name and logos so be vigilant and open up any apps on your child's phone that you might be unsure of.
The internet is a great tool for teens to chat with friends and access study materials but like most things it has, it's dark side.
Keeping potentially dangerous apps off your child's phone means that they can continue to socialise online without you or your child having to worry about online abuse of any kind.
