What Parents Need to Know about YouNow: Privacy, Risks, and Safety Settings

YouNow is a live-streaming platform (app and website) that lets anyone broadcast whatever they choose, anytime, from anywhere, to anyone using the app. The audience can see broadcasters and live chat with them. Watching the broadcasts that are grouped by hashtags requires no registration or age verification of any kind.

If users wish to broadcast their own videos, they must sign up for an account using a Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or Google+ account.

In comparison to other live streaming apps where users tend to capture moments from events or snippets from their lives, YouNow users broadcast long-form streams over a number of hours. The more time users spend broadcasting live, the more likely they are to earn likes and fans, get promoted by viewers, and progress to higher levels of status and experience within a gamification system. For instance, a popular hashtag is #sleepingsquad, where individuals broadcast themselves sleeping.

YouNow has a special currency called "coins" that you can earn once you are using the app. The coins allow users to up-vote favorite broadcasters to get them trending, or to buy them special gifts.

"Bars" are another currency on YouNow. They can only be bought with real money and used to purchase premium gifts for favorite broadcasters. Premium gifts include marriage proposals, 50x Thumbs-Up, fanmail and 50x Thumbs-Up on a user's own broadcast.

Is YouNow safe for children? 

Users must be 13+, but under the new E.U General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), some countries have set the Digital Age of Consent to 16 years old.

What can one do on YouNow:

• Watch live videos, browse trending hashtags, categories, and broadcasters
• Broadcast live videos
• Follow, chat, and connect with other broadcasters/fans
• Like and comment on videos
• Buy gifts for other followers.

Many teens use the app to broadcast their talents; for example, dancing and singing are very popular broadcasts. In addition, teens use the app for advice and to ask questions; there's even a #bored hashtag, which is very popular.

It's worth knowing that YouNow collects a lot of personal information from users:

·  Personal Information Through Social Sign-In: When one signs up using social media accounts, YouNow collects personal data from these platforms, such as your name, profile picture, and basic account details, to create a YouNow profile.

·  User-Generated Content: Any content one creates on YouNow, such as live broadcasts, chats, and posts, is collected by the app. This includes everything one shares publicly or in messages.

·  Usage Data: YouNow automatically collects information about how users use the platform. This includes details like when they go live, how many fans they have, and other activity metrics.

Dangers of Using YouNow

The privacy risks are high, as a lot of personal information can leak during live videos, especially if they are made from the house, school, or recognizable environments. You can read more about it here.

Another thing to consider is that the videos don't disappear after the broadcast ends. Everything is recorded and stays on the profile for three days. Viewers can always take screenshots or copy parts of the broadcast and share them on other social networks.

1. Lack of Privacy. One of YouNow's biggest flaws is its poor privacy protection. For instance, the teenager broadcasting has no idea who is watching or asking questions, as many viewers remain anonymous.

2. Exposure to Inappropriate Content. Late-night broadcasts, for example, might feature teens using foul language or discussing inappropriate topics. While the app promises fun and interaction, it can also expose young users to harmful content.
3. Addiction. Like other social media platforms, YouNow can become addictive. What may start as innocent fun can quickly spiral into a major distraction from schoolwork or other responsibilities. In some cases, the desire for social media fame can even disrupt healthy sleep patterns, leading to further issues.
4. Chatting with Strangers. There's no way to know exactly who your child might be chatting with or what kind of information they're sharing.
5. Spending Money. A stack of gold bars can cost anywhere from $2.99 to $49.99, making it easy to rack up significant expenses quickly. If a payment card is linked to the mobile app, children could easily lose track of how much they spend in the app.

Privacy and Safety Settings You Can Set Up on YouNow

Block users

• Once blocked, the user can no longer chat with you, comment on your profile, follow you, watch your broadcasts, or receive any notifications about your activities.
• To block someone, simply click on their username, choose the ellipsis (three dots) on their mini-profile, and select ''Block''. If the user is a fan, they will automatically be removed from your fan list.
• If you wish to unblock someone, click on their name during a chat or broadcast, click the ellipsis (three dots), and select ''Unblock''. You can also unblock them by visiting their profile, clicking the ellipsis (three dots), and selecting ''Unblock''.

Appointing a Broadcast Referee

• YouNow allows broadcasters to have more control over their streams by appointing trusted audience members as "broadcast referees." These referees can silence users who violate the community rules or guidelines.
• To assign someone as a broadcast referee, click on the person's username in the chat, click the ellipsis (three dots), and choose ''Assign broadcast referee''.

Silence a user from chat

• As the broadcaster, you can yourself mute specific users if they are being disruptive. To do this, click on the user's name in the chat, click the ellipsis (three dots), and select ''Silence from Chat''. Once muted, the user won't be able to chat for the rest of your broadcast. However, the mute will only last for that session, and the user will be able to chat in future broadcasts unless muted again.
• Additionally, you can mute all users who are below a certain level in your chat (e.g., below level 2 or 5). To do this, click on the Chat icon above your chat box and choose the preferred setting to block lower-level users.

Control How Others See You

YouNow offers privacy options to control how much information others can see about you. To adjust these settings, go to your profile, then navigate to Settings -> Privacy and toggle on the following options:

1. Hide Your City – This will prevent others from seeing your location.
2. Enable Invisible Mode – If you're a producer with at least 4 crowns, you can turn on this mode to browse YouNow without being visible to others.

Delete Your Account

Account termination can be done on the YouNow website using a desktop computer. When you delete your account, it cannot be reinstated, and all your fans, broadcasts, and activities will be permanently erased.

To terminate your account:

1. Go to younow.com, hover over the dropdown menu in the upper-right-hand corner (your profile photo icon), and select Settings.
2. Navigate to Privacy and click on Terminate My Account.

Changing Your Name

You cannot completely remove your name from your profile, but you can change your nickname.

On a computer:

• Go to the dropdown menu in the upper-right-hand corner of YouNow and select Settings.
• Change your nickname and click Save.
• On a mobile device:
• Tap the avatar icon on the YouNow app toolbar.
• Tap the gear icon to edit your profile.
• Click on your URL and edit your nickname.
• To replace your profile name with your nickname, check the box below the Nickname section.

Unfanning a User

• If you want to unfan someone, go to their profile or mini-profile by clicking or tapping on their name or searching for their account. Then, click the avatar with a check mark to unfan them.
• If you receive too many notifications from a user but don't want to unfan them, you can change your notification settings instead. Go to Settings -> Notifications and adjust your preferences accordingly.

How to Protect Children on YouNow?

Parents must weigh the risks mentioned when deciding whether their younger kids can use YouNow. If they still agree, parents could:

1. Ask kids not to share their real name, age, phone number, or location on YouNow.

2. Explain that their videos, pictures, profile images, and profile descriptions must not be so revealing as to allow someone to find or contact them in person. And they should never meet with people they have spoken with only via the app.

3. Talk with children about possible cyberbullying as a response to their recordings, which they should not let affect them if it happens.

4. Show them how to report inappropriate content or people.

5. Tell them that they can always come to you if they have questions or concerns about their online activity or other users.

6. Remind your child how easy it is for someone to screen capture or record live footage on screen. Recording can be used to bully or harass users in some instances.

How Bitdefender Parental Control Can Help with YouNow

When other methods of managing your child's online activity aren't enough, a parental control like Bitdefender Parental Control can be a powerful tool. It gives parents control over how their children use the YouNow app and other digital platforms. Here's how Bitdefender Parental Control can help you:

• Block Inappropriate Apps and Websites: With Bitdefender Parental Control, you can block or set time limits on the YouNow app and other apps. This prevents excessive use, allowing your child to focus on more productive activities.
• Content Filtering: Parents can restrict access to entire categories of websites and block specific URLs or apps entirely.
• Get Insights on Screen Time: You get detailed insights into how your child uses their device and the internet. This data helps you make informed decisions about their online habits and encourages a balanced approach to screen time.
• Create Routines: You can set up routines that manage your child's internet access, encouraging healthy habits. For example:
  • Focus Time: Set times for homework or study sessions.
• Bedtime: Block internet access during sleep hours to ensure they get enough rest.
• Family Time: Restrict internet access during meals or family gatherings to promote engagement.

FAQs

1. Is YouNow safe for children?

YouNow poses certain risks for children, such as exposure to inappropriate content and interactions with strangers during live broadcasts.

2. Can anyone watch my child's live broadcasts on YouNow?

Yes, YouNow allows anyone to view public live streams, which raises privacy concerns. Educate your child on protecting personal information, avoid showing recognizable locations like their home or school, and review privacy settings regularly.

3. Does YouNow content disappear after a live stream?

No, live broadcasts on YouNow are saved and remain on the user's profile for three days, during which viewers can still watch or download the content. Additionally, there's always a risk that someone may take screenshots or record the broadcast and share it on other platforms.