App Review – Cyber Dust
Threat Level – High
Welcome to the World of Dusting.
When you hear your children talking about dusting, it may be referring to a new growing in popularity app called Cyber Dust. Cyber Dust is an app designed and developed by a company named Mention Mobile. This is Mention Mobiles first venture into the world of social media/texting apps. This app is another in a long line of self destructing apps for the IOS market and in the future Android and Windows mobile.
Snapchat made self destructing photo sharing apps popular and started a trend of deleting after you send. The difference with Cyber Dust is that it is not just a self destructing picture sharing application, but it self destructs everything from text messages to pictures. Cyber Dust describes itself in the description as “Every spoken word isn’t recorded, why should your texts be?” Also, it states Have fun and private messages without worry. These are not things I encourage my 12 year olds to be doing. Do you want a child to feel “comfortable” knowing their messages would delete? Why would they need a feature such as that? Some other features inside app allows sharing of sticker packs, screen shot detection alert (allows you to notify sender that you took a screen shot of that alleged deleted text) and also send and received notifications. Future plans hint of group options and also video.
When you search this app in the IOS App Store, you will see it has a 12+ Restriction. I’m not sure I would want my 12 year old having conversations, texts or sharing pictures that automatically delete. Like I mentioned earlier, why would they need that? If they are using, you better ask them that question.
Basically, after you download the app and get your account setup with basic information that you see in most apps, name, email address and bio, then you are ready to roll. Your username allows you to invite others to your messages or shares. Now you are ready to send text messages, share pics all knowing that everything deletes after your recipient receives the message.
I have given this a threat level of high for one simple reason, Why do they need to delete what they text? Monitor this app closely if you allow your child to use, and be sure to look at who they are communicating inside of the app. This could get dangerous if strangers find their way into your child’s messaging feeds.
App Description – chat bubble, red, yellow, pixelating, small boxes, round, pink, red, yellow
SocialSafetyPatrol.com 