AI tool, App Danger Project, to aid parents in ensuring child-friendly phones
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Ensuring children's safety while navigating the digital landscape has become an increasing concern for parents. From inappropriate apps to potential threats, the online world presents a range of risks, particularly for young users.
Addressing this, the App Danger Project, an artificial intelligence (AI) tool designed to identify unsafe apps for children, has emerged as a promising solution.
The project, spearheaded by computer scientist Brian Levine from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, in collaboration with a team of researchers, has led to the creation of a website that employs a computational model to evaluate app reviews and determine their suitability for children.
The AI model delves into the context of reviews, scrutinising the presence of phrases like “child porn” or “pedo”, and subsequently flags the app as potentially unsafe. This mechanism provides parents with a clear indication of the level of danger associated with a particular app. To access this feature, users can utilise the search function on the website to look up any app of concern.
While the primary focus appears to be on social media apps, which have witnessed a rapid increase on platforms like the App Store and Google Play Store, the App Danger Project encompasses various video streaming and gaming apps as well.
For instance, the anonymous social media app Whisper has been singled out with more than 400 reviews signalling its unsuitability for children. Even Snapchat, a widely used platform, received over 23 reviews highlighting potential risks for children.
Presently, the website displays a compilation of 182 apps available for download on iOS and Android devices, all deemed hazardous for children. The platform also allows users to filter the list based on the device platform used by their child. Additionally, an option to suggest apps for analysis is provided, reported The New York Times.
The impact of the App Danger Project has even extended to Apple. The company reportedly investigated the apps flagged on the website and subsequently removed 10 of them for violating its guidelines.
Although app reviews offer an informative perspective, they may not be the definitive measure of an app's safety. Nevertheless, these reviews provide insights into the experiences of other users, aiding parents in deciding whether an app is suitable for their child's device.
To utilise the tool, people can visit app-danger.org on any device.