Page 30 - Fourways Gardens March 2021

LifeTalk

teLeGRAM – the new PoRn huB?

B y n icoleen d a vies, d irec t or l i F e t alk F oru M

e are all aware of the recent issues around and then peddle fake bitcoin investments, hacking tools, stolen
WhatApps’ mandatory new privacy policy terms, security numbers and lure their victims into other scams.”
which left people nervous and scrambling to move
Waway to other chat platforms such as Signal and Sexually suggestive Stickers
Telegram. The main issues at play are a lack of trust in Facebook But, there’s more! I have seen for myself the sticker options freely
and the fact that if users didn’t accept the new terms, they would available on the app. They are entirely inappropriate for younger
no longer be able to use the WhatsApp service. children, being sexually suggestive and, honestly, leaving nothing
to the imagination. Once seen, they cannot be unseen. Personally,
Facebook, the owner of WhatsApp, has a poor track record when I wouldn’t want those images imbedded in my child’s mind.
it comes to managing data and thereby consumer interests. The
intention of the new terms was to allow WhatsApp to generate What to do
revenue by allowing commercial exchanges on the app and If your child had downloaded Telegram and you are still
allowing users to message businesses. The terms would not comfortable for him/her to continue to use the app then:
affect personal conversations which would remain encrypted. • Ensure their location is turned off. BUT, turning off location
They also claim that it would not expand their ability to share settings is not enough as they can easily be turned back on.
data with Facebook. Emma suggests . . . “You need to make sure that there is a
parental control function that either stops them from turning
But the consumer backlash was immense with millions of the location on and off – or if you have decided they should not
people downloading other apps. On 18 January 2021, there be on Telegram, to ban them from the platform.”
were 1,5 million people who downloaded Signal – they boasted • To access the location setting, follow the prompts below:
17,8 million downloads in the first week of January. Telegram • go into "settings" on your phone;
had 15,7 million downloads in the same period. • go to "privacy and location";
• in "permission manager", you are allowed to turn off your
Telegram – ‘People Nearby’ feature warning location settings for each app.
With the focus on new platforms, issues came to light about the • Google parental control apps. A suggested article is:
potential exposure of children to inappropriate material. Emma https://www.tomsguide.com/us/best-parental-control-apps,
Sadlier, a social media law specialist, has been warning parents review-2258.html
of the Telegram feature ‘People Nearby’, which can easily expose • Talk to your children and educate them about the potential
young users to pornography. She posted on Twitter: “URGENT dangers, and, more specifically the issue of people not known to
URGENT!!!... If your child has downloaded Telegram, please make them who may try to interact with them.
absolutely sure the location is turned off and that they cannot • Remind your children that the best protection they have is
turn it back on. There is a ‘People Nearby’ feature which allows themselves. They can keep themselves safe.
you to see nearby groups (without joining) and with the • Periodically, check their phones to ensure that they are
most horrific pornography.” continuing to be safe.

According to Gadgetsnow.com, hackers can Other sources
use this feature to extract your exact location. https://www.moneyweb.co.za/news/tech/whatsapp-retreats-after-
user-backlash-delays-mandatory-new-terms/
If there is a stalker out there, your child could https://www.inc.com/jason-aten/how-signal-became-most-popular-
be at risk! app-in-world-overnight-why-it-matters.html
https://apnews.com/article/apple-inc-media-social-media-844c00e
28ea7f73e6d1f5fa002f60f6a
A report compiled by ArsTechnia states: https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/sci-tech/2021-01-12-porn-
”Telegram lets users create local groups exposure-warning-with-telegram-location-setting/
https://www.gadgetsnow.com/tech-news/security-problem-
within a geographical area. Scammers often found-in-telegram-app/ar ticleshow/80183809.cms?utm_
spoof their location to cash in on such groups source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst
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Fourways Gardens • 28 • March 2021