How to Find Hidden Apps on a Phone (Video)

Inappropriate activity on any app can have a negative impact on your child’s college and career opportunities. However, some children feel like they can act out on certain apps because it’s anonymous or the content disappears over time.

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Why should students care?

Using apps to hide your social media activity might mean you are engaging in behaviors that could hurt your digital footprint
Would you want your hidden activity to be found by your dream school or future employer?
Everything you post on social media or send in messages can be discovered online-even if you use apps that claim to delete your post after a set amount of time, like Snapchat or Instagram stories

Why should parents care?

Some kids might think they can use certain apps to engage in negative activities because that activity won’t show up on their parent’s phone bill
Using these apps can be dangerous and put your child at risk of encountering predators. So, it’s important to monitor the apps your children download

What could go wrong?

According to a report from ABC, there are child predators who know about these apps, and try to engage with your child. Take them offline and say ‘hey, download this app, we can communicate that way, no one ever has to know’.

Apps that can hide activity from parents

How to find all hidden apps on an iPhone

On your child’s phone, open the App Store
In the bottom right corner, click Updates
Select Purchased
Click My Purchases
This is where you can access and review every app your student has ever downloaded

How to find all hidden apps on an Android phone

On your child’s phone, open the Google Play Store. Ensure you are on the homepage
Select the 3 line icon next to the search bar
Click on My Apps & Games
Select the All tab
This is where you can access and review every app your student has ever downloaded

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