The Boo app (formerly Boomoji) is a social network where users create an avatar that they use to chat with others. At the time of this app guide, the Boo app is in the top 15 most popular social media apps on the Apple App Store, so it is very popular with students. In our experience, when tweens and teens have anonymous avatars to hide behind, they tend to misbehave more than if their actions are tied to their real name.

Parent & educator training video

What is the Boo app?

• The Boo app (formerly Boomoji) is a social network where users create an avatar that they use to chat with others
• When users create an avatar, they can customize physical features, hairstyles, and outfits
• Then, users decorate their “home” in the app, which acts like a profile
• Users can visit each others “homes” on the app
• The Boo app encourages users to create a greeting using their avatar and a voice recording that welcomes others to their “home”
• Users can take selfies in the app that are turned into an avatar
• Similar to the Mojiit app, users can place their avatar in real places with augmented reality videos
• Users share videos or pictures of their avatars with one another
• Friends can pair up and take pictures of their avatars together
• Users can select their avatar’s expressions, poses, and backgrounds
• When users play the games on the Boo app, they earn points that can be used to buy clothes, decorations, and other features for their avatar
• Users can also use real money to buy things for their avatar

Boo app (Boomoji) marketing says:

“Boo is your own 3D avatar. Customize your avatar with tons of face features, hairstyles and outfits. Decorate your Boo home with a variety of stylish items. Have fun with friends by visiting each other’s home, sending & receiving greetings, collaborating in camera, generating dual stickers and making cool videos.”

Why should parents care?

• At the time of this app guide, the Boo app is in the top 15 most popular social media apps on the Apple App Store, so it is very popular with students
• The Boo app integrates with iMessage on iPhones, which helps contribute to its popularity because it’s easy to use
• The Boo app was formerly called Boomoji but changed its name after it exposed the personal information of it 5 million users
• If your student had the app before December 2018 (or if their friends did), it is likely that their phone number and any other personal information they linked to the app was exposed
• In our experience, when tweens and teens have anonymous avatars to hide behind, they tend to misbehave more than if they’re actions are tied to their real name
• Apps like these don’t help your children build a positive digital footprint

The Boo app in the news:

In December, 2018 the Boo app (formerly Boomoji) had a massive data security issue:

Popular animated avatar creator app Boomoji, with more than five million users across the world, exposed the personal data of its entire user base after it failed to put passwords on two of its internet-facing databases… Each record also included a user’s unique Boomoji ID, which was linked to other tables in the database. Those other tables included if and which school they go to — a feature Boomoji touts as a way for users to get in touch with their fellow students.

–Tech Crunch

What can parents do?

• Join SmartSocial.com/Join to learn about apps like this before the news reports on them
• Talk to your children and remind them to never speak to strangers or share personal information over social media
• Be on the same apps that your kids use. Follow their feeds, know who they’re talking to, and monitor their behavior
• When you’re ready for your child to be on social media, encourage them to use the apps in the Green Zone of the SmartSocial.com Parent App Guide
• If you decide that Boo app is safe for your family, consider sitting down with your children and creating an avatar together

Conclusion

Formerly called Boomoji, the Boo app is a social network where users create an avatar that they use to chat with others. Apps like these don’t help your children build a positive digital footprint and when tweens and teens have anonymous avatars to hide behind, they tend to misbehave more than if they’re actions are tied to their real name. If you decide that Boo app is safe for your family, consider sitting down with your children and creating an avatar together.

Do your kids have the Boo app? If so, how do you keep them safe? Let us know in the comments below!