Apps

What are apps?

Apps (short for “applications”) – are pieces of software that you can download to run on the internet, computers, tablets (such as the iPad), mobiles and other electronic devices.

Built by software developers, apps tend to fall into two categories: Useful apps (eg a weather app that can determine your location and provide you with the weather forecast) and fun apps (eg a game you can play on your mobile).

Did you know?

According to ABI Research, mobile phone users downloaded nearly eight billion apps in 2010, the majority of which were downloaded via iTunes.

What do I need to know about apps?

Apps can be downloaded from various online app stores, which are owned either by the mobile handset manufacturers (eg Apple iTunes App Store and Nokia Ovi Store), mobile network providers (eg Orange Application Shop and Vodafone App Store) or aggregators, such as Handango.

They can vary in price – some downloads might be free whereas others must be paid for – so it’s important that your son or daughter understands the potential costs. Payment methods differ between app stores and may include credit/debit cards, PayPal accounts and iTunes accounts.

It’s likely that you, or your child, will be asked to enter a password on your device before purchasing an app. In March 2011, Apple updated its app purchasing policy so that iPhone and iPad users have to re-enter their iTunes password when making an in-app purchase (ie if they buy something extra within an app they’ve already downloaded).

Because so many applications are now available, they’re often categorised within the stores, into areas such as Entertainment, Games, Music, Shopping, Social Networking, Sport and Travel. Cost varies across apps, with some free and others costing between 29p and £10.

There are additional costs if an app is connected rather than standalone (in other words, if it requires data traffic to be generated in order to function). An example of this is a news app that regularly fetches the latest news from the internet and sends it to your mobile – while the app is running, you will be charged by your mobile provider based on your data package agreement with them.

More and more apps are being developed for families. As well as apps for parents, there are apps to help children read, write, play, create and manage their schoolwork. For example:

  • Animoto videos – a Facebook app that takes music and photos chosen by you or your child and makes a 30 second video out of them
  • FirstWords: Animals – encourages children to spell words based on pictures on the screen (available on the iPhone, iPad and Android)
  • My Homework – available on the iPhone, this helps you and your kids keep track of homework, classes and tests
  • Star Walk – an ideal app for budding astronomers (available on the iPhone and iPad)
  • Zebra Paint – a colouring book app that’s available on Android phones

What can I do about apps?

  • Talk to your child about apps – ask them if they’ve downloaded any apps; encourage them to show you their favourite apps so you can see whether they’re appropriate for their age; get them to show you the app store they use so you can check it’s reputable
  • Discuss the costs of downloading apps with them – how are they paying for the apps they download and how much do they cost? Are they aware of additional costs, such as data charges on their mobile if they download a connected app? Do they purchase additional products within apps they’ve downloaded?
  • If they download an app but it doesn’t work, report it to the app store they got it from. But, remember, the store might not take responsibility as it often lies solely with the developer who built the app
  • If you or another member of your family comes across an app that you believe might be inappropriate or illegal, report it to the app store provider so that they can take action
  • If your son or daughter doesn’t have their own mobile or tablet, they might want to play on yours – keep an eye on them so that they only access apps and other content that are appropriate for their age and maturity
  • Make the most of online tools like Parental Controls and Safe Search based on your child’s age and maturity – but remember that they might not be 100% effective and they aren’t a substitute for parental supervision
  • Read our articles about games, inappropriate & harmful content, location services, mobiles, music , security and social networking

Where can I go for more information and support when it comes to apps?

How old are your kids?

What you need to know to get started

  • 5-7 years old

    Technology is part of your child's life before they start primary school. They're probably using the computer, the internet and interactive TV for fun - watching programmes on the CBeebies channel and website or taking part in the Club Penguin chat rooms...but they still need adult guidance and supervision.

    Read more

  • 8-11 years old

    If you have 8-11 year old children, your house is probably full of technology - PlayStation, Nintendo, iPod...the list goes on. In fact, research shows that 8-11 year olds in the UK have an average of four media devices in their bedroom.

    This is a crucial age for young people to embrace new technologies and develop their ICT skills both at home and at school...and it's a crucial time for you to take control when they start exploring the digital world as well as the real world.

    Read more

  • 12-14 years old

    They're at secondary school and growing up fast. It's a time of change and their digital world might seem as important as the real world to them. They might spend their evenings on Bebo, Facebook or MySpace ; watching videos on YouTube and uploading their own for others to watch; or doing research for their homework.

    You want to encourage their technology and social skills, of course, so it's useful to understand what they're doing with technology and to get involved with it.

    Read more

  • 15+ years old

    Once your children are teenagers, it might be tempting to think that they're tech-savvy and dealing with everything the virtual world can throw at them. You probably watch in awe as they switch from chatting with friends on Facebook to updating their Twitter profile; playing against someone on the other side of the world on their games console to downloading music on their mobile.

    It's all great fun but, as they get older, the things you need to help them to cope with in their digital world are ever more challenging. Far from leaving them to it, you really need to keep communicating with them.

    Read more

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