Marco Polo App: What Is It? Is It Safe?

With so many social media applications popping up, it is hard to maintain track of what is going on. There are so many applications that have so many different features.

For example, some social media applications help you connect to a community and offer ways to share your content with your circle. Some social media messaging applications help in texting and video chatting, and so much more.

Honestly, it is hard for parents to keep track of what their children or teens are using. Children and teens neglect the privacy policies and other guidelines provided by different applications. Yet, they care about using these social media applications to connect to their friends and families.

Lately, parents have been worried about the security and privacy threat caused by social media to their children. Hence we have prepared a guide for you to learn about a new buzzing app. This application is known as the Marco Polo application.

What is Marco Polo App?

Marco Polo App is a new video messenger app that is similar to Snapchat. The application calls itself to be a "video walkie-talkie." You can send messages from the application in the form of short videos. You can view the video instantly and reply to them through your video. You can take turns with your contact in sending videos. However, you cannot use the application for video-chatting in real-time.

The Marco Polo application was launched by the Joya communication group in the year 2014 by Michael and Vladiya. They are founders of the Marco Polo app and a couple. They created this app for their daughter to connect with her family and friends.

This app claims to be different from other social media apps; its users cannot compare numbers of likes and other social comparisons. However, it is compatible with both the operating systems of iOS and Android. In addition, you can use this application in many languages.

You should note about Marco Polo that does not let your kids use the app all by themselves. It would help if you tried to assist them when using the app, as there are chances your kids might add strangers on the app.

What Parents Should Know About the Marco Polo App?

Here are some of the features that parents should know about the Marco Polo app:

● Instant video messaging

● Video walkie talkie for families and friends

● Sign in with your phone number or Email address

● Send video-chatting messages to an individual or a group

● The homepage consists of squares with individual contacts or groups

● Start video chatting messages by clicking on the users square

● Users can see each other's chat history

● Users can view old videos sent to each other

● Filters can be used to edit videos

● Filters can be used to edit voice in videos such as the robot and inhaled helium

● Watch videos in group chats

● Add texts or drawings to video

● Respond right at that time

● Respond at a time where it is suitable for you

Is the Marco Polo App Safe?

According to Common Sense Media, children aged 13 and above the age of 13 should only use the Marco Polo App. At the same time, Common Sense Media found that parents believed that only children aged 14 and above should be using this application. In addition, children believe that they should use this app as long as they are eight years and above.

Parents should be aware that Marco Polo - Video Chat is a social media application. This application allows its users to chat through video messages. The users can communicate at accurate times or leave their video messages.

This application is the most like an instant messenger with videos.

Many people also compare the features of this application with Snapchat. However, unlike Snapchat, the videos sent through this application do not disappear after seconds or 24 hours. In this app, you can view your video message history.

This application does not create any inappropriate content. But children might be exposed to questionable content if they add someone from their contact that they do not know. The risk exists if your child befriends a stranger.

When you download Marco Polo, it requests access to your mobile phone contacts. You can deny it when they ask for access to your contacts. If you choose to allow the application to access your contacts, you will view other people in your contacts who already use this application. The application also lets you send an invitation to contacts who don't use it.

The terms of use of the application suggest the age limit to start from is 13 years. I suggest you supervise your children or use parental control while they are using this application. While there is no particular threat outright, there still might be some risks associated. I also suggest allowing the application to access your contacts.

It would help if you also read the privacy policy of the application. This will help you know how the data collected from your children is used. They also mention how they sell or share this information. The terms of service of these applications frequently change, so you should be careful in keeping up with their changes for the safety of your children's personal information.

You can only contact the people in your phone contacts from this application initially. It is safe if you monitor their contacts. It is good because it does not pose a threat of exposing your children to inappropriate content. The possibility of connecting with strangers is also low but not impossible.

The terms of service of this application need users to agree to not uploading inappropriate content. You cannot upload something that includes illegal objects, indecent, defamatory, vilifying, intimidating, pornographic, bullying, or racially and ethnically derogatory contents.

Even though the application is serious about their terms of service, their stane is still shaky about their privacy policy. In addition, some reviews and news articles are not fond of this messaging app.

What Does The News Say About the Marco Polo App?

Here are some of the headings and articles related to the Marco Polo applications. There are some positive and negative aspects to help you make your decision.

"Feeling disconnected due to the pandemic? Talk to your friends using the Marco Polo messaging app"- USA Today.

"Trust Me, You Will Love This Messaging Platform And It Is Better Than Snapchat" -Pop Sugar

"Police: Man used Skype, Marco Polo app to get nude pictures from teenage girls in Tallahassee"- WTXL ABC 27

Marco Polo App also fell on the list of the best communication applications.

What Do Reviews Say About Marco Polo App?

While Marco Polo App has received a fair share of compliments for its application, some issues regarding the application have also been rising. Here are some of those positive and negative reviews received by this application.

"Extremely Intruding!

This application has an automated mail system that sends a message to those in your contacts without your permission!!! It made me regret my decision to download it.

It sent an invitation and video link to my BOSS. How am I supposed to explain this? Thanks to them, I look very unprofessional.STOP INTERFERING!!! - Ester on Playstore review "I LOVE this app. My kids and I use it to talk to each other" - Kathy on Playstore review.

"I received a text from my mom saying that she has a message on this application for me. I downloaded the app. I found that it was an automated text that it had sent me and I felt hurt. My grandpa was sick, and I was waiting for a serious message.

Please do not be so intrusive on serious matters like this. DISAPPOINTED- Cyndia on Smart Social Media.

What Can We Do To Secure Our Kids On The Marco Polo App?

There are many ways you can protect your children from the Marco Polo application. Here are some of the ways you can protect your kids on the Marco Polo App:

● Use Parental Controls

You can use parental controls to monitor the activities of your child on their mobile phones. They might get addicted to using this application as they are so fun. They might also get in contact with strangers, which might pose a threat to their security. You also have to monitor the allowance of access to the application to their phone contacts.

Using the parental control app, you can set a time limit for using the app for your kids. You can even view whom they are communicating with through parental control apps. Parental control apps help you to save your kids from talking to random strangers. Learn why parental controls are critical for your family.

● Limit Their Screen Time

Children get easily addicted to different applications. Since they like using their devices and the applications are so fun, children will use them for an extended period. Therefore, as parents, you need to limit the duration of the screen time to a minimum. Screen time of children should be limited to 2 or 3 hours a day. Learn tips and scripts for managing screen time when school is online.

If you do not set screen time for your kids, they can spend more than 6-7 hours on their devices without getting bored. By limiting children's screen time to 1 to 2 hours, they will have very little time to explore inappropriate content on the app.

● Review Application Activity

Parents also need to review the application activities of their children. You also need to know what they are allowing and denying access to their phone. It would help if you saw who they are connecting to and sending videos to. You need to teach them about their private data and what they should share and should not share online. Know why you need to keep an eye on your child’s social media activities.

Conclusion:

Marco Polo allows users to connect with pals by just inputting their phone numbers, making it as secure as texting. That's a positive thing, especially when contrasted to many other social networking sites, which frequently expose users to unwelcome strangers and irrelevant material.

What your child sends and gets on Marco Polo will vary depending on who they're speaking with, but you'll be less concerned if you know they're only talking to their grandmother or closest friend.

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