In 2014, PopJam was launched as a community platform for kids aged seven to 12. In 2023, the app was discontinued. While PopJam encouraged creativity and had a lot of kid-friendly content, there were some issues with it:
- PopJam encourages engagement through likes and followers. Kids are rewarded for getting more followers, making them more likely to connect with complete strangers.
- There are no parental controls or age verification checks.
- User profiles are public.
- Advertisements on the platform target young kids specifically.
With parental involvement, apps like PopJam can be safe, fun, and engaging platforms. Parents and guardians must educate children on proper online habits and show interest in their online experiences. This will make them more likely to communicate any problems they encounter.
One way to enhance your child’s safety online is by using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) like NordVPN. VPNs offer protection against malware attacks and allow your child to browse the web privately and securely.
Read the full article below to learn more about the kind of platform PopJam was, as well as for additional tips to keep kids safe on social media.
PopJam Discontinued:
As of May 2023, PopJam has been discontinued and the site is no longer available.
PopJam was a social media app that was launched in 2014 as “a kids’ version of Instagram.” It was marketed as a moderated community app specifically created for children between seven and twelve years old.
As of May 2023, PopJam was discontinued, meaning the app can no longer be used and the platform no longer exists. However, since the app had a very child-friendly setup with some clever systems in place, we believe other social media platforms for children can definitely learn from this short-lived app.
The article below outlines everything you need to know about PopJam’s safety for kids and how parents can keep their children safe on similar apps.
What Was PopJam?
PopJam is owned and operated by kid tech specialist SuperAwesome. It was a sharing platform specifically designed for children under the age of 13.
Although it was created for kids, PopJam had many similarities to regular social media platforms. For example, you could create an account, share content, like, and comment on other people’s posts. PopJam distinguished itself by offering a kid-friendly experience through high levels of moderation and added privacy features.
The purpose of PopJam was to enable children to express themselves creatively online. They could make personal profiles, create and share art, join groups, watch videos, and play PopJam games. The app was free, and there were no in-app purchases.
To keep users engaged, PopJam offered a Daily Challenge: a creative prompt that allowed kids to design or decorate an image.
Just like Instagram, PopJammers could share photos, drawings, and images with other users by posting on a personal channel. Content shared by the accounts you followed would appear on a feed that you could scroll through. If people followed you, your posts would also appear in their feeds.
There was a system of rewards and badges that encouraged users to gain followers. For example, you needed 50 followers before you could start posting photos.
Notably, there were many verified accounts in the PopJam community, including accounts from popular brands like Disney and Nintendo.
What could kids do on PopJam?
There was a range of activities that kids could partake in on PopJam. These included:
- Creating profiles and sharing photos: Selfies were not allowed on PopJam. Instead, users were encouraged to optimize their photos with stickers and filters. You could “heart” a photo, comment on it, or “rejam” it (which means reposting it on your profile).
- Taking quizzes: There were kid-friendly, magazine-style quizzes, along the line of “What kind of best friend are you?” and “Find out what ice cream flavor you are!”
- Interact with others: You could vote in polls, watch videos and play games. Kids could create, join, and leave different groups where they could socialize with other users. There was no private chat function on PopJam.
- Users could take part in the Daily Challenge.
To make the app suitable for children, PopJam had closing hours between 11 pm and 6 am. Additionally, there was a blacklist of negative words that were filtered and deleted before appearing in posts.
Installing PopJam
PopJam was free. It was available for Android or iOS devices. The app was easy to use and the installation process was straightforward:
- Download the app from the Google Play Store or Apple’s App Store.
- Create an account with a username and password. PopJam does not require an email address. However, you can submit one for password recovery.
- A personal channel is instantly created. Your child can now post, share, watch videos, play games, or take quizzes.
Since you only needed a username and a password to sign up, PopJam offered a level of anonymity. There were no in-app purchases, so no payment details were required.
Unfortunately, PopJam didn’t report inappropriate behavior to parents or guardians. It also didn’t notify users if they’d been blocked.
Moderation
Because PopJam was a platform for children, there were specific safety guidelines. PopJam used a team of staff monitors and A.I. to moderate the platform.
Generally, PopJam’s policy was to stay out of personal arguments and let kids work things out themselves as much as they can. However, in the background, behavior-monitoring software was used to filter text and images to limit potential problems.
PopJam used SIFT software to monitor the platform in real time. The platform rewarded “good behavior” that was in line with community guidelines by adding or subtracting points to a user’s trust score. If a user posts unacceptable content, they lost points. Points were added for posts that were flagged as “okay.”
With minor offenses, posts would just be deleted. However, if the content was highly inappropriate, the user’s account got suspended.
Kids on PopJam could report if they encountered bullying or were made to feel uncomfortable. They could block channels or individuals to control the content they were exposed to.
Even with moderators, however, PopJam was still a social media platform and was driven by followers, likes, and advertisements.
Kids and Social Media
A new study by Common Sense Media revealed that the daily screen time for children (aged eight to 12) increased by 17 percent between 2019 and 2021. Kids in this age group now spend about five hours and 33 minutes online every day. While the COVID-19 pandemic certainly played a part, the increase is not just due to attending classes online.
Kids are increasingly using social media apps like Snapchat and TikTok.
On the one hand, social media can have a very positive effect on kids. It offers opportunities for young people to connect with others, gain a better understanding of the world, and improve their digital and media skills. On the other hand, research shows that social media can also put kids at risk. They have to navigate highly automated online spaces that maximize interaction at any cost.
Studies show that children’s mental health can suffer from spending too much time online. Social media, in particular, can worsen children’s anxiety, increase their risk of depression, and cause a variety of physical issues, including lack of sleep, difficulty regulating emotions, and concentration issues.
Girls suffer disproportionately from the negative effects of social media, data from the 2021 Facebook whistleblower scandal shows.
Below, we’ve listed the most prevailing dangers of social media for kids.
Dangers of social media for kids
If you’re a parent or guardian, chances are your child wishes to be on social media. Whether it is to connect with friends or follow influencers, each year, kids join social media in large numbers and at an earlier age. Unfortunately, social media exposes kids to various risks.
Cyberbullying
A 2018 study by the Pew Research Center showed that 59% of teenagers in the United States have experienced bullying or harassment online. Social media is known for lowering children’s self-esteem and making them more vulnerable to cyberbullying.
According to Dr. Hayley Hamilton, a scientist at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, the impact of cyberbullying can be pervasive, and it is difficult for parents or teachers to notice it and intervene. The younger a child, the easier it is for them to become a target.
Moreover, the more time children spend online, the more they become desensitized to bullying, hate speech, sexism, and racism.
Online predators
Children are not alone on social media. Research by the 5Rights Foundation shows that children can be targeted with graphic content within just 24 hours of creating a social media account.
Unsolicited contact from adult strangers spans from gaming to VR social reality apps. Kids are not only at risk of being exposed to harmful content online, but predators could also persuade them to share personal information.
In 2020, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received 37,872 reports of “online enticement” (sexual grooming or abuse of kids online).
Some social media platforms automatically display a user’s location. This can lead to stalking, extortion, or abuse.
Graphic content
Adult content makes up about 30% of the entire web. Games and YouTube videos often display inappropriate content that is not suited for children, especially young ones.
The younger a child is, the more they are at risk of accidentally stumbling on explicit materials online. Even if kids don’t seek this type of content deliberately, they can still come across it in pirated videos, advertisements, and streaming platforms.
Malware and phishing scams
Another risk worth considering is exposure to malware and phishing scams. Sometimes, all it takes is a single click to give strangers access to your banking information or personal details. In the case of “drive-by downloads,” just visiting a site can install harmful software on your device.
What about privacy?
In the United States, the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), created in 1998, aims to give parents control over the online data that companies can collect about their children. If a user is under 13 years old, online services must get parental permission before collecting information about the user in question.
However, as we stated above, the fact that social media apps have a 13+ age requirement doesn’t keep kids from using them.
In the 2021 C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health, nearly 50% of the parents of children aged 10 to 12 reported that their child used social media in the previous six months. For kids aged seven to nine, 32% of parents said they allowed their kids to be on social media, despite the risks it can pose to a child’s psychosocial development.
COPPA has been criticized for a variety of reasons. Critics say the law is outdated, as it predates the invention of social media, smartphones, and streaming websites. Moreover, the 13+ age limit is an arbitrary marker of adulthood.
At the moment, an updated version of COPPA, the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) of 2022, is on the table. Among other things, the bill would increase surveillance and censorship of internet users under 16 years old. While the goal of the new bill is to increase children’s safety online, there are significant concerns about how it affects children’s right to privacy.
Can there be a privacy-sensitive social media platform for kids? Let’s get back to PopJam.
A Closer Look at PopJam: Was It Safe?
PopJam certainly put a lot of effort into mitigating the negative effects that regular social media platforms can have on kids. It offered great opportunities for creating art, playing games, and sharing posts with others. However, there were still several issues with this platform.
Profiles were public
Anything a child posted on PopJam appeared on their public profile. Content would appear in the feeds of those who follow the user. Additionally, anyone who visited their profile could see everything.
While PopJam discouraged sharing personal information, it was easy for some things to slip through the cracks and end up with strangers.
While PopJam was specifically designed for seven to 12-year-olds, there were no age verification checks to enforce the age limit. This means older children and adults could also create accounts and visit the platform. Although the level of moderation on PopJam was high, there was no guarantee that kids wouldn’t be targeted by predators or criminals.
Engagement on PopJam was driven by followers
To use the app to its full extent, users needed to acquire badges that unlocked new features.
The only way to get these badges was by following people and being followed in return. To use a GIF, for example, kids needed 20 followers. If you wanted to post something, you needed at least 50, and the Black Star Badge required 1,000 followers.
In other words, PopJam encouraged users to get in contact with a high number of people they may not know personally.
Parents have expressed concerns about kids obsessing over likes and followers and the way PopJam mirrored regular social media platforms in this sense. It is an engagement system that perpetuates jealousy, anxiety, and isolation.
Advertisements
To keep PopJam free, the platform ran advertisements. All ads were marked with a “Safe Ad” logo to enable users to differentiate sponsored content from all other posts.
As you can expect, the products and services being advertised were specifically designed for kids. Research shows that young children, especially those under eight years old, do not have the media literacy to comprehend ads, which can lead to unhealthy habits.
Privacy and parental controls
In terms of privacy, PopJam stated that “aside from certain technical information, such as IP addresses,” they did not collect data from children. Email addresses that were submitted during the signup process “will be hashed out and only available when matched with a specific username.”
PopJam said it respects children’s privacy. The platform was certified by the kidSAFE Seal Program, which is an independent safety certification service for children-friendly websites.
PopJam also claimed to be COPPA-compliant. However, since there was no age verification, children could still create an account without their parents’ permission.
While parents could sign up and receive information through SuperAwesome’s parent portal, there were no parental controls on PopJam. Moderators attempted to safeguard the space, but they did not inform parents of misconduct and inappropriate content.
PopJam was a relatively safe platform for kids, but it didn’t fully shield children from the damaging effects of social media. Therefore, for any similar apps, we would recommend that parents get involved and communicate openly with their kids about online safety. The tips below can make your child’s online experience a lot safer and more enjoyable!
Social Media Safety for Kids: Tips and Advice
Children are increasingly getting exposed to social media at a young age. And kids without social media presence fear being left out.
Although many parents are aware of how social media can affect their children, they are often inclined to allow it, anyway. After all, social media can help kids make connections, interact with role models, and express themselves creatively.
To ensure your kids’ social media experience is safe and fun, we’ve outlined some tips below. If you want more information about digital wellness, find out what the experts have to say.
- Communication is key. More than anything, it is important to talk to your children about being online. If you show genuine interest in what your children are up to online, they are more likely to keep you involved and inform you when there are problems. Talk about healthy online relationships, and help them find uplifting, diverse, and positive accounts to follow.
- Don’t spy on them. Although it may seem like a good idea to use parental control apps to supervise your children’s every move online, research shows that too much monitoring or supervision can drive children to secrecy. They have a right to privacy and are often more inclined to share information with you if there’s a basis of trust. If you want your kids to be more independent online, discuss safety guidelines and help them along the way.
- Limit personal information. When your child wants to create a personal social media account, make sure they know not to give away too much private information. This includes their address, birthday, or phone number. You can also manually adjust the privacy settings on most social media apps.
- Set boundaries. Having a clearly defined daily screen time limit can have a huge impact on children’s mental and physical health. Talk about what is and isn’t appropriate on social media. Remind them of how social media can impact their future.
Stay Safe Online With a VPN
With kids’ online presence only increasing, it is a good idea to invest in privacy protection. A good way to stay safe online is by using a Virtual Private Network (VPN).
A VPN creates an encrypted tunnel between your device and the internet. It routes your data through a VPN server. This server has a specific IP address, and your real IP address is hidden.
There are numerous advantages to using a VPN:
- It allows you to stay anonymous online.
- It offers protection from hackers and malware.
- It allows you to browse the internet privately and securely.
- It can unblock content that is restricted in your location such as Netflix and other streaming services.
If you want a VPN that is consistently reliable, secure, fast, and affordable, we recommend NordVPN. It comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it risk-free.
- Fast and large worldwide network of VPN servers
- Perfect for privacy and streaming
- Trusted by many, with over 14 million users
Final Thoughts
PopJam was a social platform that was specifically created for kids. Unfortunately, the app is no longer working, even though it offered a strong, safe alternative for kids looking for a fun social medium.
Although the app had moderators and offered fun games and quizzes, it was still a social media network and could have a negative effect on a child’s mental health. The more likes and followers you got on PopJam, the more you could do. This kind of system can lead to anxiety and stress in kids from a young age.
The bottom line is social media was not created with kids in mind. It puts young users at risk of cyberbullying, phishing, and even abuse. However, with ample involvement and oversight, social media can be a great tool for learning new things and connecting with other people.
If you’re a parent, teacher, or guardian, remember it is key to keep the conversation open. Teach your kids to be careful with personal information, and set proper boundaries online. If you’ll allow your kids to use any social medium, make sure you talk to them about online safety first.
Lastly, remember that a VPN adds a layer of security to your and your child’s online activity. We recommend NordVPN which is reliable and affordable.
Do you have questions about PopJam? Check out our frequently asked questions below.
Yes, PopJam was a fun, creative, and kid-friendly platform. Kids could play games, take quizzes, and share art and photos. However, its engagement system could have negative effects on children’s mental health. PopJam encouraged children to get as many followers and likes as possible to unlock special badges, which can lead to anxiety, jealousy, and stress. PopJam is no longer active, as it was discontinued in May 2023.
As of May 2023, PopJam is no longer available. It used to be a free app that could be downloaded for Android or iOS devices.
PopJam was designed for children aged seven to 12. However, there were no age verification checks, so technically people of all ages could use the platform until it was discontinued in 2023.
No, there were no parental controls on PopJam. Instead, staff moderators and A.I. worked to keep the platform safe for children. They did not notify parents if there were any problems. However, parents, guardians, and teachers could log into the parent portal of SuperAwesome, PopJam’s parent company.
