Independent Mississippi news Since 2013

Health

Parents warned about secret calculator apps hiding risky content

Parents should be cautious about calculator apps on their children’s phones, experts warn. These seemingly simple applications can function as hidden storage vaults, allowing kids to hide photos, messages, and videos behind a secret passcode, according to safety advisories.

Some of these apps include private browsers that leave no trace, enabling children to conceal online activity and potentially communicate with strangers, including online predators.

Parents are encouraged to talk openly with their children about responsible phone use, regularly review apps for suspicious names or multiple calculator apps, and utilize parental controls and monitoring tools. Discussing the dangers of secret messaging and online strangers is also vital to online safety.

Ensuring kids use smartphones responsibly starts with awareness and ongoing involvement. Staying alert can help protect children from hidden risks on their devices.

Jon Myers

Jon Ross Myers founded Mississippi News Group in 2013. Before founding the organization, he worked at The Daily Mississippian, The Marion Salute and The Southern Sentinel. A Mississippi journalist and writer based in Ripley, he received second place in poetry in the 2025 William Faulkner Literary Competition for "The Garden."

Stay connected

Mississippi, wherever you are.

Follow our coverage on Facebook and watch Mississippi News Group on YouTube.