Text message simulation teaches proper online etiquette

My Take

This app is supposed to teach youth how to be responsible when using social media. You interact as a fictitious person whose profile you get to set up. Messages are sent and received between your peers and you must use the media responsibly. The app gives you choices to make when a questionable situation arises then guides you based on the choice you make. It comes from Web Wise Kids, which has been online for 10 years. I found it hard to follow the action. It can be paused so you can catch up, but I still had a hard time following every conversation and the replies. Most of the conversations were just everyday stuff kids would put in a conversation (a sanitized version!). The learning situations did not happen often enough for my taste. I had to read through too many conversations to get to the meat of the app. Quite possibly, the creators were trying to make it as realistic as possible. I think this app could use some re-working to make it more appealing to youth.