BIGO Live review: potential dangers parents may not know

Social media has grown enormously in the tweenies (2010-2019) decade into an obsession for our new generation. From Facebook to Instagram and now applications like TikTok and live streaming apps like Bigo Live is growing into an unending realm. Though it's the reality that technology has advanced humanity into an ever-connected and business-oriented species, some platforms are diverting to uncharted waters, creating some disastrous results for our newer generation. Live streaming is a magnet for cyber predators, a magnifying glass for insecurities, and a breeding ground for bullies. So is Bigo Live safe? And what should parents know? Read on to find out the answer.

Don't miss the TikTok App Review if you also have interests in it.

What is the Bigo Live app?

Bigo Live is a live streaming social media app that offers the ability to live-stream your surroundings or whatever you may like at a single tap of a button or post video blog posts called vlogs. One-on-one or group video calls can be done via group chats with up to nine users. Once you sign up for the application via accounts like Facebook or Google, you can browse new, popular, or nearby content and even post your own.

Bigo Live urges users to chat with random strangers through their video call feature. It also has filters similar to Instagram Stories and Snapchat that let the user change their appearance and Voice Chat rooms to talk to strangers via voice calls.

When you join a live streaming channel, you can also join a live chat going on in real-time, share the stream with friends via other social platforms, or send 'gifts' to the streamer on the other end of the video in the form of Beans. Beans are bought with real-world money and indicate the quality and distinguished value of a streamer. The broadcaster can exchange the Beans for real money. The app has created games like ranks and levels for users and entitling them with XP (experience) by signing in every day, watching, and sending gifts to other streamers. In-app purchases included in the app lets a user buy Beans and diverse options.

Why is Bigo Live app so popular among teens?

Live streaming has an immediacy, a sense of instant involvement that recorded video can't match. Streaming is something happening now, and users can easily engage with the content and make the pre-recorded video feel like an old thing. Live streaming lets users interact instantly with your content and gives the streamer a sense of immediate gratification – they won't have to wait before they experience their "wining". It can also give brands and people immediate feedback on products and content, which can be a very fulfilling experience and, as with any other technology, can earn you money. Live streaming helps you reach more people and make a brand out of yourself to sell. It can also be for social experiences because, in this tech world, people are less likely to notice you in real life compared to if you are on a platform like Bigo Live where you can communicate and talk to people, which is a satisfying human experience.

Is Bigo Live safe for kids?

Does Bigo Live have age restrictions?

The app is rated for teens on the Google Play Store with twelve plus age and parental guidance, while on Apple App Store, the app is rated for seventeen plus with quite a bit of detail indicating the nature of the app. The app doesn't have any solid verification system to identify if children smaller than the age of seventeen are signing up. Like any other live streaming application, content on the app can be a concern, and Bigo Live isn't an exception.

What does the media say?

The Sun news UK headlined the app – "'heaven for grooming' where kids are told to 'take off their clothes' and subjected to vile child porn threats – and bosses do nothing to stop it." Parents should be aware of the fact that Bigo Live doesn't have any age verification mechanism and requires personal information, like name, gender, and location – certainly not an app for younger teens or children to use. A salient feature of the app is to search for local members, which is quite a serious problem. If minors are using the app, it can be potentially dangerous for them since all the streams are likely of the account holder and can be recognizable on the street.

What does the user think of Bigo Live?

A streamer is prone to user commentary during the live stream, which can potentially and in most cases is profane and even outright bullying. Teens who are struggling to get social acceptance can be negatively impacted by the ridicule and scathing commentary or willing to go the extra mile to feed their egos either in the form of obscene or dangerous acts, neither of which are suitable for teens nor underage groups.

As a matter of fact, the platform rewards the streamers or vloggers in the form of ranking and followers through monetary tips or gifts for assimilating a larger fan base – increasing social influence. This can cause teens' to be obsessed with social media and have a detrimental effect on mental health. As indicated by Independent social media can negatively affect self-esteem, human connection, sleep patterns, attention span, and mental health. All these destructive impacts are more protruding on teens and immature youngsters.

Parents need to ensure their minors and younger teens don't get exposed to Bigo Live app as most of the live streams we came across contained profane language, nudity, or violence. Bigo Live is undeniably an app for parents to monitor closely and set limitations or even refrain teens from using it altogether.

Dangers of Bigo Live:

• The app stresses on connecting with strangers is a major red flag that this app is not safe for kids.
• Content on the app is almost always mature, inappropriate, vulgar, and violent.
• The app counts on its AI to verify a user's age, which can be bypassed somewhat easily.
• Live commentary on the streaming videos can often prompt bullying behavior.
• Broadcasters can go to extremes to get more followers and get rewarded by the app and followers.
• This kind of apps is, most of the time is used by predators and perverts.

As stated by the Huntersville Police Department: " [Bigo Live] has a lot of mature content, and users' comments are often predatory and explicit."