Lifestyle
Is the Episode App Safe? An Episode App Review for Parents
Overview
We won’t mince words: The Episode app is a bad idea, plain and simple. While the cartoon characters may make the app appear innocent on its face, it’s anything but. In fact, it’s an incredibly inappropriate app with all sorts of dangers!
Remember the choose-your-own-adventure books from the ‘80s? Now, take that idea and combine it with an animated version of TV shows like the Bachelor, but ramp up the sex, violence, and inappropriate situations. The app rates itself 12+, but it’s definitely not for teens. Here’s everything you need to know about this cartoon app.
Harmful Content 😲
The Episode app gives you the option to “play” different stories with names like “Hot Mansion” and “Love on Fire.” As a story progresses, you contribute to the outcome by making text-based decisions. But these stories are far from innocent bedtime tales, they’re filled with:
- Profanity
- Sexual content
- Drugs/alcohol
- Violence
Episode also portrays life in a way that’s usually only depicted on TV and in movies. While this may be the point — as an escape for some people — kids may not always be able to tell the difference.
Predation 🚨
There’s an option in-app to access the Episode online forum. This message board enables users to chat and leave messages about the game. However, it also opens up the opportunity for strangers to message kids and potentially begin the grooming process.
Positive Value 💙
There isn’t much positive value to this app that couldn’t be obtained from other, more kid-friendly choose-your-own-adventure or role-playing games.
Privacy 🔒
Privacy isn’t a concern within the game, because it’s not multiplayer. It can, however, be a concern in the Episode forum — which is easily accessed from the settings menu — if a child uses their real name or social media handles to start chatting with strangers.
Parental Controls ✅
Unfortunately, Episode has no parental controls to speak of. Bark can help though! Our service allows you to:
- Block Episode entirely, if needed
- Manage when your child can use Episode throughout the day.
So, should my kid download it?
No. The Episode app — despite how the company may rate it — is definitely not for children. There’s too much exposure to sexual content, profanity, and other inappropriate situations, and this makes it belong firmly to the camp of “adults only.”
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