New app for teens has safety upgrades, but experts say it might not be enough
A new app for teens has local parents worried about who can access their kids’ school schedules and activities.
“Absolutely not. I don’t think there’s enough securities,” Misty Seybert told Channel 11′s Gabriella DeLuca.
There’s no way Seybert is allowing her two Peter’s Township students to use the newly created Saturn app.
The purpose of the app, according to the creators, is for students to use it as a calendar, and to share their schedules, activities and classes with other students in their school district.
The app was recently under scrutiny because at one point, anyone was able to join. That means, adults who have no affiliation with the school district, could join.
“I think they should have looked at that before the app went out because if you’re going to gear something toward middle and high school students, you have to think like a parent,” Seybert said.
Cyber security expert, Dan Desko, understands parents’ concerns.
“I said ‘oh no, here’s another app that people will be up and arms about.’ To me, it was just like ‘here we go again.’ It feels like this happens quite a bit, and it’s hard to keep up with it all,” Desko said.
Desko is the CEO and Managing Partner of Echelon Risk and Cyber, which is a cyber security company rooted right here in Pittsburgh.
“It was a very low bar for anyone to get on the app. To say they went to a certain school and get access to who else is in that class, what their schedules look like, what activities they’re in,” he said.
Desko even tried to log on himself.
“I downloaded the app. I signed up as Kenny Pickett. When I attempted to access the classmates in the high school for my year, the app actually asked me to authenticate further,” he said.
Authentication is a new feature after parent outcry. Developers modified the app, and it now requires a school email address and mutual school contacts.
When we tried, we could easily pick a school, but we couldn’t get verified because we didn’t have an email address nor could add “fellow” students.
Even with the new features, Desko thinks it’s too little too late.
“I feel like the cat’s already out of the bag. The app already has thousands of users who don’t know if they’re legitimate or not. There’s probably some serious concerns,” he said.
As for Seybert, her kids will still be staying clear from the Saturn app, despite the new safeguards.
“You’re sending them out to a world of strangers. Thousands of them, and freely giving them their information. If I’m not going to do that in person, I’m not going to do that online with our kids either.”
Channel 11 reached out to Saturn’s creators, but has not received a response.
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