Podcast summary and Notes on "#walkietalkiecom"

What is the Walkie Talkie app?

The app lets people communicate from any location, in the same style as a walkie talkie or two-way radio
It only works using cellular data or a Wi-Fi connection
This is a voice-only app. Images and videos cannot be shared

Learn more by reading our app guide: https://smartsocial.com/walkie-talkie-app/

How does the app work?

Users can invite friends to chat on a specific channel or they can scroll through random channels by pushing the up or down arrows
To join a channel, push the stop button until it says “connected”
- The number displayed on the top right shows how many people are tuned in to the channel at that moment
- To talk, a user presses on the speaker area of the screen
The app must be open in order for the receiving person to hear a message (there are no notifications for Walkie Talkie)

The app is free
Teens can easily text a channel to friends or share a specific channel number on social media networks
Students can leave the app on, on a predetermined channel, wherever they go (including school) and communicate with friends without texting or making a phone call
Individuals or groups can chat on channels

Ads pop up while using the app, including advertisements for other apps unless you pay $3.99 to remove them
Another in-app upgrade, available for $0.99, lets users change the Walkie Talkie color
There is no way to make a channel private
- This means anyone can listen in on a conversation
- Users can also scroll through channels and try to find strangers to talk to
There is no way to monitor a child’s conversation or who they are talking to unless you know what channel they are on and constantly listen in
There is a risk of exposure to foul or lewd language since conversations are not moderated

Explain the dangers of talking with strangers and ask your child not to invite strangers to chat with them on a channel
Remind your student to avoid giving out personal information or oversharing on the Walkie Talkie app
Since anyone could be eavesdropping on a channel, encourage students to refrain from discussing things they don’t want anyone else to know

Learn social media safety from Smart Social's resources: