Podcast summary and Notes on " zynn"

What is the Zynn app?

A free Chinese-owned video app where users watch and create content
It’s extremely similar to TikTok
- The main difference is Zynn claims to pay its users for watching content and referring friends
The app boasts a “massive” music library, cool stickers, and funny effects
Videos can be shared to Instagram, Snapchat, etc.
You don’t need an account to watch videos, but you do need an account to make a profile and earn rewards/money
Users can “like” and comment on videos and follow (or block) other users
Terms of Service
Privacy Policy

Who can use Zynn?

All new users must sign up with:
- A phone number
- Facebook account
- or Google account
The app’s Community Guidelines state:
- Zynn is only for users ages 13+
- The company won’t provide access to the account or information about the account to anyone other than the account holder
- Parents and guardians of account holders “are responsible for educating your child on internet safety”

As users scroll through the video feed, they accumulate points (each hour watched equals about $1.20)
Users also get up to $20 for every friend they refer and a bonus $10 for every fifth friend
- To qualify for the referral money, new users must download Zynn, sign up, and continually use the app
- Referral earnings can be transferred to PayPal or cashed in for gift cards to the Apple App Store, Walmart, Amazon, etc.
The app launched in May 2020 and already had glitches with its withdrawal feature by June

There are concerns over how the app protects a user’s privacy and data
There are NO content filters available on Zynn
- Since all content is user generated, videos range from cute animals and cooking to explicit song lyrics, partial nudity, and dangerous stunts
There is NO way to make a Zynn account private
- Anything your student posts on Zynn is public
- Users can follow other users and block individual users
The incentive to earn money on Zynn could lead to addictive behavior

Download Zynn, spend some time using it, then determine if it’s safe for your family to use
If your student uses Zynn, ask for their username
Teach your students to come talk to you, or a trusted adult, if they are ever contacted by a stranger or ever feel uncomfortable on Zynn
Teach them to never share personal info in videos or comments
Remind your student that their online activity, even under a fake username, can impact their reputation and their future
Teach your students the dangers of participating in viral video challenges or doing anything dangerous for social media attention
Teach students they can block individual users and mark inappropriate videos as “not interested”

Learn more about the Zynn app on the Smart Social Blog

Use Smart Social's resources to keep students safe and smart online: