It’s amazing the amount of energy some kids put into communicating with their friends in secret. (If only they put that same effort into their school work, am I right?) From disappearing messages to fake calculator apps that hide chats, secret messaging apps can expose your child to risks you won’t see coming. We’ll go over how to spot these hidden messaging apps and what to do if you think your child’s using one.
Secret messaging apps are apps that disguise, delete, or encrypt messages so that outsiders — like parents — can’t easily view them. These apps range from well-known platforms with privacy features to apps that literally look like calculators but hide hidden message vaults.
| App Name | Key Features | Parental Concerns |
| Snapchat | Disappearing messages, Stories, Snap Map | Difficult to monitor, location sharing, exposure to strangers |
| Google Docs | Real-time chat via shared documents | Easy to delete messages, not obviously suspicious |
| Notes | Private chats shared via synced Notes or screenshots | Simple interface hides secret communication |
| Dust | End-to-end encryption, unsend feature, screenshot detection | Designed to erase message trails |
| Fake calculator apps | Looks like a calculator; unlocks a vault with a passcode | Hides messages, photos, and videos completely |
| CoverMe | Vault, hidden contacts, encrypted messaging | Specifically built for secrecy |
| Whisper MSG | Blockchain encryption, self-destructing messages | Promotes anonymous, untraceable communication |
Some secret messaging apps your child might be using include:
Snapchat is by far the most popular app on this list among teens. It’s also one of the most worrisome. By default, messages disappear after 24 hours, making them hard for parents to monitor. Because it’s also a social media platform, the app can potentially expose kids to strangers, including predators and drug dealers.
You read that right. Kids are using the humble Google Doc as a way to send messages under the radar. First, they add a friend as a collaborator on a doc. Then, when either of them types something into the document, they can both see it in real time. They then delete the message, erasing any evidence.
Using the same method as with Google Docs, kids also employ the Notes app on the iPhone to subvert parental attention.
Dust is a private messaging app with end-to-end encryption, disappearing messages, the ability to unsend messages, and screenshot detection.
So-called “ghost apps” look innocent but are designed to hide a user’s activity. The most common camouflage for secret messaging apps is a calculator.
Apps like Casper Calculator and Calculator Pro+ appear as ordinary calculators, and function like one, too. But when a user inputs the right code, a vault of hidden messages, photos, and videos is revealed. And you thought your child was just doing their math homework!
CoverMe is a private messaging app with a secret, encrypted vault that's designed to keep messages, notes, and contacts under an impenetrable digital lock and key.
This private messaging app uses secure blockchain technology to encrypt messages. Whisper also includes a self-destruct option for messages.
Here are some methods you can use to figure out if your child is using a secret messaging app.
If you discover your child is using a secret messaging app, here’s how to handle it:
There are many secret messaging apps kids use to communicate with their friends, including otherwise innocuous apps like Google Docs and apps disguised as other things like calculators. Because of the dangers to kids, parents should monitor their child for signs they’re using secret messaging apps.
BrightCanary uses advanced technology to scan your child’s messages and alert you to red flags. Download it from the App Store and start your free trial today.
