Hidden Apps: A Tool for Good or a Cause for Concern?

Last Updated on 23rd October 2024

Reading Time: 7.4 mins

Published: December 21, 2024

You don’t want to know what’s hiding under their bed…but have you considered what could be hiding on their phone?

Technology is constantly evolving in our digitally led world and it can often seem daunting. From Ghost Mode on Snapchat to Vanish Mode on Instagram, keeping up with the changes can feel like you’re constantly trying to understand a language you don’t speak.

Consider Safer Schools NI your translators, bringing you up-to-date, bitesize information on this ever-changing digital landscape. Equipping you with this vital information will inevitably help you to protect those around you!

Today we’re talking about the newest feature to hit many of our devices: Hiding apps.

What Is It?

Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android systems have been updated to include new features that allow users to hide Apps which can then only be accessed by face recognition technology (Face ID) or by entering a passcode. Although the features differ in their functionality, they fulfil the same purpose – to hide Apps in plain sight.

The feature isn’t inherently risky; it can be used a tool for healthier digital habits as much as it can be for riskier ones. It all depends on the behaviour of the user.

Benefits of Hidden Apps

Digital Wellbeing

Hiding distracting Apps such as social media or games can help us focus and increase our productivity. This can be further enhanced by disabling notifications, allowing us to take control of our screen time.

Safer Shared Devices

Parents and carers may find this feature useful, as they can hide Apps on their own devices that they don’t want their children to view or access if they are sharing their device.

Protection and Privacy

The feature could also be used for protecting confidential information such as banking Apps or passwords and protecting sensitive data, if your device is stolen.

Safer Spaces

The feature could offer protection for potentially vulnerable groups as it could allow them to seek refuge, safety, and privacy on their digital device. Examples of such groups could include members of the LGBTQIA+ community and victims of abuse.

Remember: If you or the child or young person in your care are suffering from abuse of any kind, Hidden Apps can provide a helping hand, but it is important that you still seek external help.

Risks for Children and Young People

Concealing Harmful Content

Children and young people may be viewing inappropriate content on various platforms or even storing it directly on their device. The ability to hide Apps enhances their capacity for concealing content that could pose risks to their mental and emotional wellbeing, physical health or even to their safety.

Hiding Evidence of Potential Abuse

These features could be used to avoid exposing evidence of possible bullying, exploitation, abusive relationships or other forms of abuse.

Normalises Secretive Behaviours

Children and young people may be driven to hide more from their parents and carers and encouraged to be dishonest even if they previously wouldn’t have done so.

Increases Anxiety Amongst Parents and Carers

Even if children and young people aren’t utilising the feature in a malicious way, their parents or carers may be fearful about content being hidden. This could lead to a break in trust if the parent or carer investigates their suspicions by checking the device.

Concealed Surveillance

Abusers could coerce a child or young person to download and hide invasive Apps on their phone. For example, ‘remote mothering’ or tracker Apps are frequently used by gangs involved in county lines.

Be aware that children and young people can use alternative methods to hide App use. These can include:

Disguising an App using the Shortcuts function. This enables users to change the icon and name of an App which could be used to divert suspicion.
Accessing a platform through a private or ‘incognito’ browser. This will not be tracked in browser history or in screen time statistics on a device.
Placing Apps in a ‘decoy’ App. ‘Decoy’ apps, also known as vault apps, are used for hiding content the user doesn’t want others to see. These apps often appear as something unsuspicious such as a calculator or a camera.

Top Tips for Parents and Carers

You may not want to highlight this new feature to those in your care – if they’re not aware of it, they won’t use it! However, if they seem to be using it or you need to address it, we have put together some tips on how you can navigate this new feature.

Use Parental Controls Effectively

Make use of available safety settings to take the essential steps towards making the online experience safer for children and young people. This can include managing screen time, controlling in-app purchases and restricting access to age-inappropriate content on browsers and Apps.

Establish Digital Boundaries

Foster an environment that respects privacy and builds trust by agreeing with the child or young person in your care what your expectations are from them. This could include what Apps they’re allowed to use, what parental controls you have over their device and if they consent to you going through their phone.

Including them in the process of creating these boundaries will help them feel listened to and feel more comfortable in opening up to you about their online habits.

Have Open Conversations

Take time with the child or young person to talk about their online habits in a positive environment that is free from judgement. Ask open-ended questions like, “why do you like using Instagram?” or “what sort of content do you like seeing?” This will encourage them to be more honest about their habits and come to you if they have questions.

Trusted Adults

Ensure the children and young people in your care understand who their trusted adults are if they need to discuss something they have seen online that is harmful or has made them uncomfortable. Use our Trusted Adults resource for help with this.

Teach Online Safety

Educate the child or young person on how to navigate the digital world safely. This includes explaining that being secretive about their online habits can be harmful to them and makes it harder for those protecting them to help keep them safer.

Empowering them to make smarter online decisions will ultimately keep them safer!

How Does It Work?

Apple iOS 18

Hold the App icon on the Home Page until the ‘quick actions’ menu appears and tap “Require Face ID”.
A pop up will appear. Select “Hide and Require Face ID”.
A secondary pop-up will appear to confirm your selection and make you aware that the App will be hidden from the Home Page, placed in the Hidden Apps folder and notifications for this App will be disabled. Select “Hide App” to confirm.
To access hidden Apps, scroll right from the Home Page to the App Library, where the Hidden Apps folder will appear at the bottom.
Select the folder to unlock it using Face ID. Once unlocked, the Apps will show.

Android 15

Open Settings

Swipe up and select “Home Screen”.
Under Home screen settings, tap “Hide apps”.
Select the apps you want to hide from the alphabetical list.

Your Questions Answered

Q. Can I see if the child or young person in my care is hiding Apps on their device?

A. For Apple devices, children whose account is set up as ‘under 13’ in a Family Sharing Group can’t lock or hide Apps. Parents and guardians of those aged 13 to 17 will be able to see if an App was downloaded, how much it is used and even restrict access to it using Screen Time settings through parental controls. Additionally, Hidden Apps can be viewed within the device’s settings, under ‘Hidden Apps’ (Setting > Apps > Hidden Apps) but requires Face ID and access to the device.

For Android devices, Hidden Apps can be viewed in Settings (Settings > Home Screen > Hide apps on Home and Apps screens) where Hidden Apps are displayed at the top of the page.

Q. Can all Apps be hidden?

A. On Apple devices, not all Apps can be hidden. Apps that cannot be hidden include Photos, Calculator, Camera, Clock, Contacts, Find My Friends, Maps, Shortcuts and Settings.

On Android, all Apps can be hidden.

Q. Can I remove this function from my child or young person’s device?

A. No, hidden Apps is not an optional feature on either Apple iOS or Google Android systems.

Further Resources

Who are your Trusted Adults (Makaton Edition)

Who are your Trusted Adults (Primary Edition)

Discussing online life with your child

Educating, empowering and protecting the NI school community

The digital world is 24/7; it’s outside and inside of the school gates, so you need a service that does the same. Safer Schools NI is a digital library of age-appropriate safeguarding resources that you can check out anytime, from your phone to your computer to your classroom.