Marco Polo has already received over 10 million downloads via the Google App Store (not including iOS downloads). Its outstanding feature is that this app enables users to use video as a way to text/message people within their existing social circles, and is NOT intended as a way to meet new people, which makes it super idea for users who don’t want to be contacted by strangers. They will be prompted to download the Marco Polo app. Tap Chat next to a user’s name to start a conversation, or tap Create Group at the top of the screen to start a group Marco Polo. If your friend doesn’t show up in the list, tap Invite via link. How to Use Marco Polo to Send a Video Message. What is the Marco Polo app? Marco Polo is a video instant messaging app Users sign up with their name, phone number, and email address Marco Polo encourages users to find their friends who already use the app by requesting access to the user’s phone. The homepage is populated with rows of squares.
With the ongoing pandemic and associated protective restrictions on socialization, online tools are being increasingly sought for communication. While older children may resort to mainstream social media to stay in touch with friends and family, this is impractical and probably unsafe for younger children. Apps such as Marco Polo have bridged this gap in communication for many families. Before allowing kids to use this app, let’s try to get an answer for a simple question, ‘Is Marco Polo safe?’
What is Marco Polo App?
The Marco Polo app is a popular messaging app that lets friends send messages back and forth like a walkie talkie- but with video. SmartSocial.com Found Josh. There’s a whisper in the venture community we’re hearing that is growing increasingly louder, and it’s about this video walkie-talkie app called Marco Polo. Investors are suddenly very.
Marco Polo is a video chat app – a “video walkie-talkie” according to the developers, that enables communication via video messages, in real time or with a delay, between people who know each other. It is, in effect, an instant messenger with video. It is like the Snapchat video function, but, while Snapchat messages are temporary, a Marco Polo video stays until deleted by the recipient. The terms of service indicate that users need to be 13 years of age, at least, but kids can use it under parental supervision.
What follows is a review of the app, and some of its advantages and disadvantages.
Marco Polo App Bad
Advantages of Marco Polo App
There is no public feed and no possibility to connect with strangers. Thus, all video connections are between known people through their mobile phone number, which adds to the safety of the app.
Marco Polo focuses on asynchronous communication in which users leave messages at their convenience, and the recipient may access it and reply at theirs. This allows communication between people with different schedules.
The app does not generate any objectionable content and there are no advertisements to intrude upon your time and attention.
The basic version is free to use, but a subscription mode may be availed for more features
When chatting, users can see their chat history and old videos to recap.
Groups can be created and anyone in the group can see any of the videos in the group chat history.
Messages you send to others may be deleted permanently by pressing on the tile, holding down, and then selecting and confirming “Delete.” Doing so will permanently remove it from Marco Polo servers and the Marco Polo accounts of whomever the message was sent it to.
This app is that it is not connected to any larger social network like Facebook or Google, which makes it less intrusive and noisy.
There are a few fun features like being able to engineer one’s voice to sound lower or higher than it is, for comic effect.
Texts and drawings can be added to the videos.
Disadvantages of Marco Polo App
One of the most common complaints by users of Marco Polo is that the basic version offers too few features. This appears to have been particularly irksome to people who have been using the earlier, free version of the app before it went into the subscription model.
Another sporadic complaint has been that when allowed access to the contact list on the phone, the app sends out unsolicited messages and invitations to people on the list. The privacy policy on their website says, “Our software operates an algorithm to determine which of your contacts may be most relevant to you, who you might wish to connect with and/or invite to the Service.”
There have been reports of misuse. While video chats are only allowed with people on the contact list, the contact list itself may not be safe, and there may be untoward video messages from people in it. It must also be remembered that you may be on the contact list of someone, without them being in yours, and they can still send you video messages.
The data that is transmitted is encrypted only during transit, and not encrypted when stored on Marco Polo’s servers. The privacy and safety of this could be questioned.
Even if you delete your Marco Polo account, your name, profile picture, messages and information you have shared with other users through Marco Polo continues to remain accessible to them. This leads us to the very first question we started with - Is Marco Polo safe?
Smart Social categorizes Marco Polo as a gray zone app, meaning that it can be safe as long as parents are nearby. The video chats by the child would largely be safe and uneventful and the child would most likely spend time chatting with her friends like they would do in person. However, occasionally there may be problems with inappropriate messages as both text and video. Such problems can be solved or prevented by educating the kid about the right way to use video chatting applications.
Ensure that the child knows what not to say or show on video messages.
Educate the child that the video messages may be misused by the recipient, even if rarely.
It is important for the parent to use the apps that the child uses as well.
Establish rules for app usage both in terms of times and durations. Afterall, you wouldn’t let the child play endlessly with her friends on the playground.
Maintain open communication and non-judgemental conversations. In case of problems or misdemeanours, the child must have the confidence to confide in you.
In summary, Marco Polo is a safe way for children to be in touch with their friends at their convenience. Parents must ensure that the child uses it the way it should be used, and that there are no security breaches in using the app. It helps for the parent to understand the pros and cons of the app and decide accordingly whether or not it is a suitable platform for the child.
Marco Polo Apparel
Next step: Add friends to talk with. To do so, tap on the magnifying glass in the top corner of the home screen or the person icon at the bottom of the home screen menu.
You will be taken to the Invite Friends screen where all of your phone contacts are listed. If they have Marco Polo™, there is a Marco Polo™ beach ball that will be displayed along with their name/image. If they do not have Marco Polo™, it will just display a phone number next to their name and you can send them a text invite to join!
Once you’ve added some people, go back to your Marco Polo™ home screen and tap on their Chat Tile to open the conversation.
Marco Polo App Fee
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*iOS