[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Qustodio\u2019s App Safety Guide to Marco Polo<\/strong><\/h3>\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
App ratings<\/strong><\/h2>\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Qustodio: 13+ when using the app alone,<\/strong> at parents’ discretion when using as a family<\/p>\nApple<\/a>:<\/strong> 4+<\/span><\/p>\nAndroid<\/a>:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>Everyone<\/p>\nCommon Sense<\/a>:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>13+<\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
What is the Marco Polo app?<\/strong><\/h2>\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Some people call\u00a0Marco Polo<\/strong>\u00a0the “Snapchat for old people<\/a>” because it is a video based social media app with a 20+ audience which includes celebrities who are also parents like Ice-T<\/a><\/strong>. But unlike Snapchat, the videos you record on Marco Polo don\u2019t disappear or self-destruct<\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\nUsers record video messages of themselves for a friend or group of friends and upload them for asynchronous viewing \u2013 immediately after or at a later date. In other words, the video messages cannot be responded to in real-time (except for a set of simple emojis) like in a FaceTime or Skype call. Marco Polo is much more like the back and forth of talking through a tin can on a string, which is exactly why its makers refer to it as a \u201cvideo walkie-talkie<\/a><\/strong>\u201d.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Why do families love Marco Polo?<\/strong><\/h2>\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
\n- Marco Polo highlights that busy parents really like that they can send messages without the pressure to respond immediately.<\/li>\n
- Marco Polo is\u00a0<\/span>free<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>to use, though it does offer a paid version with more options as part its efforts to try to find a sustainable business model not based on ads (see next point).<\/li>\n
- Marco Polo promises<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>to never show ads, never sell user data for advertising, never uses \u2018likes\u2019 or social comparisons, nor manipulate algorithms.<\/li>\n
- In terms of bandwidth, Marco Polo is more like text messages. The app eats up less of your data plan than real-time video chat platforms do and makes it less likely you\u2019ll have a choppy connection.<\/li>\n
- Marco Polo is not dependent on social media accounts, as long as Grandma and Grandpa have a phone number they can use it.<\/li>\n
- And last but not least, Marco Polo has some fun features such as voice-changing, including the irresistible \u201chelium\u201d and \u201crobot\u201d options and the ability to draw and write on videos.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Is Marco Polo safe for kids?<\/strong><\/h2>\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
\n- Marco Polo has no text chat or direct message<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>(DM) option, which cuts off a typical avenue for potential predators to contact their kids.<\/li>\n
- The app doesn\u2019t allow you to browse for friends of friends or total strangers<\/strong>. To chat with someone, you must add that person to your contacts.<\/li>\n
- Marco Polo itself doesn\u2019t generate any objectionable content, but like any social app,\u00a0<\/span>your child\u2019s exposure to risk online depends a lot on who their contacts are<\/strong>. If you know who your child\u2019s contacts are and keep an eye on it, they should be fine. But be aware that app features and filters change. But for now, Marco Polo is safer for kids than apps that have public feeds or that facilitate the ability to connect with strangers.<\/li>\n
- What about data?\u00a0<\/span>Marco Polo <\/strong>only encrypts data in transit<\/a>,<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>not end-to-end. So they have access to your videos indefinitely, though you can choose to delete them. Marco Polo also insists no data is monetized or advertised against.<\/li>\n
- Children under 13 aren\u2019t permitted to create Marco Polo\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>accounts per the app\u2019s terms and conditions (and per COPPA and GDPR legislation).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
How can I make Marco Polo safer for my child or teen?<\/h2>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
\n- To protect your child\u2019s identity, use your own information (name, phone number, and email address)<\/strong> at sign up\u00a0<\/span>for any child under 13 you would like to allow to use the Marco Polo app.<\/li>\n
- Skip the request to access contacts.<\/li>\n
- Ensure you know everyone in your child\u2019s contact list.<\/strong><\/li>\n
- Talk about what kind of messages and how many are appropriate to share. Remind your child that every video (everything) can be screenshot. There are no second chances with live or semi-live conduct.<\/strong> Remember, iOS allows for an easy screencast (video recording of what\u2019s happening on the screen).<\/li>\n
- Talk about screen-life balance.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>Make sure your child knows the advantages of in-person communication and how much harder it can be to interpret emotion, body language and jokes in an online environment.<\/li>\n
- Set screen limits on device use<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>no matter what apps your child is using. Parental control tools<\/a> such as\u00a0<\/span>Qustodio\u00a0<\/span>make doing so consistent and easy for today\u2019s busy parents.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Qustodio\u2019s final advice on Marco Polo<\/strong><\/h2>\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
As long as parent\u2019s know who is on their child\u2019s contact list,\u00a0<\/span>Marco Polo is a safe app<\/strong>\u00a0made by\u00a0<\/span>two parents<\/a>\u00a0who clearly understand what other parents want in an app. While we have some doubts about the safety of the data storage and about how long they will be able to keep their ad-free promise, we think this is an appropriate app for families. We like the limited scope of the app \u2013 nothing is over-the-top, it\u2019s not about likes and showing off to the whole world to see which takes away much of the stress of traditional social media platforms to perform, especially for teens. We also like that it is made and owned by Joya Communications, the Marco Polo parent company, and not a giant tech company \u2013 for now.<\/span><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Marco Polo\u00a0is one of many communication apps along the lines of\u00a0Zoom,\u00a0Houseparty\u00a0and\u00a0Snapchat that exploded in popularity during the Covid pandemic. The app\u2019s founders, Michal and Vlada Bortnik, say their app is different in that Marco Polo is “built to be good for you” and to be “safe for families”. To help make your digital parenting decisions […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":63855,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"
\r\n Is Marco Polo safe for kids? What parents need to know about this \u2018built to be good for you\u2019 video messaging app.\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2><\/div>\r\n Marco Polo Ratings<\/strong><\/h3>Apple<\/a>:<\/strong> 4+<\/p>Android<\/a>:<\/strong> PEGI 3 (suitable for all ages)<\/p>Common Sense<\/a>:<\/strong> 13+<\/p>Qustodio: <\/strong>13+ or 10+ with parental supervision<\/p><\/div>\r\n Marco Polo<\/a><\/strong>, is one of many communication apps along the lines of Zoom<\/a>, Houseparty<\/a> and SnapChat<\/a> to explode in popularity during the Covid pandemic. The app\u2019s founders, Michal and Vlada Bortnik, say their app is different in that Marco Polo is \u2018built to be good for you<\/a><\/strong>\u2019 and to be \u2018safe for families<\/strong>\u2019. To help make your digital parenting decisions easier, and to help you keep your kids safe online, we\u2019ve taken a closer look at those promises and the app in this safety guide to Marco Polo for parents.\u00a0<\/p><\/div>\r\n Qustodio\u2019s App Safety Guide to Marco Polo<\/strong><\/h2><\/div>\r\n What is the Marco Polo app?<\/strong><\/h3>Some people call Marco Polo<\/strong> the \u2018Snapchat for old people<\/a>\u2019 because it is a video based social media app with a 20+ audience which includes celebs who are also parents such as Ice-T<\/a><\/strong>. But unlike Snapchat, the videos you record on Marco Polo don\u2019t disappear or self-destruct. Users record video messages of themselves for a friend or group of friends and upload them for asynchronous viewing - immediately after or at a later date. In other words, the video messages cannot be responded to in real-time (except for a set of simple emojis) like in a FaceTime or Skype call.\u00a0 Marco Polo is much more like a walkie-talkie, which is exactly why its makers refer to it as a \u201cvideo walkie-talkie<\/a><\/strong>\u201d.\u00a0<\/p><\/div>\r\n Why do families love Marco Polo?<\/strong><\/h3>- Marco Polo highlights that busy parents really like that they can send messages without the pressure to respond immediately.\u00a0<\/li>
- Marco Polo is free<\/strong> to use, though it does offer a paid version with more options as part its efforts to try to find a sustainable business model not based on ads (see next point).<\/li>
- Marco Polo promises<\/a> to never show ads, never sell user data for advertising, never uses 'likes' or social comparisons, nor manipulate algorithms.\u00a0<\/li>
- In terms of bandwidth, Marco Polo is more like text messages. The app eats up less of your data plan than real-time video chat platforms do and makes it less likely you\u2019ll have a choppy connection.<\/li>
- Marco Polo is not dependent on social media accounts, as long as Grandma and Grandpa have a phone number they can use it.<\/li>
- And last but not least, Marco Polo has some fun features such as voice-changing, including the irresistible \u201chelium\u201d and \u201crobot\u201d options and the ability to draw and write on videos. (But without going over the top by turning yourself into a dog<\/a>.)<\/li><\/ul><\/div>\r\n
Is Marco Polo safe for kids?<\/strong><\/h3>- Marco Polo has no text chat or direct message<\/strong> (DM) option, which cuts off a typical avenue for potential predators to contact their kids.\u00a0<\/li>
- Also, Marco Polo doesn't allow you to browse for friends of friends or total strangers<\/strong>. To chat with someone, you must add that person to your contacts.\u00a0<\/li>
- Marco Polo itself doesn't generate any objectionable content, but like any social app, your child\u2019s exposure to risk online depends a lot on who their contacts are<\/strong>. If you know who your child\u2019s contacts are and keep an eye on it, they should be fine. But be aware that app features and filters change. But for now, Marco Polo is safer for kids than apps that have public feeds or that facilitate the ability to connect with strangers.<\/li>
- What about data? Marco Polo only encrypts data in transit<\/a>,<\/strong> not end-to-end. So they have access to your videos indefinitely, though you can choose to delete them. Marco Polo also insists no data is monetized or advertised against.<\/li>
- Children under 13 aren't permitted to create Marco Polo <\/strong>accounts per the app\u2019s terms and conditions (and per COPPA and GDPR legislation).<\/li><\/ul><\/div>\r\n
How can I make Marco Polo safer for my child or teen?<\/strong><\/h3>- To protect your child\u2019s identity, use your own information (name, phone number, and email address) at sign up<\/strong> for any child under 13 you would like to allow to use the Marco Polo app.\u00a0<\/li>
- Skip the request to access contacts.<\/strong><\/li>
- Ensure you know everyone in your child's contact list.<\/strong><\/li>
- Talk about what kind of messages and how many are appropriate to share. <\/strong>Remind your child that every video (everything) can be screenshot. There are no second chances with live or semi-live conduct. Remember, iOS allows for an easy screencast (video recording of what\u2019s happening on the screen).<\/li>
- Talk about screen-life balance.<\/strong> Make sure your child knows the advantages of in-person communication and how much harder it can be to interpret emotion, body language and jokes in an online environment.<\/li>
- Set screen limits on device use<\/strong> no matter what apps your child is using. Parental Controls such as Qustodio<\/a> make doing so consistent and easy for today\u2019s busy parents.<\/li><\/ul><\/div>\r\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.qustodio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/9ea6f798-c831-488c-b03a-bd6f7973484d_Marco)
\r\n<\/div>\r\n Qustodio\u2019s final advice on Marco Polo<\/strong><\/h3>As long as parent\u2019s know who is on their child\u2019s contact list, Marco Polo is a safe app<\/strong> made by two parents<\/a> who clearly understand what other parents want in an app. While we have some doubts about the safety of the data storage and about how long they will be able to keep their ad-free promise, we think this is an appropriate app for families. We like the limited scope of the app - nothing is over-the-top, it\u2019s not about likes and showing off to the whole world to see which takes away much of the stress of traditional social media platforms to perform, especially for teens. We also like that it is made and owned by Joya Communications, the Marco Polo parent company, and not a giant tech company - for now.<\/p><\/div>\r\n Footnotes:<\/strong><\/h3>- Snapchat Sees Higher Usage Amid COVID-19 Lockdowns, Outlines Key Trends of Note<\/a> (Social Media Today)<\/em><\/li>
- Zoom's revenue soars 169% as people flock to service during pandemic<\/a> (CNN)<\/em><\/li>
- Marco Polo has been around for years, but it\u2019s blowing up amid the pandemic<\/a> (The Verge)<\/em><\/li>
- Texting & Messaging What Is the Marco Polo App?<\/a> (LifeWire)<\/em><\/li>
- Marco Polo - Video Chat App Review<\/a> (Common Sense Media)<\/em><\/li>
- Why More Than 1 Million Users\u2014 Including Pink And Ice T\u2014Are Flocking To Marco Polo Amid COVID-19\u2019s \u2018Epidemic Of Loneliness\u2019<\/a> \u00a0(Forbes)<\/em><\/li>
- Video app Marco Polo adds a subscription option amid coronavirus-led boost in usage<\/a> (TechCrunch)<\/em><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\r\n
Further reading from Qustodio on digital parenting:<\/strong><\/h3>- Houseparty: App Safety Guide for Parents<\/a> <\/em><\/li>
- The Power of Likes: what happens to your child\u2019s brain on social media?<\/a> <\/em><\/li>
- TikTok: App Safety Guide for Parents<\/a> <\/em><\/li>
- Google Classroom: App Safety Guide for Parents<\/a> <\/em><\/li>
- Brawl Stars: App Safety Guide for Parents<\/a> <\/em><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\r\n
Where to get Qustodio<\/strong><\/h3>- Qustodio for Android<\/strong> (Download from Google Play<\/a>)<\/li>
- \u200eQustodio for iOS Phone & iPad<\/strong> (Download from Apple App Store<\/a>)<\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/p>\r\n","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[48],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2266","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-app-safety-and-reviews"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
Is Marco Polo safe for kids? App Safety Guide for parents | Qustodio<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qustodio.com\/en\/blog\/marco-polo-app-safety-guide-parents\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Is Marco Polo safe for kids? App Safety Guide for parents\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.qustodio.com\/en\/blog\/marco-polo-app-safety-guide-parents\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Qustodio\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2021-02-07T23:00:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-05-29T08:14:03+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/static.qustodio.com\/public-site\/uploads\/2024\/05\/29081102\/MarcoPolo-Safety-Guide.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1618\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"946\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Qustodio Team\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Qustodio Team\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.qustodio.com\/en\/blog\/marco-polo-app-safety-guide-parents\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.qustodio.com\/en\/blog\/marco-polo-app-safety-guide-parents\/\",\"name\":\"Is Marco Polo safe for kids? App Safety Guide for parents | Qustodio\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.qustodio.com\/en\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.qustodio.com\/en\/blog\/marco-polo-app-safety-guide-parents\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.qustodio.com\/en\/blog\/marco-polo-app-safety-guide-parents\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/static.qustodio.com\/public-site\/uploads\/2024\/05\/29081102\/MarcoPolo-Safety-Guide.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2021-02-07T23:00:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-05-29T08:14:03+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.qustodio.com\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/d554b7a38dc19d91cefef76c775ab233\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.qustodio.com\/en\/blog\/marco-polo-app-safety-guide-parents\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.qustodio.com\/en\/blog\/marco-polo-app-safety-guide-parents\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.qustodio.com\/en\/blog\/marco-polo-app-safety-guide-parents\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/static.qustodio.com\/public-site\/uploads\/2024\/05\/29081102\/MarcoPolo-Safety-Guide.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/static.qustodio.com\/public-site\/uploads\/2024\/05\/29081102\/MarcoPolo-Safety-Guide.jpg\",\"width\":1618,\"height\":946,\"caption\":\"is marco polo safe for kids\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.qustodio.com\/en\/blog\/marco-polo-app-safety-guide-parents\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"App safety & reviews\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.qustodio.com\/en\/blog\/category\/app-safety-and-reviews\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Is Marco Polo safe for kids? App Safety Guide for parents\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.qustodio.com\/en\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.qustodio.com\/en\/\",\"name\":\"Qustodio\",\"description\":\"Free parental control app\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.qustodio.com\/en\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.qustodio.com\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/d554b7a38dc19d91cefef76c775ab233\",\"name\":\"Qustodio Team\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.qustodio.com\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/static.qustodio.com\/public-site\/uploads\/2021\/10\/01090043\/Qustodio-Team.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/static.qustodio.com\/public-site\/uploads\/2021\/10\/01090043\/Qustodio-Team.png\",\"caption\":\"Qustodio Team\"},\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.qustodio.com\/en\/blog\/author\/qustodio-team\/\",\"jobTitle\":\"Experts in digital safety\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Is Marco Polo safe for kids? App Safety Guide for parents | Qustodio","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.qustodio.com\/en\/blog\/marco-polo-app-safety-guide-parents\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Is Marco Polo safe for kids? App Safety Guide for parents","og_url":"https:\/\/www.qustodio.com\/en\/blog\/marco-polo-app-safety-guide-parents\/","og_site_name":"Qustodio","article_published_time":"2021-02-07T23:00:00+00:00","article_modified_time":"2024-05-29T08:14:03+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1618,"height":946,"url":"https:\/\/static.qustodio.com\/public-site\/uploads\/2024\/05\/29081102\/MarcoPolo-Safety-Guide.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Qustodio Team","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Qustodio Team","Est. reading time":"5 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.qustodio.com\/en\/blog\/marco-polo-app-safety-guide-parents\/","url":"https:\/\/www.qustodio.com\/en\/blog\/marco-polo-app-safety-guide-parents\/","name":"Is Marco Polo safe for kids? App Safety Guide for parents | Qustodio","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.qustodio.com\/en\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.qustodio.com\/en\/blog\/marco-polo-app-safety-guide-parents\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.qustodio.com\/en\/blog\/marco-polo-app-safety-guide-parents\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/static.qustodio.com\/public-site\/uploads\/2024\/05\/29081102\/MarcoPolo-Safety-Guide.jpg","datePublished":"2021-02-07T23:00:00+00:00","dateModified":"2024-05-29T08:14:03+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.qustodio.com\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/d554b7a38dc19d91cefef76c775ab233"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.qustodio.com\/en\/blog\/marco-polo-app-safety-guide-parents\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.qustodio.com\/en\/blog\/marco-polo-app-safety-guide-parents\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.qustodio.com\/en\/blog\/marco-polo-app-safety-guide-parents\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/static.qustodio.com\/public-site\/uploads\/2024\/05\/29081102\/MarcoPolo-Safety-Guide.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/static.qustodio.com\/public-site\/uploads\/2024\/05\/29081102\/MarcoPolo-Safety-Guide.jpg","width":1618,"height":946,"caption":"is marco polo safe for kids"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.qustodio.com\/en\/blog\/marco-polo-app-safety-guide-parents\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"App safety & reviews","item":"https:\/\/www.qustodio.com\/en\/blog\/category\/app-safety-and-reviews\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Is Marco Polo safe for kids? App Safety Guide for parents"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.qustodio.com\/en\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.qustodio.com\/en\/","name":"Qustodio","description":"Free parental control app","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.qustodio.com\/en\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.qustodio.com\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/d554b7a38dc19d91cefef76c775ab233","name":"Qustodio Team","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.qustodio.com\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/static.qustodio.com\/public-site\/uploads\/2021\/10\/01090043\/Qustodio-Team.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/static.qustodio.com\/public-site\/uploads\/2021\/10\/01090043\/Qustodio-Team.png","caption":"Qustodio Team"},"url":"https:\/\/www.qustodio.com\/en\/blog\/author\/qustodio-team\/","jobTitle":"Experts in digital safety"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.qustodio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2266","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.qustodio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.qustodio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.qustodio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.qustodio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2266"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/www.qustodio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2266\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":63865,"href":"https:\/\/www.qustodio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2266\/revisions\/63865"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.qustodio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/63855"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.qustodio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2266"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.qustodio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2266"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.qustodio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2266"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Qustodio: 13+ when using the app alone,<\/strong> at parents’ discretion when using as a family<\/p>\n Apple<\/a>:<\/strong> 4+<\/span><\/p>\n Android<\/a>:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>Everyone<\/p>\n Common Sense<\/a>:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>13+<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Some people call\u00a0Marco Polo<\/strong>\u00a0the “Snapchat for old people<\/a>” because it is a video based social media app with a 20+ audience which includes celebrities who are also parents like Ice-T<\/a><\/strong>. But unlike Snapchat, the videos you record on Marco Polo don\u2019t disappear or self-destruct<\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n Users record video messages of themselves for a friend or group of friends and upload them for asynchronous viewing \u2013 immediately after or at a later date. In other words, the video messages cannot be responded to in real-time (except for a set of simple emojis) like in a FaceTime or Skype call. Marco Polo is much more like the back and forth of talking through a tin can on a string, which is exactly why its makers refer to it as a \u201cvideo walkie-talkie<\/a><\/strong>\u201d.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n As long as parent\u2019s know who is on their child\u2019s contact list,\u00a0<\/span>Marco Polo is a safe app<\/strong>\u00a0made by\u00a0<\/span>two parents<\/a>\u00a0who clearly understand what other parents want in an app. While we have some doubts about the safety of the data storage and about how long they will be able to keep their ad-free promise, we think this is an appropriate app for families. We like the limited scope of the app \u2013 nothing is over-the-top, it\u2019s not about likes and showing off to the whole world to see which takes away much of the stress of traditional social media platforms to perform, especially for teens. We also like that it is made and owned by Joya Communications, the Marco Polo parent company, and not a giant tech company \u2013 for now.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Marco Polo\u00a0is one of many communication apps along the lines of\u00a0Zoom,\u00a0Houseparty\u00a0and\u00a0Snapchat that exploded in popularity during the Covid pandemic. The app\u2019s founders, Michal and Vlada Bortnik, say their app is different in that Marco Polo is “built to be good for you” and to be “safe for families”. To help make your digital parenting decisions […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":63855,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":" Apple<\/a>:<\/strong> 4+<\/p> Android<\/a>:<\/strong> PEGI 3 (suitable for all ages)<\/p> Common Sense<\/a>:<\/strong> 13+<\/p> Qustodio: <\/strong>13+ or 10+ with parental supervision<\/p><\/div> Marco Polo<\/a><\/strong>, is one of many communication apps along the lines of Zoom<\/a>, Houseparty<\/a> and SnapChat<\/a> to explode in popularity during the Covid pandemic. The app\u2019s founders, Michal and Vlada Bortnik, say their app is different in that Marco Polo is \u2018built to be good for you<\/a><\/strong>\u2019 and to be \u2018safe for families<\/strong>\u2019. To help make your digital parenting decisions easier, and to help you keep your kids safe online, we\u2019ve taken a closer look at those promises and the app in this safety guide to Marco Polo for parents.\u00a0<\/p><\/div> Some people call Marco Polo<\/strong> the \u2018Snapchat for old people<\/a>\u2019 because it is a video based social media app with a 20+ audience which includes celebs who are also parents such as Ice-T<\/a><\/strong>. But unlike Snapchat, the videos you record on Marco Polo don\u2019t disappear or self-destruct. Users record video messages of themselves for a friend or group of friends and upload them for asynchronous viewing - immediately after or at a later date. In other words, the video messages cannot be responded to in real-time (except for a set of simple emojis) like in a FaceTime or Skype call.\u00a0 Marco Polo is much more like a walkie-talkie, which is exactly why its makers refer to it as a \u201cvideo walkie-talkie<\/a><\/strong>\u201d.\u00a0<\/p><\/div> As long as parent\u2019s know who is on their child\u2019s contact list, Marco Polo is a safe app<\/strong> made by two parents<\/a> who clearly understand what other parents want in an app. While we have some doubts about the safety of the data storage and about how long they will be able to keep their ad-free promise, we think this is an appropriate app for families. We like the limited scope of the app - nothing is over-the-top, it\u2019s not about likes and showing off to the whole world to see which takes away much of the stress of traditional social media platforms to perform, especially for teens. We also like that it is made and owned by Joya Communications, the Marco Polo parent company, and not a giant tech company - for now.<\/p><\/div>What is the Marco Polo app?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Why do families love Marco Polo?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n
Is Marco Polo safe for kids?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n
How can I make Marco Polo safer for my child or teen?<\/h2>\n
\n
Qustodio\u2019s final advice on Marco Polo<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Is Marco Polo safe for kids? What parents need to know about this \u2018built to be good for you\u2019 video messaging app.\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2><\/div>
Marco Polo Ratings<\/strong><\/h3>
Qustodio\u2019s App Safety Guide to Marco Polo<\/strong><\/h2><\/div>
What is the Marco Polo app?<\/strong><\/h3>
Why do families love Marco Polo?<\/strong><\/h3>
Is Marco Polo safe for kids?<\/strong><\/h3>
How can I make Marco Polo safer for my child or teen?<\/strong><\/h3>
\r\n<\/div>
Qustodio\u2019s final advice on Marco Polo<\/strong><\/h3>
Footnotes:<\/strong><\/h3>
Further reading from Qustodio on digital parenting:<\/strong><\/h3>
Where to get Qustodio<\/strong><\/h3>