There’s been quite a bit of chat about the app ooVoo on the helpline recently, particularly in relation to younger user’s safety. With that in mind, we thought the following information might be helpful.
Firstly a bit about the app: It’s a video chat and messaging app, which allows up to 12 people to connect for free. Think Skype or Facetime but with 12 people communicating at the same time. Designed for over 13’s, it promises users the highest quality video calls.
Change your privacy settings
When users register, the default privacy in the app is set to public allowing anyone to view account ID’s and/or email addresses, adding them as a contact.
To make accounts more private, users can change privacy settings to only allow people who know their account ID or email address to contact them or alternatively, completely lock the account down so only people they’ve invited can contact them.
- Instructions for how to update privacy settings on a mobile device: http://support.oovoo.com/link/portal/3908/4244/Article/1350/-How-do-I-update-my-privacy-settings-on-my-mobile-device
- Instructions for how to update privacy settings on a PC or Mac: http://support.oovoo.com/link/portal/3908/4244/Article/1349/How-do-I-update-my-Privacy-Settings-on-PC-or-Mac
Ignore users you don’t know
Users can choose to ‘Ignore’ invites from people they don’t know or don’t want to be connected to. You can also block unwanted contacts to prevent unwanted communication.
Know what content is prohibited
There is quite an extensive list of ‘Prohibited Behaviours’ in the sites terms or service including not using the site to “upload, post, email, or otherwise transmit, disseminate or distribute any content that is illegal, harmful, threatening, abusive, harassing, tortuous, defamatory, disparaging, vulgar, obscene, libellous, pornographic, sexually explicit, invasive of another's privacy, hateful or racially, ethnically, or otherwise offensive” content.
Report if you are being harassed
You can report harassment on the site simply by following the instructions here: http://support.oovoo.com/link/portal/3908/4244/Article/1356/-How-do-I-report-harassment
Get further support
If you need further support with an online safety incident at your organisation, don’t hesitate to contact the Professionals Online Safety Helpline who’ll be happy to help.
