Benzinga | Sep 28, 2021 11:44AM EDT

Kids Just Wanna Have Fun: Grom Social Media App Provides Safe Online Space for Children

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels

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In seconds we have unlimited access to almost anyone and anything around the world thanks to smartphones. We share pictures, videos and information with people around us -- and not -- instantly connecting with each other. This past year demonstrated an increase of time on our phones -- to the tune of 1.6 trillion hours during 2020.

As back-to-school season approaches and classes go virtual again, what happens when children have unwarranted amounts of time spent on the screen?

According to one recent report, nearly 40% of kids under 13 already use Facebook (NASDAQ:FB) and Instagram, even though age requirements for the app exist. Around 76% of parents worry their kids will be exposed to harmful and abusive content, and for a good reason: a number of these kids are experiencing abuse and sexual solicitation as a result. Not to mention, negative and harmful posts that can seem to be unavoidable are making kids feel depressed, inadequate and anxious.

One company, Grom Social Enterprise (NASDAQ:GROM), is working to address these problems with its safe and secure social media platform for kids. Grom meets the safety requirements for the Federal Trade Commission's Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).

Features of the Grom social app include the following:

* Exclusive content

* Hashtags

* Streaming video content like full-length shows

* Direct messaging to each user

* Sharing posts or sending doodles

* Customize characters

Grom Helpers are people who monitor the app 24/7 giving advice and tips for children to stay safe, as well as filtering unwanted or inappropriate content. Users can take the digital citizenship license course so that kids gain a rich understanding of the importance of being safe while on social media. In addition, the app allows you to monitor your child's activity so you can control what type of access they have. Lastly, the app streams curated internet content as well as educational internet safety videos for users.

Created by Zach Marks at age 11 after he was in trouble for going on social media while underage, Grom is named after "grommet," which is slang for a young surfer, often one who is inexperienced and unaware. It is Grom's goal to educate young users, strengthening their positive interactions with social media so they can connect and share with others around the world -- safely.