VSCO
Name: VSCO
Owned By: Visual Supply Company
Category: Photo and Video
Operating System: IOS and Android
Available for download: Yes
Desktop version: Yes
Approximate release date: 2011
Age Rating*: Rated 12+ for the following:
- Infrequent/mild mature/suggestive themes
- Infrequent/mild realistic violence
- Infrequent/mild alcohol, tobacco, or drug use or references
Brief Description*: VSCO is a place where expression matters most. We offer creative photo and video editing tools, inspiration, and a place for you to be you.
*Information from the App Store
- Ability to connect with strangers
Users can follow accounts of individuals they know or don’t know.
- Business Accounts (used for business)
Unlike other social media platforms, VSCO is not interactive (there are no comments and people can’t see post likes), so it's not the best marketing tool.
- Cyberbullying opportunities
Similar to other social media platforms, cyberbullying is not likely but it is plausible.
- Inappropriate content
Inappropriate content is not common on VSCO, but users can and will come across suggestive photos.
- Photo editing
VSCO is one of the most popular apps for image editing. Many youth edit their photos on VSCO and post it on other social media platforms like Instagram.
- Ability to chat
Users can only message each other if they are mutually following each other.
- Anonymous posting
Users cannot post anonymously. However, there is some level of anonymity because there are no public followers, likes, or comments.
- Ability to make account private
All VSCO accounts are public and users cannot make their account private.
- Collects location data
VSCO allows users to opt out of tracking location data.
- Collects user’s information
VSCO may use data to track users across apps and websites owned by other companies, including contact information, identifiers, and other data. Additionally, they may collect data that could be linked to your identity, including purchases, contact information, user content, identifiers, diagnostics, location, contacts, search history, usage data, and other data.
- In-app purchases
VSCO has a yearly subscription to access exclusive presets and tools.
Reviewed By: Ryan
VSCO is a photography editing and sharing app. There are some really nice filters with this program. Users cannot make their accounts private, but there are no notifications or comments. Users can see who is following them and who reshares or favorites their posts, but followers, likes, etc. are not public.
VSCO’s default setting is to share location services. Users must go in and turn off the location services manually.
Many parents are not aware of VSCO, making the platform an easy place for youth to share the drug related or sexualized photos they would not post on other platforms. However, nudity is prohibited on VSCO. There are no privacy settings so all profiles are public, making it an easy platform for a youth to make a mistake by sharing too much personal information.
You can learn how to be “VCSO” famous from this video I found. Teen girls will strive to be a “VSCO Girl,” which is someone whose life matches the visual nature of the VSCO app.
The app is rated 12+, but due to the potential for drug content and sexualized content, I would not recommend this app for anyone under 15.
Safety Tips
My #1 safety recommendation is if you are going to let your youth have VSCO, you should have an account and learn how it works. If you are going to let your child have this app, set expectations for them with a technology contract. This will help guide your child in using any app responsibly.