Monday, Aug 22, 2016

Dubai: A new app launched by Facebook for teens aims to be the next hit in the social media world, by giving under-21s an easy way to keep a daily video diary.

The new iOS app called Lifestage, was designed by 19-year-old Michael Sayman, a Facebook Product Manager, with the aim of creating a teens-only social networking site.

High school and college students will have to select the educational institution they are studying in when registering, and will only be able to see other users when 20 people from their school are registered on the app.

However, what makes this app different is the way it profiles a user’s information.

“It asks for your happy face, sad face, likes, dislikes, best friend, the way you dance and more — but not by typing out a biography quiz with text. Instead, you’re asked to shoot video clips, which are attached to your video profile, for others to watch,” said social media specialist Tahani Karrar-Lewsley from Menar Media.

She explained that while no app can guarantee 100 per cent safety against cyber threats and bullying, the age-specific app is primarily built for high-schoolers under 21 to learn more about their classmates.

“Technically, anyone can download Lifestage, but users who are 22 years old or older will only be able to see their own profile. Users can also block and report people who you think should not be on the app with a quick swipe,” said Karrar-Lewsley.

The reason behind the sudden launch of the app could be attributed to the fact that other social media apps like Snapchat and Instagram have attracted millions of teenagers and young adults.

“There are fears that teens are slipping away from Facebook to Snapchat so this can be seen as a good way to reach out to those on Snapchat. Lifestage has integrated promo materials like “Snapchat me”, and Facebook has repeatedly said it sees itself evolving into a video content platform and, ultimately, a virtual and augmented reality platform — so this app is a great way of testing and evolving this move for a younger audience who are open to communicating in video,” added Karrar-Lewsley.

However, with Facebook’s poor track record with standalone apps, having shut down Poke, Slingshot, Paper and Notify, only time will tell if Lifestage will be the next big thing.

UAE resident Sarah K., who is from Bahrain, said she supports the idea of the app, and hopes young adults and teenagers will shift from using other social media apps to the restricted-age app Lifestage.

“I have a younger sister and I do worry about who is viewing her profile and what kinds of threats she is exposed to on sites people from all over the world and all ages are using daily,” said Sarah.

She pointed out the Lifestage app monitors students’ information, which helps eliminate indecent users and possible cyber threats.

Just the same, Palestinian Samer Mohammad, 20, said he is excited to try out the new app, but will not stop using Facebook and other social media sites.

“It’s a cool concept because it brings the student community together, but at the same time you can’t stay in touch with older family members and friends on the app. I would say it’s a good addition to the social media world,” he said.

By Jumana Khamis Staff Reporter

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