Parents' Guide to

Background Check App

By Chris Morris, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 18+

Easy way to dig up loads of personal info on almost anyone.

Background Check App Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this app.

Community Reviews

There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

The privacy debate that springs up around BACKGROUND CHECK APP is an extensive one -- but ultimately a useless one. While many object to how easy it now is for someone to learn what can be very private details of your life, the fact of the matter is the information has been available online for a long time. And it was inevitable that it would make its way to the mobile platform. That said, this app (from BeenVerified.com, which provides an identical service on the web) can sometimes dig deeper than you'd like it to -- listing the names of relatives (though, apparently, not underage children) as well as home addresses and criminal records, along with your entire online footprint, including photos, videos, blogs, etc. The scary part is: The information isn't always accurate, which can create a false impression that sometimes is unjustified.

There's certainly a curiosity factor that goes with this sort of app, but it's not something you want in a child's hand. The reliability questions that go with the data could lead them to gossip about a teacher or friend's parents having a criminal record, when it was, in fact, someone with a similar name. The app could, however, be a good way to show children that they can always be held accountable for their past -- and that they should think twice (or even three times) before posting something online, since someone can always see it.

App Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate