Dispo - Live in the Moment

Shutterbug tool for teens imitates disposable camera.
Common Sense is a nonprofit organization. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free.
Dispo - Live in the Moment
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.
Suggest an Update
A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this app.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Dispo – Live in the Moment is a photo and video app that replicates the experience of using a disposable camera with some added social media features. It's like a camera within a camera that kids can use to capture images. They can organize pictures into rolls, an idea inspired by the look of developed film strips. Kids won't have access to their images right away. Pictures become available for viewing the next day. They're automatically saved to the app's library, and kids have the option of sharing them with the app's community or with friends through text or email or directly to other social media platforms. Since kids can connect with other users, browse pictures, and like and comment on images, they may come across profanity or suggestive or mature content. The terms of use explicitly warm against obscene content, violence, and bullying, and users have the option of flagging inappropriate content directly though the platform. Read the developer's privacy policy for details on how your (or your kids') information is collected, used, and shared and any choices you may have in the matter, and note that privacy policies and terms of service frequently change.
Community Reviews
There aren't any reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.
What’s It About?
DISPO – LIVE IN THE MOMENT is a digital camera that imitates the process of developing film by not releasing captured images until the next day. Users can sign up through Apple or Snapchat or by using their phone number. They'll be prompted to set a profile picture and username, and after a quick three-step tutorial, they can start taking pictures. Users can create rolls to organize their pictures by theme, date, or topic. Each roll can be set to private or public. The app is organized into five tabs: Rolls, Library, Camera, Notifications, and Profile. The camera has a flash button, a zoom feature, and an option to switch from back-facing to front-facing for selfies. Under Rolls, users can see their personal rolls and those of people they're following. The library archives all pictures and organizes them by date. Notifications helps users keep track of picture availability, who's following them, likes, and comments. All rolls published as public appear in the profile, with recently updated rolls appearing at the top. There are two search features in the app. The first searches for specific rolls. The other search feature is designed to help people connect on the platform. Typing a word or name generates a list of Dispo members that users can follow or invite to view one of their personal rolls.
Is It Any Good?
This little camera within a camera is a modern twist on an old-school practice, but it's long-term appeal is unclear. It re-creates the notion of waiting for pictures to develop after they've been taken, challenging the common habit of retaking pictures until the perfect shot is captured. The camera feature is easy to use and, much like our devices' camera roll, the app's library sequences pictures based on date and time. What makes Dispo – Live in the Moment unique is the fact that pictures aren't available immediately. Kids have to wait until the next morning to see the images. One upside is that the design may encourage kids to focus on the subject, process, and art of taking pictures rather than repeating a shot until perfect. The app applies an automatic filter to images, giving them a bit of a retro look.
However, the app lacks tools to customize images or edit images. Users don't even have control over the filter type or intensity. Although using the camera and organizing images into rolls is a simple process, connecting with other Dispo members is not as straightforward as it is on other social media apps. The app doesn't incorporate hashtags for finding content related to a specific topic. For example, when you type "travel" into the search, a list of members with the word "travel" in their profile name pops up, regardless of whether their content reflects travel or not. Pictures in profiles are organized into rolls and recent updates, but browsing through them and trying to find specific content is messy. Users have the option to follow people or specific rolls, which isn't clear until you've played around with the app for a bit and tried different ways to connect with others. Overall, the intention behind Dispo – Live in the Moment's design is appropriate for teens who want to enjoy capturing images without the distraction of instant gratification. However, it lacks customization features, and its social media component is a bit confusing.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about using social media responsibly when using Dispo – Live in the Moment. Discuss expectations for social media use and guidelines for sharing. What's OK to share? What's not OK to share? Consider the pros and cons of private content and public content, along with family expectations around privacy, sharing pictures, or making them public.
Talk about reporting images that display nudity, are explicit, or glorify violence. Discuss the power of words and how to interact with others via comments in a mindful manner.
Talk about composition, lighting, and interesting subjects to explore through a camera lens to promote creativity and help kids define their own style.
App Details
- Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch
- Pricing structure: Free
- Release date: March 12, 2021
- Category: Photo & Video
- Publisher: Dispo, Inc
- Version: 2.0.4
- Minimum software requirements: iOS 14.0 or later
- Last updated: April 2, 2021
Our Editors Recommend
For kids who love photography and creativity
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