Stepchickens
Quirky premise builds interest-based groups for TikTok fans.
Stepchickens
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this app.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Stepchickens started as an app called Blink which combined the community of Discord gaming chat with the short-video content style of TikTok. It morphed into a self-proclaimed "cult" with TikTok followers of the "Mother Hen" creator using her selfie as the app's icon. Teens can join different communities or create their own, sharing and viewing content from other social media platforms. Many videos, including promos from the "Stepchickens" include profanity, with frequent use of f**k. There are also some risky pranks and sexual innuendo. 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.
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What’s It About?
Though the STEPCHICKENS app started with another name entirely, it has evolved into an app partly dedicated to a popular TikTok creator and her very devoted fans. Teens can follow different communities (or "cults") within the app, including the Stepchickens community. There are communities for music styles, gaming, sports, entertainment, style, and more. The standout for teens is the ability to create a private community, giving them the chance to share content with friends in their group. They can share links from TikTok, Twitter, and Instagram with their community. Users earn "blinkcoin" for interacting in the app -- starting communities, joining communities, growing communities -- that can be redeemed for in-app perks like changing username, using emoji packs, or adding a crown to their profile picture.
Is It Any Good?
"Cult" gimmick attracted downloads of this solid idea, but the lag and bugs disappoint. There's nothing original here, either. The content is recycled from other social media sites, some of it poor-quality screen recordings. Communities load slowly and videos lag. The cult idea distracts from what Stepchickens could do well (and was originally designd to do) -- give teens a place to build private communities to share their favorite content. It just falls short of being worthwhile and looks too much like a TikTok clone. It's definitely a great example of how much influence TikTok stars have with their fans, and how deep some of the subcultures can go. An app like Stepchickens is a great opportunity for parents to ask their kids about their online life and get a window into their world.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about their family's rules for social media and connecting with strangers on apps like Stepchickens, even if they share common interests. Check out our guide on basic social media rules for ideas.
Have a discussion about marketing and gimmicks. What made your kid want to download Stepchickens? Did they or their friends change their profile picture? If so, did they know what it meant?
App Details
- Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
- Pricing structure: Free
- Release date: June 1, 2020
- Category: Social Networking
- Publisher: blink
- Version: 1.2.11
- Minimum software requirements: iOS 13.1 or later
- Last updated: June 8, 2020
For kids who love social networking
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