Common Sense Media Review
By Amanda Bindel
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Quirky premise builds interest-based groups for TikTok fans.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Download
Videos and Photos
Stepchickens
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
- Genre : Social Networking
- Publisher : blink
- Version : 1.2.11
- Minimum software requirements : iOS 13.1 or later
- Last updated : June 8, 2020
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
Suggest an 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