Parents' Guide to

Virtual Geocaching - Xnote

By Dana Anderson, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 12+

Send personalized, virtual treasure hunts to any smartphone.

App iPhone , iPod Touch , iPad Paid Education
Virtual Geocaching - Xnote Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

  • Virtual Geocaching Xnote App: Screenshot #1
  • Virtual Geocaching Xnote App: Screenshot #2
  • Virtual Geocaching Xnote App: Screenshot #3
  • Virtual Geocaching Xnote App: Screenshot #4
  • Virtual Geocaching Xnote App: Screenshot #5

Community Reviews

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age 17+

Based on 1 parent review

GenXMama
GenXMama Parent
February 3, 2018
age 17+

This sounds a little scary

My child loves quests, and this sounds fun, but before I would ever consider this app, I would want to hear from parents who use it. I know, educate your kids on net safety and don’t let them go out alone. But this game sounds like an open invitation to a pedophile to lure a child into an ambush. The review recommends to accompany kids “younger than teens” but teens with mobility options that don’t involve parents seem especially at risk. How have parents dealt with this? Who gets to send your kids messages? (“social media” sounds rather broad)
See all 1 parent review

What’s It About?

Tap "Add Image" and the text box to create a photo and message on VIRTUAL GEOCACHING - XNOTE. Then tap "Hide Message." Search for a street, city, or other location. Once it appears on the map, zoom in and tap to place the red X that marks the spot. Then tap "Send Message." Choose from a variety of sending options -- SMS, iMessage, email, Facebook, and so on. The recipient will then get a message via the option you chose, which says "Hi, I've hidden a message for you! Tap here to see the treasure map" with a link to tap and view in their device's web browser.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (1 ):
Kids say: Not yet rated

This is a fun, novel way to get your friends, family, or students searching outside for personalized, virtual treasures. Virtual Geocaching - Xnote is easy to use both while sending and receiving the treasure hunt messages. Searching around your yard, neighborhood, or community to retrieve a note sent by a friend can be fun and exciting. Of course, if kids younger than teens are sending and receiving notes beyond their own yards, a parent may want to accompany them. Remind your kids and teens: While walking and checking the map for the X that marks the message spot, they must be looking up and around, checking their surroundings. The Xnote app website also includes tips and ideas for quiz walks and other group activities for families and classrooms.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about basic outdoor safety related to walking, traffic, and being aware of people in your surroundings when using Virtual Geocaching - Xnote. If kids younger than teens are sending and receiving notes beyond their own yards, parents may want to accompany them.

  • Discuss how this app could be used in creative ways. How could you surprise a friend on her birthday with a treasure hunt note? How about a faraway relative? What sorts of notes or images would be fun to send, and where would you send them?

App Details

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