Zigazoo
Common Sense says
- iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android
- Free
- Education
Parents say
Kids say
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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 Zigazoo is a TikTok-style video sharing app for posting short videos of kids completing a variety of kid-appropriate challenges. The terms of service (but not the app description) make it clear that Zigazoo is meant to be used with a parent, and personal data is treated as though it's from those over 13. Challenges are simple investigative or creative projects like: Can you find something that's symmetrical? Or Can you teach us how to play your favorite sport or physical activity? A separate section offers challenges based on academic subjects and are divided by grade range from K-12. Users need to provide an email address to sign up, or use a Google or Apple account. In a separate section, Zigazoo showcases its partnership with American Federation of Teachers (AFT). There, parents and kids can access curricula and specific video prompts designed to allow kids to showcase something they've learned. Access to lesson plans requires parents to create a separate account on the AFT website. There's no information about how or if users can decide who sees their videos, and how they can build their friend networks. the videos are meant to be kid-friendly, and it appears that Zigazoo uses SightEngine to automatically filter content, so there doesn't seem to be human moderation. 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?
Sign up for ZIGAZOO using an email address, or a Google or Apple account, then create a username and choose what grade level activities interest you. Activities focus on straightforward challenges that ask kids to investigate or create something and then share what they've done with videos up to 30 seconds long. The home tab automatically generates user submitted videos; tap the heart to like the video or swipe up to advance to the next one. The projects tab shows daily-featured projects like make your own hopscotch design, and other projects organized by topic (science, literacy, arts & music, math, social studies, physical education, and Children4Charity). Tap on a particular project to watch videos of others completing the challenge. Tap on the record icon to record, and then post, your own video. Users can also search for others and create friend networks.
Is it any good?
These fun challenges are a great way to get kids thinking and trying new things, but parents should be aware that they need to facilitate, and there are no options around video-sharing privacy. Zigazoo does a nice job of inspiring kids to get involved in off screen projects. Ideas are varied and range from arts (illustrate a song), to math (make fractions out of food), to social studies (what rights should all kids have?). Parents could easily use these ideas to challenge kids and keep them busy thinking critically and investigating their world -- and stop there. Or, it could be fun to browse videos and see what other kids have come up with. If parents or kids want post their own videos, they should know that there don't seem to be any privacy settings at all, including choices for who sees your videos. Kids can build a friend network, and friend requests need to be accepted before the friend link is complete. Overall, Zigazoo can be a fun social experience, but more settings around privacy and more information around safe use, how content is moderated, and building friend networks would make it easier -- and safer -- to use.
Talk to your kids about ...
Families can talk about Zigazoo's projects. Browse the project ideas and let your kids take the lead in choosing which ones interest them. Ask them questions about how they'll complete the project and help them think through bigger connections.
Discuss your family's rules for privacy and social networks. Talk about when it's OK to share information and what kind of information should be kept private. What does it mean to create a friend network? What should be kept in that network versus shared more widely?
Browse through videos to find other fun or interesting ways other kids have come up with to solve the challenge.
App details
- Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android
- Subjects: Language & Reading: presenting to others
Social Studies: citizenship, global awareness - Skills: Creativity: making new creations, producing new content
Tech Skills: social media - Price: Free
- Pricing structure: Free
- Release date: June 6, 2020
- Category: Education
- Topics: Science and Nature
- Size: 47.10 MB
- Publisher: Zigazoo
- Version: 1.6
- Minimum software requirements: iOS 9.0 or later; Android 4.1 and up
- Last updated: June 12, 2020
Our editors recommend
For kids who love creativity and safe chat
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.