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House Party is a video chat app, developed by the team who built and then shut down live streaming app Meerkat. You can chat with up to 7 other friends at a time within the app. While Live streaming apps let you transmit to the masses, House Party is different in that these are closed conversations. Houseparty is the brainchild of the folks who created live video broadcasting app Meerkat, and it looks like it’s a hit. Launched in August of last year, the idea behind Houseparty is that groups of up to 8 friends can simultaneously video chat with each other, like they’re at a party.
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What is the Houseparty app?
Houseparty is a video chat app that lets teens chat with 2-8 people at the same time.
- From the creators of Meerkat (an early Periscope competitor), Houseparty is a video chat app that lets teens video chat with 2-8 people at the same time
- Users can video or text chat with their friends and friends of friends
- Houseparty encourages users to have frequent, candid conversations with their friends and family
- Create a live, always-on place that you can dip in and out of whenever you want
![Houseparty app parents guide Houseparty app parents guide](http://joinhouse.party/assets/img/og-image.png)
Houseparty Statistics
In less than a year, the Houseparty app has gained over 1 million users.
- In less than a year, the Houseparty app has gained over 1 million users
- 60% of users are between the ages of 16-24
- Users spend 20 million minutes per day on the app
Sources: TechCrunch & Business Insider
Houseparty in the News
The group video chat is the perfect app for Generation Z to continue their disconnect with physical reality. –Forbes
- “The group video chat is the perfect app for Generation Z to continue their disconnect with physical reality.” –Forbes
- “Because there’s no screening and the video is live, there’s always the possibility of inappropriate content for children.” –Common Sense Media
Why should parents care?
Users can screenshot their Houseparty video or text chats and post that private content to social media.
![Party Party](https://i1.wp.com/www.gottabemobile.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/House-Party-App-2.jpg?resize=720%2C639&ssl=1)
- All chats are unmoderated which means students can come in contact with inappropriate content or cyberbullies
- Students can use this app to interact with strangers, even though the app notifies the user when a stranger enters a chat
- Users can screenshot their video or text chats and post that private content to social media
- Teens can use this app for sexting
What can parents do?
Teach students to keep their Houseparty chats in private mode.
Review the features of the app with your teen, if you decide Houseparty is okay for your teen, then:
- Encourage them to exit the chat if a stranger enters the conversation
- Teach them to keep their chats in private mode
- Remind your teen to ask themselves “How would I feel if this conversation was shown publicly to my peers, neighbors, or to my relatives?” before texting or saying something in a group chat. Even if they think the chat is private
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