VSCO – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

VSCO

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

app2013

86%

WISE Score

4.7

App Store

The 'cool older sister' of photo apps—all the art, none of the 'how many likes did I get?' anxiety.

VSCO

app

Teen, 2013

86%

WISE Score

4.7

App Store

The 'cool older sister' of photo apps—all the art, none of the 'how many likes did I get?' anxiety.

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Where to Find

App Store

Google Play

Screenwise Verdict

VSCO is a breath of fresh air compared to the dumpster fire that is modern social media. It’s a tool first and a network second.

By removing the 'like' counter and the comment section, it effectively lobotomizes the most toxic parts of the social experience. Your kid gets to be an artist without the crushing weight of public approval.

Just be aware that the 'Spaces' feature and the general feed still mean they are interacting with the wider world. It's not a walled garden, but it is a much more sophisticated one.

Age Fit

Best for 12 and up. While younger kids can technically use the tools, the public-by-default nature and the 'artsy' community are really geared toward middle schoolers and teens who are over the neon-colored 'kid' apps.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

It trades the typical social media 'clout' chase for actual artistic expression. There are no public like counts or comments, which kills the dopamine-loop anxiety that usually plagues apps for teens.

Imaginative

It's a legitimate creative suite. Between the film emulation, HSL sliders, and 'Spaces' for collaboration, it turns a smartphone into a portable darkroom rather than just a selfie machine.

Safe

By stripping out comments and likes, it eliminates 90% of social media bullying. However, profiles are public by default, and there is a feed where users can stumble onto anything a stranger posts.

Enriching

Teaches real-world photography skills like lighting, composition, and color theory. It’s the antithesis of 'brain rot' content.

Parent Info

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Why It Might Be Great

Focuses entirely on photography and aesthetics rather than social validation metrics.
Professional-grade tools like HSL and grain help kids learn actual digital editing skills.
The lack of a 'comment section' makes it a much quieter, less toxic corner of the internet.
Encourages kids to look at the world through a lens of 'what looks interesting?' instead of 'what will get likes?'

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What to Watch For

Profiles are public; anyone can see what your kid posts unless they specifically delete the image.
The 'VSCO Girl' aesthetic is a thing, and it can still lead to some pressure to look 'perfect' or buy certain brands.
The subscription is pricey and the app pushes it hard to unlock the best filters.

Conversation Starters

"What makes a photo look 'moody' versus 'bright' to you?"
"Why do you think they decided not to show how many people liked a photo?"
"If you could only use one filter for the rest of the year, which one fits your vibe?"
"How do you decide which photos are for your eyes only and which ones you want to share?"

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