Zoom – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Zoom

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

app2013

54%

WISE Score

4.7

App Store

The video call app that saved remote school and family dinners—but needs a hawk-eyed adult to keep kids safe from meeting crashers.

Zoom

app

Everyone, 2013

54%

WISE Score

4.7

App Store

The video call app that saved remote school and family dinners—but needs a hawk-eyed adult to keep kids safe from meeting crashers.

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Where to Find

App Store

Google Play

Screenwise Verdict

Look, Zoom isn't a "kids app"—it's a business tool that got drafted into service for remote kindergarten and grandparent story time. It does what it does well: connects people across distance with decent video quality and useful collaboration features.

But here's the thing: it has zero guardrails for children. The safety concerns are real and well-documented. Unmoderated meetings can expose kids to inappropriate content, strangers, or Zoombombing incidents. There's no content filtering, no parental controls worth mentioning, and the platform treats a 7-year-old's art class the same as a Fortune 500 earnings call.

If your kid needs Zoom for school or family connection, fine—just treat it like you would letting them answer the front door. You need to be there, configure the security settings properly (waiting rooms, lock meetings, disable screen sharing for participants), and teach them what to do if something goes sideways. It's a useful tool, not a babysitter.

Age Fit

Zoom is appropriate for school-age kids (6+) who need it for remote learning or family calls, but only with active adult supervision and proper meeting security settings. Teens can use it more independently but still need guidance on privacy and link-sharing.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Zoom is a neutral communication tool that enables connection and collaboration. It models teamwork and cooperative work, but the wholesomeness depends entirely on who's in the meeting and how it's used. The platform itself doesn't actively promote kindness or emotional health—it's just a pipe for whatever flows through it.

Imaginative

Zoom offers whiteboards and screen-sharing that can facilitate creative collaboration, but it's fundamentally a utilitarian business tool. The AI features draft content and summarize meetings—helpful, but not exactly sparking curiosity or original thinking. Kids aren't opening Zoom to build worlds or explore ideas; they're joining class or talking to grandma.

Safe

This is where Zoom gets dicey for kids. Multiple parent-focused sources (Bark, Parent Zone, Common Sense Media) flag exposure to inappropriate content during unmoderated meetings as a primary concern. There's no kids mode that meaningfully protects children from screen-sharing surprises, Zoombombing, or contact with strangers. While Zoom has host controls (mute, remove attendees, control screen sharing), these require active adult supervision. The platform lacks robust parental controls or content filtering. It's not inherently dangerous, but it requires constant vigilance.

Enriching

Zoom enables education, family connection across distances, and collaborative work—all genuinely valuable. Kids learned through it during remote schooling, and it keeps families connected. The AI summaries and organizational tools teach digital workplace skills. But it's a means to an end, not enriching in itself. The enrichment comes from what happens in the meeting, not from the app.

Parent Info

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Why It Might Be Great

Enables genuine connection—grandparents, long-distance friends, remote learning that actually works
Teaches real digital workplace skills (muting, screen sharing, virtual collaboration) kids will use for decades
Whiteboards and breakout rooms can facilitate creative group projects when used intentionally
Became the lifeline for millions of families during lockdowns; normalized staying connected across distance

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What to Watch For

Unmoderated meetings are the wild west—kids can be exposed to inappropriate screen shares, Zoombombing, or unwanted contact
No meaningful parental controls or content filtering; safety depends entirely on host settings and adult supervision
Requires teaching kids never to share meeting links publicly and to report anything uncomfortable immediately
The platform doesn't distinguish between a 7-year-old's classroom and a corporate boardroom—it's on you to configure it safely

Conversation Starters

"What should you do if someone you don't know joins your Zoom call or shares something weird on their screen?"
"Who's allowed to have your Zoom meeting link? Why shouldn't you post it on social media?"
"What's the best and worst thing about video calls compared to seeing someone in person?"

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