Teenagers use apps to hide photos

The social media arms race is everescalating. First you had to post about what you were doing. Then you had to include a picture from it. Then you had to post a picture of yourself there and tag everyone else in it.

Next, before even heading out, you had to post photos of yourself taken in a mirror so everyone could tell you how cute you looked in that outfit.

Now, some would have you believe, you have to adjust that selfie until you appear flawless. Ever wonder why your friends’ selfies look so good?

Facetune asks in a typical tweet accompanied by a photo of a somewhat chubby guy morphed into a thinner guy with sparkling teeth. With Facetune, Photoshop meets the selfie, and at a fraction of the expense. The app allows you to smooth away your wrinkles and cover your blemishes.

You can erase the circles under your eyes, hide the grey in your hair, colour your lips and brighten your smile. On top of all that, you can add a variety of filters.

You also can make your waist more slender, your chest broader or your cleavage bustier, though Facetune’s instructions focus on facial imperfections.

But beware: If you aren’t meticulous, careful viewers will be able to spot tell-tale signs that you’ve altered the photo, such as distortions in the background.

Though the result might turn out less creepy in more talented hands, the idea remains so. (Wrote one Twitter user: ‘‘It’s awful that your business is telling people they’re not good enough to post their real pictures.’’) Even if studies hadn’t linked selfies to low self-esteem, common sense would dictate that an app that encourages people, especially selfie-obsessed teens, to ‘‘gently modify’’ their facial structure with a ‘‘Reshape’’ tool probably isn’t a great idea. Plus, think about all the disappointment Facetune will generate among daters.

Facetune is available on Apple and Android for $4.99. Teenagers hiding things from their parents isn’t new, but certain apps are making the process a lot easier.

A lawyer in the United States is warning parents about a calculator app children are using to hide photos and files on their phone.

‘‘You may think that’s a calculator but when in fact if you go into it, it allows your child to hide photos from you,’’ Pamela Casey said in a video to parents which has now gone viral.

The video was uploaded on the Blount County District Attorney41st Judicial Circuit Facebook page and has since been viewed more than 2 million times.

The Calculator% app Casey is referring to allows files to be protected by a secret password.

‘‘I can put in a secret code and it takes me to a folder where I can hide photos,’’ Casey said.

Casey is urging all parents to

You may think that’s a calculator but when in fact if you go into it, it allows your child to hide photos from you.

look for the app on their teen’s phone. ‘‘Take a minute, grab that phone, look for the calculator percentage app, make sure you’re staying on top of that with your children,’’ she said.

For parents who are unsure how to identify the difference between the normal calculator app and the Calculator% app, Casey has screen shot the icon.

The hiding app has a percentage symbol instead of an equals sign.

Casey is encouraging other parents to share other apps they’ve had problems with so ‘‘together we can protect our children’’.