this post was submitted on 14 Apr 2026
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Google promotes ‘teacher approved’ apps for kids. Here’s what parents should know (theconversation.com)
submitted 1 week ago by arbilp3@aussie.zone to c/worldnews@aussie.zone
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Google says “teachers and specialists” rate the “Teacher Approved” apps. But in our research we argue it’s unclear who exactly those teachers and experts are. The educational value of Google Teacher Approved apps can also be unclear at times...

...It is not clear who the “teachers” and “specialists” who currently rate the apps are and how many of them are actually teachers.

The Conversation asked Google where the teachers or specialists are located, whether they are paid, and what criteria non-teachers need to meet to be included in the program. The company did not respond before deadline.

What can parents do? Our research suggests the current situation is confusing for parents. In the meantime, there are some things parents can do if they are not sure about apps their kids are using:

  • use independent sites such as Children and Media Australia that evaluate the educational content of apps

  • don’t rely on the content description on Google Play, but test the apps yourself

  • don’t use apps with advertising, as this will interrupt the learning experience.

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[–] arbilp3@aussie.zone 0 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Sure, but most people don't so we have to pass this information on to protect kids.

[–] lIlIlIlIlIlIl@lemmy.world 0 points 1 week ago (2 children)

The comment you replied to is my effort to do that very thing you describe

[–] arbilp3@aussie.zone 0 points 1 week ago

Sorry I should have been clearer. Some people will not leave Google no matter what you say to them but if they have children they should know about independent sites such as Children and Media Australia and what to do about children's apps.

[–] blind3rdeye@aussie.zone 0 points 1 week ago

I think your advice is very good. But unfortunately it is very hard to follow that advice, because many schools use Google Classroom and gmail. So when the school insists that you log onto google classroom to do your work... deleting all things google is not going to work well.

And then of course Google has a free hand to cajole the kids into doing whatever the hell Google wants them to do to entrench dependency.

I wonder how bad US relations have to get before we can insist that schools don't rely on US services... ... Probably that is well out of reach, but one can dream.