And while there are more than 12 million creators, there is little content regulation, even when the Episode community expresses concern. On inspection, there are several issues with the app.įirst, storylines can be written by anyone, even those aged 13-17. Many of these glorify adultery and are potentially promoting reckless decision making, pettiness and unkind acts. What your child engages with onlineĮpisode features numerous storylines about sexual discrimination, underage sex and pregnancy.
A number of parents have voiced concerns on Common Sense Media, a leading source of entertainment recommendations for families. While most storylines focus on romance and high school relationships, many have raised alarm bells in parents. Readers can choose from a list of responses to influence things such as a character’s appearance, dialogue and reaction to events. The stories are divided into episodes and the user, or “reader”, can interact with storylines and even create their own. There’s an increasing number of games targeted at these age groups, of which many follow a “choose your story” format.