Zift Advisory
MineChat Mobile is an app that allows users connect to both online and offline Minecraft serves from their mobile device. MineChat is rated for users ages nine and older and costs $2.99 to download in the App Store and Google Play Store. MineChat does feature additional in-app purchases and advertisements. This app can be safe for teens with parental supervision.
What is MineChat Mobile?
MineChat Mobile is an app that allows iOS and Android users connect to both online and offline Minecraft serves from their mobile device.
MineChat is rated for users ages nine and older and costs $2.99 to download in both the App Store and Google Play Store. MineChat does feature additional in-app purchases and advertisements.
When users first log into MineChat, they’ll be prompted to enter their Minecraft username and password. Parents concerned about the security of entering private login information in a third party app should note that, according to MineChat developers:
“MineChat does not send any credentials or information of any kind to any third party servers. The only information transmitted is direct to Minecraft servers. It uses the same login method as the Minecraft game uses. It transmits login credentials over SSL and uses encryption while transmitting game data.”
After logging in, the home screen in MineChat shows a list of items to customize the user’s experience. Users will begin by adding their Minecraft servers. MineChat allows users to create server lists without limitations on the number they can add.
One common user complaint is that MineChat advertises by promoting servers for users to join, while the user consensus is that this option should be removed with the Pro or paid version.
To add servers, users need to add the IP address of the server they’re attempting to add, as well as the server name; users have the option of toggling offline use on and off when adding each server.
Under the Settings menu, users have a handful of options to customize their MineChat interface, beginning with preferred font selection and size.
In addition, MineChat offers users the opportunity to spawn upon connection, which can easily be toggled on and off. The spawn on connect option allows users to be logging into their preferred server, where their character can be injured or killed, and have their character be put into a safe place to provide a layer of protection.
The Settings menu also allows users to toggle Hide Server Message on and off, which filters out the joined and left messages from a user’s feed.
MineChat also offers players the ability to turn Auto Correct on and off for chat room use.
Is MineChat Mobile safe for my kids?
MineChat is an app designed to allow Minecraft players to connect to Minecraft servers via a mobile device. This app can be safe for teens with parental supervision.
While this is an excellent way for players to stay connected with their Minecraft community and gameplay when they’re away from their PC or their PC is damaged, it can also border on obsessive.
Parents with children who are pushing the limits of their gaming time, or those working to cut back the amount of time their child spends gaming, should think twice about allowing their child use the MineChat app.
Also, while the app is rated for users nine and up, parents should know that the chat feature is a risky one, and has the potential to connect their kids with undesirable strangers.
Profanity and adult language are not filtered out of chat sessions, another item of note for parents.
Parents should be aware that MineChat uses a lot of data to run on a user’s mobile device, so the app should really only be used over a Wi-Fi connection [to avoid exorbitant data charges]
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