Zift Advisory
PS4 Second Screen is an app that is meant to streamline functionality, via mobile device for PS4 users. Free to download and use, PS4 Second Screen does not feature in-app advertisements or purchases. It can be found in both the App Store and the Google Play Store. The app and it's content are safe for kids.
What is PS4 Second Screen?
PS4 Second Screen is an app that is meant to streamline functionality, via mobile device for PS4 users.
Free to download and use, PS4 Second Screen does not feature in-app advertisements or purchases. It can be found in both the App Store and the Google Play Store.
While the App Store rates the PS4 Second Screen app for users ages 12 years and older and Google Play store rates the app "E" for everyone, the app requires a Sony Entertainment Network (now PlayStation Network) account to use.
As such, parents should refer to the terms of use for the PlayStation Network, which require users to be 18 years of age or older to create an account or have the authorization of their legal parent or guardian.
The PS4 Second Screen app is a branch off app from an earlier iteration, which has caused many users to complain about the lack of necessity and functionality of the app.
Is PS4 Second Screen safe for my kids?
The app name is misleading as only Sony smartphones with second screen capability are able to use the PS4 Second Screen app on their mobile device as a second screen.
For non-Sony mobile devices, the PS4 Second Screen app appears to be pretty worthless. While some users have said that the app is useful for when their controllers are charging, the constant lags and glitches seem to negate such convenience.
For those Android users without Sony phones, the PS4 Second Screen app allows them to use their mobile device for basic control of their PlayStation unit.
PS4 Second Screen allows users to navigate around their home screen and even select apps but once in an app, such as Netflix, users are unable to use the app to navigate with their mobile device.
Another user concern is the inability for the PS4 Second Screen app to recognize their unit on their network. The PS4 Second Screen app relies on WiFi to work but many users say that after their initial setup, they have issues with the app recognizing their PlayStation, rendering the app useless.
Perhaps the biggest user complaint, and why the app has only a two-star rating, is due to the misleading name of the app. The app description does not clearly state that only Sony smartphone users with second screen compatible devices are able to utilize the second screen capabilities and full functionality of the app.
In essence, the majority of the pool of users are not going to have a Sony-specific smartphone and the PS4 Second Screen app will not be of much use to them. Some users have gone so far as to state that the app is "scammy," "fraudulent," and "false advertising."
With all that being said, the app itself and it's content are safe for kids.
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