New app for a safer Halloween

Trick or Treating is going high tech. A neighborhood social media app is now mapping which houses will be giving out candy for Halloween.

Before, it was look for a porch light that’s on and go knock on the door and hope someone answers, or if you are on the other side of the door, turning off all of the lights and hoping you won’t be bothered at all hours of the night. But now, people can opt in or out of trick or treating through this app.

“It’s my baby’s first Halloween so I am pretty excited,” said Karen Flores.

It’s a night of ghoulish fun that parents know can be dangerous.

“I have a concern about candy being given out, if people are doing anything to it or the houses that he is going to, if the neighborhood is safe to walk around in at night, that’s why I asked a lot of my friends with kids my son’s age where to go,” said parent Brittney White.

The neighborhood social media app “Nextdoor” is helping with that creating trick or treating maps for local communities based on your plans for All Hallows’ Eve.

“I like that, that is neat, technology that they have is amazing we love it,” said grandparent Charles Humphries.

Here’s how it works, if you want kids to come to your house on Halloween you can let them know you are giving out candy by simply clicking a button on the app. A candy corn icon shows up on the map in place of your house giving parents a local trick or treating guide in their neighborhood.

“I think that is good, I think that is good for the parents,” said grandparent Rose Guzmar.

“I think it is way more convenient because I always have my phone on and I can just see who welcomes people and who doesn’t want anybody, that way I don’t disturb anybody and just knock and nobody opens, I think that is way better on the phone,” said Flores.

“I don’t feel comfortable if they are not invited, like if they don’t know the people they shouldn’t be allowed to come in because you don’t know about predators or anything, is what i think about, but as long as they are invited I think it is fine,” said White.

You do have to sign up for the Nextdoor app or website to participate and only people who live in that neighborhood will be able to access that area’s trick or treat map.