15 Dating Apps Parents Should Know About

Courtesy of San Jose Police Department's Silicon Valley Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Dedicated to Making the Internet a Safer Place


Tinder

TINDER is an online dating and hookup application for adults over the age of 18, but users can provide false information. Teenagers are able to access this application to socialize and meet up with strangers by falsifying their age.

Hinge

HINGE is an online dating application that focuses on forming relationships. Users are matched based on their profiles and are allowed to chat. The application has a "Your Turn" button that reminds the other user to continue the conversation, further facilitating harassment.

Chatous

CHATOUS allows its users to meet with others all around the world, and users must be over the age of 17. The app does not have a verification process, so underage users can access the app to chat with strangers. Users can trick others into sending various types of content.

Grindr

GRINDR is an online dating application that is geared towards the bisexual, gay, queer, and transgender communities. The application allows users to set their locations to chat with other users within their area.

Tagged

TAGGED is a dating application that allows users to meet new people online by sharing photos, posting videos, and forming groups. The application does not have age verification when signing up with an email, allowing predators to lie about their age.

Monkey

MONKEY is a popular video-chat application that can allow users to interact with other random users. There are no regulations on what can be shown, so inappropriate content can be displayed on the chats. There is no age verification process, so underage users have access to the application.

Bumble

BUMBLE is an online dating application that will automatically match your profile with others in your area based on profiles. The dating app only allows the female user to message the male user first, and then they can start chatting.

Chat and Date

CHAT AND DATE can be used to find romantic partners or casual friends. The app allows users to upload photos of themselves and to be evaluated by other random users by rating them. This platform allows users to become a victim of cyberbullying and inappropriate feedback.

MyLOL

MYLOL is a teen dating website/application that allows users to privately chat with random strangers by using the "winking" feature. Users as young as 13 years old are able to create an account, but sexually explicit images are often found on the platform.

Skout

SKOUT allows the user to connect with random strangers using location-based networking. The app provides chatting features, virtual gift exchanges, and private photo sharing. Private photo sharing is disabled for users between the ages of 13 and 17.

Seeking Arrangement

SEEKING ARRANGEMENT is a website that facilitates the idea of sugar dating, where an older individual and younger individual will "date" for financial assistance. This app provides a platform for individuals to engage in prostitution and other sexual encounters for payment.

Sugar Daddy Meet

SUGAR DADDY MEET is a service that allows older users to create companionships with younger users on the app. Users will often ask others to chat in return for payments, but the app can also be used to exchange sexually explicit photos. Users may offer payments in return for nude photos.

Badoo

BADOO is used as an online dating and social networking application that allows the users to "match" with one another's profile. Users can set their locations to chat with locals around them.

Holla

HOLLA is a live video streaming application that allows users to chat with random strangers across the world. Users are able to "match" with one another and have real-time conversations over webcams. This app allows users to expose sexually explicit content over the camera.

SpotAFriend

SPOTAFRIEND is a teen dating application that advertises as an alternative to Tinder, a popular adult hookup application. Users are allowed to create a profile and match with others based on preference. The application is geared towards teenagers between the ages of 13 to 19.

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