{"id":4275,"date":"2019-06-03T07:41:18","date_gmt":"2019-06-03T07:41:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/xnspy.com\/blog\/?p=4275"},"modified":"2026-01-13T13:47:03","modified_gmt":"2026-01-13T13:47:03","slug":"attention-parents-online-predators-use-these-10-apps-to-get-kids","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/xnspy.com\/blog\/attention-parents-online-predators-use-these-10-apps-to-get-kids.html","title":{"rendered":"Attention Parents: Online Predators Use these 10 Apps to Get Kids"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>On May 1, The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued a\nstern <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ftc.gov\/system\/files\/attachments\/press-releases\/app-stores-remove-three-dating-apps-after-ftc-warns-operator-about-potential-coppa-ftc-act\/wildec_letter_redacted.pdf\">warning<\/a>\nto Wildec, the Ukraine-based developer of FastMeet, Meet24 and Meet4U, telling\nthem that &#8220;despite a statement in each app&#8217;s Privacy Policy that users\nunder 13 years of age are not allowed to use the apps, users who indicate they\nare under 13 are not prevented from accessing and using the apps or being\nvisible to other users.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/zakdoffman\/2019\/05\/07\/apple-and-google-remove-dating-apps-used-by-sexual-predators-to-find-underage-kids\/#659e1baa1353\">Google and Apple have removed<\/a> these three dating apps after the FTC warning regarding no age enforcement by the apps and so &#8220;allow adults to find and communicate with children,&#8221; including those under 13-years-old. The apps clearly violate laws on <a href=\"https:\/\/xnspy.com\/blog\/is-someone-grooming-your-kid-online.html\">child protection<\/a>, and FTC has asked to remove them from stores. These apps get information of user\u2019s age and even enable real-time location data, and so &#8220;sexual predators can search by age and location to identify children nearby.&#8221;\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The use of online messaging and dating services to lure kids has been a rising concern this year. In March, U.K. children&#8217;s charity the NSPCC claimed that Instagram has become the leading platform for child grooming in the country. The research was based on the 18-month study, during which over 5,000 crimes were recorded &#8220;of sexual communication with a child,&#8221; and &#8220;a 200% rise in recorded instances in the use of Instagram to target and abuse children.&#8221; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The real suspect in such cases, though, are the apps they use to target kids. Most of the times, online predators use <a href=\"https:\/\/xnspy.com\/blog\/this-is-how-social-media-is-messing-with-our-behavior-patterns.html\">social media apps<\/a>, messaging websites, and even the chat feature of a video game to reach out to their targets. Although some of the apps and games have an age restriction, parents need to be wary that their minors can get around them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAs technology develops, the number of children contacted by\npredators on social media increases. Most predators that are going to exploit\nchildren are going to reach out through the mediums that they\u2019re already in,\u201d State\nPolice Lt. John Pizzuro said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The apps favored by online predators have the following\nthings in common:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>The ability to send and receive messages<\/li><li>The ability to track the location<\/li><li>The ability to exchange photos and videos<\/li><li>The ability to stream live video<\/li><li>The ability to hide content<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>one in five teenagers has received an unwanted sexual solicitation online, and\nalmost 75% of teens share their personal information online. The daunting fact\nis that in almost all underage sexual predators\u2019 cases, children went willingly\nto meet with the predator. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In a recent investigation held under the New Jersey&#8217;s Attorney, General Gurbir Grewal resulted in the arrest of 24 men charged with second degree luring.\u00a0 The authorities also highlighted few chatting and gaming apps that were identified as the potential danger for kids as these apps are <a href=\"https:\/\/xnspy.com\/blog\/infographic-victims-of-online-predators-a-demographic-breakdown.html\">used by the predators<\/a>, too. Here\u2019s more information on the 10 apps that have been used by predators in attempted luring, and we encourage parents to familiarize themselves with these dangerous apps:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Yubo<\/strong><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>Yubo, with more than 15 million users worldwide, is also\nrenowned as \u201cTinder for kids,\u201d and has a target market of teens aged between 13\nand 17 years as a way to make new friends. It also allows young kids \u201cto\npretend to be adults and swipe left or right to hook up,\u201d. Last summer, the\npolice department in Lenexa, Kansas, issued a warning, stating that \u201cit\nembodies one of the most dangerous aspects of social media: It allows teens the\nability to easily meet people (strangers) outside their parent\u2019s sphere of\nknowledge or control and &#8230; matching [them] with another person geographically\nnear them, facilitating face-to-face meetings.\u201d After this warning, the app\nchanged its name from Yellow to Yubo and did some rebranding. The app creators\nalso put in some efforts to improve awareness and education on using the app\nsafely. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But there is still no age verification on the app when you\ncreate an account. That implies that the door is still open for online\npredators who lie about their age, impersonate others to create fake profiles\nto get children. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Sarahah<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Sarahah allows users to send anonymous direct messages to\ntheir friends through other social media platforms such as Snapchat. The\nobjective of the app was to provide positive encouragement in the workplace.\nHowever, the app became so controversial that it was removed from stores on\nFeb. 21, after a complaint filed by the mother of a girl who was encouraged by\na Sarahah user to take her own life. Sarahah has booted off app stores, but it\ndoesn&#8217;t mean that it was taken off anyone&#8217;s phone. It simply can&#8217;t be\ndownloaded now, but your kids might already have this dangerous app in their\nphones.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Kik<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/xnspy.com\/blog\/how-to-monitor-kik-messenger-on-your-childs-smartphone.html\">Kik<\/a> was developed in 2009 with the intention to enable chat between Blackberry, Android, and iPhone users. The app has added further features, like chatting with a bot, using gifs and emojis or scrolling through the newsfeed. User must be 13 to use the app, the company has also mentioned on the website, \u201cIf Kik obtains knowledge that a user is under the age of 13, it\u2019s our policy to permanently deactivate their account and delete their personal information.\u201d Still, Kik doesn&#8217;t verify the age of the users, and your minors might be using it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Skout<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>This app was also designed to help people make new friends\nand connections. The app says user must be 13 or older, and there is also a\nsafety tips section on the website. As a safety measure, the app tells users\nthat if they are going to meet someone in person, they must tell a friend and\nto be sober.&nbsp; &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Whisper <\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>This app enables users to share photos, videos, posts, and\nsend anonymous messages. It publicizes itself as an online community where\nusers share \u201creal thoughts, trade advice and get the inside scoop.\u201d The app\nsays user must be 17 or older. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Grindr<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>This app, launched in 2009, was designed to meet other men\nin the nearby area, specifically intended for gay and bisexual men. The app\nlets users swipe through profiles and chats with others. The app restricts that\nuser must be 18 or older, but of course, user can enter any age they want as\nGrindr isn&#8217;t going to verify it.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Tinder<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Another social networking and dating app that enables the\nuser to chat, once both users have matched their profiles. The app requires\nusers to be 18+, but users can enter a birth date that is older or younger than\ntheir actual one. Until June 2016, the age restriction for the user was only\n13. After being heavily criticized by parents, the company changed its\nrequirement settings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Musical.ly<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>This app enables users to create short videos and add a\nsoundtrack. Musical.ly is 13+, and users can communicate with each other using\nan \u201cask a question\u201d feature and a \u201cduets\u201d feature. They can send direct\nmessages, too. With an add-on app, Live.ly, users can also stream live videos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Hot or Not<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>As the name says, this app lets users upload photos and rate\nphotos of others on the scale of attractiveness. Later, it added a &#8220;Meet\nMe&#8221; feature that enables users to chat with strangers and also encourages\nthem to meet in person. This app also says that user must be 18+, but like\nother apps, users can sign up by entering any birth date.&nbsp; &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Wishbone <\/strong><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>Wishbone is basically a survey app that lets users choose\nbetween two different options. Users can make their own questions and ask their\nfriends to vote. However, the app also has a private chat feature. Wishbone is\n12+, and on the Apple store, it has been listed, \u201cInfrequent\/Mild Sexual\nContent and Nudity\u201d and \u201cInfrequent\/Mild Mature\/Suggestive Themes,\u201d as reasons\nfor the ratings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Plus, Chat room websites host plenteous themed rooms\nincluding Gay Chat, Teen Chat, Singles Chat, and many more. A user can easily\ncreate an account on the website or simply start chatting as a guest with just\na username. Here are some potentially dangerous websites: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Omegle.com<\/li><li>Chatroulette.com<\/li><li>Chat-Avenue.com<\/li><li>ChatStep.com<\/li><li>Chatrandom.com<\/li><li>Camzap.com<\/li><li>Tinychat.com<\/li><li>Tohla.com<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Concerns about online predators using the game to connect\nwith players come from its chat feature. Here are three dangerous games you\nneed to know:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Fortnite<\/li><li>Minecraft<\/li><li>Discord<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p> As a parent, you can educate your kids the online etiquettes and how to protect their <a href=\"https:\/\/xnspy.com\/blog\/what-parents-should-teach-kids-about-digital-footprints.html\">digital personality<\/a>. Discuss the implications of using such apps with your kids. Tell them how online predators can harm them. Remember, kids will be kids, so you have to perform the monitoring task for them. Monitor their smartphones, if you find any of the above mentioned apps or websites remotely block them immediately. \u00a0 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On May 1, The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued a stern warning to Wildec, the Ukraine-based developer of FastMeet, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4279,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[1026],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4275","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-parental"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/xnspy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4275","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/xnspy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/xnspy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xnspy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xnspy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4275"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/xnspy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4275\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6293,"href":"https:\/\/xnspy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4275\/revisions\/6293"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xnspy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4279"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/xnspy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4275"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xnspy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4275"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xnspy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4275"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}