They both rely on swiping left or right and location sharing and are almost exactly the same in terms of how they look and function. It's owned by the developers of Badoo, another dating app/ site, and they share many dating profiles between them.
Hot or Not: This app was originally a website (and still is) and has gone through lots of iterations. Note that this is by no means an exhaustive list, and there are plenty more like these in the app stores.
Talk to them about how they approach dating and relationships and how to create a healthy, fulfilling one - and note that these usually require more than a swipe.īelow are some of the dating, "make new friends," and hook-up apps that teens are using. Keep lines of communication open, especially since teens sometimes hide these apps in "vaults" or apps that look harmless (such as a calculator). If you learn your teen is using dating apps, take the opportunity to talk about using social media safely and responsibly - and discuss what's out of bounds. These solutions aren't foolproof, but they add a layer of difficulty that some teens may deem too high.
So, what can you do? You can try to prevent your teen from installing dating apps by using parental controls or setting up restrictions that block off-limit sites or require them to get approval for all apps they download (learn how to do this in iOS and Android).
Most of the "make-new-friends" apps aren't intended for teens, but it's easy to get around age restrictions, because registration generally involves just entering a birth date.That's why it's really important to discuss the very real risks these apps pose. Also, the thrill of meeting new people in a seemingly consequence-free environment may pique the interest of any teen who thinks a cool new (boy-/girl-)friend is only a download away.
So even if your kid doesn't use one, they may get exposed to one through their friends. But these apps are a fact of life for many teens (especially LGBTQ youth who may not have a supportive community at school). And though most opt for Snapchat or Instagram to widen their social circles, some are curious enough to try one of the many messaging apps that promise to help them "make new friends." While these apps are designed more for casual communication than are the mainstream fee-based dating services such as Match and OkCupid, they make it super easy to text, video-chat, and share pics with strangers.Īt this point, most parents would say "no way" and stop reading right now. When you ask a couple how they met, it's pretty common for them to answer, "On the internet." So, it's no surprise that online dating has trickled down to teens.