Are friend-making apps safe for teenagers?

We do not recommend social discovery apps for under-18s. Their core function — connecting strangers — creates inherent risks including grooming, catfishing, and location exposure. If your teen uses one, have an honest conversation about the risks.

What warning signs should I watch for?

Secrecy around who they are messaging, a new person who quickly suggests moving to a different app, requests for photos, talk of meeting in person, and any contact who is older or claims to be a similar age but behaves in adult ways. Treat these as reasons to pause the app and talk openly — and where there is an obvious safeguarding risk, report via /reporting/suspicious-online-contact (CEOP).

What should I do if there is a problem on this app?

Use the app's in-app report and block tools first — this is usually the fastest way to remove content or restrict an account. If a child is in immediate danger, call 999. For non-emergency police matters, call 101. The NSPCC helpline (0808 800 5000) and Childline (0800 1111) are free and confidential. For a UK reporting decision tree, see /reporting and /tools/reporting-route-finder.

Social Discovery & Friend-Making Apps

Safety guidance on apps designed to help young people meet new people online, and why they carry elevated risks.

Official age

13+

We recommend

18+

Developer

Various

Risks

Direct messaging

Location sharing

In-app purchases

Live streaming

Overview

Social discovery apps are designed to connect users with strangers who share interests. Apps like Yubo, Wizz, and similar platforms are popular with teenagers but carry significant risks because they are specifically designed to facilitate contact between people who don't know each other.

How children use it

Teenagers use social discovery apps to find new friends, join interest groups, or take part in live video lounges, often by swiping through profiles or joining themed rooms similar to a dating app. The appeal is connecting with people outside their existing school or family circle, especially for young people who feel isolated, are exploring identity, or want a fresh start from local peer drama. Many move conversations off the app within minutes — to Snapchat, Discord, or Instagram — which is precisely the pattern groomers use to escape platform moderation. Some apps reward 'levelling up' or unlocking features by adding more friends, which encourages broad, low-quality connection over careful curation.