Top 10 Dating Apps & Sites for Teens Every Parent Should Know
Online dating sites for teens haven't been here forever, at least not back in the day. However, now they have become quite a thing among teenagers as they love meeting and socializing with new people online. Undoubtedly, these teenage dating apps come with a list of potential risks, such as catfishing, cyberbullying, addiction, and exposure to inappropriate and explicit content.
With countless teen dating websites available today, kids are exposed to all these risks at a significant level. Knowing that the mental and physical safety of kids is the utmost concern of parents, we made a list of the safest dating sites for teens.
Please note that most dating apps and sites are not teen dating sites and are rather appropriate for those aged 17+. For instance, the Tinder age limit is 17+ years; the same goes for Bumble.
Therefore, we have specifically brought together a collection of dating sites for teenagers, i.e. kids up to 17 years of age.
Part 1. 10 Dating Apps & Sites for Teens Parents Should Know
1. Yubo
Yubo, with its two app versions (one for under 18 and the other for 18 and above), is a dating app for teenagers as well as adults. One of its versions serves as Tinder for teenagers. Yubo connects users with similar locations and interests; it partners with Snapchat for its camera features.
Age limit: 13-17 years of age (Teenage version)
Features:
- Swipe to match and connect.
- Video chats and live streams.
- Direct private messaging.
- Social networking.
- Language filters to stop bullying.
2. Skout
Skout dating application is a GPS-based dating app for teens to connect with new people around them. The mobile shaking feature connects two people who shake their phones near each other at the same time. After the Skout sign-up, the app creates a barrier between users under 18 and those above 18.
Age limit: 13+ years of age
Features:
- Mobile shaking connectivity feature to chat and connect.
- Match users based on locations.
- Video chats and direct messages.
3. MyLOL
MyLOL is one of the few safe dating apps for teenagers, as it only allows users up to 19 years of age. It's officially the most popular teenage dating app in the US, UK, Australia and Canada. MyLOL app is an excellent platform for social networking and dating.
Age limit: 13-19 years of age
Features:
- Specifically designed for teenagers (individuals under 20).
- Easy and safe to use up to an extent.
4. Teenber
Teenber is like another Tinder app for teens, with its swipe left and right features. Similar to Tinder for teens and adults, if both people swipe right for each other, they can chat, connect, and build a friendship or relationship. On Teenber, the suggestions are mostly based on matching interests.
Age limit: 13-19 years of age
Features:
- Swipe-to-match feature.
- Easy chatting.
- Interest-based matches.
- Free to use with no hidden charges.
5. Hoop
Hoop is a kids' dating app and social networking platform. It connects people with similar profile details and helps them interact in a safe environment. Your perfect teenage partner is just a swipe away with Hoop.
Age limit: 13-17 years of age
Features:
- Swipe to match and interact.
- Connects based on similar interests.
- Partnered with Snapchat.
- Social networking + dating app.
- One-click friend requests.
6. Crush.Zone
Crush.Zone is a teen dating site and app for young people interested in meeting new people. It is a free platform, and you send a crush on someone you like. If both of you send a crush to each other, it's a match. From crushing on boys and girls in real life to Crush.Zone, the dating scene has come a long way!
Age limit: 12-18 years of age
Features:
- Send crushes to match.
- Social networking and dating.
- Available both as an app and website.
7. Teen Chat
Teen Chat is, although one of the teenage chat apps, it eventually works as a teen dating app. It has an anonymous chat feature that allows users to chat even without knowing each other's identity.
Age limit: 13-19 years of age
Features:
- Anonymous chatting.
- Free sign-up with/without an email address.
- Video chats and voice calls.
8. Kik
Kik is a teen matching, chatting, and flirting platform. The innocent flirting can often lead to good friendships and relationships. It gives its users a Tinder-like experience with its swipe-to-match feature.
Age limit: 12+ years of age
Features:
- Swipe left and right features.
- Direct messages.
9. Soda
Soda is one of the safest teen dating apps as it asks for age verification during the sign-up process. It is an easy way to make new friends and chat with them to make friends. You can create an avatar based on your appearance and add a voice greeting to your profile.
Age limit: 13-17 years of age
Features:
- Customized and unique avatars for all.
- Voice greetings on the profile.
- Text and voice messages.
- Allows reporting for any complaints.
10. SpotAFriend
SpotAFriend was initially meant to work as an app to make new friends, but it now serves as a dating app for kids. Like most other dating apps, its swipe right and left feature makes it similar to Tinder for kids. Matches are usually made based on locations.
Age limit: 13-17 years of age
Features:
- Location-based suggestions.
- Direct messages.
- Swipe to match and connect.
Part 2. The Pros and Cons of Online Dating Apps & Sites for Teens
Pros of dating apps & sites for teens
Many teenagers want to meet and connect with new people and make friends, which is also the main purpose of teenage chat apps. These apps help young kids to find and make new friends.
Some kids, when young, are socially awkward or lack the confidence to start conversations. Teen chat apps help kids gain the confidence to break the ice and start conversations with new people.
Being introverted at a young age is not something rare, and teen dating apps can help kids come out of their shell. Although teen dating apps were not so common earlier, kids now have easy access to make new friends virtually and even later meet them in person.
Apps and websites for teenagers to chat are a great way for teens to find their potential future partners if they connect well with each other.
Cons of dating apps & sites for teens
Kids dating apps come with their share of risks, including falling into the trap of online predators pretending to be teenagers on these apps.
Many adults sign up for dating apps for kids and harass and bully kids through them.
Most of these dating sites for teenagers have explicit and inappropriate content.
On dating apps or sites where connections are on a location basis, potential predators get easily close to their victims.
Personal data may be public, and teens often share their private pictures with their virtual friends (who are eventually strangers).
Part 3. How to Check if Your Teen is Using Dating Apps or Sites
There are many ways parents can check if their children have any of the online dating apps for kids on their phones. These easy methods are:
Method 1. Use parental control apps to monitor their phone's app usage
The first method is to use parental control apps that help you keep track of your kid's phone and online activities. Msafely is one of the best parental control apps to protect your kids from the potential dangers of dating apps for young adults.
1. What is Msafely
Msafely is a legal parental control app that helps you keep track of your loved ones. It offers several monitoring features for both iOS and Androids. And no, you don't need to install the app on your phone or your target phone. With countless online risks, Msafely is a lifesaver for parents wanting to ensure their children's mental and physical safety.
2. Key features of Msafely
Msafely offers numerous features besides monitoring your child’s gaming activity. You can track various apps on the target phone, including the following:
3. How to use Msafely to monitor your kid's phone activity
Follow these three simple steps to monitor your kid's phone activity:
Step 1. Go to the Msafely website and use your valid email address to sign up for free.
Step 2. Choose a suitable Msafely plan and connect your target phone.
Step 3. Start monitoring.
When you connect your target phone with your Msafely account, you will see a control panel with apps currently operating on your target phone. See if there are any dating apps for teenagers in the control panel to know if your kids have any installed on their phones.
Also, you can check their browser history to find signs of any dating sites for teens on their devices.
Method 2. Look for changes in behavior
Parents can always detect even the slightest change in their children's behavior, and that's your key to finding out if something is unusual. If your kids are on adult dating apps and trying to hide anything on their phones, their behavior will eventually give it away. They may be more secretive with their phone or avoid talking about their ‘new friends.’ Keep a close eye on your child’s behavior, as it may indicate something wrong they’re encountering online on these dating sites.
Method 3. Talk about online safety and boundaries
For all parents, the main purpose of monitoring their kids' phone activities is to ensure their safety. The easiest and most effective way to keep them safe is by making them understand the boundaries of using any app with potential risks. Talk about what they should or should not share with others and to what extent they can interact with strangers on chatting platforms and social networking sites.
Part 4. FAQs about Teen Dating Apps or Sites
Q1. Are there any dating apps for 15-year-olds?
Yes, there are many dating apps for teenagers aged 13 to 17 years. The best apps for teenage girls and boys include Yubo, MyLOL, Soda, Teenber, and Hoop.
Q2. What age do people join dating apps?
Most adult dating apps are for people 18 and above, and one should at least wait until 18 to join them. However, there are some teen dating apps like MyLOL and Yubo that are made especially for teens or have separate versions for teens.
Q3. How old do you have to be to use Tinder?
According to Tinder's terms and conditions, you should be at least 18 years old to use the adult dating app. Unfortunately, many times, users fake their identity and age to sign up, even when they are younger than 18, which is not right.
Q4. Is Yubo a dating app?
Yes, Yubo is a dating app with two versions (one for teens and one for adults). It helps its users connect based on similar locations and interests. In addition to its swipe-to-match feature, Yubo offers direct messages, video chats, and livestreams.
Q5. Is Bumble for 17 years old?
No, Bumble is actually not for 17-year-olds but for people above 17. To sign up on Bumble, you must be at least 18. Some users, however, fake their age to sign up and connect with new people on the dating app.
Part 5. Conclusion
Teen dating apps are a good way to interact with new people and make friends. Even though apps like Yubo, MyLOL, and Soda are for teenage dating and chatting, the risks of catfishing and scams are still there. With a list of potential hazards of dating apps for teens, parents have to be very observant of their children's activities. Use parental control monitoring apps such as Msafely to keep track of your kid's online activities and keep them safe from online harassment and cyberbullying.