08/08/2026
🚨 Parent Safeguarding Alert: What Parents Need to Know About the Monkey App.
https://www.internetmatters.org/hub/news-blogs/what-is-monkey-app-safety-parent-guide/
The Monkey App is a video chat and social networking app that randomly matches strangers for a 15 second face to face video call
Once the video chat begins users have 15 seconds to decide what to do next. They can request more time to chat or end the chat and match with another person. It mimics features from apps like Omegle and Tinder, including swiping to match and direct messaging.
Although the app states that it is for 18+ users, there is no reliable age-verification process in place. This means that children and young people may be able to access it easily.
⚠️ Why are we concerned?
The app presents a number of significant safeguarding risks for young people, including:
🔴 Exposure to inappropriate content
Users can be exposed to sexual or explicit material during video chats, sometimes without warning. Concerns have also been raised about the level of content moderation.
🔴 Contact with strangers
The random matching system allows young people to communicate directly with people they do not know. This creates risks of inappropriate contact, grooming, exploitation and requests for personal information or images.
🔴 Limited safeguards
Without effective age verification, adults may misrepresent their age. Concerns have also been raised about the effectiveness of moderation and reporting systems.
🔴 Privacy concerns
The app requires access to a user’s camera and microphone and can collect information such as IP addresses, location and user-generated content. Young people may also inadvertently reveal personal or sensitive information during conversations.
🔴 Financial risks
In-app purchases, virtual gifts and premium features may result in unexpected or unauthorised spending, particularly where a payment method is linked to a parent’s account.
📱 What can parents and carers do?
We encourage you to:
• Talk openly with your child about who they communicate with online.
• Check which apps and platforms your child is using and review their privacy settings.
• Remind them never to share personal information, photographs, their location or other sensitive details with strangers online.
• Make sure they know they can come to you or another trusted adult if they see something upsetting or receive an inappropriate message or request.
• Consider whether the apps your child uses are appropriate for their age.
Please be aware that even if an app states that it is intended for adults, this does not necessarily mean that children cannot access it.
Our priority is always the safety and wellbeing of our pupils, both in school and online. We encourage all parents and carers to have regular, open conversations with their children about their online experiences.
💬 Please take a few minutes to talk to your child about the Monkey app and online safety.
What is the Monkey app? What parents need to know | Internet Matters. Learn about the Omegle replacement Monkey to keep kids safe online.
