How the Monkey App Works—and Why It’s a Red Flag for Families

The internet is always changing and introducing new websites and apps that go viral. The next big thing among young people is the Monkey app, a video chatting app that matches users with random strangers. In this blog post, we’ll explore what the Monkey app is, the potential risks involved, and what parents should be aware of.

Contents:

• What is the Monkey App?
• Why are Kids Using the Monkey App?
• Is Monkey Safe for Kids?
• Parental Warnings: What You Should Know
• How Can Parents Monitor or Block Monkey?
• Are There Safer Alternatives to Monkey?
• Should You Let Your Child Use Monkey?
• FAQs

What is the Monkey App?

The Monkey app is a new social media networking video chatting app that allows users to connect with strangers and video chat with them. The concept is very similar to the recently shut down website, Omegle.

Thanks to TikTok trends and user-generated content that promote chat platforms, the Monkey app has grown in popularity among young people.

The purpose of the app is to communicate and video chat with random people. The app connects users with others who may have similar interests, where they can video chat for 15 seconds before deciding whether or not to keep the conversation going. It features a similar swipe function to Tinder, allowing you to approve or reject users.

However, some features enable users to use direct messaging, allowing them to send texts rather than make video calls to other users. This doesn’t make the app any less dangerous among users, though.

The Monkey app can be downloaded to a mobile device through the Google Play Store or used through the online browser version. It is not available on the iOS App Store at this time.

While the Monkey app has an age limit of 18 years old, Gen Z is using the app. Unfortunately, there is no true age verification process, which means almost anyone can video chat on the app.

Why are Kids Using the Monkey App?

It’s only natural for kids and teens to be curious about meeting new people. And with social media apps, it has never been easier for young people to connect with others around the world. But whether kids are using TikTok, Instagram, X, or the Monkey app to chat with people, it’s important for parents to understand how to teach their kids online safety.

Peer Pressure and Popularity

Fitting in with classmates and peers is one of the top priorities for many young teens, even if it means engaging in activities that aren’t considered safe, like using the Monkey app to video chat with strangers.

With over 30 million user profiles on the Monkey app, it’s safe to say that it is growing to be a popular social networking app among Gen Z. And when the most popular kid in school is bragging about talking to people on the Monkey app, then others will surely want to try it out too.

Boredom and Chatting with Strangers

Let’s face it; teens can get bored pretty easily, especially if they do not have their driver’s license yet. They can get bored sitting in their rooms or even bored having conversations with friends in their social circles.

That’s one of the reasons why the Monkey app is so popular amongst teens. With a click of a button, they can connect with people from a global community and have video calls. And with the AI machine learning and matching algorithm, they can connect with those who have similar interests.

It’s only natural for teens to want to connect with others and have conversations, but there are safer ways for them to do so than the Monkey app.

Lack of Parental Oversight

Setting parental controls is one of the best things parents can do to promote online safety. However, with new apps and social media saturation constantly popping up, it can be difficult to stay on top of things.

If parents are unaware of the harmful content that is on the Monkey app, then they might not know how to block it on their children’s computers or mobile devices.

One way parents can stay up to date about new online trends is through the Protect Young Eyes organization.

Is Monkey Safe for Kids?

In one word—no. The Monkey app is not safe for kids under the age of 18. It comes with privacy concerns, both tech-related (like sharing of an IP address or hacked webcams) and through communication among users.

Below are some of the reasons why the Monkey app is not safe for kids.

Exposure to Inappropriate and Sexual Content

Speaking with strangers over web cameras can expose your child to harmful, inappropriate, or sexual content. Users on the app are of all ages, including grown adults who may expose themselves on camera or use coarse language.

Interactions with Strangers

When interacting with strangers, there is always the risk that your child shares too much personal information with the wrong person. Unfortunately, there are many predators using these types of apps who prey on young teens and kids. This can lead to grooming and potential underage sexual content being shared.

Lack of Content Moderation and Age Verification

The Monkey app is not secure, especially when it comes to who can make a profile. There is no age verification required, which means kids of any age can easily sign up for the app.

Additionally, the app lacks a serious moderation team that holds users accountable to abide by the community guidelines. This means that almost anything can go on the Monkey app.

Potential for Screen Addiction and Stress

Young people are extremely impressionable. Using the Monkey app could enhance their screen addiction, encouraging them to spend more time online. But it also puts them at risk for elevated stress, especially if they do connect with the wrong person.

Parental Warnings: What You Should Know

The Monkey app, while popular among young kids and teens today, is not approved for users under the age of 18. This app puts your child at risk of connecting with harmful strangers with ill intentions that could harm them in the long run.

With a lack of user safety tools and content moderation, the Monkey app is almost like the wild west of the internet. Anything goes.

There is also a Safeguarding ALERT about the Monkey app, encouraging parents to prohibit their children from using it.

One parent writes about their stepdaughter’s experience using the app, “Please do not allow your children to have this app on their electronic devices. It is completely inappropriate for any age kids. My step daughter has this app and exposed my 10 year old daughter to it. A guy sent them a picture of his penis and guys were requesting pictures of their body parts and completely nude pictures. This app is a complete disgrace and I will do everything possible to protect other innocent children from experiencing this. Protect your children from perverts on this app.”

But not only is the app harmful in context, but it can invite hackers and tech criminals to obtain your child’s IP address, access their personal information, and more.

Plus, with the ability to make in-app purchases to use the direct message features, kids could end up spending more money than they can afford.

How Can Parents Monitor or Block Monkey?

Unfortunately, the Monkey app does not have built-in parental controls or monitoring. The only way parents can monitor or block the app is through a third-party app.

The good news is that the Kids360 app allows parents to fully block the Monkey app to keep their children from accessing it!

But that’s not all it can do. Kids360 enables parents to set screen time limits, monitor the apps their children use, and restrict specific apps or websites on their children’s devices.

However, the best way to teach your child about online safety is through discussion. The first step is to ask if they are aware of the Monkey app or similar video chatting platforms. Then talk to them about the dangers of chatting with strangers online and how they can sometimes find people who are dangerous and have bad intentions.

Educate your children about the dangers of strangers online and how they can stay safe, such as by avoiding conversations with strangers and not sharing personal information like their address or school details.

Let your child ask questions about the app and answer them as honestly as possible. It’s important to have an open and trusting conversation together that can continue in the future.

Are There Safer Alternatives to Monkey?

There are some safer alternatives to the Monkey app that your teens can use to connect with others online.

• ChitChat — This video chatting app offers AI-powered content moderation and a more secure environment for people to chat with each other.
• Emerald Chat — This direct messaging app focuses more on text communication than video calls and even offers ice-breaker prompts to get meaningful conversations started.
• Yubo — This social media-video chatting combo app is popular among teens and has a much stricter age verification process and Snapchat-style filters for safety.

Should You Let Your Child Use Monkey?

In short, no, you should not let your child use Monkey. The concept of video chatting with strangers is inherently dangerous and can pose a lot of unnecessary risks to your child’s safety.

If your child is craving social interactions, sign them up for extracurricular activities outside of their school district or help them meet new people by going to family-friendly events.

But allowing your child to use the Monkey app to chat with strangers is not a good idea.

FAQs

Can the Monkey app track you?

Yes, according to the Privacy Statement, the app collects personal information, including your IP address, location, date of birth, and browser information.

What happened to the Monkey app?

The Monkey app is still available on the Google Play Store but was removed from the App Store due to safety concerns.

What is the age limit to use the Monkey app?

You must be at least 18 years old to use the Monkey app.

Is the Monkey app safe?

For users under 18 years old, the app is not safe. It poses potential risks and dangers to children’s safety and could expose them to inappropriate content.

Do you need money for the Monkey app?

Initially, the Monkey app is free to use; however, in-app purchases are available for extra features, including direct messaging.

Cover image: monkey.app