>> RELATED: Online security: 5 parental control apps that let you monitor your kid’s online activity
One Miami Valley family is trying to warn other parents about the dangers of teen dating apps after they found one on their daughter’s phone and realized men were sending her explicit messages.
News Center 7's I-Team spoke to the family and law enforcement officials about what parents should look for and how to keep your children. Tune in to Sean Cudahy Monday, Nov. 11, at 5:30 p.m. for more details.
Here are five dating apps popular with teens that parents should be aware of:
1) MyLOL
Calling itself the “#1 teen dating site” in the U.S. and other countries, MyLOL is a website and app where teens can create profiles, search for people online and chat with others.
Users must be at least 13 and cannot be older than 19 to create an account. Anyone registering with a fake age will be permanently banned, according to MyLOL’s terms and conditions.
The site also prohibits anyone making “sexual propositions or sexual innuendos” to anyone under 18. “This kind of activity will get your account deleted and reported to your local police,” read the terms and conditions. “Seriously don't do it.”
2) Skout
Stated in 2007, Skout is a friendship and dating app that is “all about preserving the magic of unexpected meetings that lead to discovering new people,” the website claims.
Though it’s terms and services says the app is only for those 18 and older, the app previously allowed kids ages 13-17 to create accounts
3) Yubo
Previously called Yellow, Yubo is a free networking app aimed at helping people make new friends. While it is not marketed as a dating app, it is often described as a dating app and has appeared on lists of top teen dating apps.
Users must be over 13 to create an account, according to the website, and users must haven parental permission.
To help keep young teens safe, Yubo’s teenage users have their own community separate from adults on the app, according to the website.
4) Hot or Not
Also called The Game by Hot or Not, the app lets users meet people in their area.
Users must be 18 or older to create an account, according to the terms and conditions. Non-registered users do have limited access, but cannot create a profile and are unable to upload any content.
Content that is obscene, pornographic or “otherwise may offend human dignity,” is prohibited, according to the terms and conditions.
5) MeetMe
Another app aimed at introducing people to others in their area, MeetMe is a free app for people 18 and older.
Users can purchase credits to have their profile seen by more people and have posts and live feeds stuck at the top of the feed for more users to see.