What no one tells parents about the dating app Spotafriend

WHAT NO ONE TELLS PARENTS ABOUT THE DATING APP SPOTAFRIEND

Today we’re getting the inside scoop on Spotafriend as we wind down our Dating Apps for Parents of Teens series

I’ll be honest, I wasn’t familiar with this dating app until a few months ago. Like MyLOL, this app is directly marketed towards teens.

Spotafriend

Age: 13-19 (those under 18 with parental consent)
In-App Purchases: Yes
Contains Ads: Yes

This app is listed for ages 13-19. However, I want to note both the iOS and Android stores have the app rated for ages 17 and up. You register for an account by entering a username, password, email, gender, birthday, city, and area. Or, you can register using your Facebook account. There is a process of age verification immediately after entering your login information. New users must submit a selfie with a pose Spotafriend has stipulated. Then, users must upload a photo of themselves. I’m happy to know there is a verification process. Please be aware, however, that there are reports of this system not working.

Spotafriend is location-based. Users engage with the app by swiping pictures of other teenagers nearby. They swipe right or click a green checkmark to become friends. They swipe left or click a red “x” to pass. If they both accept, a match is made and the two users can start chatting privately.

Spotafriend was created by Benoit Tessie. He also created MyLOL. Spotafriend has grown to over 1 million users to date.

What Teens Say

In June 2016, Tinder changed its age limit from 13 & up to 18 & up. This left teens scrambling for a new app. Spotafriend has filled that need.

What Parents Need to Know

Spotafriend does have a verification process. To date, this process does not guarantee people over 18 won’t have access to the platform. The age gap is wide on this app. The potential for a 13-year-old to be chatting and potentially dating an 18-year-old adult is a scary prospect. Users are able to change their date of birth once they’ve signed up. So, it’s incredibly easy to lie about your age.

While Spotafriend might feel safer than other dating apps, it still poses a safety risk. And, the only way parents can tell what’s happening inside this app is to create a fake account or access their teen’s.

Spotafriend is available for both iOS and Android devices.

See the entire Dating App Series