Concerns Grow Over Wiz App, Dubbed “Tinder for Kids”

A new app aimed at helping teenagers make friends is raising eyebrows for its similarities to dating platforms. Some sources described Wiz as “like Tinder for kids.” Teenagers in New York City reported that the app, designed for users aged 12 to 18, allows them to swipe through profiles and connect, which has led to some underage users arranging meetings with strangers, including adults.

There have already been several arrests nationwide involving adult criminals who sexually assaulted minors they met on apps like Wiz. The risks are evident.

Jada Maisonette, a 16-year-old high school student from Manhattan, shared her thoughts with the Post. “It’s like Tinder for kids,” she said, adding that many users are looking for direct connections, akin to dating. As of late 2023, Wiz reportedly had 16 million users and encourages live chat features to facilitate connections.

“People are literally meeting strangers,” Jada emphasized. When she first joined Wiz in the second grade, she was hit with a barrage of messages—about 60 notifications a day. While some messages were complimentary, others had more explicit intentions, leading her to liken the app to “Snapchat on steroids.”

To register, users must submit their birthdates and undergo biometrics checks. The company’s parent organization claims to routinely check user profiles for authenticity, but concerns about predators remain.

For instance, a 20-year-old man in Florida was arrested for soliciting a minor via Wiz, falsely claiming to be 16. Similarly, in Washington, a 23-year-old man faced rape charges for meeting a 12-year-old girl through the app, under the pretense of being younger.

The app was temporarily removed from both the App Store and Google Play after concerns about sextortion were raised; however, it’s still available for download, with over a million downloads reported on Google Play alone.

Stephen Balkam, founder of the Family Online Safety Institute, noted that adults can easily pose as teenagers to engage with minors on these platforms. He conducted a test by creating an account as a 15-year-old and found it accepted in just five minutes despite his actual age.

“Kids and teens often seek ways to bypass rules,” he remarked, indicating that these platforms can put them at risk for exploitation. Jada also pointed out that many profile pictures are attention-grabbing, with bold poses and clothing that might not be appropriate.

Though she doesn’t currently use the app, Jada estimates nearly half of her classmates do. “It’s a big deal in New York,” she added, criticizing the portrayal of the app as a safe and healthy platform.

A spokesperson for Wiz acknowledged the concerns raised, affirming their commitment to safeguarding minors online through various verification processes. Jean Twenge, author of “10 Rules for Raising Children in a High-Tech World,” argues that parents should delay giving their children smartphones until they are older. “This underscores the need for parental awareness and control over technology use,” she stated, emphasizing that children shouldn’t have access to apps resembling dating platforms.