Sex abuse fears over 'Tinder for teens' app

Schools have warned against a new social media app dubbed ‘Tinder for teens’ after claims it exposes children to sexual harassment, racism and bullying.

Yubo, which has 3.6million users in the UK, allows children aged between 13 and 17 to match with potential dates and encourages them to join group video calls.

But head teachers have warned parents that children could stumble across inappropriate content and that the app could be exploited by adults.

Schools have warned against a new social media app dubbed ‘Tinder for teens’ after claims it exposes children to sexual harassment, racism and bullying (stock image) 

An undercover reporter for the Sunday Times posing as a 15-year-old girl was frequently asked to send nude pictures and was propositioned for sex. 

They also witnessed boys telling girls they would ‘strip you naked and rape you’ and ‘choke you’. 

Self-harm and suicide was discussed regularly, and a black girl was reportedly asked if she could be called a ‘dirty little slave’.

Despite Yubo’s screening tools, it is possible to sign up by uploading a photo of someone else from the internet. 

Yubo, which has 3.6million users in the UK, allows children aged between 13 and 17 to match with potential dates and encourages them to join group video calls. But head teachers have warned parents that children could stumble across inappropriate content and that the app could be exploited by adults (file image)

Chris Philp, minister for the digital economy, said: ‘What I have heard about this site is sickening. Apps … marketed at children should be safe for them to use.’

James Loten, deputy head at Harwich and Dovercourt High School, Essex, warned parents the app could be ‘exploited by adults for nefarious purpose’.

Paris-based Yubo apologised and said it was taking the claims ‘extremely seriously’.