MEET ME
MEET ME
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MINIMUM AGE: 18+
WHAT IS IT? MeetMe is a location-based live-streaming and dating app where users chat, meet new people nearby, and start relationships — often with strangers. While it promotes social discovery and “friendship,” it is frequently used for flirting, dating, and hookups, and features real-time video, messaging, and location sharing. The app is rated 18+ in app stores, but teens can easily bypass this age restriction with a simple tap of confirmation. WHAT WE SAY? AVOID. 🔞 Exposure to Inappropriate Content Despite its friendly branding, MeetMe is widely used for adult conversations, sexting, and sexual solicitation. Users regularly post provocative content or initiate explicit chats, even with strangers. There’s minimal content filtering, and minors can be easily exposed to sexual or graphic material. 🔐 Privacy Concerns MeetMe collects sensitive data. This data may be shared with third parties or exposed through unsecured chat features. Fake profiles and bots are common, and real identities are easily compromised. 📱 Predatory Behaviour & Grooming Because MeetMe allows strangers to search for others by location, predators can target users nearby, especially younger users who lie about their age. There are numerous reports of grooming, harassment, and exploitation, often beginning with seemingly innocent chats. 🚨 Sexual or Adult Content MeetMe includes Live Video streaming, where users perform, flirt, or engage with viewers in real time. Many streams feature sexually suggestive behavior or adult content, and viewers can tip streamers with in-app currency, sometimes pressuring users into more revealing interactions. 🧑💻 Misinformation & Scams Scammers use MeetMe to promote fake giveaways, phishing schemes, and adult cam sites. There are frequent cases of catfishing (pretending to be someone else) and social engineering to extract private information or money. 🚨 Sextortion & Blackmail Users — especially teens — are vulnerable to sextortion, where someone persuades them to share explicit content and then threatens to release it unless they pay money or send more content. 🧠 Mental Health & Self-Esteem Issues Because the platform is heavily focused on appearance, popularity, and validation through livestreams and messages, young users may experience body image issues, rejection, or harassment that damages self-esteem or mental health. ⚠️ Live Streaming & Real-Time Risks MeetMe’s “Live” feature encourages real-time video streaming to strangers. Users may be recorded without consent, and there are no strong protections to prevent exposure, manipulation, or coercion during livestreams. 🔓 No Effective Age Verification Users can easily lie about their age, and MeetMe does not require strict ID verification. Minors can sign up and immediately be exposed to adults looking for sex or relationships. ❌ Uses Location-Based Info MeetMe uses real-time location data to connect users with people “nearby.” ⚠️ This feature can reveal your approximate physical location to strangers, increasing risk of stalking or in-person targeting. ✅ MeetMe does not share your location publicly on a map like some check-in apps, but location info is still used behind the scenes. |
🛡️SAFETY TIPS:
📲Understand the app: Familiarise yourself with Meet Me's features and how they work. Knowing how the app works will help you guide your child effectively. 👨👧Parental supervision: Check their interactions and adjust privacy settings accordingly. Try to stay up-to-date on Internet trends and best practices. 📢Underage Accounts: Meet Me might have an age restriction but it lacks a proper age verification process. Therefore, there’s little stopping users from faking their dates of birth or creating bogus profiles and targeting children and young people. 👥Manage friend requests: Teach your child only to accept friend requests from people they know in real life. 📷 Cover the Webcam When Not in Use Physically cover your camera when you're not ready to go live. Always be mindful of what’s visible in your background—it can reveal location clues. 🧠 Trust Your Instincts If something feels uncomfortable, it is uncomfortable. Leave the chat immediately and don’t engage with users who seem suspicious, aggressive, or inappropriate. 🖥️ Place Devices in Shared Spaces Keep internet-connected devices in living rooms or kitchens, not bedrooms. This makes risky behavior less likely and easier to notice. 🙋♀️Conversations: Have open discussions with children and young people about the topics associated with online use - bullying, grooming, sexual and criminal exploitation, body image, as well as accessing support and how to report. 🚨 Know the Signs of Trouble Watch for behaviour changes—like anxiety, secrecy, mood swings, or suddenly deleting apps. These can signal something inappropriate happened online. 💬Conversations: Have open discussions with children and young people about the topics associated with online use - bullying, grooming, sexual and criminal exploitation, body image, as well as accessing support and how to report. FURTHER SUPPORT: For parents/ carers If you're worried about your child or need support call NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000. If you discover criminal content when online then report it directly to the police or the Internet Watch Foundation. If you're worried about online grooming or sexual behaviour online then report directly to the police or contact CEOP. For Children & young people if they're worried or want to talk, encourage them to contact Childline Online or call 0800 1111. Check out our Resource Centre for further information and useful online safety tips. FURTHER SUPPORT: For parents/ carers If you're worried about your child or need support call NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000. If you discover criminal content when online then report it directly to the police or the Internet Watch Foundation. If you're worried about online grooming or sexual behaviour online then report directly to the police or contact CEOP. For Children & young people if they're worried or want to talk, encourage them to contact Childline Online or call 0800 1111. Check out our Resource Centre for further information and useful online safety tips. 
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