This Thursday, August 24, the Teen Dating app no longer appears in the Google Play Store. A deletion confirmed in Figaro by Google, which explains that it chose to withdraw it following non-compliance with the rules of its application store. Previously, the application was accessible on the Google Play Store to people over 18 and therefore downloadable on all Android phones.
For several days, this site intended for 13-25 year olds has been at the heart of a growing controversy. On social media, several parents have shared screenshots of chats on the platform, where older men are clearly making sexual innuendos to underage profiles. Others even offer teenagers paid sexual favors.
A situation denounced by child protection associations, who recall that the platform is known for its lack of moderation. According to the Teen Dating app itself, there are only three moderators for 285,000 users.
On France Info this morning, the Minister Delegate for Digital Jean-Noël Barrot spoke on this subject. “I want to say to those who engage in this type of criminal behavior, that they can be found and convicted,” he said. Faced with the proliferation of reports against the Rencontre adolescent site, the minister also announced that he had seized the public prosecutor. “I contacted the site with which I will discuss today to improve its cooperation with the authorities”, concluded Jean-Noël Barrot.