Smartphones and tablets have apps intended for use by adults as a means of meeting single people in the area. But, juveniles under the age of 18 are using the same apps with fake ages — seeking dates with adults who would have no idea they aren’t of legal age.

Much like how the classifieds section used to have personal ads with phrases such as “enjoys walks in the park” or “must love dogs,” these apps merely take the old approach to meeting new people and makes the exchange more interactive. They allow people to see what each other looks like and talk before meeting in person. 

There is a wide variety of apps available to assist single people in finding other singles and some don’t even sound like they are dating apps, such as Coffee Meets Bagel, Hinge, Grindr, Down and Healthvana.

One of these apps, Tinder, shows the first name and a photo of singles within a certain mileage radius up to 100 miles. The town they are in is not displayed, just how far away they live. It also displays the person’s age by linking to their Facebook profile or by creating a Tinder specific profile.

These apps often connect through Facebook to find friends of friends and show common interests — shortening the time spent searching for new acquaintances and allowing it to be done at any time. 

This is also intended to prevent the people on these apps from lying about who they are. But nothing is perfect, and it is possible to lie on these dating apps — no different than the personal ads in the classifieds.

The danger is the same, but the ease of access means parents need to be more vigilant of their kids’ online activity.

We encourage parents to closely monitor their children’s online activity and what apps they download, since new ones come out all the time. This includes what apps they have downloaded onto their phones and tablets, and what age they claim to be on Facebook and other websites or apps. 

Kids don’t realize the danger they put themselves in by claiming to be in their 20s and seeking dates with people they’ve never met in real life. 

On the other side of the conversation, adults using apps to meet fellow singles in the area should be aware that it’s possible their potential date is lying about his or her age. People come in all shapes and sizes, and it is possible for a high school student to pass for much older, which is why grocery store cashiers ask for IDs for certain purchases. 

Asking for an ID might be a mood-killer for a first date, but it beats the alternative of finding out he or she is under 18 and then facing legal ramifications. Perhaps being extra cautious is the price to pay for the convenience of meeting online.

Keeping kids safe online is more than just a two-way street between the parents and their child, it’s another case of “it takes a village to raise a child.” It takes everyone — friends, family, parents, coaches, teachers, officers, pastors, and more — to teach them about the dangers of online predators and the legal trouble they can cause by claiming to be older. At the same time, single adults who choose to utilize new methods of meeting new people need to be aware that it’s possible their date isn’t who he or she claims to be.