WHAT NO ONE TELLS PARENTS ABOUT THE DATING APP BADOO

WHAT NO ONE TELLS PARENTS ABOUT THE DATING APP BADOO
Today we’re getting the inside scoop on Badoo as we kick off our dating apps for parents of teens series.

Let’s face it, we don’t like to talk about dating apps. But, dating apps are something we need to discuss with our teens and young adults. And, that’s exactly why you’ll be hearing a lot about dating apps from me throughout the month of February as I cover some of the most popular dating apps with young adults and teens.

Badoo is a social network where you can meet new people. It’s free and easy to use. It’s available for iOS and Android devices and it has a mobile website. Users can register using Facebook authentication or they can register using an email address. Over 300 million people use Badoo to chat, make friends, and date.

Users receive a Message inbox at Badoo. There they can receive instant messages from other users. “People Nearby” allows users to find and connect with others near them using location-based tracking. “Encounters” allows users to see potential new friends or romantic partners. Click the heart icon if you have some interest, or the “X” icon if you don’t. A “match” is created when both users like each other’s profiles.

Once a match is made, users can begin chatting. Encounters is similar to the swipe features you’ll find in Hot or Not and Tinder. You can add a person to your favorites list by clicking on the star icon.

You can see who has viewed your profile through the Visitors feature. Here you can find a list of the people who have visited your profile, when they viewed it, and how they found you on Badoo. The Visitors feature is a way to find people in your location with similar interests.

One important feature is the ability to block. Should users need to block other users, Badoo does make that possible. Using this feature will keep the blocked party from contacting you. It will also prevent you from seeing them in your search or Encounter time.

WHAT TEENS SAY
Most teens know Badoo is rated for adults only. They join because they want to connect with older teens and young adults and avoid the 13-15 age group that you’ll find on teen dating apps.

WHAT PARENTS NEED TO KNOW
Parents need to know that Badoo is an adults-only app for online dating-style social networking. It includes features standard on most social media platforms have available, including live streaming.

Users are able to block another users. However users can’t hide their profile completely. Someone they’ve blocked is still able to see their profile.

A user’s location is identified by tracking his or her device’s location and then matching the profile and pictures of people the user could contact within the surrounding area. Although Badoo is free, there are many options for paid subscriptions and other in-app purchases.

The developer does appear to try to keep kids and teens from joining. The terms of use clearly state that Badoo is not for teens, and photos of anyone who is not an adult cannot be posted. This includes photos of any adult users with a child.