What it is
IMVU is a 3D avatar chat. People meet in rooms, dress avatars, and talk. A lot of the culture is adult, including rooms and conversations that are sexual. The cartoon look hides that.
Credits and gifts are part of how people get attention. Children are asked for personal details, photos, and to move to a private chat.
What to look out for
- An account you did not set up.
- Credits, gifts, or a card charge.
- Rooms they minimise when you walk in.
- A second chat app used only with people from IMVU.
Ways to stay safe
These steps are for IMVU. The house rules still apply on every app.
- For children and younger teens, remove the app and keep the store password.
- Do not go into the rooms pretending to be them.
- If an adult has asked for photos, money, or a meeting, use the help page and do not delete the account until you have written down the usernames.
- Check for the same people on Discord, Snapchat, or WhatsApp.
In the news
Published reports you can read yourself. A headline is the proof, not a set of instructions, and this page does not repeat graphic detail.
- Roblox defends expanded safety checks but parents are concerned This BBC report is about Roblox still posing risks after new age checks. IMVU is an avatar chat with a long adult side, which is why it stays off a younger child’s device. The report does not name IMVU.
A way to start the conversation
You can say: "This one is built around meeting strangers, and a lot of those strangers are adults. It is coming off the phone. If anyone asked you for photos or money, I need to know, and you are not in trouble for telling me."
Video
Parent briefing
A short video for this guide can be added by an editor. Until then, the written briefing above is the one to use.