What it is
Tinder is an adult dating app. People swipe on photos of other adults who are nearby, then chat. The minimum age is 18. Age checks can be lied to, and adults on the app are there for dating.
If this is on a child's phone, treat it as a safeguarding concern rather than a settings problem. The safe decision is that it is not installed.
What to look out for
- A profile that uses their photos, school, or town.
- Chats with adults, including adults who say they thought the child was older.
- Requests for more photos, a different app, or a meeting.
- A membership or a payment method attached to the account.
Ways to stay safe
These steps are for Tinder. The house rules still apply on every app.
- Remove the app. If a young child uses the device, keep the app-store password yourself so it cannot be quietly reinstalled.
- Do not message anyone on the account, and do not pretend to be your child.
- If an adult has asked for photos, offered money, or tried to meet, contact the police and a child-protection report line. The help page lists them.
- Write down usernames you can see. Do not delete the conversation if police may need to see it, and do not copy or forward sexual images.
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.
- Dating apps told to stop under-18s after child abuse cases linked to Grindr Ofcom said dating apps should assume children can open them unless the age check actually works. Grindr and Tinder were named.
- Overhaul algorithms and age checks or face fines, tech firms told Ofcom’s children’s code says sites with pornography or harmful content must use stronger age checks. The i Paper report is the one that names dating apps.
A way to start the conversation
You can say: "This app is built for adults. I am not angry that I found it. I need it off the phone, and I need to know if anyone has asked you for photos, money, or a meeting."
Then stop and listen. If the answer is yes, go to the help page rather than trying to investigate the other person yourself.
Video
Tinder 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.