Key Takeaways
The Monkey App is not safe for minors; adults should use it with caution as well. For kids and teenagers, it is hazardous due to ineffective age verification and a high prevalence of sexually explicit content, despite its 18+ rating. For adults, it collects significant user data, including browser info. More dangerously, its P2P video connection nature can expose your real IP address to strangers, allowing them to estimate your physical location.
Security Tips: When using the app, you should never share personal information. Additionally, it’s recommended to use BearVPN to mask your IP address and encrypt your connection, preventing strangers from tracking your real location.
In modern lives, using social media apps is the most common way to meet new people and make friends. One such platform that captured the attention of Gen Z is the Monkey app. Designed to facilitate limitless video connections, it promised a fast-paced way to make friends worldwide.
The problem is that, with the Monkey app’s rise in popularity, more and more parents, educators, and security experts are becoming concerned about this platform. Is Monkey app safe? Will my data be tracked on this website? No worries, this article provides an in-depth analysis of the platform’s features, the risks associated with anonymous video chatting, and the essential precautions users should take to protect their digital privacy. Whether you are a curious user or a concerned parent, understanding the mechanics and vulnerabilities of this app is crucial in navigating the complexities of online chat safety.
Related article: Is OmeTV safe?
What Is the Monkey App?
The Monkey app is a video-based social networking platform that allows users to start short, random video chats with strangers. It was founded in 2016 by Isaiah Turner and Ben Pasternak. At the beginning, the Monkey app was marketed as a “Tinder for teens” or a mobile-first version of Omegle. What makes it outstanding is the instant connection when matching a stranger, and you have 15 seconds to decide if you want to continue the conversation or skip to the next person.
In Monkey, you can match users with tags, which represent your interests for the chats. With the Moments feature, you can post updates to a feed so that others can see them. While the founders initially aimed to solve the loneliness of the digital age, the platform quickly became a polarizing space due to the inherent unpredictability of live, unmoderated video streams.
Is the Monkey App Still Alive?
Yes, the Monkey app is still alive, but it’s not in the way it used to be. For a long time, it was a staple on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store due to its security concerns. In 2021, Apple permanently removed the Monkey app from its store following reports of child safety violations and inappropriate content. Shortly after that, Google followed suit. According to the Distractify report.
Despite being banned from official app stores, the Monkey app still lives on. The developer has transitioned it into a web-based platform, allowing users to access the service via mobile and desktop browsers without downloading the app. Additionally, Android users are allowed to download an APK file from third-party websites to install directly. While the platform still boasts millions of users, its absence from official stores is a significant red flag regarding its adherence to modern safety standards.
How Does the Monkey App Work?
Monkey operates on a speed-dating style algorithm for friendship. When using this platform, you can also connect to someone else at the fastest speed. Here is a breakdown of its core mechanics:
- Registration and Profile: Users typically sign up using their phone number, email, or by linking a social media account like Snapchat. They set up a basic profile with their age, gender, and interests.
- The Matchmaking Loop: Once you press the Start button, you will be matched with another user, and your camera authority will be granted. You have 15 seconds of initial ace time.
- Adding Time: If both parties click a button to add time, the chat continues. If not, the connection is severed, and you are immediately moved to the next person.
- Trees and Interests: Users can join trees based on specific interests, such as gaming, music, specific celebrities, etc. This filters the pool of strangers to those with similar tags.
- Virtual Currency: The Monkey app is free, but it often uses coins or virtual currency that can be earned or purchased to unlock specific features, such as filtering by gender or location.
Is Monkey App Safe? – For Both Adults & Kids
The safety concern of Monkey is not just a yes or no answer. We must look at the risks through two different lenses: the vulnerability of minors and the privacy concerns for adults.
For Kids and Teens: High Risk
Due to the lack of robust age verification, the Monkey app is risky for minors. While the app claims to be for users 18 and older (or 13+ with parental consent in some regions), it is incredibly easy for children to lie about their age. This provides an opportunity for predators to cheat. The video is live, there is no delay or filter to prevent a child from seeing explicit content, nudity, or being subjected to verbal harassment. What’s worse, the add time feature can lead to sextortion schemes, where users are coerced into performing acts on camera that are then recorded and used for blackmail.
For Adults: Privacy and Security Risks
For adults, the risks are more focused on data security and digital footprints. Like many free social apps, Monkey collects vast personal data, including your IP address, device information, and location. Even for adults, the randomness of the app means exposure to scams. Users may encounter bots or catfish profiles designed to lure them into clicking malicious links. As for the recording vulnerability, anything said or done on the app can be recorded by the other party using screen-recording software without knowledge.
Security Tips to Stay Safe on Monkey App
Although there are several security concerns and potential risks of Monkey, a large number of users still choose this platform. In this case, you must keep alert for everything on it. And here are the latest security tips to mitigate Monkey risks:
1. Use BearVPN
While the Monkey app will detect and collect your IP address, your real location and ISP are more likely to be revealed by others. This may allow malicious users to track you or launch DDoS attacks. To prevent online tracking, you can use BearVPN to mask your real IP address by routing your traffic through an encrypted server. This will help add a layer of anonymity, making it much harder for strangers or the app itself to pinpoint your physical location.
How We Selected BearVPN for Monkey:
- Worldwide Servers: BearVPN offers 2000+ servers globally to ensure a smooth connection.
- No-logs Privacy: Strictly protects your privacy online. No data tracking or collection.
- Kill Switch: It avoids any data leaks if your connection drops, thus ensuring a safe connection during video chats.
- Price: BearVPN provides both free and paid versions for users. You can enjoy unlimited bandwidth when chatting on Monkey.
Steps to protect your privacy with BearVPN:
Step 1. Download and install BearVPN on your Windows, Mac, Android, or iOS device.
Step 2. Launch BearVPN and choose a server to connect to.
Step 3. Once connected, go to your browser and clear the browsing history. Then open the Monkey web version for new chats.
Note: If you use Monkey APK on Android phones, it’s better to clear the app cache before starting new matches.
2. Avoid Clicking External Links
The Monkey app offers a text chat feature that allows users to send links, including those from scammers. Remember not to click any external links that claim to lead to exclusive photos, a better chat app, or a gift. These links often lead to phishing sites designed to steal your social media credentials or force you to install malware/spyware on your device.
3. Download the App from Trusted Resources
Since Monkey is no longer on the official App Store or Google Play, users often look for Monkey APK downloads on Android phones. However, third-party APK sites are notorious for hosting modified versions of apps that contain trojans, keyloggers, or ransomware. If you must use Monkey, you can use the web version through a secure browser and combine it with BearVPN. Always avoid downloading files from random websites that promise unlocked versions of the app.
4. Avoid Connecting Social Accounts
When creating and setting up your Monkey account, you are required to fill in your email address, phone number, or link to your Instagram/Snapchat profile. To avoid leaking any social media privacy, it’s better not to establish connections. Using an email to sign up on Monkey is enough for occasional chats.
5. Block the Monkey App Entirely
Some parents feel concerned about their kids’ use of Monkey. If you are one of them, the safest option is to block the app and website entirely. Here’s how:
- iOS/Android Settings: Use Apple’s Screen Time or Android’s Digital Wellbeing feature to block the Monkey.app URL and prevent the installation of unknown apps.
- Router Level: You can block the domain monkey.app at the router level so that no device in your home can access the site via Wi-Fi.
Besides the settings, you can also talk to your children about the reality that once something is shown on a webcam, it is gone forever and can be used against them.
The Bottom Line
Is Monkey app safe? In a word, it’s risky for kids and teenagers. Adults may confront privacy leaks without protection. While the app offers a novel way to socialize, its lack of moderation and removal from official app stores suggests significant security flaws. By avoiding suspicious links, sticking to the official website, or downloading Monkey APK from trusted sources, you can improve your safety. More importantly, combining with tools like BearVPN, you will stay anonymous and prevent location tracking greatly. Always prioritize your privacy and be mindful of what you share on camera, as digital footprints are permanent.
FAQs About the Monkey App
1. Is Monkey App 18+?
Yes, the Monkey App has officially claimed it’s 18+ according to the terms of service. However, the age verification is very weak (usually a self-confirmed birth date).
2. Does the Monkey app show your location?
Yes, the Monkey app uses your IP address and device GPS to match you with users nearby. This data is often visible to the platform and potentially to other users.
3. Why did Apple remove the Monkey app?
Apple removed Monkey because the platform failed to moderate highly inappropriate content and lacked sufficient safeguards to protect minors from being targeted by predators on the app.
4. Can I hide my location on Monkey?
Yes, you can hide your location by using a VPN to mask your IP and by denying the browser permission to access your device’s location services in the settings.
5. How do I delete my Monkey account permanently?
To delete your Monkey account permanently, you can go to Settings > About Monkey > Delete Account. Then confirm your deletion. It won’t remove your account immediately, but deactivate it for 30 days. After that, your Monkey account will be permanently deleted.
