Dangerous Apps for Kids and Teens: The List for IT and Parents
Not every app here is harmful for every child. These are the app types schools and parents most often restrict, with the reason in one line, the App Store age rating and the exact identifiers to block them on a managed device.
For school devices, the same apps sit inside the category blocklists. For a family phone, the built-in controls on iPhone and Android do most of the work.
How an app ends up on this list
Each app below meets at least one of these tests. They describe what the app does, not what every user does with it.
Anonymous by design
Messages or posts arrive without a name attached.
Matches strangers
The core feature is meeting people you do not know.
Hides content
Photos, chats or the app itself are kept out of sight.
Paid gifts to creators
Viewers buy virtual gifts for people streaming live.
Unrestricted web access
The App Store listing carries this advisory, which can sidestep filtering.
Shares location
Friends or contacts can see where the user is.
Companion chatbot
An AI character holds ongoing personal conversations.
Rated 17+
The developer's own App Store rating says the app is for adults.
Anonymous messaging and Q&A apps
Users share a link and receive questions or messages from people who stay anonymous. In July 2024 the FTC announced a proposed order barring NGL from offering its app to anyone under 18.
| App | Developer | iOS bundle ID | Android package | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NGL: ask me anything | NGL Labs, LLC | fun.ask | look up | 18+ |
| sendit | iconic hearts holdings, inc. | com.fullsenders.sendit | com.fullsenders.sendit | 13+ |
| linkit Q&A | iconic hearts holdings, inc. | com.iconichearts.senditig | com.iconichearts.senditig | 16+ |
| tellonym | Callosum Software GmbH | de.tellonym.app | de.tellonym.app | 18+ |
| Yik Yak | Yik Yak, Inc. | com.yikyak.2 | look up | 18+ |
| Wakie Chat | Wakie Inc. | com.fugesia.wakie | look up | 18+ |
sendit is rated 12+, so an age rating limit alone will not remove it. Block it by ID as well.
Meet strangers and random video chat apps
Friend finder apps show profiles of nearby or same-age users to swipe through, and random video apps connect two strangers on camera. Most are rated 17+.
| App | Developer | iOS bundle ID | Android package | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yubo | Twelve APP | co.yellw.Yellow | co.yellw.yellowapp | 18+ |
| Wizz | VLB | com.vlbapps.wizz | look up | 18+ |
| Hoop | Dazz | com.dazz.hoop | com.dazz.hoop | 13+ |
| LMK: Make New Friends | LightSpace Inc. | com.lightspace.lmk | com.lightspace.lmk | 16+ |
| Azar | Hyperconnect LLC | com.hpcnt.azar | com.azarlive.android | 18+ |
| Gaze: Live Video Chat | VLMedia Inc. | video.chat.gaze | video.chat.gaze | 18+ |
| MeetMe | The Meet Group Inc. | com.myYearbook.MyYearbook | com.myyearbook.m | 18+ |
| Skout | Skout, Inc. | com.skout.SKOUT | look up | 18+ |
Full dating apps such as Tinder and Bumble are in the dating apps list, which also covers these friend finders.
Live streaming apps with paid gifts
Users broadcast live video, and viewers send virtual gifts bought with real money. Several listings carry a Loot Boxes advisory as well as mature content advisories.
| App | Developer | iOS bundle ID | Android package | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BIGO LIVE | BIGO TECHNOLOGY PTE. LTD. | sg.bigo.live | sg.bigo.live | 18+ |
| LiveMe | KS Mobile, Inc. | com.cmcm.live | look up | 18+ |
| YouNow | YouNow, Inc. | com.younow.YouNowMobile | look up | 13+ |
| Kick | Kick Streaming | com.kick.mobile | com.kick.mobile | 16+ |
Vault apps and hidden apps
Vault apps keep photos, videos and files behind a second PIN. Some open as a working calculator and only show the vault when a code is entered. Several listings carry the Unrestricted Web Access advisory because they include a private browser.
| App | Developer | iOS bundle ID | Android package | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calculator# Hide Photos Videos | NewSoftwares.net | net.newsoftwares.NSVault | look up | 16+ |
| SPV Secret Photo Vault | Maple Labs Co., Ltd | com.maplelabs.fakecalc | look up | 16+ |
| Secret Photo Album 1Locker | Touchberry | com.touchberry.secretcalculator | look up | 16+ |
| Private Photo Vault | Legendary Software Labs LLC | com.enchantedcloud.photovault | com.enchantedcloud.photovault | 16+ |
| Keepsafe | KeepSafe Software, Inc | com.keepsafe.KeepSafe | com.kii.safe | 4+ |
| Secret Photo Album SA | BPMobile | bp.sa | look up | 18+ |
| Secret Photo Vault Lock Photos | Individual developer (name listed in Chinese) | com.galaxystudio.privatediskfree | look up | 16+ |
| Privault | Binspir Technologies Co., Ltd. | com.binspir.PrivacyGuardY | look up | 4+ |
| Hide it Pro | Anuj Tenani | com.smartanuj.hideitpro | look up | 4+ |
| Vault: Hide photos and videos | NQ Mobile Inc. | com.nq.vault | look up | 4+ |
| App Lock: Lock Apps and Photos | Kupertino Bilisim Yazilim (partnership) | co.appnation.applocker | co.appnation.applocker | 4+ |
Many vault apps are rated 4+. On school devices, block them by ID or by category rather than relying on an age rating limit.
Second phone number apps
These apps give the user an extra phone number for calls and texts. They have real uses for adults, but on a child's phone they create a contact channel parents and schools do not see.
| App | Developer | iOS bundle ID | Android package | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TextNow | TextNow, Inc. | com.tinginteractive.usms | look up | 4+ |
| Text Free | Pinger, Inc. | com.pinger.textfreeWithVoice | look up | 13+ |
| Burner | Ad Hoc Labs, Inc | com.adhoclabs.burner | com.adhoclabs.burner | 4+ |
| Hushed | AffinityClick Inc. | com.affinityclick.hushed | look up | 4+ |
| Text Vault | Phoner Holdings LLC | com.appsverse.burnertext | look up | 18+ |
| Ghost: Second Phone Number | Openlife AI Inc | hbappscorp.burnapp | hbappscorp.burnapp | 18+ |
AI companion and character chat apps
Users talk with AI characters that remember the conversation and play a friend, partner or fictional role. Most of these apps are rated 17+ and list mature or suggestive themes.
| App | Developer | iOS bundle ID | Android package | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Character AI | Character.AI | ai.character.app | ai.character.app | 18+ |
| Replika | Luka, Inc. | ai.replika.app | ai.replika.app | 18+ |
| Talkie Lab | SUBSUP PTE. LTD. | com.tara.ai | look up | 18+ |
| EVA AI Soulmate | Novi Limited | com.ifriend.ios | look up | 18+ |
| Sakura: Chat with AI Bots | Sakura AI, LLC | fm.sakura.app | fm.sakura.app | 16+ |
| Soulplay | Studio Dopa LLC | app.soulplay.soulplay | app.soulplay.soulplay | 18+ |
| ChaChat | Mynalabs.ai | com.mynalabs.overdub | look up | 17+ |
| zeta | Scatter Lab, Inc. | com.scatterlab.messenger | com.scatterlab.messenger | 13+ |
| Cantina | Cantina, Inc | is.signal.ios | look up | 18+ |
General AI assistants and homework apps are in the AI apps list. District guidance is on AI apps on student devices.
Location sharing in social apps
Some apps show a user's position to friends on a map, either as the main feature or as part of a social app. Settings decide who sees it, and those settings can change with app updates.
| App | Developer | iOS bundle ID | Android package | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Snapchat (Snap Map) | Snap, Inc. | com.toyopagroup.picaboo | com.snapchat.android | 13+ |
| Blink: Friends location | Blinkmap Limited | com.blinkmap.blink | look up | 16+ |
| Glympse | Glympse Inc. | com.glympse.iphone.glympse | look up | 4+ |
Location sharing set up by a family on purpose is a different case. This list is about apps where friends or strangers see the location.
Private and proxy browsers
Browsers that promise private or unblocked browsing route traffic in ways school filtering may not cover. Their listings carry the Unrestricted Web Access advisory.
| App | Developer | iOS bundle ID | Android package | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private Browser Deluxe | Maple Media Apps, LLC | Fairy-Tools.Downloader-Deluxe | look up | 18+ |
| UPX Private Browser | Prox Solut LLC | net.upxb.proxy | look up | 16+ |
VPN apps do the same at device level. See the VPN and proxy apps list and blocking other browsers on school devices.
Popular apps and their App Store ratings
Parents often ask whether a well-known app is "dangerous". The developer's own App Store rating is a fair first answer, and it is often higher than people expect.
| App | Developer | iOS bundle ID | Android package | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| REDDIT, INC. | com.reddit.Reddit | com.reddit.frontpage | 18+ | |
| X | X Corp. | com.atebits.Tweetie2 | com.twitter.android | 16+ |
| Kik | Medialab - Kik | com.kik.chat | kik.android | 18+ |
| Tinder | Tinder LLC | com.cardify.tinder | com.tinder | 18+ |
| Discord | Discord Inc. | com.hammerandchisel.discord | com.discord | 13+ |
| Telegram | Telegram FZ-LLC | ph.telegra.Telegraph | org.telegram.messenger | 13+ |
| Roblox | Roblox Corporation | com.roblox.robloxmobile | com.roblox.client | 13+ |
Guides for single apps: block Discord, block Roblox and block Snapchat on managed devices.
Apps built for children instead
Blocking works better when something suitable is allowed. These apps are made for younger users and are rated 4+ in the App Store, so many schools and families allow them while the types above stay blocked.
YouTube Kids
com.google.ios.youtubekids on iOS, com.google.android.apps.youtube.kids on Android.
Messenger Kids
Messaging with contacts a parent approves. com.facebook.talk on both stores.
PBS KIDS Games
Learning games for young children. org.pbskids.gamesapp on both stores.
Epic
A reading library for children. com.getepic.Epic on both stores.
Libraries lending tablets can find more on kids tablets and early literacy apps.
Reading App Store age ratings
The ratings in the tables above use the scale shown in the App Store listing in our database. On iOS 26 and later, Apple shows a newer scale: 4+, 9+, 13+, 16+ and 18+. Devices on earlier versions still see 4+, 9+, 12+ and 17+.
Ratings describe content, not features. A vault app can be rated 4+ because it shows nothing on its own. That is why schools combine an age rating limit with category blocklists.
What to do: one plan for IT, one for parents
School and district IT
- Block the categories behind this list: Dating, Email and Messaging, Streaming Media, AI / LLM Tools, VPN / Proxy / Anonymizers, plus vault apps.
- Set a maximum app age rating per grade band on supervised iPads.
- Limit Google Play to approved apps on fully managed Android devices.
- Review the device app inventory each month for new names.
- Publish the rules in the acceptable use policy so families know what is blocked.
Parents and carers
- Use the built-in controls first: Screen Time content and privacy restrictions on iPhone, and the parental controls in Google Play on Android.
- Set the app age rating to match your child's age.
- Ask to see new apps, including any second calculator or utility app.
- Talk about why an app is off limits, not only that it is.
- Check location settings in social apps after updates.
Not sure what an app is? The free app category lookup shows the developer, age rating and categories for any app name or ID, for a few lookups a day.
Dangerous apps: questions from IT and parents
What are the most dangerous apps for kids?
No single app is dangerous for every child. The types schools and parents restrict most are anonymous messaging, apps that match strangers for chat or video, live streaming with paid gifts, vault apps, second number apps, AI companion chat and apps rated 17+ in the App Store.
What are secret apps for school?
Usually vault apps that look like a calculator or another harmless tool but open a hidden photo or file store, and private browsers that are not covered by school filtering. On managed school devices, IT can block them by bundle ID and see them in the device app inventory.
How do I find hidden apps on an iPhone?
Current iOS versions let users hide an app in a locked Hidden folder at the bottom of the App Library, opened with Face ID, Touch ID or the passcode. A hidden app is still installed, so on a managed device it still appears in the installed apps list the MDM collects.
What are vault apps?
Vault apps store photos, videos or notes behind a separate PIN. Some look like calculators and only open the vault when a code is typed. They have legitimate privacy uses for adults, but schools usually block them because they hide content from device checks.
Is the Most Dangerous Writing App dangerous?
No. It is a writing tool that deletes what you have typed if you stop writing for a few seconds, meant to push writers past a blank page. The name refers to losing your text, not to any risk to children.
What are the dangerous Android apps you need to delete?
Those news lists usually name malware found in Google Play, which Google removes once reported. They are a security problem rather than a child safety one. This page covers apps that work as designed but are a poor fit for children.
Block these app types on every school device
Category blocklists and age rating filters in files for your MDM, with iOS bundle IDs and Android packages, refreshed every month.
Snapchat is a trademark of Snap Inc. Character.AI, Replika, NGL, Discord, Roblox, Reddit, X, Kik, Telegram and every other app named here are trademarks of their respective owners.
iPhone, iPad, App Store, Face ID and Screen Time are trademarks of Apple Inc. Android and Google Play are trademarks of Google LLC.
Names are used only to identify the products discussed. AppBlockList is not affiliated with, sponsored or endorsed by these companies.