Raising Monkey app: is it safe? What parents should know
Is Monkey app safe? Monkey, also written MonkeyApp, connects users with strangers for random video chats. Google Play rates it Mature 17+, and Monkey's own Safety Center says it's strictly for users 18 and older, with AI that looks for signs of underage users. It isn't in Apple's US App Store as of October 2026; parent-safety guides say Apple removed it over safety concerns, which we couldn't confirm with Apple. In February 2025, an Ohio sheriff warned parents that the app, though meant to be fun, can pose risks, especially for kids, according to WOIO.
Monkey at a glance
- ✓Official rating above age 7
Google Play: Mature 17+; Monkey says 18+ - ✓Contact with other players or strangers
Random video chat with strangers - ✓Purchases with real money
Google Play: In-App Purchases - –Paid random items
Not confirmed - –Violence or scary content in rating descriptors
No violence in Google Play descriptors - ✓Government lawsuits, fines, or safety warnings
Ohio sheriff's warning (2025)
Each flag is a yes-or-no fact from the sources on this page. The number is a count of flags, not a safety score. How we count.
| Type | App for random video chats with strangers, plus swipe-to-add friends and group video |
|---|---|
| Google Play | Mature 17+ — Users Interact, In-App Purchases; 10M+ downloads source |
| App Store (iOS) | Not found in Apple's US App Store as of October 2026; we couldn't confirm when or why it left |
| Minimum age | 18, per Monkey's Safety Center, which says AI looks for signs of underage users source |
| Common Sense Media | 17+ — "quick video-chatting with strangers for older teens only" |
| Warning | Geauga County, Ohio, sheriff warned parents in February 2025 source |
Checked October 2026. Ratings and settings change; check the official source before you decide. What do these ratings mean?
Facts for parents, not medical or legal advice. If you're worried about your child, talk to your pediatrician.
What is the Monkey app?
Short answer: An app that matches people with strangers for live video chats.
According to its Google Play listing, users swipe through profile "cards" to add friends, video chat with new people, join group video chats, and send direct messages. The listing says it was "created by 5 teens in LA" and has over 30 million users. On Android it has more than 10 million downloads.
Is Monkey app safe? The facts
Short answer: It's rated for adults and older teens, and it's built around talking to strangers on camera.
- Rating: Google Play Mature 17+, with users interacting and in-app purchases. Common Sense Media lists 17+.
- Age policy: Monkey says it's "strictly for users 18 and older" and that AI checks video chats and sign-ups for signs of minors.
- iPhone: not in Apple's US App Store as of October 2026. Internet Matters and other guides say Apple removed it over safety concerns; Apple hasn't said why, as far as we could find.
Has anyone warned parents about Monkey?
Short answer: Yes. In February 2025, Geauga County (Ohio) Sheriff Scott Hildenbrand warned parents about Monkey, WOIO reported, saying it can pose risks, especially for kids, and advised parents to consider not letting children, especially younger ones, use it. We found no lawsuit, fine, or federal action against Monkey as of October 2026.
The habit kids may copy: talking to anyone who appears
Random chat apps put a new face on the screen every few seconds, and the next stranger is always one swipe away.
Try tonight: the stranger rule
Play "Who can we talk to?" Name people: the mail carrier, a cashier, a kid at the park, a face on a screen. For each, ask: "Do we know them? Who do we tell first?" Agree on one family rule, like "I tell a grown-up before I talk to someone new online." In our program, this is the lesson "My Fort": the rules I keep.
Why you can trust this page: the main facts link to their sources, a separate reviewer checks each page before it goes live, and the date shows when we last checked. How we review · Report an error
FAQ
What age is Monkey for?
Monkey says it's for users 18 and older. Google Play rates it Mature 17+.
Is Monkey on the App Store?
Not in Apple's US App Store as of October 2026. Parent-safety guides say Apple removed it; we couldn't confirm when or why.
What is the Monkey app?
An app for random video chats with strangers, with swipe-to-add friends, group video chats, and messages.
Is Monkey like Omegle?
Both pair strangers for video chats. Monkey's website markets it as an Omegle alternative.
More from “Is it good for kids?”
How to Boost Kids' Confidence, Even in a Shy Child
How to boost kids' confidence at ages 4–7, even in a shy child: why shyness isn't a flaw, and how small finished steps and a little preparation build it.
Read next →Raising Stoics is a 12-week program for ages 5–6, built on Stoic philosophy and developmental psychology. One lesson is "My Fort": the rules I keep.