The Monkey app is a video chat app that pairs you with random strangers. It says users must be 18 or older, but it has no real way to check. Apple took it off the App Store over safety concerns. You can still get it on Google Play and the web, and the risks for teens are serious.
Key Takeaways
- Monkey’s safety team mostly acts after someone breaks the rules. By then, the harm is done.
- In 2019, The Washington Post found that about 2% of Monkey’s reviews were about unwanted sexual behavior. That number counts reviews. It does not count users.
- Reports of adults who reach out to kids online to harm them went up 156% from 2024 to 2025. That number covers the whole internet, so it is a warning for every chat app.
- Some features cost real money. The Monkey Plus plan also renews on its own.
Omegle shut down in November 2023. A lot of people wanted a new place to talk to strangers. Monkey was one of the names they found.
Maybe your teen brought it up at dinner. Maybe you saw it on TikTok and got curious. Either way, you should know what you’re in for before you tap start.
Random video chat can be fun. It can also go wrong in seconds. Monkey has a past that makes parents nervous, and some of those worries come from real news reports. Other risks come with any app that puts you on camera with a stranger.
This guide covers how Monkey works today and what the facts say. It also gives you simple steps to stay safe if you or your kid still want to use it.
What is the Monkey app and how does it work?
Monkey matches you with a random stranger for a live video chat. You can talk one on one, or you can bring friends into a group call. Don’t like the person you get? Tap skip and a new person shows up.
The app came out in 2016. Back then, calls were short and linked to Snapchat. Today, Monkey runs on Android phones and in a web browser.
Some parts cost money. Users can buy coins with real cash to send gifts to other users. A plan called Monkey Plus lets you pick a country, get unlimited matches, and turn off ads, says Internet Matters. The plan renews on its own until you cancel it.
That last part catches a lot of families off guard. It’s even more likely when a kid uses a parent’s phone with a saved card.
Is Monkey still on the App Store?
No. Apple took Monkey off its App Store over safety concerns, Internet Matters reports. But you can still download it from Google Play, and it works in a browser. So a kid with an iPhone can still use Monkey. All they need is Safari.
App store pages change a lot. If you want to check for your kid, open the Google Play page yourself. Read the age rating and the data safety part. Keep in mind that the app maker writes those parts. An outside group did not check them.
Does the Monkey app check your age?
Monkey says every user must be 18 or older. But Internet Matters found there is “no age verification process for users to prove they meet this age requirement.” In plain words, you type in a birthday and you’re in.
So adults and teens can end up in the same chat. The rule is there on paper. A 14 year old can break it, and nothing in the app will stop them.
What are the main risks of the Monkey app?
Some risks have been reported about Monkey itself. Others come with random video chat in general. It helps to keep the two apart.
Unwanted sexual content
In 2019, The Washington Post read more than 130,000 reviews of six random chat apps. About 2% of Monkey’s reviews were about unwanted sexual behavior. Some of those reviews came from kids. That 2% is a share of reviews from that year, so it can’t tell you how many users got hurt. It does show what people ran into again and again.
Safety checks that come too late
Internet Matters says Monkey mostly reacts after someone breaks the rules. It does less to stop bad behavior before it starts. By the time a user gets reported, the other person has already seen it. You can’t unsee a live video.
What happens to your videos and posts
When you sign up, you give Monkey and its partner companies broad rights to use what you share, says Internet Matters. Read the terms before you put your face on camera. Most people never do.
Strangers who lie
On Monkey, people don’t have to say who they are. That makes it easy for someone to lie about their age or why they’re there. This is how grooming often starts. Grooming is when an adult builds trust with a kid so they can harm them later. First comes a friendly stranger. Then a few nice words. Then a request to move the chat somewhere private.
How common are grooming and sextortion online?
More common than most parents think. In 2025, NCMEC’s CyberTipline got 1.4 million reports of adults who reached out to kids online to harm them. That’s up 156% from 2024.
Those numbers cover the whole internet. They don’t tell you what happens on Monkey alone. But they show why any app that puts kids on camera with strangers needs a hard look.
Sextortion is when someone gets a private photo or video and then threatens to share it. The FBI has a guide for parents and caregivers about grooming and sextortion. It explains how to talk to your kids and where to report. If someone makes a threat like this, don’t pay them. Don’t delete the messages, either. Save everything and report it.
How can you stay safe on random video chat apps?
Start with what you share. Keep your full name, your school, and where you live out of the chat. This list of what to keep private with strangers is a good place to start.
Keep the chat on the app where it started. If a stranger pushes you to move to Snapchat or a private DM, treat that as a red flag.
Skip fast. If a chat feels off, leave. You don’t owe anyone a reason.
Then use the tools. Block and report every time, even when it seems small. These tips on safer video chat habits work on any app.
Parents, talk early and talk often. Parental controls help. But a kid who knows they can tell you anything, and still keep their phone, is even safer. These online safety tips for teens are a good way to start that talk.
Is the Monkey app safe for teens?
No. Monkey’s own rules say 18 and up, and the app can’t confirm anyone’s age. A teen who signs up already breaks the rules. They may also end up on camera with adults who know nobody checks.
If your teen wants to meet new people online, ask what they want from it. Friends who like the same games? Someone to talk to at night? The answer tells you a lot. Sometimes what they need is a friend, and there are safer places to find one.
What are safer alternatives to the Monkey app?
No app with strangers is 100% safe. But some take safety more seriously than others. Look for clear age rules and a team that watches for bad behavior. Easy report and block buttons matter too. So do community rules that people follow.
If you want to compare apps, this list of places to meet strangers since Omegle closed is a good start. Emerald Chat matches people by shared interests, so you start with something in common. It also uses a karma system that rewards good behavior over time.
Before you hit start
Monkey isn’t the only app with these problems. It’s one of the best known. The age rule is easy to get around. The safety checks often come late. And the stranger on the other side could be anyone.
Plenty of random chats go fine. Some don’t. You can’t count on the app to keep you safe. Your own choices matter more, and so do the talks you have at home.
If your kid already uses Monkey, stay calm. Ask what they like about it and what they’ve seen. Then listen for longer than feels comfortable.
Want to meet new people without the guesswork? On Emerald Chat, a karma system rewards good chats and flags bad behavior. Pick your interests, start a chat, and find someone who wants to talk.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Monkey app still available?
Yes, but not everywhere. Apple took Monkey off its App Store over safety concerns. You can still download it from Google Play on Android phones. It also works in a web browser, so iPhone users can still get on through Safari. App store pages change, so check the Google Play page for the latest details.
Why was the Monkey app removed from the App Store?
Apple took Monkey down over safety concerns, says Internet Matters. Back in 2019, The Washington Post found that about 2% of Monkey’s reviews were about unwanted sexual behavior. Some of those reviews came from kids. The Post also said Apple’s own rules don’t allow random chat apps like Monkey.
Is the Monkey app safe for 13 year olds?
No. Monkey’s rules say every user must be 18 or older. The app has no real age check, so younger kids can sign up and end up on camera with adult strangers. The app’s safety team mostly acts after something goes wrong. For a 13 year old, the risks are too high.
Does Monkey verify your age?
No. Monkey asks for a birthday and says users must be 18 or older. But Internet Matters found the app has no way to prove a user’s age. Anyone can type in a fake date and get in. That’s why adults and teens can end up in the same chat.
Is the Monkey app free?
You can use Monkey for free, but some parts cost money. Users can buy coins to send gifts to other users. A paid plan called Monkey Plus lets you pick a country, get unlimited matches, and turn off ads. It renews on its own until you cancel, so check for saved cards on shared phones.
Leave a Reply