Hoop App: Earning Rewards to Meet Strangers
.jpeg)
., start learning from this page to earn points towards a Starbucks gift card!*
Hi, I'm Josh, the founder of SmartSocial.com.
Keep reading, and soon you'll get a chance to share your thoughts and earn points for a reward!
Hoop App: Earning Rewards to Meet Strangers
., start learning from this page to earn points towards a Starbucks gift card!*
Hello, I'm Josh, the founder of SmartSocial.com.
Don't leave this page until you fill out our feedback form that will appear after you learn from the resources...
The Hoop app makes it easier than ever for students to meet strangers on Snapchat. Users swipe through profiles on Hoop, just like on the popular adult dating app Tinder. If they like someone’s profile, they can ask to connect on Snapchat. All actual communication happens through Snapchat, and not on Hoop - but this popular new app still raises lots of red flags for young users.
Parent & educator training app
What is the Hoop app?
- You must log into Hoop with a valid Snapchat account. The Hoop app is built on the Snapchat platform (but is not owned by Snapchat)
- Hoop users swipe through profiles to find new people to connect with on Snapchat
- On each profile the Hoop user can either : push an “X” and go to the next profile or push the Snapchat icon to ask them to connect on Snapchat
- The app is rated 12+ in the iOS App Store and “T” for teen in Google Play
- Users only see potential matches in their age group
- Adults can’t see profiles of users under 18 and teens can’t see adults
- However, users can easily edit their age at any time to connect with strangers of all ages
- Hoop users spend “Diamonds” to make new connections
- You can earn extra Diamonds by sharing a Hoop referral code, rating the app on the App Store, taking surveys, adding Hoop profiles to Snapchat, and through other virtual tasks
The Hoop app became one of the most downloaded apps for January 2020
But then Hoop reveals its savvy virality and monetization strategy. Rather than being able to endlessly “swipe right” and approach people, Hoop limits your asks by making you spend its in-app “diamonds” currency to reach out. After about 10 requests to chat, you’ll have to earn more diamonds. TechCrunch
Why should parents care about Hoop?
- Since users can easily change their ages on the Hoop app, students could connect with strangers of all ages
- Users are encouraged to log in every day and make as many connections as possible to earn more Diamonds, which could contribute to excessive screen time
- Since users are encouraged to take surveys to earn Diamonds, there are also privacy concerns with sharing personal information
What can parents do?
- If your teen is using Hoop, have a discussion with them about the dangers of connecting with strangers
- Explain to your children that sharing their information with people they don’t know in real life is never safe
- Be aware of the app icons your student has on their phone and research the icons you don’t know to become familiar with them
Conclusion
The Hoop rewards young users for logging on every day, connecting with strangers, and for giving out personal information. Smart Social does not consider it a safe app for students. You can find age-appropriate apps in our Popular App Guide for Parents and Teachers.
Become a member or log in to learn more on this topic
This is great info, thanks for giving me some ideas on how to start a dialogue with my teen!
Sharon M.
Parent VIP Member
Josh's presentation about social media was unbelievably fantastic. Our students learned so much about what kids should and shouldn't be doing. The fact that it is such a thoughtful process made it all worthwhile.
Director of College Advising
Educator Webinar Attendee
This webinar is a very helpful eye-opener on the apps that are popular with my students.
Irene C.
Educator Webinar Attendee
Join Our Next Live Parent Q&A Events (and earn a $5 Starbucks gift card)*
%20(1).jpg)
Optimize Parental Controls: Balancing Safety & Privacy for Families
Understand how to set up parental controls and monitor your students without being intrusive.
Sneaky Ways Video Apps Keep Teens Watching
Join this live parent night event and find out what tricks video apps are using to keep your kids watching
.jpg)
Optimize Parental Controls: Balancing Safety & Privacy for Families
Understand how to set up parental controls and monitor your students without being intrusive.
*Only for families in partner school districts or individual paid VIP members: to receive a gift card, simply attend the live event, join in the activities, and your family will be eligible to earn one gift card per year (while supplies last).
.jpg)
.jpg)
Become a Very Informed Parent (VIP) to get our social media suggestions in your email every Tuesday & Thursday.
Hello, I'm Josh, the founder of SmartSocial.com. Protect your family by taking my 1 minute quiz
This quiz will help you understand how safe your family is
Schools & Districts: Partner with us to protect your community online
Our remote presentations (and website) teach over a million students each year how to shine online. We teach students how their accounts can be used to create a portfolio of positive accomplishments that impress colleges and employers.
Join Our Smart Social Podcast
each week on iTunes
With over 240 episodes, Josh Ochs interviews psychologists, therapists, counselors, teachers, and parents while showing you how to navigate social media to someday shine online.
Listen on: