The Monkey app is a popular app that encourages users to have 15-second videos with strangers. Chatting with strangers is a red flag for students participating in this type of communication. 

In this guide you will learn 1) what is the Monkey app and why students might like to try this type of app, 2) the dangers of live video chat and talking to strangers, 3) tips for families to talk about this app, tips to help students find safer apps, and suggestions for keeping your kids safer online. 

Parent & educator training video

In this video parents and educators will learn

(Click on the three lines or a blue dot in the progress bar to skip to a chapter)

1. What is Monkey chat app?

2. Where is it available and what is it rated?

3. Why should parents care about Monkey?

4. Why do kids want to use Monkey?

5. What can parents do?

What is the Monkey App?

• Monkey connects users with strangers via 15-second video chats with new people around the world
• The primary use of Monkey is to be randomly paired with strangers for a 15-second video chat by swiping through “Cards”
• Similar apps/websites: Omegle, Emerald Chat,  Chatroulette, RandoChat, AddChat, Fachat, Ablo, OmeTV, etc.)
• Users see the user name, age, and location of the other user before connecting with them in the 15-second video
• If anyone wants to video connect for longer than 15 seconds instead of switching to a new person, they can click on the 🕒 time button. Both must click on the time button for the chat to extend past 15 seconds
• Users can use the DUO mod (2P) to share a link to invite a friend to chat directly

• Knock Knocks are text chats with strangers that stay open for only 24 hours
• Students can post a “Moment” for all of their followers to see
• Users earn “Coins” by using the app or purchasing a membership, which are then used to unlock full match profiles and filter the “random” chats by different demographics (like gender preference)
• Teens can connect their Instagram and/or Snapchat accounts to their Monkey profile to help random strangers connect with them outside Monkey

What is the Monkey app rated? 

Apple App store: Apple removed the app in their store likely due to many reviews about inappropriate behavior and minors on the app (Source: Distractify). (However it is possible to use Monkey on an Apple device by visiting monkey.cool in a web browser, and it looks/acts like the app on iOS devices)

Google Play: T (Teen)

From the Monkey app's creators:

Monkey Community Guidelines: Users must be 18+

Privacy Policy

Why do students want to be on the Monkey video chat app?

• Students think it is fun to meet strangers and make "new friends" or they think "cool people" use it
• Some have heard they can look for their favorite celebs in the connections
• Students might think they are safe using anonymous accounts and information
• Students already using the app might convince their friends it's the place to be
• Some may want to share amazing moments to gain online comments and popularity thinking they are building their self-confidence
• Teens might think of it as a dating app as it is marketed to “meet your crush"

Why should parents & educators care? 

• Randomly connecting with strangers makes it easy for teens to be targeted by predators. Any app that encourages students to connect with strangers online can be very dangerous
• Sharing your location with any stranger online could be dangerous, especially for kids who might reveal other identifying information without knowing how it can be used against them
• Content with bullying, bad language, and nudity is common on the app despite their claim of 24/7 content moderation and “self-governing” reporting processes. The app runs on user-contributed content (Source: Monkey)
• ~ Other users are likely to ask your kids for inappropriate photos or video
• Students might think they are having authentic conversations, but need reminders about what makes a friendship authentic
• Very little age verification is conducted when signing up other than self-selecting a birth date 
• There is no way to verify that the person you are making a connection with is actually the age and gender they’ve indicated in their profile
• Sharing an Instagram or Snapchat username through a Monkey profile connects strangers directly to other social networking accounts that students may not think of as a place strangers contact them

What can parents & educators do?

• Ask your student if they have downloaded or used the website
• ~If so, have a conversation about why they are interested in chatting with strangers to help understand their point of view
• Teach students to be very cautious of the information they share online, even if they post anonymously. Remind students to never share personal information like their real name, phone number, email address, or physical address, especially with strangers

• Remind students to never give their other social media account information to strangers (like their Snapchat or Instagram, even if they think they are talking to a friend or someone their own age)
• Because Monkey isn’t available as an app in the Apple App Store and users can easily use it from a web browser on any device, consider blocking the monkey.cool and monkey.app websites on your student’s device and check their history to know if they have visited the site
• Use the SmartSocial 100+ Teen Apps list to help your student find an app in the Green or Gray zone with a safer environment

Key terms/slang about Monkey video chat app

• Cards - where the 15-second video chats happen
• Knock Knock - connection with other users through text chats open for 24 hours 
• DUO - chat with known friends using an invitation code
• Monkey King - Monkey’s support account
• Coins (formerly Bananas) - the currency used in the app
• DM - Direct messages

Conclusion

The Monkey app makes it easy for predators to target victims. SmartSocial recommends parents talk with their kids to see if they have used it, why they like it and how they use it, and about the dangers of talking to strangers on the internet, even if they think they are anonymous.

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