More than 5 million people across the world are using the new social media app, Wizz-Make New Friends.  With no parental controls and few privacy settings, there are a few red flags parents will learn in this Wizz app review. 

‍Parent & educator video lesson

(This parent and educator video is best to be shown to adults)

What is the Wizz - Make New Friends app?

• Wizz is a free, social media platform designed to help users “instantly make new connections and discuss with new friends” (Source: Wizz Terms of Use)
• Wizz users set up their own profiles with pictures, music, and interests and then swipe through strangers from across the world to connect with
• Live chat with strangers is available through the app 

Top Concerns of Wizz

• There are no built-in parental control settings and few privacy restrictions are available allowing users to easily encounter inappropriate language and mature subject matter, and access to predators and scammers
• One of the Wizz app’s top features is a Live Chat option (one on one or group chat) in which students can instantly chat with other users (or strangers) from around the world

• Students must be 13 years of age or older to register for an account, but the facial recognition used to verify age is not always accurate and teens can easily become friends with adults

What can parents & educators do?

• Download Wizz on your own device, create an account for yourself, and use it for a couple of days to see if it aligns with your family’s values
• Wizz is listed in the SmartSocial Red Zone.  Visit our 130+ Popular Teen App list with your student to find alternative ideas that may better fit your student’s need with fewer potential risks
• If you decide to allow your student to use Wizz, work as a family to adjust the privacy settings and discuss that not everyone they meet online is who they say they are and they should never go to another site to chat in “private,” give a stranger personal information, or meet online friends in person

Additional information about Wizz

Wizz is for positive vibes only! If you post inappropriate content, you'll be automatically banned. - Wizz marketing

• Wizz requires either a Google or an Apple account to register
• ~Wizz uses a facial recognition age verification system to verify age and group users in appropriate age groups, but this is not always dependable and teens can sometimes encounter and become friends with adults.  A SmartSocial researcher was able to use a selfie of an 11-year-old to successfully register as a 13-year-old
• Wizz moderates all written content submitted to the platform and can reject, refuse, or delete any user content or username that breaks any of the Rules of Acceptable Use.  This is not foolproof though, and mature content can still be found on Wizz

• With the new "community" feature, students can find friends with similar interests
• Advertisements are prevalent on the app.  The Wizz Privacy Policy says all ads on the platform are made suitable for minors and cannot include reference to underwear, alcoholic beverages, tobacco, dating, drugs and supplements, “get rich quick”, finance, politics, religion, sex, significant skin exposure, weight loss, and more (Source: Wizz Privacy Policy)
• There are in-app purchases available from $.99 to $49.99, which can be blocked through your device’s parental control settings for purchases
• The app rewards users with additional virtual coins for daily usage which can create an addictive need for students to check Wizz often

More tips for parents

• Create a Family Media Agreement WITH your student to discuss appropriate content and topics to share or post on Wizz or any other online platform and regularly communicate with them about their overall social media and screen time use
• Consider using built-in parental control features on your student’s devices to block access to Wizz if you do not want them to access the app

Privacy/settings recommendations

Location setting

• Make sure the location setting of the app is set to Worldwide
• Tap on the profile picture
• Tap the gear icon

• Under “My account”, tap “Location”
• Make sure it is set to “Worldwide”

To limit friend preferences to “Mostly Verified”

• From Settings, scroll down to “Find New Friends preferences”
• Turn on “Mostly Verified” 

To limit visibility

• From Settings, scroll down to “Visibility”
• Turn off “Show my State”
• Turn off “Visible in Find new friends”
• ~If this is turned off, the account will be in "Ghost mode" and students will not be able to swipe through other accounts

What others are saying about the Wizz app

What is the Wizz app rated?

Apple App Store: 12+

Google Play Store: T(Teen)

Owned by WIZZ SAS, France

Privacy Policy

Terms of Use

This app suffers the same problems as others. Very high fakes, scammers, adult links, creepers, and ghosts. Reports don't seem to do anything. Blocking doesn't work. The same person uses a different name but same picture. The coins thing is not useful, daily rewards are pointless, and I wouldn't pay a dime to use any of this. Maybe in the future this app will get better but the developers need to be more involved in weeding out fakes - Coinin, Google Play Store review

I’ve had Wizz for quite some time now and I have got so many new friends and made new relationships with people but there are some weird people that I have came across. I have never felt more uncomfortable with people who ask inappropriate questions. They are thirsty for nudes, people lying about their age, and so much more. I decided to keep the app because its fun and you can make so many new friends but, I am so thankful that we have an option to accept or decline the messages although. You never know what people are texting you for there are some very sweet people on there and they are fun to talk to but the boys have gotten out of hand. I have reported them multiple times and blocked them but they aren’t stopping there. They do it to other girls. One day I was on Wizz and on the phone with my friend when I got a secret chat so I decided to open it was an older man lying about his age I decided to become friends with him we talked for a few days before I noticed he was trying to get some personal information out of me so I then blocked him forgetting he had my Snapchat. He went on Snapchat threatening me. I then blocked and reported him on both apps . And the same man did the same thing to my friend . I do love Wizz but it’s gotten to a point where I'm ready to delete it . Please make sure that you guys are actually looking at chats people are sending - Zaniyah, Apple App Store review

Why do students want to be on Wizz

• Students are interested in meeting and connecting with others that may share their unique interests
• Many use Wizz as a dating app to meet new potential romantic interests or even friends
• Students may hear their friends talking about Wizz and the exciting things they see on the app at school or on other social media and be curious to find out what the site has to offer
• Wizz marketing claims “it is a safe space where you can let loose and meet new friends from all over the world,” and many teens may find this attractive

Key terms/slang about Wizz

• WiCoins - The virtual currency that allows users to view more pictures and information on others' bios.  WiCoins can be won through daily use of the app or purchased for real money

Conclusion

Wizz-Make New Friends has been in the top 10 most popular social networking apps in the Apple App Store and your teens may be asking for it.  There are a few red flags with this app that should be considered before downloading. Parents must consider the lack of parental controls, the unreliability of the age verification system, location-sharing features, and access to strangers via live chat as concerns before allowing students to use this app.  

More resources for parents, students, & educators

Positive Impact of Social Media & Screen Time (What Students, Parents, & Educators Need to Know)

25 Positive Effects of Social Media for Students

Negative Effects of Social Media & Screen Time: What Parents, Educators, & Students Need to Know

Negative Effects of Social Media on Mental Health

Listen to Rachel and Andrea discuss the Wizz app in this episode of the MomTalk podcast

Best Chat Apps: What Parents, Educators, & Students Need to Know