How it works
A user browses other profiles to find people they want to ‘match with’. If both users agree a match, they can start video chatting and send DMs (direct messages). Squad Chat is group video chat with friends. A user sets preferences for who they want to meet, such as age range, language and region. They can turn on ‘auto-accept’ so they can instantly chat with a match request without approving it first.
A user can add a profile picture and information such as their hobbies and secrets. They can change their name in the app (e.g. to be anonymous) but cannot change the location associated with their account (e.g. their local city). Matches are limited but a user can buy or earn in-app currency (coins) to get more matches.
The app includes adverts for other apps, including using sexually suggestive imagery. A user can earn coins by watching adverts, including slightly blurred sexual video content. A monthly subscription gives unlimited video matches, a choice of which gender they match with, and no advertising.
Parental controls or safety settings available
Monkey safety settings allow a user to:
• Block friend requests
• Hide their identity in match history
• Hide when they are online (although this also stops them seeing when others are online)
• Block and report other users
Monkey scans text and video chat in real time to try to identify harmful content. Where no face is detected in an incoming video, the video is automatically blurred but a user can turn this off. There are no parental controls as the app is for 18+.
