Badoo
Adults-only dating app uses location to match nearby people.
Parents say
Based on 8 reviews
Common Sense is a nonprofit organization. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free.
Badoo
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this app.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Badoo is an adults-only app for online dating-style social networking. With more than 200 million users worldwide, the app (and companion desktop version) identifies the location of a user by tracking his or her device's location and then matches pictures and profiles of potentially thousands of people the user could contact within the surrounding area. There are many options to pay for subscriptions and other in-app purchases. The developer's terms of use clearly state that Badoo is not for teens, nor should a photo of anyone who is not an adult be posted -- even photos that include children with an adult/parent user.
Community Reviews
Report this review
Badoo
Report this review
What’s It About?
Register for a free account on BADOO with a Facebook account or an email address. Create a profile with a photo and answer profile questions. Select options of who you want to meet (age, gender) and why (dating, friendship). If you do not turn on location services, there are essentially no options. Location services must be activated before you begin to see other users. Tap on photos; answer "Yes," "Maybe," or "No" to meeting up; send and respond to users' messages; list favorites; and more. Badoo is an adults-only social-networking dating tool.
Is It Any Good?
Badoo is a giant, worldwide social-networking site. Countless pictures of people will appear for browsing when a user registers (with messages such as "806,941 people in your area want to see what you look like and find out more about you"). Even if those people aren't all necessarily nearby, some of them likely are and they will know where you are. The user interface is orderly and easy to understand, although it seems to push people toward in-app purchasing options and inviting friends.
Badoo's app store description says it is "100 percent safe and secure," but the app's developers indicate they do not monitor and are not responsible for content posted. During this review, photos of users who appeared to be under 18 were observed. Badoo has been cited in reports as having problems with privacy, falsified accounts, and money scammers. It is not intended, safe, or appropriate for teens.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why (for legal and safety reasons) teens are prohibited from creating accounts on social-networking services, such as Badoo, that explicitly state they're for adults only.
For alternatives, check out Common Sense's Social-Networking Apps for Teens list.
App Details
- Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android, Kindle Fire
- Pricing structure: Free (You can buy optional subscription packs, "super powers," and contacts-limit increases via in-app purchases ($1.99 to $39.99). Some are auto-renew or auto top up.)
- Release date: June 17, 2014
- Category: Social Networking
- Publisher: Badoo Software
- Version: 3.6.2
- Minimum software requirements: iOS 7.0 or later; Android varies with device.
- Last updated: January 23, 2019
Our Editors Recommend
-
Messenger
Teens connect instantly to contacts; best with guidance.
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate