Yellow app described as Tinder for teens

Parents concerned predators could use app for teens as hunting ground

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Parents who haven’t heard of the Yellow app should be warned.

It’s being dubbed a dating app for teens similar to Tinder. All they have to do is swipe right to meet someone new.

The free app is for teenagers 13 years old and up and allows them to meet strangers and make new friends by swiping right if they’re interested.

But concerned parents are calling it Tinder for teens and are worried it's an open door for predators.

“It’s concerning that somebody could be targeting my children through just another social media app,” said Debra Pound, a mother of three.

To show just how easy it is to sign up, News4Jax reporter Crystal Chen created a fake profile, saying she was 13 years old. Without even verifying her birth date, she was able to upload a fake picture.

In just minutes, she was able to connect with and access the photos of teens around her.

“It’s a big red flag for us and parents,” Jacksonville Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Officer Melissa Bujeda said. “Definitely teenagers and young people should not be using this app.”

It's advice that one teen is taking to heart.

“You never know who’s on the other end of the profile, if they're lying about their age,” high school junior Kyambria Maddox said. “You just never know.”

The Sheriff's Office urges parents to be involved in their child’s activities, know their passwords and stay ahead of the game when it comes to social media and online communication.