Before we get on to Hoop, we need to talk about Snapchat – the social media phenomenon that Hoop integrates with to connect people around the world.
Since its humble beginnings in a Stanford dorm room, Snapchat has amassed over 406 million daily active users sending more than 5 billion snaps every day. The platform introduced the world to disappearing photos and ‘stories’ – a now standard feature of Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and other platforms.
As no shock to parents whatsoever, Snapchat is enormously popular with the younger generation. Based on time spent, Snapchat is the most-used communication app for children who spend a global average of 74 minutes a day snapping and chatting. It’s also the communication app most likely to be blocked by parents.
So what about Hoop, the dating app-style platform that connects Snapchat users?
What is the Hoop app?
Hoop was created in 2020 and promises that users can “make new friends all over the world.” Well, friends that have Snapchat at least.
Hoop integrates with Snapchat and allows users to view the profiles of Snapchatters around the world and connect with them while boosting their own friend list. It features a dating app-style, swipe system and if a user likes what they see, they can send them a friend request.
How does Hoop work?
To start on Hoop, you’ll need to link your Snapchat profile, enter a few personal details like age and gender, and choose a couple of pictures to feature. You can then review profiles of other users and hit either ‘X’ to dismiss them or the Snapchat logo, which sends them a request to connect. In turn, others can see your profile and send you friend requests.
The profiles shown will be a mix of genders with ages close to yours. But, with no birth date verification, there’s little stopping ages from being falsified – one of several red flags for parents that we’ll get into later.
Although the app is free to download, users need ‘diamonds’ to send friend requests, review previous users, and customize their profiles. Diamonds can be bought and, similar to Snapstreaks, Hoop users can earn diamonds by opening the app daily, sharing their profile, watching videos, and more.
Is Hoop a dating app?
In an interview shortly after it launched, Lucas Gervais, one of Hoop’s creators, stated “We are not a meeting or dating app. We simply offer an easy way to make new Snap friends.”
However, it hasn’t been described as ‘Tinder meets Snapchat’ for nothing.
Similar to the world’s top dating app, Hoop uses the swipe method to approve potential connections; and as Tinder isn’t available for people under 18, Hoop could be a viable alternative for the underage.
You don’t have to spend too long on the app to see that many use Hoop for this reason. Profiles detailing relationship statuses and sexual preferences are common.
How old do you have to be to use Hoop?
Users as young as 13 can use Hoop. Under 17s need permission from a parent or legal representative before they can create an account.
Is the Hoop app safe for teens?
Hoop acknowledges that users might be exposed to risks while using the app and they have several safety measures in place, including:
- No chat features. Users can only send friend requests
- Users must provide their real date of birth. If the DOB is found to be false, the account will be terminated.
- If an underage profile is identified or a profile is reported as underaged by the community, the account is deleted.
- Users aged 13 to 17 are not allowed to create an account or use Hoop without the permission of their legal representative.
- Hoop performs image and text analysis to prevent users from posting inappropriate content such as explicit language, nudity, or sexual content.
- Users can report inappropriate content or activity and block other users.
Despite these measures, we’ve found flaws in the app that could expose teens to inappropriate content and potential threats like sextortion, scams, and predation.
Users can lie about their age or create fake profiles
Hoop might have an age restriction but it lacks a proper age verification process. Therefore, there’s little stopping users from faking their dates of birth or creating bogus profiles.
Children can connect with adults
Although users only see others who are around the same age, this data can be falsified leading to a worrying chance of adults mixing with minors.
No parental controls
Despite the young user base, Hoop has no built-in parental controls. Fortunately, an all-in-one, parental control app like Qustodio can bridge this gap by blocking or limiting your teen’s access to the Hoop app.
Hoop: Qustodio’s safety recommendation
After testing it ourselves and listening to parents’ concerns about Hoop, we don’t recommend the app for children under 17.
We believe that the inappropriate content that’s prevalent on profiles and the dating element of the app make it unsuitable for minors. But the biggest red flag for us is the lack of proper age verification procedures making the threat of adults connecting with children worryingly real.
However, if you feel your teen can be trusted to use Hoop responsibly, here are a few Qustodio wellbeing tips:
1. Only for 17+
Hoop allows users as young as 13 to sign up, but in our opinion, this is too young to be exposed to the app’s potential dangers.
Based on this and parents’ reviews, we recommend that the app should not be used by teens under 17.
2. Talk with your teen
To encourage a healthy, life-long relationship with technology, we always recommend having open discussions with your children about their online habits. So, give them the space to open up about who they’re connecting with on Hoop and make sure they’re aware of the risks involved.
A digital family agreement can help you create a safe space to talk about technology together.
3. Use parental controls
Hoop doesn’t have in-built parental controls – but families can use a parental control app like Qustodio to help safeguard their teens from the app’s potential risks.
With the help of Qustodio, you can…
- Block Hoop from being opened
- Receive an alert when your child first uses the app
- Set time limits for its usage
- Pause the internet to immediately halt access to the app
Hoop is one of many apps out there that have the potential to expose your child to online threats. Safety in the digital age requires a proactive and informed approach, and your involvement is crucial in protecting your family from danger and encouraging healthy digital habits.
