By Kotie Geldenhuys
Photos/images courtesy of Unsplash
Dating apps are popular for single people seeking new relationships and potential love, but few realise that child predators also exploit these platforms. In some cases, paedophiles use these apps to target single parents by building trust with adults to access their children. This emerging threat often goes unnoticed by many parents until it’s too late.
Mobile dating applications such as Tinder and Grindr have become a common way for people to form social, romantic and sexual connections. The popularity of these apps reflects the omnipresence of smartphones and the everyday reliance on the Internet for communication and relationship-building. While meeting new people online has become widely accepted, there are growing concerns over the potential risks, particularly regarding sexual and violent victimisation.
Several cases around the world illustrate the dangers. In 2019, New Zealand saw the conviction of a man who had murdered Grace Millane, a 21-year-old British backpacker, following their first Tinder date.
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[This is only an extract of an article published in Servamus: May 2026. This article is available for purchase.]