Study: Some kids are already using online dating apps at age 11

Most online dating apps have a minimum age requirement of 18 years, but a new study shows that a small number of 11 to 12 year-olds are using them. — AFP Relaxnews

US and Canadian researchers have been studying the use of dating sites by minors, and have observed that some preteens, particularly those aged 11 and 12, are already using these platforms or applications to find love. Their findings raise questions about the risks associated with such use.

While most dating applications require users to be over 18 to register, a new study by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco and the University of Toronto – among others – reveals that children and preteens aged 11 and 12 are already surfing these sites to find love.