In a recent move, tech giants Apple and Google have taken down on Tuesday the controversial Wizz app from their respective online stores following growing concerns about the safety of teenagers using the platform.
The decision comes in the wake of reports highlighting the potential risks associated with the app, particularly in terms of privacy breaches and sextortion threats. Sextortion is a type of exploitation wherein the perpetrator threatens to disclose sexually compromising information, such as explicit private images or videos of the victim, unless the victim accedes to specific demands.
Apple decided to boot Wizz following communication from the National Center on Sexual Exploitation expressing concerns about the app's purported involvement in sextortion scams, as revealed in a set of emails examined by NBC News.
Google has also corroborated the suspension of the Wizz app from Google Play on the same day as Apple, citing their child endearment policy which prohibits the use of apps that endanger children.
In a public statement posted on X this Wednesday, the National Center on Sexual Exploitation expressed gratitude to the stores for taking action against Wizz.
"We are glad to THANK @AppStore and @GooglePlay for booting the Wizz app from their app stores after our outreach to them - this app connected children with strangers, leading to grooming and abuse. This step of social responsibility is vital for online safety!" National Center on Sexual Exploitation wrote.
Meanwhile, Wizz stated that both Apple and Google are currently inquiring for additional information about their app.
The Wizz team, according to the statement, is actively collaborating with the respective companies, working closely to elucidate the extensive safeguards implemented on their platform for users. The company expressed optimism about resolving this matter expeditiously.
The controversy surrounding Wizz is not entirely new. Reports suggest that the app had been under scrutiny for its potential to facilitate inappropriate interactions among teenagers.
However, recent incidents related to sextortion catapulted the concerns to the forefront, triggering the decisive action by Apple and Google.
App's Controversial Nature Raises Eyebrows
Wizz, frequently promoted as a 'friend-finding app' tailored for teenagers, is described in its Apple Store listing as a "safe space" for users to connect with new friends from around the globe.
Despite positioning itself as a platform for meeting "new friends," many teenagers perceive and utilize Wizz as a dating app, possibly due to its resemblance to Tinder, a widely recognized dating application.
Similar to Tinder, Wizz users encounter profiles of others and have the option to either swipe them away or initiate a conversation by swiping.
The app has become a source of controversy, primarily attributed to concerns regarding its perceived lack of stringent security measures and the potential exploitation of its adolescent user demographic.
Parents and cybersecurity experts alike have expressed apprehension over the app's alleged susceptibility to unsavory elements and the potential for misuse.
In response to inquiries about reported safety concerns related to the app, Wizz issued a press release.
"Wizz understands parents' concerns about their teenagers' online safety. We are committed to providing a safe platform for everyone, including young adults and teenagers," CEO Aymeric Roffé said.
According to a report from NBC News, the concerns center around the ease with which individuals with malicious intent could exploit the app's features, putting teenagers at risk of inappropriate content exposure and even instances of sextortion.
Nonetheless, Wizz claimed that the app's moderation process effectively blocks the exchange of sexually explicit photos among users.
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