New research from the 5Rights Foundation looks at Walkie Talkie – All Talk, an app with more than 10 million downloads on Google Play. Researchers found that adult strangers could contact children by default. Here is what parents need to know.
In case you missed it: Digital Parenting October update
This short roundup covers the latest online safety news stories parents should know:
What is Walkie Talkie – All Talk?
Walkie Talkie is an audio chat app. Instead of messaging people you know, it connects you with strangers around the world for live voice conversations. You can browse public chatrooms by topic, such as gaming or TV shows, or have one-to-one calls with people you have never met. Think of it like a CB radio on your phone. Push a button, and you are talking to whoever is listening.
What does the age rating say?
On Google Play the app is rated “Teen”. On the Apple App Store it is listed as 12+. That means the stores consider it suitable for young teenagers. However, nothing stops a younger child from downloading it.
What did researchers find in the Walkie Talkie app?
5Rights set up test accounts for a 13-year-old and a 16-year-old. Researchers found:
- Adults could see and contact child accounts by default, with no warning.
- A “chat roulette” feature paired users with strangers at random, with no clear age-range limits.
- There was no real age check. Anyone could type in any date of birth.
- Language filters missed offensive slurs, and conversations about self-harm, suicide and drugs went uninterrupted.
- Reporting tools were hard to find. The app could still recommend users that others had reported for unwanted behaviour.
- The app also showed children inappropriate advertising, including for an adult-presenting “AI girlfriend” service.
These are the researchers’ findings about how the app is designed, not a claim that it will harm every child. However, the pattern matches the original Chatroulette site. A child and an adult stranger, paired at random, talking alone.
See the Walkie Talkie app explained
This guide for parents shows what the app looks like and who your child could be talking to:
How strangers make contact with children online
For a deeper look at how predators approach children on apps like this, watch our explainer. You can also read our guide to online grooming on TikTok and Snapchat.
Advice for parents
- First, check the phone. Look for Walkie Talkie – All Talk in your child’s apps. If it is there, start with a calm conversation rather than confiscation.
- Also, ask who they talk to. The whole point of the app is talking to strangers. A simple “who did you chat with today?” opens the door.
- Do not rely on the age rating. A “Teen” or “12+” label describes content, not who can contact your child, because researchers found no real age check at all.
- Most importantly, agree a rule for stranger contact. If someone they do not know gets personal, asks for secrecy, photos, or a move to another app, they should tell you, and they will not be in trouble.
- Finally, report concerns. If you are worried about an adult contacting a child online, you can report it to CEOP in the UK.
Read the full study on the 5Rights Foundation website: The return of Chat Roulette? New study reveals risks of app marketed to teens but open to strangers