What is the Tango App and is it Safe?

When parents think of video apps, YouTube and TikTok usually come to mind first. But there’s another platform that deserves attention: Tango. Unlike typical video apps, Tango is built around livestreaming — with interactive features that connect strangers, invite private chats, and even suggest romantic matches. While Tango promotes itself as fun and social, the real-time interactions can create serious risks for kids.

What is Tango?

• Tango is a livestreaming platform where users broadcast themselves in real time to audiences worldwide
• Accounts are public by default, though Tango does offer an option to set them to private
• Tango features live chat alongside streams so viewers can comment and interact instantly
• Private messaging and one-on-one video chats between users are allowed
• Tango markets itself as a place to “meet new people” and even find potential romance
• Users can purchase virtual gifts with real money and send to streamers

What is Tango rated?

• The platform lists its rating as 17+
• Owned by TangoME, Inc. (based in Mountain View, CA)‍
• Terms of Use‍
• Privacy Policy

‍Why do students want to be on Tango?

• Kids can meet people from all over the world and learn more about their everyday lives
• Users can send virtual gifts similar to "likes" to streamers whose content they enjoy—though these gifts are in-app purchases
• Livestreamers can earn money if they receive gifts from users
• However, popularity has waned in the U.S., especially after it was banned in 2024 by iOS and Google Play for child-safety issues. Today the majority of users are in India

Why should parents & educators care?

• Stranger contact is built in: Kids can interact with unknown adults in real time — first in livestream chat, and then through private messaging or video calls
• Limited age verification: Though the platform states it is designed for people 17+ up, there is no age verification
• Privacy concerns: The platform encourages oversharing by rewarding streamers who stay online longer and share more personal details to keep viewers engaged.‍
• Pressure around money: Viewers are encouraged to buy gifts for streamers. Kids may feel pressured to spend money for attention, or pressured to earn money by streaming more
• Romantic matching: Tango markets itself as a place where “your next romance could be just around the corner,” opening the door for risky conversations between teens and adults
• ‍Content moderation gaps: While Tango uses moderators and AI, livestreams happen in real time — meaning inappropriate content or harmful comments can appear before they’re removed

How to talk with your child about Tango

• Ask open-ended questions: “What do you think about places on the internet where strangers can message or video chat with you?”
• Discuss privacy: Remind your child that livestreaming can share more than they realize, including their location, habits, or background details.
• Talk about money pressure: Ask, “How would you feel if someone gave you money or gifts online? What do you think they’d expect in return?”
• Practice refusal skills: While Tango is not an appropriate place for kids in general, talking about it can provide an opportunity to talk about saying "no" to strangers on any app who invite your child to move into a private chat

Conclusion

While Tango might look like just another streaming app, its real-time chats, private messaging, and romantic matching features make it especially risky for kids and teens. By understanding how the app works and talking openly about the risks, parents can help their children make safer choices and avoid unwanted interactions with strangers

Additional Resources for Parents

Parents' Ultimate Guide to Snapchat

Netflix Safety Guide: What Parents Need to Know

BIGO LIVE App: What Parents Need to Know