Apple and Google have removed the Wizz app, targeted at teens, from their app stores due to concerns about sextortion scams. The app, which allowed users as young as 13 to connect with strangers, has been linked to instances of financial sextortion against minors. The National Center on Sexual Exploitation praised the removal, emphasizing the importance of online safety. The app's parent company, Voodoo, has not addressed the sextortion claims and stated that the removal is due to a technical issue.
The Wizz app, marketed as a "Gen Z social app," has been removed from app stores following controversies in 2023, including concerns about its user base of minors and lack of safety protocols. Users reported technical issues such as restrictions on sending links and inability to update the app, leading to its complete removal from app stores. The app's support team cited a "technical hiccup" and assured users of efforts to restore functionality, but the timing of the removal amid ongoing controversies raises suspicions.
The Wizz app, a friend-finding platform for teenagers, has reportedly been used for sextortion, with over 100 reports of minors allegedly being targeted. The app, which allows users as young as 13 to join, lacks parental controls and has seen a surge in sextortion reports. Experts have raised concerns about the app's safety system and its potential for predatory activity, highlighting the broader rise in sextortion schemes targeting minors online. While Wizz claims to provide a safe platform, critics question the effectiveness of its age verification process and urge parents and schools to be vigilant about the app's potential dangers.
