Safeguarding LGB Youth on Dating Apps

We, the members of Not All Gays, are launching a campaign to address the lack of safeguarding measures on dating apps, which leaves lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) youth exposed to significant risks. Many LGB minors (under 18 years of age), feeling isolated or afraid to come out, turn to dating apps in search of relationships. However, these platforms—designed specifically for creating romantic and sexual connections—often lack robust age verification systems, exposing minors to predatory behavior and exploitation.

We believe that the absence of effective age verification on dating apps is in direct contravention of Article 6 and Article 23 of the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse, 2007. These articles outline the obligations of states to take measures to prevent sexual exploitation and abuse, including ensuring children are protected from exposure to environments that facilitate harm.

To better understand the prevalence of LGB youth accessing dating apps, we are launching a confidential survey and encouraging LGB individuals to share their experiences anonymously. By gathering this vital information, we aim to:

• Advocate for mandatory, robust age verification measures on dating apps.

• Raise awareness of the risks posed to LGB minors in digital spaces.

• Push for stronger regulations to hold dating platforms accountable for protecting youth.

While this campaign focuses on safeguarding LGB youth on dating apps, we recognize the broader disparities in safeguarding standards for LGB minors in offline spaces, such as youth groups and other support networks. In the future, we will expand our efforts to ensure equal protections for LGB youth across all spaces.

This campaign will culminate in submissions to both EU and national governments, urging them to enforce stronger safeguarding measures on dating apps to prevent children from being exposed to predatory behavior and exploitation.

If you are part of the LGB community and have experiences related to this issue, we encourage you to fill out our survey anonymously. Your voice will play a crucial role in driving change and ensuring that all young people—regardless of their sexual orientation—are equally protected.

Take the survey today and join us in building a safer digital environment for LGB youth. Together, we can hold platforms accountable and advocate for the protections every young person deserves.

Survey deadline is 7th February 2025.