An application popular with teenagers despite a ban on under-18s
Created in 2014 by the South Korean start-up Hyperconnect and since acquired by Match.com (parent company of Tinder and Grinder), Azar is a dating app for random video chat which lets you video-conference with strangers from all over the world.
Billed as a tool that encourages «authentic human connections», the application, which claims to have fewer than 5 million users in Europe, is officially forbidden to under-18s.
However, as revealed by a survey published by The World, Azar is now widely known and used by miners., They are exposed to sexual content, inappropriate solicitations and violent behaviour.
An invisible danger that flies under the radar
Interviewed by The World, Véronique Béchu, Director of the Observatoire des Violences Numériques faites aux Mineurs de the Association
e-Childhood / 3018, is sounding the alarm:
«When we carry out raising awareness in colleges or from high schools, If you take a look at this site, you'll see that this is an application that is well known to minors. What's dangerous is that it has no visibility outside this field of users. As a result, to date there has been very little prevention of the use of this communication channel, and virtually no warnings have been issued, because it goes way under the radar».»
This lack of visibility for parents and professionals makes Azar particularly worrying. Unlike other, more high-profile platforms, it is still not covered by prevention campaigns, even though it exposes young people to major risks.
Risks associated with content and moderation on applications
Sexual content everywhere and insufficient moderation on Azar
In his investigation, The World interview with a 16-year-old schoolgirl: «Azar is a bit like TikTok, but with cameras rolling. Each time you come across a different person to chat to live. And most of the time, it's not about flower bouquets... It's about guys jerking off.».
Si Azar claims to have an artificial intelligence moderation system capable of detecting sexual behaviour, the reality is quite different. The journalists themselves tested the application and were quickly confronted with scenes of live masturbation. In practice, many users manage to get round these devices, by playing with camera angles, shadows, sounds or written chat.
Even more worryingly, one young user described being approached by an individual offering to 300 in exchange for nude photos, This clearly illustrates the risk of sexual predation on the platform.
A theoretical ban... easily circumvented
Although the application displays a warning prohibiting access by minors, all you have to do is declare yourself to be of legal age when you register to access video chats. A flaw widely identified by teenagers themselves.
The company says it is now working on strengthening its systems, in particular through a real-time facial verification designed to confirm the age of users, which is due to be rolled out in the European Union by 2026. In the meantime, miners remain at risk.
Information, prevention and protection: an urgent challenge
Faced with this new digital danger that still escape collective vigilance, raising awareness among parents, educators and young people is becoming a matter of urgency. The Observatory of the e-Enfance / 3018 Association is continuing its work in the field to raise awareness of these platforms, to alert people to their dangers and to remind them of the solutions available to help them.
In the event of a shocking situation or danger online, Young people and their parents can contact 3018, a free, confidential national number available 7 days a week.
Read the full article: Michaël Szadkowski and Morgane Tual - 17 January 2026 - Le Monde
