From Viral Sensation to App Store Bans: the Timeline of Monkey App Scandals
By Maya Lin-Takahashi
The death blow to Monkey’s presence on mobile storefronts arrived in November 2019. A landmark investigation published by The Washington Post revealed that Apple’s curated App Store harbored extensive environments where minors faced exploitation. The reporters analyzed thousands of user reviews, identifying more than 1,500 explicit complaints detailing sexual misconduct across six random-chat applications, with Monkey positioned front and center.
Reviews written by children, parents, and teachers described non-consensual masturbation, demands for explicit images, and aggressive grooming. One review noted a child being exposed to adult genitalia within their very first minute on the service.
The findings completely dismantled Apple's public narrative that the App Store was a "safe and trusted place." Apple had collected its standard platform fees and awarded high visibility to applications that violated its own safety rules. Following the report, both Apple and Google took immediate action, removing Monkey and terminating its developer credentials for systematic violations of mobile app store guidelines concerning user-generated content and child endangerment.
Maya is a hardware enthusiast who tests and reviews smart home devices, smartphones, wearables, and audio gear. She focuses on practical consumer value and build quality.
