Remember that flirting app Skout that got banned a month or so ago? It was being used by creepy older dudes and sexual predators to find younger girls and guys to have sex with–essentially, they were using Skout as a statutory rape tool. As a result of all of the scary, shady stuff surrounding the app, Skout blocked teens from using the service.

Well, we’ve got some good news for those of you who missed it–it’s back and running for minors.

Skout runs a separate service for teens to chat, flirt, and make dates from its adult app. Skout promises new safeguards to prevent people from lying about their ages to pose as teens when they’re actually old pervy guys. One of the safeguards is by linking Skout to your Facebook account. Both Skout and Facebook screen for sexual predators, so this will combine and cross both screening processes.

Other safeguards involve blocking teens from contacting one another from within a 100-mile radius–which would make it a lot harder for you to hook up with PlayboyLuva4322 at the mall next weekend. You also won’t be able to chat privately with anyone you find on the app, either.

But that doesn’t mean it’s flawless: Facebook admits that even with their own security in place that people who are underage (or else lying about their age to look younger) still sneakily find ways to use it. People still lie on the Internet (and in real life!), so you’re never really 100 percent safe. Which begs the question … Even with the new safety precautions in place, if you need Facebook to use it, what’s the point of Skout?

Would you sign up for Skout now that you can’t send private messages? Do you think Skout is on the right track with its safety precautions for teens? Did you miss Skout while teens were banned from it? Tell us in the comments!

Are You Smart About Sexting?

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