Is Cash App Safe? A Cash App Review for Parents

Harmful Content 😲

Since Cash App isn’t social media, there’s less risk of your child encountering harmful or explicit content. All transactions are automatically private between participants, and Cash App will verify with you before you pay someone who’s not in your contacts. There is a risk of someone writing something explicit in the payment description, but it’s also easy to block users. Users can keep their account completely anonymous by not adding a picture and using a fake name.

Predation 🚨

There’s a limited risk that your child will be targeted by a predator on Cash App, especially if they don’t use a profile photo. 

Fortunately, there’s no direct messaging feature, and users can easily be blocked. Using a sponsored account will let you oversee all of your child’s activity on Cash App and who they transact with.

While your child probably won’t find themselves in trouble on Cash App, money transfer apps are often used in sextortion schemes, and it’s possible for kids to download the app and make payments without verifying their age. This means if your child is being blackmailed, they would be able to make a payment using Cash App without your knowledge.

Privacy 🔒

Cash App uses encryption and fraud detection to help secure payments, and if you pay someone accidently you can sometimes dispute the payment. Cash App Visa cards are FDIC insured up to a certain amount and verifying your identity on the app adds an extra level of security.

All transactions on Cash App are automatically private between participants. While it’s usually wise to use correct information when operating a finance app, users can use a fake name and choose not to add a profile photo to keep their identity anonymous.

Parental Controls ✅

Cash App technically requires users to be over 18 years old unless they have a sponsor, but a minor can still make an account and start making payments without verifying their age. If you are sponsoring your child’s account, you can see all their transactions and limit their spending, but it’s also possible for your child to make an account without you knowing. If you’re worried about this happening, Bark can help you stay in control.

With Bark you can:

• Block Cash App completely, if needed.
• Manage when your child can use Cash App throughout the day.

So, should my kid download it?

If they are using the appropriate sponsored account, sure. Cash App can be a convenient tool, especially for older teens. Sponsoring your child’s account will let you monitor their transactions while your child develops healthy money habits without the risk of overspending.