Internet Hotline’s Warning About Teen Dating Groups Accessible on Social Media

Published: 30 September 2025

The Internet Hotline Legal Assistance Service operated by the Office of the National Media and Infocommunications Authority (NMHH), draws attention to the fact that publicly accessible teen dating groups on social media are frequently exploited by perpetrators to groom and sexually solicit children. Many of these groups, which often count thousands of members, include numerous registered users who have not yet reached the age of 13, with a significant number of users under 10 years old.

In recent weeks, the Internet Hotline has received multiple reports from users concerning teen dating groups predominantly found on Facebook, where minors—often under the minimum registration age of 13—have joined with the intent to socialize. These groups not only attract teenagers but also adults specifically seeking to contact underage individuals looking for partners. This is corroborated by inappropriate, sexually suggestive comments posted beneath photos and posts shared by children. One such example was a group established in 2021, which had nearly 5,000 members by the time it was reported to the Internet Hotline. Within this group, comments containing inappropriate sexual insinuations were made on children’s photos, and in other cases, attempts were made to gain young users’ trust by encouraging private conversations.

As a Trusted Flagger under the Digital Services Act, the Internet Hotline directly contacted Meta’s representatives regarding the reported dating groups, requesting a thorough investigation to assess whether their operation complied with the platform’s community guidelines. Meta found the groups in question to be in violation of their community standards and subsequently removed them following the investigation. The online grooming of children in this manner is not a new phenomenon; it is a typically deliberate strategy whereby an adult masquerading as a peer seeks to gain the trust of a child or adolescent in the digital space with sexual intent, abusing their position of power.

According to the Internet Hotline’s experience, while the online world offers numerous opportunities for young people, it also harbours significant risks. Responsible parental involvement and open, friendly communication with children can help make the digital environment truly safer for them. Safe internet use is not merely a technical issue but requires ongoing dialogue and mindful presence within the family. It is therefore crucial for parents to monitor the online communities their children join and to discuss:

  • the potential risks of online dating,
  • the fact that not everyone online is who they claim to be,
  • how to recognize if someone approaches them with dishonest intentions,
  • what steps to take if an online interaction causes discomfort or alarm.

Should users—including parents and children—encounter suspicious content or platforms facilitating abuse, they are encouraged to report these to the Internet Hotline via the online form available at https://nmhh.hu/internethotline/ or by email at internethotline@internethotline.hu.

Additionally, Facebook’s own reporting tools enable the removal of rule-violating groups, posts, or comments: