Building an app is complex, and sometimes, we fail to consider the consequences and follow practices and restrictions that lead to a high cost. The same thing happened with the Wizz app, which turned out very bad for them, and they suspended it. Building apps like Wizz is a responsibility to secure users’ data, ensure privacy, restrict cyberbullying, and condemn sexism and sextortion.
There are many kinds of apps, including business apps, management apps, budgeting apps, banking apps, entertainment apps, lifestyle and fitness apps, and much more. Apps like Wizz fall under the lifestyle app category. Specifically, Wizz is a message-based networking app for teens that allows people to connect with like-minded people and chat with them worldwide.
Wizz features also have a resemblance to a Tinder-like app. Tinder is a dating app where people connect, chat, and date with like-minded people. These types of apps have a large audience and made $5.34 billion in revenue in 2022. Over 300 million people use dating apps worldwide, with about 20 million paying for premium features.
Somehow, it is a good business model if you launch your dating app in the market. Further, if your mind is to build apps like Wizz then you are at the right place. MMC Global is a leading mobile app development company that provides full-stack mobile app development services with the expertise of almost every tech stack. MMC Global and its team continuously learn from experiences, adapt time-tested processes, and implement for better consequences.
The scenario of the Wizz app is a lesson for those who are going to build apps like Wizz. If you are not aware of what the Wizz app is, why it was suspended by Google Apps and App Store, and what are alternative apps like Wizz, this blog is for you.
What is the Wizz App?
Wizz app is a social networking app, where individuals can connect and chat, specifically targeted to the teenage audience. Digitalization has increased the sphere of networking and simplifies interactions, no matter what the distance. It can be next door or across the country’s boundaries.
Wizz App transforms how teenagers connect, share, and grow together. It embraces social interaction for free from the pressure of likes and follower counts. Many features are highly popular like the Tinder app. For example, the Swipe feature where people can see others’ profiles in one swipe. Despite the social interaction of this app, Wizz app users violate community rules and promote cyberbullying and sextortion among the teenage group. What exactly happened to the Wizz App is a pity. But it is highly appreciated by the accountable who proactively took action on the security concerns.
What Actually Happened With Wizz App
Wizz App is a growing platform among teenage groups in the US. It has 15 million downloads and 1.5 million daily active users as reported. It is one of the top 10 social networking apps in the App Store. The problem started when NBC reported that the National Center for Sexual Exploitation (NCSE) sent a series of emails to Apple to remove the app from the App Store, which delicately described the issue of a sextortion scam with the Wizz app.
A dedicated spokesperson was aligned to respond to NCSE and thanked them for sharing the information. Furthermore, they reported that the Wizz app has been removed from the App Store and ensured further inquiry by reaching out to the developers of the Wizz app.
Similarly, NBC also reached out to Google and asked them to remove the app from Google PlayStore. The Google Spokesperson further elaborates on the child safety and endangerment policy that describes the prohibition of sharing, creating, and distributing explicit content that facilitates cyberbullying, sextortion, and sexual harassment.
How Wizz Responded To the Removal Of Wizz App
As soon as the removal of the app has proceeded, the Wizz app also gets in touch with Apple and Google and responds by email. They said, “Apple and Google require clarification and information about our app, we are working closely to interpret this challenging situation of safeguarding users and we hope to resolve this matter soon.”
Although the Wizz app is French, they are not accountable for answering the US over child safety issues. However, John Shehan, Senior Vice President of the Exploited Children Division and International Engagement at the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), a nonprofit organization designated by the U.S. government to track reports of child sexual abuse material online, stated that his organization has received over 100 reports from the public this year regarding minors allegedly being sextorted on Wizz. This places the app behind only Snapchat and Instagram in terms of such reports.
At that time, the Wizz app did not have any parental control feature that made children more independent and free from what they did. In the recent development of our Parental Control App for our client, we observed how important this type of app is to control children’s digital activity and build a safe digital ecosystem that positively impacts their lives.
Parents can access their phone calls, and media files, track their location, and always connect via the app. The app, named Little Bird, available on iOS and Android is specifically built to detect the exchanging of explicit content like nude images and sexism in child phones. These activities lead to cyberbullying, sextortion, and life-death scenarios. Moreover, the aim of building this app is to provide clear boundaries, safeguard children’s self-esteem, and regain peace of mind.
With these types of advanced features, do you know how much it costs to build a parental control app?
Find Apps Like Wizz That Are More Secure
There are many other apps like Wizz that still provide hassle-free networking with like-minded people. However, Apps like Wizz have got the lesson and they must learn from this experience and not lag to provide security and a safety platform. Here we reveal 3 apps like Wizz that actually ensure the safety of teenagers by adding diverse features that verify content, age, and exchange of information.
Yubo
Yubo is the first application that launched a 100% age verification feature and real-time video or audio moderation for live streams. It is a social networking platform where you can find random people around the globe to expand your wider reach, make new friends, and build a community. Furthermore, Yubo has 60 Million users and is globally popular in almost 140 countries.
For them, safety is the top priority which is why they release strict policies over content sharing and continuously implement moderation to maintain a secure environment for users. The defined target audience of the Yubo app is specifically Gen Z, enabling them to expand their social circle, build community, and exchange values with each other.
Major Features are:
Live Streaming: Broadcast live videos with friends and the Yubo community to enjoy real-time interaction, comments, and chats.
No likes/followers: No pressure counts at all, whether for likes or followers, fostering genuine connections dampened on shared interest.
Group/Communities: A diverse age-wise community like teenagers (ages between 13-17) and adults community (ages over 18).
Verified Profiles: Yubo has facial recognition and age estimation features that depict approx. Age. If a user adds personal information that is not matched with the age estimation, the app will not verify the profile.
In-App Currency: However, Yubo is a free app but features like virtual gifts come under the list of premium, which users need to pay.
Hey, Vina!
Vina is for Women who are seeking to find new friends or just located in new cities and want to connect with like-minded females. It is a Tinder-like app interface where users can find swipe features but only can see one picture at a time. Moreover, the vision of the app is not dating, instead, it empowers women by spreading connections and networking.
It is a safe digital platform for women, globally working across more than 158 countries. The major twist is it uses a matching algorithm by taking Buzzfeed-style quizzes to gather information, allowing users to connect with mutual friends, location, and interests. Hey! Vina is also a free platform, however, it also has a Vina VIP version that costs $5.99 (one-week membership) and $47.99 (six-month membership).
Major Features:
Profile Creation: To get the most out of the matching algorithm, Vina requires in-depth profile information about your hobbies, interests, and requirements to find like-minded female friends.
Quiz-Based Matching: Vina has a fun-engaging quiz space where users can happily speak about their preferences, interpret mindsets, and personal values to find perfect matches and nurture compatible friendships.
Events & Meetups: Within the app, users can find meaningful in-person events and meetups that users can physically join, interact with, and nurture connections.
Veena World: Here users can find trending blogs and articles, actionable insights, and expert advice to improve lifestyle and social interaction.
Icebreaker Question: Vina publishes icebreaker questions that encourage the audience to participate in communication and interaction between the female individuals.
Kik
Kik, another app like Wizz, promotes networking and connection among people across the globe. It is one of the apps like Wizz that is also a good alternative to popular social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, etc. Kik is a great app for the 13-24 age group, which also contains age-appropriate activity and content.
The wide audience reach of the Kik app is also worth mentioning here, 300 million registered users, 15 million monthly active users, and 2.5 million daily active users. The popularity of this app is also justified as it gives a highly interactive user interface with fun-engaging features like playing games, creating memes, listening to songs, watching videos, and browsing the web. Kik app is free but it contains in-app purchases for advanced features.
Major Features:
Anonymous Signup: Kik offers a hassle-free signup feature to get quick access to that app by just adding a username.
Bot Integration: Chatbot integration is the biggest flex of this app as these chatbots deliver non-stop entertainment and assistance for lifestyle, gaming, etc.
In-App Games: lots of mini-games are available for users within the app to play games, share scores, and get notified of regular challenges.
Public Groups: Based on shared interests and hobbies, public groups are also available to connect and interact with compatible, like-minded people.
Ask a Question: Features like polls, questioning, and data-gathering quizzes are also in the Kik app to get advice, gather opinions, and collect information.
How Apps Like Wizz Work
Applications like Wizz typically combine social networking, user matching, and communication features to help users meet new people and build connections. To understand how apps like Wizz work, let’s break down the core components and the technology behind these apps:
User Profiles
- User Registration: When users first join, they create a personal profile by signing up with their email, phone number, or social media accounts. The profile typically includes basic details such as:
- Name
- Profile picture
- Bio
- Interests or preferences (e.g., hobbies, topics, etc.)
- Location (or option to share geolocation for nearby connections).
- Profile Customization: Some apps like Wizz allow users to customize their profiles with fun details, interests, or personal statements to attract similar users.
Matching Algorithm
- Apps like Wizz use algorithms to connect users with others who have similar interests, hobbies, or location preferences. This process is a key feature for finding potential friends or connections.
- Matching Criteria: The algorithm might consider the following factors to match users:
- Location: Users can find people nearby or in specific regions.
- Interests & Hobbies: The app may prompt users to select or share their interests, allowing the algorithm to suggest matches based on shared activities.
- Activity Level: Some apps prioritize active users, showing users with similar engagement levels.
The more data the app collects, the more refined and personalized the matching algorithm can become.
Swiping or Interaction
- Similar to other social apps (like Tinder), Wizz may allow users to interact through a swiping mechanism or “like” system to show interest in other users. This can be based on the profile, interests, or even photos.
- Swipe Right/Left: A common feature where users swipe right to indicate interest in another user and left to skip.
- Matching: Once two users express interest (e.g., both swipe right), a match is created, and they can start chatting.
Chat and Messaging
- Once users are matched, they can initiate communication through chat or text messages. Apps like Wizz may offer text messaging, as well as:
- Voice Messages: Users can send voice notes instead of text.
- Multimedia Sharing: Photos, videos, and other media may be shared within the chat.
- Video Calls: Some apps integrate video chat for real-time interactions (often for a more personalized experience).
- Group Chats: Users may create group chats for more extensive interaction, allowing multiple people to connect at once.
Safety and Moderation
- User Verification: To ensure safety, the app may have measures like profile verification (such as through a phone number, email, or social media account).
- Privacy Controls: Users have the option to adjust their privacy settings. For example, they can limit who can contact them or hide certain profile details.
- Reporting & Blocking: To protect users from harassment or inappropriate behavior, the app provides features to report and block users.
- Content Moderation: Some apps use AI or human moderators to ensure that inappropriate or offensive content is flagged and removed.
Geolocation
- Nearby Connections: Geolocation allows the app to show users nearby people based on their location, so they can connect with others in their area.
- Location-based Filters: Users may set filters to find people within a specific radius (e.g., 10 miles, 100 miles, etc.) or from specific cities/countries.
Social Features
- Discover Page: Many apps like Wizz have a “discover” page where users can explore potential matches, view new profiles, or browse different users’ feeds.
- Trending or Popular Users: Apps often feature users who are trending or highly active to encourage more interaction.
- Badges and Achievements: Infusion of Gamification, such as badges for interaction or completing specific tasks within the app.
Monetization (Optional)
- Freemium Model: Many social apps like Wizz use a freemium model, where the basic features are free, but users can pay for premium features, such as:
- Unlimited swipes or matches.
- Access to more advanced filters.
- Enhanced visibility or profile boosts.
- Premium features like video chat or voice messages.
- Ads: Some apps incorporate ads into their user experience, either as banner ads or full-screen ads during app transitions.
Backend Infrastructure and Technology
- Apps like Wizz require a robust backend to handle user data, matchmaking, messaging, and multimedia sharing. Technologies typically used for building such apps include:
- Server-Side Technologies: Languages like Node.js, Ruby on Rails, Django, or Java are used to develop backend services.
- Databases: SQL (e.g., PostgreSQL, MySQL) or NoSQL (e.g., MongoDB) databases are used to store user data, chats, and media files.
- Push Notifications: Apps use Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM) or OneSignal for sending push notifications, keeping users engaged with new matches or messages.
- Real-time Messaging: WebSocket or Firebase can be used to enable real-time chat functionalities.
- Cloud Storage: Services like Amazon S3 or Google Cloud Storage store user images, videos, and other media content.
- Security: SSL/TLS encryption ensures that user data, such as messages or payment info, is securely transmitted.
App Deployment
- Platforms: Wizz, like many apps, would be developed for both iOS and Android platforms. This requires creating the app in native code (Swift for iOS, Kotlin for Android) or using cross-platform frameworks like React Native or Flutter.
- App Stores: The app would need to be submitted to platforms like the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, following their respective guidelines and getting approval for release.
Key Components and Estimated Cost Range
| Component | Estimated Cost (USD) |
| App Design (UI/UX) | $5,000 – $15,000 |
| Backend Development | $15,000 – $40,000 |
| Frontend Development (iOS/Android) | $20,000 – $60,000 per platform |
| Matching Algorithm | $10,000 – $30,000 |
| Chat and Messaging System | $5,000 – $15,000 |
| Video Calling Integration | $10,000 – $25,000 |
| Location Services (Geolocation) | $5,000 – $10,000 |
| Real-Time Notifications | $3,000 – $7,000 |
| Admin Panel | $5,000 – $10,000 |
| Testing & QA | $5,000 – $15,000 |
| Deployment (App Store/Play Store) | $1,000 – $3,000 |
| Post-launch Support and Updates | $5,000 – $15,000 annually |
How MMC Global Can Help You To Build Apps Like Wizz
By keeping security, safety, and trends in mind, our expert mobile app development team designs apps that attract users and are flawlessly functional. We have a proven track record of building apps of diverse categories in different industries, helping organizations to achieve their major goals, improve operations, fasten productivity, and grow exponentially.
From identifying the client’s needs, understanding goals, and providing a solution that overcomes challenges, we proceed with the project with great agility. Whether it’s a simple app or complex, we infuse modernistic technology to uplift the app development game. Our expertise in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, Predictive Analytics, Blockchain, Big Data, the Internet of Things, and much more are in the queue.
If you want to develop apps like Wizz, we are here to listen to your requirements. We will help you figure out whether it will be worth it for you to get a million-dollar business or interpret the associated risk. We also assure you that building apps like Wizz will not be challenging for you because we keep security at first and build robust app architecture that will no longer be insecure for the users.
Let’s Wrap Up
Apps Like Wizz require expert development skills that identify ordinary to critical aspects of design and development workflows. In essence, apps like Wizz rely on user profiles, geolocation, matchmaking algorithms, messaging, and safety features to connect users. The overall goal is to create a smooth, engaging experience that encourages users to interact with others, share interests, and form social connections. The backend and technology stack must support these features while ensuring scalability, security, and a seamless user experience. The cost of building an app like Wizz (a social networking app focused on connecting users through profiles, chat, and matching features) can vary significantly depending on several factors. These factors include the complexity of the app, the number of features, the platforms (iOS, Android, Web), the development team you hire, and the location of the developers.
