When Bollywood star Akshay Kumar recently posted a viral video, his message was clear: be wary of predatory behavior on a specific gaming app. He chose not to name it, focusing instead on a vital call for parental vigilance. But in the days since, one question has dominated discussions in parent groups and online forums: which app was he talking about? While we cannot speak for Kumar, an analysis of child safety reports, law enforcement advisories, and platform features points squarely to a category of risk, with one app consistently at the center of the storm.
The Core Issue: More Than Just a Game
This isn’t about blaming a single piece of software. The real story is how certain “social gaming” platforms are designed in a way that can inadvertently facilitate contact between predators and children. The app most frequently flagged by cybersecurity experts and organizations like the Cyber Peace Foundation is BoomLive.
Its features—live streaming, direct messaging, virtual gifting, and a loose verification system—create an environment where harmful interactions can flourish under the guise of playful competition.
Why This Specific Gaming App is a High-Risk Environment
Understanding the mechanics of the platform is key to understanding the danger. It is not the games themselves, but the social layers built on top of them that pose the problem.
The Illusion of Anonymity and Easy Access
Unlike a console game where players are often known friends, apps like BoomLive allow users to create profiles with minimal oversight. Predators can easily generate fake identities, posing as children or teenagers to build false trust. A report by the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) has previously highlighted how such platforms are used for social engineering attacks, where strangers manipulate victims into sharing personal information.
The Live Stream and Direct Message Combo
The core feature of live streaming, combined with unmonitored direct messaging (DM), is a particularly volatile mix. A child can be watching a stream, and a stranger can immediately send them a private message. This bypasses any public scrutiny and moves the conversation into a hidden, one-on-one space where grooming behaviors often begin. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children maintains that private messaging is a primary tool for online enticement.
The Gamification of Interaction
Features like virtual gifting can be used to manipulate a young person’s perception. A predator might send gifts to a child during a stream, creating a sense of obligation or special treatment. This is a classic grooming tactic, now digitized and wrapped in the appealing package of a game.
The Bigger Picture: It’s a Symptom of a Wider Problem
Focusing solely on one app misses the forest for the trees. The underlying issue is that many digital spaces popular with young people are not designed with their safety as a primary concern.
The conversation Akshay Kumar started is a crucial reminder for us to look at all the apps on our children’s devices. Other platforms with similar social-live features also carry inherent risks. The goal is not to create panic, but to foster awareness and proactive parenting.
What Parents Can Do: Practical Steps for Safety
Knowledge is the first step; action is the next. Here are clear, direct ways you can protect your children.
- Initiate a Conversation, Not an Interrogation. Talk to your child about their online life with the same curiosity you show about their school day. Ask which apps they use and why they enjoy them. Sit with them and have them show you how BoomLive or similar apps work.
- Review Privacy and Safety Settings Together. Go into the app’s settings and disable direct messaging from strangers. Make profiles private. This is a practical life skill you can teach them.
- Establish Ground Rules. Set clear guidelines about not sharing personal information, including their real name, school, or location, with anyone online, no matter how friendly they seem.
- Keep Devices in Common Areas. Having children use tablets and laptops in living rooms or kitchens, rather than alone in their bedrooms, allows for natural oversight and makes it harder for secretive, prolonged contact to occur.
For more resources on digital parenting, you can visit the Cyber Crime Prevention portal maintained by the Government of India.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Is the BoomLive app illegal?
A: No, the app itself is not illegal. It is a legitimate gaming and live-streaming platform. The risk comes from how certain individuals misuse its social features to target and groom minors.
Q2: My child uses the app and says they only play games. Should I still be worried?
A: Even if a child’s intention is purely to play games, the app’s design allows others to contact them. It’s the unsolicited contact from strangers that presents the primary risk. Reviewing the privacy settings to disable DMs from non-contacts is a highly recommended precaution.
Q3: What are the signs that my child might be a target of online grooming?
A: Be alert to behavioral changes such as: becoming secretive about their device use, withdrawing from family and friends, appearing nervous or jumpy when receiving a notification, or having new, unexplained gifts (like in-app currency or items).
Q4: Are there any safe alternatives for gaming online?
A: Look for games and platforms that are focused on gameplay rather than open social interaction. Platforms that require friend-list approvals for communication and do not have live public streaming or open chat rooms are generally safer. Always research an app’s features before allowing your child to download it.
Conclusion: A Shared Responsibility
Akshay Kumar‘s video was a powerful spark, but it’s up to us to keep the fire of awareness burning. The name of the app is less important than the pattern of risk it represents. The digital world is now a fundamental part of childhood, and our job is not to ban it, but to navigate it alongside our kids.
Let’s use this moment as a catalyst for more open conversations and smarter digital habits. Your vigilance is the most powerful security setting of all.
