Global dating site for children as young as 13 taking off in Australia is a ‘playground for paedophiles’ as police warn parents and schools to get their children off it

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School-aged teens are increasingly using an online dating website which police call a 'playground for paedophiles' and warn parents to get their children off the site.

MYLOL advertises itself as 'the number one teen dating site in the U.S., Australia, UK and Canada', and claims to have more than 300,000 members from around the world.

Its terms and conditions say that users must be aged 13 and up and no older than 19 - but a Queensland police officer says a Child Protection Unit confirmed to her it was a 'playground for paedophiles', the Townsville Bulletin reported.

Kirwan State High School in Queensland issued this warning on Facebook about the website and app MYLOL on Sunday and it has been shared more than 8,600 times in three days

The website claims to be the 'number one teen network in the world', and displays a panel of user profile photographs

Kirwan State High School-based Senior-Constable Julie Cooke said she was alerted to the group recently after pupils discussed it.

She notified the Child Protection Investigation Unit and Taskforce Argos of the app and the school issued warning on Facebook on Sunday, which has been shared more than 8,600 times in three days.

The warning issued by the Townsville school states MYLOL is 'primarily a sexual predator website. If your kids are on it, get them off.

'It has poor administration monitoring and a lack of supervision.

'With its target audience of young people, there are a number of dangerous concerns in relation to the age, maturity, capabilities and intentions of its users'. 

It says the site has been labeled 'Tinder for teenagers'.

A police officer based at Kirwan State High School, Senior Sergeant Julie Cooke, said she was alerted to MYLOL when she heard school pupils talking about it

Snr Sgt Cooke said with sites such as MYLOL, children did not know who they were talking to.

'It could be some 40-year-old posing as a 13-year-old,' She said.

'Kids really shouldn’t be chatting to anyone online unless they know them in real life.' 

MYLOL reportedly provides functions such as messaging, video chat and photo sharing.

A blog on the website features posts targeted at school-aged teens, such as 'Big changes are coming to the SAT test: What you need to know', 'Safety tips for those that are studying abroad this summer', '10 things every teenage girl should know' and '10 social apps every teen should have'.

In MyLol's website forum, users post on a range of relationship related topics. 

Users with locations in Australia such as Townsville, Brisbane, Wagga Wagga, Sydney, as well as some from New Zealand locations, have commented in the forums. 

The website claims to be the number one teen dating site in several countries, including Australia

Terms and conditions on the website state those using MYLOL must be at least 13 years of age and users over the age of 19 are forbidden from joining 

In one of the threads, titled 'Matchmaking', users post their sexuality, age preferences, interest, and attractions in a bid to start a relationship. 

Underneath each user's profile photograph, 

Safety precautions outlined on the site describe screening for 'suspicious sexually oriented keywords', photographs, chat room moderation, user blocking and a reporting function for people acting inappropriately.

Tips for staying safe online and links to online safety-related websites are also provided. 

Queensland Association of State School Principals president Michael Fay told the Townsville Bulletin use of social media 'in general' had been a concern for some time, and that while smartphones were often banned at school, they could not control what happened outside school.

He said teen dating sites like MYLOL were 'problematic at best', and questioned how it was monitored.

Daily Mail Australia contacted MYLOL for comment. 

A Queensland Police spokesman said Taskforce Argos had so far declined to respond further to requests for comment about MYLOL. 

A warning about MYLOL posted by Kirwan State High School on Sunday received more than 8,600 shares by Wednesday afternoon