What Are “Anonymous” Social Media Apps?: Dangers Parents Need to Know

The Appeal and Risks Behind Anonymous Apps

• Many anonymous platforms require little or no identity verification, allowing users to hide their age, identity, or intentions
• Teens may use these apps to ask questions, explore ideas, connect with others, or avoid the pressure of presenting a “perfect” online image
• Hidden identities, private conversations, and limited accountability can make it easier for harmful behavior, inappropriate content, or unsafe situations to occur
• Friends, trends, and the desire to fit in can encourage teens to join platforms without fully understanding the potential risks
• Learning how to talk about apps, set expectations, and build critical thinking skills can help teens navigate online spaces more confidently

Anonymous Chat Sites: Where Teens Meet Strangers

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The Apps Where Anyone Can Pretend to Be Anyone

• Anonymous social media apps (aka anon) or websites do not conduct any, or very little, identification checks to ensure users are the person, or the age, they are claiming to be
• Users share ideas, ask questions, and interact with other users without revealing their identity
• Anonymous apps or sites often do not require a validated email address or phone number to register and users can sign up for an unlimited number of usernames, regardless of whether the app monitors or enforces rules
• Apps and social media sites are easily accessible on app stores and through regular Google searches. More anonymous apps exist on the “dark web,” which requires more extensive access knowledge

Why Anonymous Social Media Apps Appeal to Teens

• These apps often encourage “self-expression,” which frequently leads students to share more information than they would with people they know (whether that information is true or not)
• Anonymous communications very easily turn into sharing inappropriate content (photos or videos) and/or sexting, whether or not the student requests or consents to that type of communication
• Thinking other users are anonymous may encourage students to share too much personal information, like revealing photos or their physical location, that predators are looking for
• Online disinhibition (lack of restraint when posting online) leads users to act out more frequently or with greater intensity than they would in person or with people who know who they are offline (Source: CyberPsychology & Behavior)

From Online Solicitation to School Threats: Why Anonymous Apps Are Making Headlines‍

A couple months ago, there was a local child that was on Omegle and had been solicited…initially it was ‘do you have pics?’...that’s the kind of websites you’re dealing with… - Fox 19 - Cincinnati, OH

Threats of violence against schools led to the arrests of five people under the age of 18, and now local officials are sounding the alarm about a social media site where three of those threats were made… - KHQA - Quincy, Illinois

Teens Turn to Anonymous Apps to Ask, Explore, and Connect

The ability to be anonymous and ask questions that may be sensitive or embarrassing is one reason why millions of teens worldwide are using these apps.  Also, these apps remove the anxiety of presenting your ‘best self’ online and allow teens to take on different personas and explore different ideas without fear of repercussions - www.internetmatters.org

A Look at Anonymous Apps and Platforms

New apps appear in the app stores every day. We have created parent and educator guides for the most popular apps among teens. 

Is there an anonymous app/website your student is asking for permission to use or is already using that we haven’t covered? Let us know! ‍

Some of the most popular anonymous apps to look for on your student’s device: 

• Omegle (a website that many access like an app on a mobile device)‍
• Emerald Chat
• SayAt.Me App
• YikYak
• Reddit
• ASKfm
• MeWe
• AntiLand
• Sendit
• IMVU

Strategies for Helping Teens Make Smart Digital Decisions

• SmartSocial recommends parents talk with students frequently about what apps they are viewing, who they are talking to, and what information they generally share 
• Develop strategies together to recognize when their actions are being driven by pressure to be “themselves” or through peer pressure vs. their own interests or goals
• Consider creating a list of acceptable apps/websites with your students and talk about why you think they are dangerous  (see the SmartSocial Family Media Agreement for a framework of how to set expectations on social media as a family)
• Try to not tell students what you think they “should do,” but rather help them understand dangers and how to make decisions for themselves
• If students seem to not understand peer pressure or repeatedly take unnecessary risks based on what they read or see online, consider seeking counseling through their school or other mental health resources
• Remind students that nothing posted online is ever truly anonymous and many apps/website companies work with police to investigate threats or evidence of breaking the law with sophisticated digital tracking

MomTalk podcast with Beth & Andrea discussing anonymous apps

Conclusion

Apps or social websites can seem like an easy and fun way to blow off steam or explore your ideas in a “safe” environment, but these anonymous apps are anything but safe for students. Parents and educators must be aware of apps that encourage students to “be their true selves” and the consequences in “real life” off the apps.  

Students need positive adult support to resist the temptations of checking out these apps, which can lead to a slippery slope to predators and other online dangers.