The Fizz app was founded by students for students. While it originally launched as an app for college students, it is now moving into high schools nationwide. This student app promotes the idea that students can connect with their community “safely, authentically, & vibrantly.” 

Parents, however, have concerns as the Fizz app allows users to share content anonymously. Apps that include anonymous posts always come with concerns about potential cyberbullying and inappropriate content, so it is important for parents to be aware of their child’s online activity and regularly discuss responsible social media use.

‍Educators and parents: Guide your students' reflection and discussion with this student worksheet. (Log in to your Google account and select File-->Make a Copy)

What is the Fizz app?

• The Fizz app (formerly known as Buzz) is a social media platform designed originally for college students but now being used by high school students as well
• The app encourages students to connect with peers in their school community by sharing messages, photos, polls, and memes with the option to upvote or downvote content
• Fizz was started by former Stanford students and as of February 2024 was being used on over 80 college campuses nationwide (Source: New School Free Press)

Parent Training Video

What do parents need to know about the Fizz app?

• Students are required to use their school email address and select their school to create an account and verify their association with the school
• Once students create an account, they are unable to change their school for 7 days
• Currently, there are no in-app parental controls so parents should use the parental controls built in to their child’s phone

Is the Fizz app safe?

• Posts on the Fizz app can be anonymous, which creates the potential for bullying and inappropriate content to be shared without consequence
• Students are hired as moderators in an attempt to keep the app free from hate speech and other dangerous content
• There have been several security breaches on the platform in recent history and situations where user information was not adequately protected, so individual privacy was at risk (Source: Stanford Daily) 

Examples of the Fizz app in the news

Multiple students have posted photos of UR senior Caitlin Sales walking with her boyfriend without her consent. Sales, who is frequently called ‘pikachu hat girl’ by Fizz users, said that when the posts started to appear she was flattered that people thought she and her boyfriend were a cute couple, and that the campus liked her signature Pikachu hat. As more posts were shared about her, she started to feel uncomfortable. 

People just started taking pictures of me without my consent, just out of nowhere, as I'm leaving class or going to class, and it felt very paparazzi style. - The Collegian, Richmond, VA

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Initially seen as a way for people to connect on campus, Fizz, a new social media app where students can discuss university-related topics anonymously, has harbored a space for toxicity and negativity, according to past moderators and users. - The Rider News, Lawrenceville, NJ

Why do students want to be on the Fizz app?

• Fizz encourages students to connect with their local school community and markets itself as a place where students can vent and share information
• Anonymous posts give students a place to vent without fear of repercussions 
• Fizz has similar functionality to Reddit since users can ‘upvote’ or ‘downvote’ a post to express whether or not they like it

What can parents & educators do?

• Be aware of what apps your child is using on their phone and talk about them regularly
• Use the parental control options built into your phone to set digital boundaries
• Create a family media agreement so you can set clear digital boundaries with your child before issues arise

More resources for parents, students, & educators

• Safeguard Your Student's Future with Our Free Printable Social Media Agreement
• Combat Online Bullying: Supporting Positive Student Behaviors on Campus and at Home
• What is Swatting? What Parents and Educators Need to Know
• Cyberbullying Prevention Tips: What Students & Parents Need to Know

Conclusion

The Fizz app is gaining popularity among students, and while there are some very basic safety features in place, the risk of an app that allows anonymous posts is high. We recommend that students avoid this app in high school and only use it as college students if strict safety precautions are taken. 

Parents should discuss the Fizz app with their children and have open conversations about responsible social media use and appropriate digital boundaries. It is essential to stay aware of the apps your children are using and keep the lines of communication open in order to help teens have positive online experiences. Even if your child is not using the Fizz app, they may have friends who are, so we recommend staying informed of the risks and discussing it openly as a family.