Sendit is the latest anonymous question & answer app. It has become very popular to use as a companion with various social media platforms.  It may seem like a fun way to interact with others online, but many parents are wondering if the Sendit app is safe for their students.

In this SmartSocial.com app guide parents will learn:

1. What is the Sendit app?
2. Why are anonymous Q&A apps popular with students?
3. The dangers of apps like Sendit and tips to keep your students safer online.

Parent & educator video lesson

What is Sendit?

“Sendit sparks conversation through the power of augmented reality and immersive icebreakers, pushing the bounds of visual communication.” - Iconic Hearts, Inc

• Sendit is a free companion app for Snapchat or Instagram 
• It is a separate app from Snapchat or Instagram, but works directly with the main social media platforms
• Sendit uses AR (augmented reality) to play games with other users and post questions for other users to answer anonymously
• The Sendit user creates a post with a question on the Sendit app and then switches to the social media app to post it on their Stories (on either Snapchat or Instagram)
• Once other users reply to the question, the Sendit user will receive notifications through Sendit that they have responses.  The responses will come in as anonymous feedback
• There are options to pay money to receive hints at the sender's identity
• Sendit is comparable to other apps like YOLO and SayAt.Me that have been popular among young people and have raised flags for bullying in the past

What is Sendit rated?

Apple App Store Rating: 12+

Google Play Rating: T (Teen)

Owned by: Iconic Hearts, Inc., based in California

Terms of Service

Privacy Policy

Sendit app in the news

Online anonymity among teens often leads to bullying and abuse. - Tech Crunch

Why do students want to use Sendit?

• Teenagers are searching for ways to connect with others in authentic and personal ways
• Many teens use Snapchat and Instagram and hear about third-party apps like Sendit from friends and are curious about using them too
• It can be fun to ask silly questions and receive answers not knowing who they are from
• Students might feel more comfortable sharing their feelings knowing their responses are anonymous

Why should parents & educators care?

• Anonymous apps can be a place for cyberbullying, exposure to online grooming, or inappropriate content
• If the account is public, the Sendit questions can be seen by strangers online and can increase interaction with potential predators
• Chat bots have been reported to act as anonymous responders and there is no way for Sendit users to know if they are interacting with a real person or a bot
• Anonymous apps can expose teens to inappropriate content, even if they aren’t searching for it
• Sendit offers a subscription service that allows the app to give hints as to who sent the anonymous replies
• There are zero parental controls built into the app
• Using this may increase screen time addiction as students want to respond and see responses more frequently

Be careful about who you play Sendit games with.  Only those who you share your Sendit with are able to respond to you.  Make sure you only play Sendit games with friends you trust! - Sendit 

What can parents & educators do?

• Download the app and see how it works yourself to decide if you think it is appropriate for your student
• If you decide Sendit is appropriate for your student, make sure when they post to their Snapchat or Instagram stories they only post to “Friends Only” or “Close Friends”
• Create a Smartphone and Social Media Agreement WITH your student to set screen time guidelines and expectations that meet your family’s rules
• Use device parental controls such as Apple Screentime or Android Digitial Wellbeing to prevent downloading the app or block monetary transactions
• Remind students that although the response is anonymous, Sendit collects and stores all of the information and will cooperate with authorities if they feel there is evidence of something illegal 
• Encourage students to turn their location sharing services off
• Visit our Snapchat and Instagram resources to learn more tips about how to keep your kids safer across those two apps
• Assure your students that if they ever see something that makes them uncomfortable, they can always talk with you or another trusted adult
• Encourage students to report messages that are spam, bullying, or creepy to the Sendit team

How to Report or Block another user

• Open up a Sendit message that you want to block or report
• Tap the Thumbs down icon in the top right corner
• Select “Spam,” “Bullying,” or “Creepy”
• Select “tell team sendit,” “block them,” or “delete”

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Conclusion

Students across the world are using social media on a regular basis.  Third-party apps like Sendit are released to make the interactions on these platforms more fun, but there are dangers that parents should be aware of before allowing their students to download and use these apps. 

More resources for parents, students, & educators

Find out more about other anonymous apps: What Are “Anonymous” Social Media Apps? What Parents, Educators, & Students Need to Know

To read about other chat apps students are using Best Chat Apps: What Parents, Educators, & Students Need to Know

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