., click here to enter for a chance to win one of our many gift cards we are giving away.

Learn more

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

Whisper App Guide for Parents & Educators

., you're logged in!
Enjoy this resource and share our programs with your school district to send these resources to your whole community
Tell Your School District About Our Program
., you're logged in!
Share this resource with a parent at .  (or visit our new sharing center)
Copy Share Link
., you're logged in!
Enjoy this demo pass. Click the button to share access with leaders in your school district (or visit our new sharing center)
Share Your Demo Pass With School District Leaders

Become a member or login to learn more on this topic

Superintendents, Directors and Principals: Request a partnership on this page to unlock our resources for your whole community.
May 12, 2021

In this video lesson parents will learn:

  • What is the Whisper app?
  • Why do students want to be on the Whisper app?
  • How strangers can contact students on whisper
  • Techniques predators use on "anonymous" apps to forge relationships and engage in conversations with kids of all ages
  • Tips to talk with your student about talking to strangers and using apps like Whisper

Log in or join the VIP membership today to view all resources about Whisper!

Become a member or log in to learn more on this topic

Superintendents, Directors and Principals: Request a partnership on this page to unlock our resources for your whole community.
Quotation marks

This is great info, thanks for giving me some ideas on how to start a dialogue with my teen!

StarStarStarStarStar

Sharon M.

Parent VIP Member

Quotation marks

Josh's presentation about social media was unbelievably fantastic. Our students learned so much about what kids should and shouldn't be doing. The fact that it is such a thoughtful process made it all worthwhile.

StarStarStarStarStar

Director of College Advising

Educator Webinar Attendee

Quotation marks

This webinar is a very helpful eye-opener on the apps that are popular with my students.

StarStarStarStarStar

Irene C.

Educator Webinar Attendee

Whisper App Guide for Parents & Educators

., you're logged in!
Enjoy this resource and share our programs with your school district to send these resources to your whole community
Tell Your School District About Our Program
., you're logged in!
Share this resource with a parent at .  (or visit our new sharing center)
Copy Share Link
., you're logged in!
Enjoy this demo pass. Click the button to share access with leaders in your school district (or visit our new sharing center)
Share Your Demo Pass With School District Leaders

The Whisper app allows users to quickly and anonymously share their feelings or thoughts with catchy photos or videos. Even though users are anonymous, the location sharing feature in this app helps users connect with other users nearby. Whispers can quickly escalate into off-app communications and dangerous situations.

Parents, school resource officers, and counselors must be aware of the Whisper app. 

Parent training video

What is the Whisper app?

whisper spp screen shot "Read everyone's mind"
  • Whisper encourages users to share “real thoughts and feelings, forge relationships and engage in conversations on an endless variety of topics-without identities or profiles” (Whisper)
  • Users create a Whisper by typing their text and selecting stock photos/videos or uploading their own media for the background
  • To view Whispers from others, users can select to view Whispers from Groups, Popular, Nearby, or Latest
  • Whispers in the Nearby view show how close the other user is (for example: 1 mile)
  • Terms of use say users must be at least 13 years of age and have parental supervision until 18 years of age. However, we found no age verification process to start using the app or browse the website
  • To see another user’s age, gender, and specific location in a chat, users must complete a “Chat profile.” But, there is no verification process that what a user has entered is real 
  • Users can search for Groups and add a specific school location.  Whispers in school groups can be seen only when the user is on school grounds. (Or, near enough to school the app thinks your location is on school grounds)
  • Whisper has Community Guidelines. Users are warned that “Whisper and Law Enforcement actively monitor the service.” The Community Guidelines are “Don’t be mean. Don’t be gross. Don’t use Whisper to break the law.” (Whisper Community Guidelines )

Why do students want to use Whisper?

  • They think they can share anything “anonymously"
  • Sometimes, they believe their anonymous friends understand them like no one else
  • Some feel sharing silly photos and messages is harmless
  • Students think they are being sneaky to send a Whisper in their school group and only other students see it

Where is Whisper available and what are the terms of use?

Whisper in the news

Washington Post headline: Secret-sharing app Whisper left users' locations, fetishes exposed on the web
Concerns over these apps largely focus on their anonymity, because they let people talk with limited accountability. But they’re also risky because they usually become popular by surprise. Washington Post
Forbes headline: How the FBI unmasked a WhatsApp and Whisper User in a pedophile sting
Whisper can provide various information to law enforcement, including location, chat log timestamps, the content of whispers and IP address. Forbes
Wired headline: Social apps that go suddenly viral put kids at risk
Whisper, the secret-sharing app that called itself the 'safest place on the Internet,' left years of users’ most intimate confessions exposed on the Web tied to their age, location and other details, raising alarm among cybersecurity researchers that users could have been unmasked or blackmailed. Wired
EastIdaho News.com headline: Man says his 'stupidity' and 'curiosity' led to voyeurisms and child porn charges
According to court documents, [the man] said he had... sexual conversations with more than five underage girls on the Whisper app. The social media app allows users to post and share photo and video messages anonymously. East Idaho News

Why should parents & educators care?

  • Users can set a PIN for the app. Therefore, parents may not be able to access their student’s Whispers, even if they can access the phone
  • Anonymous Whispers can incite bullying and low-self esteem, especially in a group like a school or where students gather
  • Without age verification, anyone can pose as a teenager on the app
  • Predators use the app to build students' trust to get them to share anything with them. Then, they eventually convince them to send inappropriate photos or meet in person
  • Posting anonymously often encourages teens to post ideas they would not normally say to people they know
  • The app has a “Clean Language” setting. However, it is not perfect and teens may still come across slang or photos with inappropriate meanings

What can parents do?

  • Ask your student if they, or their friends, use Whisper. If they do, talk about why they feel it is the best app to meet their goals online
  • Research other appropriate apps or sources teenagers can use to express their ideas or feelings
  • Talk with your students about the dangers of talking to strangers, even “anonymously” online
  • Remind students to not share personal identification information in their Whispers or chats
  •  Join the SmartSocial VIP (Very Informed Parent) membership to learn how to start conversations about shining online with your students

In conclusion, Whisper is an app that parents should strongly discourage students from using. Consider helping them find appropriate apps or communication channels for teens to express their feelings. School resource officers and counselors should have an idea of what Groups are active in their school. 

Additional Resources

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

Logged in and still not seeing content? This course may not be part of
your membership plan. Click here to join.

School Districts: Request a partnership on this page to unlock our resources for your whole community.

In this video lesson parents will learn:

  • What is the Whisper app?
  • Why do students want to be on the Whisper app?
  • How strangers can contact students on whisper
  • Techniques predators use on "anonymous" apps to forge relationships and engage in conversations with kids of all ages
  • Tips to talk with your student about talking to strangers and using apps like Whisper

Log in or join the VIP membership today to view all resources about Whisper!

Become a member or log in to learn more on this topic

Superintendents, Directors and Principals: Request a partnership on this page to unlock our resources for your whole community.
Quotation marks

This is great info, thanks for giving me some ideas on how to start a dialogue with my teen!

StarStarStarStarStar

Sharon M.

Parent VIP Member

Quotation marks

Josh's presentation about social media was unbelievably fantastic. Our students learned so much about what kids should and shouldn't be doing. The fact that it is such a thoughtful process made it all worthwhile.

StarStarStarStarStar

Director of College Advising

Educator Webinar Attendee

Quotation marks

This webinar is a very helpful eye-opener on the apps that are popular with my students.

StarStarStarStarStar

Irene C.

Educator Webinar Attendee

Learn more

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

Join Our Next Live Parent Q&A Events

Oct
17
Register

Combat Online Bullying: Supporting Positive Student Behaviors on Campus and At Home

Join this live parent night event and learn how to combat online bullying and keep your kids safe online

Oct
22
Register

Combat Online Bullying: Supporting Positive Student Behaviors on Campus and At Home

Join this live parent night event and learn how to combat online bullying and keep your kids safe online

Nov
07
Register

Disappearing Messages: Hidden Dangers Parents Need to Know

Understand the hidden risks behind disappearing messages and learn practical strategies to protect and guide your teen’s digital behavior.

Nov
12
Register

Disappearing Messages: Hidden Dangers Parents Need to Know

Understand the hidden risks behind disappearing messages and learn practical strategies to protect and guide your teen’s digital behavior.

Nov
19
Register

Disappearing Messages: Hidden Dangers Parents Need to Know

Understand the hidden risks behind disappearing messages and learn practical strategies to protect and guide your teen’s digital behavior.

Nov
21
Register

AI for Student Success: Being Productive & Learning Future Skills

This virtual parent night event will explore the fascinating world of AI and the role it can have in every student's educational journey and future career paths.

Become a Very Informed Parent (VIP) to get our social media suggestions in your email every Tuesday & Thursday.

Dotted arrow to right
Learn about our
"Very Informed Parent" 
VIP Program
Right arrow
Hello, I'm Josh, the founder of SmartSocial.com. Protect your family by taking my 1 minute quiz

This quiz will help you understand how safe your family is

Take Josh's 1 Min Quiz
Right arrow
Smart Social Logo

Schools & Districts: Partner with us to protect your community online

Our remote presentations (and website) teach over a million students each year how to shine online. We teach students how their accounts can be used to create a portfolio of positive accomplishments that impress colleges and employers.

Partner with SmartSocial.com
Right arrow
Smart Social Logo
Join Our Smart Social Podcast
each week on iTunes

With over 240 episodes, Josh Ochs interviews psychologists, therapists, counselors, teachers, and parents while showing you how to navigate social media to someday shine online.

Listen on: