., click here to enter for a chance to win one of our many $50 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.

What is the After School App? Parent Guide

., 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 .
Copy Share Link
., you're logged in!
Enjoy this demo pass. Click the button to share access with leaders in your school district
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.

What is the After School app?

After School is a new anonymous app, which encourages students to post confessions on school's private message board
  • It’s a new anonymous app similar to Yik Yak, SecretApp, Whisper and Ask.fm
  • The main distinguishing feature is that it creates a separate chat group for each school
  • To join the group/school you have to verify that you’re a student of that school on Facebook (the app will check the information posted on your Facebook page)

Why should parents care about the After School app?

The After School app has been removed twice from the AppStore because of threats and arrests

The app was launched October 13th, 2014 and was targeted towards school students, so it was marked 12+ years and older.

In less than 2 month the app gained hundreds of thousands student users. After a number of complaints by parents and teachers, the app was temporarily unavailable on the Apple store until it relaunched with an age restriction of 17+.

December 4th the app was back on the Apple iOS app store and in less than a week it was taken down again. One of the main reasons for it’s disappearance was a petition launched on Change.org by a Swartz Creek, MI student.

Although the app is currently unavailable to download, it will be back soon (RutlandHerald). Moreover, hundreds of thousands people have already downloaded it on their phones and can continue using it.

Login or join the VIP membership today to view all resources about the After School app!

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

What is the After School App? Parent Guide

., 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 .
Copy Share Link
., you're logged in!
Enjoy this demo pass. Click the button to share access with leaders in your school district
Share Your Demo Pass With School District Leaders

NOTE: As of April 2020, the After School App is no longer available for download and the company's website, afterschoolapp.com, is no longer active.

Parent & educator training video

New After School App causes Teen trouble on campuses and parents want it taken down.

The After School App was launched in October 2014, and in it’s first two months on the market it has already been rejected from the app store twice due to complaints from parents and teachers.

Because of some threatening messages from teens on the app, many schools have sent warnings to parents regarding safety and cyberbullying issues.

Even if it’s currently unavailable for download, over 100,000 Teens and Tweens currently have it on their mobile devices and continue to use it on campuses. Therefore, we’ve created this video and blogpost to help parents and teachers learn more about the After School App.

About the After School app

After School is a new anonymous app, which encourages students to post confessions on school's private message board
  • It’s a new anonymous app similar to Yik Yak, SecretApp, Whisper and Ask.fm.
  • The main distinguishing feature is that it creates a separate chat group for each school.
  • To join the group/school you have to verify that you’re a student of that school on Facebook (the app will check the information posted on your Facebook page).

What’s the main issue with the After School App?

The After School app has been removed twice from the AppStore because of threats and arrests

The app was launched October 13th, 2014 and was targeted towards school students, so it was marked 12+ years and older.

In less than 2 month the app gained hundreds of thousands student users. After a number of complaints by parents and teachers, the app was temporarily unavailable on the Apple store until it relaunched with an age restriction of 17+.

December 4th the app was back on the Apple iOS app store and in less than a week it was taken down again. One of the main reasons for it’s disappearance was a petition launched on Change.org by a Swartz Creek, MI student.

Although the app is currently unavailable to download, it will be back soon (RutlandHerald). Moreover, hundreds of thousands people have already downloaded it on their phones and can continue using it.

17+ age restriction makes the After School App inappropriate for school campuses that use it most

The 17+ age restriction makes the After School App even more controversial

It’s supposed to not be designed for kids under 17+. However, it encourages users to connect the app with ANY school they belong to (middle, high, etc.)

After School App Issues for students and their parents

After School created a new anonymous platform/app for cyberbullying, sexting and alcohol/tobacco/drug chatting

Messages posted on the After School App include the following content:

  • Cyberbulling
  • Sexting
  • Pornography
  • Alcohol, tobacco, or drug references.

More on TechCrunch and Michigan Live.

After School App issues for schools

Some students think it’s funny to post threats on this new anonymous app (until they get arrested)

Some people think it’s funny to post threats on this anonymous app, they believe that no one can track them. However, several campuses around the US have been closed due to this app for several days. Here’s some of the topics that have caused concern:

  • Cut
  • Kill
  • Guns
  • Bomb threats

More on Forbes.

Teens are getting arrested and face serious charges after posting threats on After School App (recent cases)

Teens are getting arrested and face serious charges after posting threats on After School App
  1. One user in Michigan posted on the app that he/she was bringing a gun to school, resulting in a police and FBI investigation (thankfully the threat wasn’t credible). A similar threat occurred in Ohio. According to ReCode.
  2. A 17-year-old, who was arrested in December 2014, used the popular “After School” app to make his death shooting threats. “It’ll be one of two, if not both: act of terrorism, which is a 20-year (felony), or using the Internet for this activity, in this manner, (which is) also a 10-year felony,” Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard said. “So there’ll be serious charges.”
  3. A week before a gun threat on the same app regarding Flushing High School led to the arrest of 18-year-old student Neil Bindschatel. He’s charged with malicious use of a telecommunications device. More on CBS Detroit.

After School App spreads like wildfire

Since launch, users from more than 14,000 different high schools across the US have already downloaded the app. For comparison, there are roughly 24,500 public high schools in total in the United States. More on ReCode.

What can teachers and parents do to keep kids/students safe?

Have a dialog with your kids to see if they are using the After School app (or other anonymous apps)
  1. Have a dialog with your kids to see if they are using this app.
  2. Set an age restriction on your kid’s phone (as the app is 17+ it won’t allow younger kids to download).
  3. If your kids have this app, download the app and search for your kid’s school/group. Then monitor the content.

How to register on the After School App

  1. Download the After School app.
  2. When you open the app it will automatically find nearest schools around your location.
  3. Choose the school group you want to join.
  4. Click on “I’m a student” (verify with Facebook). To get through the verifying process you need to add the high school to your Facebook page. (watch a detailed guide how to add a school in our video).

We hope our video and blogpost will help you to keep your kids safe with this new app. Comment bellow if you have more questions or share the issues you’re facing at your school.

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

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.

What is the After School app?

After School is a new anonymous app, which encourages students to post confessions on school's private message board
  • It’s a new anonymous app similar to Yik Yak, SecretApp, Whisper and Ask.fm
  • The main distinguishing feature is that it creates a separate chat group for each school
  • To join the group/school you have to verify that you’re a student of that school on Facebook (the app will check the information posted on your Facebook page)

Why should parents care about the After School app?

The After School app has been removed twice from the AppStore because of threats and arrests

The app was launched October 13th, 2014 and was targeted towards school students, so it was marked 12+ years and older.

In less than 2 month the app gained hundreds of thousands student users. After a number of complaints by parents and teachers, the app was temporarily unavailable on the Apple store until it relaunched with an age restriction of 17+.

December 4th the app was back on the Apple iOS app store and in less than a week it was taken down again. One of the main reasons for it’s disappearance was a petition launched on Change.org by a Swartz Creek, MI student.

Although the app is currently unavailable to download, it will be back soon (RutlandHerald). Moreover, hundreds of thousands people have already downloaded it on their phones and can continue using it.

Login or join the VIP membership today to view all resources about the After School app!

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

Our recent events were a huge hit! 
The next events will be announced shortly
Visit our VIP Members page to watch a replay of our recent events
Join our weekly SmartSocial.com newsletter to stay updated

Watch a replay of our recent event:

Each of our monthly events feature real student voices, expert tips and practical advice that makes parents the most informed parent on the block

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
Josh Ochs headshot Round

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

Our remote presentations (and website) teaches 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
SmartSocial podcast 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: