Anonymous apps are not anonymous
Many of today’s popular apps being used by teens claim to be anonymous or don’t do a very good job of confirming accounts. This illusion of being anonymous is enticing to teens. The idea that what they say or do is completely anonymous and without repercussion leads many teens (and adults) to create an online profile or habits that is vastly different from their real life persona. While apps claim to be anonymous the truth is they aren’t as it’s almost impossible be truly anonymous on the internet these days.
Anonymity is a problem for a two reasons
First, anonymity means that anybody can can pretend to be anybody. Your teenager daughter may think they’re talking to a cute 14-year-old boy when in fact they’re talking to a 40-year-old registered sex offender.
Second, anonymity means teens feel they post things without repercussions. Nobody will know if they make a threat to carry out an attack on a school or bully a classmate.
Popular apps that claim to be anonymous
Vent
Using Vent your children can get anything off their chest and find other users who feel the same way they do. It’s especially dangerous for teens who suffer from depression, self-harm, or anxiety as internet trolls can make your child’s very bad ideas (suicide, self-harm) seem like a good idea .
Whisper
Whisper is a popular place to voice confessions or thoughts on a certain subject. Because you don’t have to create a username to post, many teenagers feel that what they post is anonymous. But the company keeps information on it’s users, including ip address and geolocation, and gives that information to law enforcement.
Read: What is Whisper? An app review for parents