Rapidly developed social apps can have harmful consequences for young people, including cyberbullying, cyber dating abuse, image-based abuse and even online grooming. Similarly, breaking away from important safeguards online is not without social consequence. Credit: Google Play Storeīreaking things in real life is not without consequence. The app NGL is targeted at ‘teens’ on the Google app store. This approach, first articulated by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, has arguably reached its use-by date. They leverage certain platform principles to provide a highly engaging experience, such as interactivity and gamification (wherein a form of "play" is introduced into non-gaming platforms).Īlso, given their experimental nature, they're a good example of how social media platforms have historically been developed with a "move fast and break things" attitude. These apps are designed to hook users in. Anonymous chat app YikYak was shut down in 2017 after becoming littered with hateful speech-but has since returned. NGL exploded in popularity this year, but hasn't solved the issue of hate speech and bullying. On one hand, young people are hailed as pioneers of the digital age-and on they other, we fear for them as its innocent victims.Ī recent TechCrunch article chronicled the rapid uptake of anonymous question apps by young users, and raised concerns about transparency and safety. We now have a generation of kids growing up with the internet. They promise to offer the very things young people seek: opportunities for self-expression and authentic encounters. Anonymous question apps provide this space. And research has shown online anonymity enhances self-disclosure and honesty.įor young people, having online spaces to express themselves away from the adult gaze is important. We also know they manage online disclosures of their identity and personal life through a technique sociologists call "audience segregation," or "code switching." This means they're likely to present themselves differently online to their parents than they are to their peers.ĭigital cultures have long used online anonymity to separate real-world identities from online personas, both for privacy and in response to online surveillance. These networks connect them with their peers, support their journeys towards forming identity, and provide them space for experimentation, creativity and bonding. We know teens are drawn to social platforms. Here's my take on why anonymous question apps have once again taken the internet by storm, and what their impact might be. As a sociologist of technology, I've studied human-technology encounters in contentious environments.
These platforms have a troublesome history. Early examples include ASKfm, launched in 2010, and, launched in 2009 (as "Fromspring"). These apps can be linked to users' Instagram and Snapchat accounts, allowing them to post questions and receive anonymous answers from followers.Īlthough they're trending at the moment, it's not the first time we've seen them. The latter has been installed 15 million times globally, according to recent reports. We've recently seen this through the resurgence of anonymous question apps targeting young people, including Sendit and NGL (which stands for "not gonna lie").
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