Many people these days are used to social media platforms that show off who they are.
Usually users make a user name or link an account to another account so others know who they are.
A lot of users of Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat want to be seen by their followers. They want to gain exposure and have other people like or comment on what they have sent or posted.
There is a different media platform that goes in the opposite direction.
Anonymous social media lets users post and put up things that don’t reveal who they are.
Anonymous social media is a way for people to express themselves without the fear of others knowing who they are and what they are feeling or saying. It is a way of releasing your inner fears, ideas, thoughts, or even regrets.
Although anonymous social media can be helpful to people going through hard times, it can also be harmful.
Jeanette Cajide of The Huffington Post says, “That when you give people a tool to express whatever they want under the cloak of anonymity, you see humanity at its worst.”
Cajide is saying that peoples use this type of media to bully and demean others. It was set out to be a way for people to show their true feelings in a way as to not be judged. Others use it as a way to be mean and hurt others though.
Anonymous social networks are trying to steer clear of this negativity by:
1.) Not allowing people to use their own images and only images approved
2.) Having customers police the platform themselves if they see anything alarming
Sarah Jasobsson Purewal of CNET gives these four apps as anonymous social networking sites to use:
1.) Whisper- aimed at a younger crowd. A meme like layout of confessions.
2.) Yik Yak- location based. Can “peek” on other’s activities that are int he same “communtiy” as you
3.) After School- a teen focused app that lets teens post without worrying about their parents or teachers but not to worry, this app has staff that reviews every post before it goes up.
4.) Rumr-semi- anonymous. lets you chat with groups of friends and contacts.
These apps are trying to combat cyber bullying and hateful responses by having links to help lines that discuss bullying and its consequences. These platforms don't want to spread bullying. They want it to be a place where people can vent and even find others feeling the same way they are.