The anonymous secrets app Whisper has been banned by a large private schools group that has asked parents to police their children’s cyber activities.
Whisper is a social media platform where users can anonymously share thoughts, confessions and secrets through text laid over background images.
The app encourages users to “create video whispers to better express yourself”, “discover the real world around you”, and “express yourself openly and honestly”.
In a recent letter to “parents and caregivers” of children at private schools including Crawford, Pinnacle, Trinityhouse and Abbotts College — all of which fall under the Independent Institute of Education group — psychologist Nasrin Kirsten said, “We are concerned about the increasing use by our children of an app called Whisper ... while the idea of anonymity might seem harmless at first glance, it raises significant concerns about the safety and wellbeing of our children.”
Parents were told the app could not be accessed on the school network, and they were asked to support the school’s stance on the social media platform by using software such as Net Nanny, which monitors and controls children’s computer and phone activity.
Explaining the schools group’s main concerns about minors using Whisper, Kirsten said the app was filled with inappropriate discussions and solicitations, including unsuitable sexual content. She said that, even under the guise of anonymity, users of the app could be subjected to unwanted advances or inappropriate requests.
Allowing teenagers to be exposed to the unfiltered content on Whisper — which includes discussions about self-harm, eating disorders and personal insecurities — could also have detrimental effects on their mental and emotional wellbeing.
“Given that our Gen Zs spend almost 10 hours a day on their devices ... this means that possibly late at night our kids are logging on to share their deepest, darkest secrets,” she warned.
Klikd app digital parenting experts Pam Tudin, a clinical psychologist, and Sarah Hoffman, a social media lawyer, support the ban for teens and tweens.
“It’s the app where our kids can share their real thoughts, give each other unfiltered opinions, trade advice, and get the inside scoop. It’s where they can vote on who looks best in a bikini, who has the worst nose job, and who should be booted from a WhatsApp group. There are no followers, no friends and no profiles. And, what’s more, the app relies on our kids using their locations, allowing them to create groups based on areas/schools.
“So everyone in a school can talk about everyone else, but it is all done anonymously, so users post and share messages without revealing their identities,” Tudin said.
“That means [that] late at night our kids are logging on to cast their popularity vote on a “Hot or Not?” Whisper session. Or they might be scrolling through the eating disorder section of the app to find ways to trick their parents into believing they have eaten a full meal. Or they are sharing images that leave little to the imagination.”
“Because users are not tied to a real identity, they impulsively and often hurtfully share thoughts and feelings they would otherwise have kept private or only told a friend in real life. Teens look for support and understanding on the platform, but can often land up getting rejected and attacked,” Tudin said.
Given that our Gen Zs spend almost 10 hours a day on their devices ... this means that possibly late at night our kids are logging on to share their deepest, darkest secrets
— Nasrin Kirsten, psychologist
“Whisper lets users publish ‘whispers’ or text [laid over] images. These are categorised to allow users to browse through themes that interest them, such as personal confessions (think nudes sent to teachers), fears (think suicide threats), self-harm admissions, or matchmaking ... the list is endless.”
Social media law expert Emma Sadleir Berkowitz is strongly against anonymous apps and their creators.
“Anonymous apps should be banned, and the people who create them should be put in prison. No good can come from being on an anonymous app,” she said.
“I think anonymity is the root of just about all evil online, and it is certainly not something for children. Historically, we’ve had to deal with an app called Qooh.me (a service allowing people to anonymously ask questions about users). And then there’s Yik Yak (a location-based source of local gossip) and ASKfm (where users ask or answer controversial questions anonymously). The big one on Instagram now is NGL (Not Gonna Lie),” said Sadleir.
She said people could create accounts on anonymous platforms and get away with posting harmful, malicious content because they couldn’t be identified.
“As we’ve seen, as soon as people have to own their content and put their name and face to it, they suddenly become a lot more law-abiding and respectful,” she said, adding, “I cannot tell you what kind of terrible content I have seen on these apps.”
Futurist, economist and trend analyst Bronwyn Williams of Flux Trends said Whisper was similar to older apps such as Snapchat (used to send disappearing photos, videos or messages to other users) and Curious Cat (a small-scale social networking tool allowing users to connect with followers either anonymously or publicly).
“Anything related to kids or teenagers and secrets is sure to press parental buttons, but in today’s ‘total surveillance all the time on camera and on the record’ world it’s natural to try to find a way to be heard without being ‘seen’,” Williams said.
She said that, while nothing digital could be a secret, young people were drawn to anonymous platforms to express themselves and communicate with the world.
“Being able to keep secrets from parents and teachers is a normal part of growing up and finding your own identity,” Williams said.
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