Anonymous social media, a smaller subcategory of social media, where the main purpose is to interact with others and share information on mobile and website based platforms, anonymously. These type of websites and apps made their debut into the digital world in 2013-2014.
These apps range in their purposes from: asking and answering questions (Ask.fm), giving honest opinions (Sarahah, sayat.me) and polls (polly.fun) all done anonymously.
Sure, anonymous social media, has its good by getting positive comments making one’s day, but what about its bad side?
Sarahah, an app released in November 2016 by Zain al-Abidin Tawfiq, to provide anonymous feedback to others. This was originally used for workers and colleagues, however teens had discovered this and increased its popularity, making it number 1 in the App Store in July. Sarahah is often associated with Snapchat, as its URL link is put on their stories, to link to their profile. Users can leave comments on someone one’s profile, giving feedback whether it be positive or negative. Many people receive the positive comments, complimenting them, however there are the few that receive hateful comments.
Elizabeth Chiwara, a user of Sarahah says that, “Anonymous messages can give people validation and you feel special when someone comments that “you’re nice” or that they think “you’re pretty”, especially when you don’t think so yourself. However, with everything it can open a door to negative feedback.”
Another similar website to Sarahah is sayat.me. This website was however taken down after being blamed for a suicide of a 15-year-old boy in East Yorkshire, who had been allegedly been abused over the app. Social media is one of the factors that contribute to depression and mental health issues in both girls and boys. Being able to post these comments anonymously fuels the cyberbullying perpretrators, as they feel they have nothing to fear. The NSPCC study shows that the charity’s helpline service, ChildLine, counselled 4,541 children about online bullying in 2015-16, compared with 2,410 in 2011-12. Many website platforms like sayat.me have been linked to teen suicides, such as Ask.fm.
We know and understand that these such apps and websites are the source where cyberbullying starts, and such terrible things happen, so why don’t we do something to stop it? What we should do is all teach our friends and children, that what we say online will stay there forever and can impact someone very deeply. It is better if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say it at all.
By Vindhya Makkuni, Newstead Wood School
