Whisper is a social media app that allows users to share their thoughts and feelings anonymously. The app has over 20 million monthly active users.
The app's anonymous nature is a key feature, allowing users to express themselves freely without fear of judgment or repercussions. Users can share their thoughts through text, images, and videos.
Whisper has a strong focus on mental health and wellness, with a community that prioritizes empathy and understanding. The app's moderators work to ensure a safe and supportive environment for all users.
Users can browse through various topics and interests, from relationships and self-care to news and entertainment.
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What Is The App?
Whisper is an app that lets users share their thoughts and feelings without revealing their identities or profiles. Users can create a Whisper by typing text and choosing a background image or video.
To view Whispers from others, users can select from four options: Groups, Popular, Nearby, or Latest. The Nearby view shows how close the other user is, such as 1 mile.
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Whisper has a minimum age requirement of 13 years old, but there's no age verification process to start using the app. Users must have parental supervision until they're 18 years old.
To see another user's age, gender, and location in a chat, users need to complete a "Chat profile." However, there's no verification process to ensure the information entered is accurate.
Users can search for Groups and add a specific school location. Whispers in school groups can only be seen when the user is on school grounds or near enough to be considered on school grounds.
Whisper has Community Guidelines that warn users to "Don't be mean. Don't be gross. Don't use Whisper to break the law." The app and law enforcement actively monitor the service.
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Features and Technology
Whisper's technology team was initially outsourced to Inaka, a web and mobile app development consultancy, but was brought in-house since 2013.
Whisper has a robust technology stack, having converted from the RiakNoSQL database to MySQL and Apache Cassandra to improve performance.
The company has also made significant investments in AI technology, using deep learning to build a content moderation tool called the Arbiter, which can understand language subtleties.
Whisper's AI technology also enables the creation of content, allowing the app to gather related posts, organize them, add context, and even write headlines.
The app's advertising business has two parts: direct sales for advertising clients and programmatic ads that show up on a user's phone when they use the Whisper app.
Whisper has experimented with various advertising campaigns, partnering with brands like Fox Studios, MTV, Universal, Hulu, and FX on customized branded campaigns.
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Features
Whisper allows users to post anonymous messages in the form of image macros, which are text overlaid on a picture.
The app shows six such images when you open it, each with a secret message on it. You can respond to a message publicly or privately.
Users can choose to respond to a message publicly or privately, selecting either a public anonymous post or a private pseudonymous chat.
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Users don't have a public identity in the app, but they do have persistent handles. However, there's no way to contact them except through the messages they post.
The primary way of communicating with someone on Whisper is by responding to their Whispers, which can be done by sending your own Whisper or through the chat function.
It's worth noting that maintaining anonymity is more challenging when using the chat or private messaging function.
Whisper uses location data, which means it shows posts from people nearby or related to specific themes, like schools.
Technology
Whisper's technology team is based in Venice, CA, with 25 engineers on board in 2015.
They initially used the RiakNoSQL database, but performance issues led to a switch to MySQL and Apache Cassandra.
In 2013, Whisper brought its technology team in-house, ending the outsourcing to Inaka, a web and mobile app development consultancy.
Whisper has been experimenting with AI technology to create content, allowing it to gather related posts, organize them, and even write headlines.
The company's AI technology, known as the Arbiter, uses deep learning to build a content moderation tool that can understand language subtleties.
This tool has been trained on millions of Whisper user posts and moderator decisions, giving it a remarkably subtle understanding of language.
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User Base and Growth
Whisper's user base grew rapidly, reaching 10 million monthly active users in April 2015. By December 2015, this number had doubled to 20 million active users.
In just a year, Whisper's user base more than doubled, with 30 million monthly active users reported in April 2016. This significant growth was likely due to the app's popularity among younger generations.
The New York Times named Whisper as a social media platform of choice for Generation Z in September 2015. As of June 2017, 75% of Whisper's usership was between the ages of 18 and 34.
Whisper's Facebook page was the top-performing media fan page for interactions on the social network in fiscal year 2016, with approximately 200 million interactions. This was a notable achievement, outperforming major media outlets like CNN, Vice, and BuzzFeed.
Whisper was launched in March 2012 and was valued at over $200 million just two years later. This impressive valuation was a testament to the app's rapid growth and popularity.
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Safety and Controversy
Whisper has been criticized for requiring access to smartphone features like the camera and contact list, which is disclosed when the app is downloaded on Android.
The app has been linked to several controversies, including a 15-year-old girl being charged with making a threat on Whisper towards a school in 2015.
A 31-year-old man from Toronto allegedly met a 15-year-old girl on Whisper and was charged with luring a child, among other offenses.
Whisper's privacy policy reveals that it will turn over information to law enforcement in response to requests.
Whisper tracks users to keep serial offenders away, but this can compromise user anonymity.
Parents need to be aware that nobody is 100% anonymous on Whisper.
The app collects data from users according to its terms and conditions.
Some users post offensive or inappropriate content that's not suitable for kids.
There are over 20 adult-themed groups on the app, which can be easily accessed by younger users.
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Cyberbullying is a significant concern on Whisper, as users may feel emboldened to troll or bully others without fearing consequences.
The lack of accountability makes it easy for bullying to spiral, potentially affecting a teen's mental health.
Location sharing enabled on Whisper can compromise user privacy, as posts appear in local feeds and can be seen by anyone nearby.
Oversharing is a risk on Whisper, as users may reveal more than they should feeling safe behind the idea of anonymity.
Whisper can foster an environment where teens feel pressured to keep up with others, leading to unhealthy comparisons and feelings of inadequacy.
Here are some key safety concerns with Whisper:
The company's policy of turning over information to law enforcement has been criticized, with some arguing that it's contradictory to the app's promise of anonymity.
Whisper has been accused of retaining user posts indefinitely, including deleted posts, and storing geolocation data.
The company has disputed these allegations, but some experts have raised concerns about the app's handling of user data.
What Can Parents Do?
Parents, it's time to get informed about the Whisper app and how to protect your kids from its potential dangers. Ask your student if they, or their friends, use Whisper, and have a conversation about why they feel it's the best app to meet their goals online.
Research other appropriate apps or sources teenagers can use to express their ideas or feelings, such as finding apps that promote positive online interactions and self-expression.
Talk with your students about the dangers of talking to strangers, even "anonymously" online, and remind them not to share personal identification information in their Whispers or chats.
To help you navigate the world of social media and online safety, consider joining the SmartSocial VIP membership to learn how to start conversations about shining online with your students.
Here are some additional steps you can take to help keep your kids safe on Whisper:
By taking these steps, you can help your kids use Whisper safely and responsibly, and encourage them to express themselves in a positive and healthy way online.
Pros and Cons
Whisper has both its advantages and disadvantages.
One major pro is that Whisper allows users to share their thoughts and feelings anonymously, which can be incredibly liberating and help people feel more comfortable expressing themselves.
Another benefit is that the app has a vast community of users, with millions of posts and comments to explore.
However, the lack of moderation on the app can lead to the presence of explicit content, including profanity and graphic descriptions.
Whisper's anonymous nature also means that users can be more prone to sharing hurtful or insensitive comments.
On the other hand, the app's focus on community and sharing has led to the creation of many supportive and uplifting groups.
Some users have reported feeling a sense of comfort and connection with others who share similar experiences or interests.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Whisper app really anonymous?
Yes, Whisper is completely anonymous, with users assigned a random nickname upon joining. This anonymity is further protected by the app's unique features, including a gallery of photos and fonts to choose from.
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