Anonymous Apps Allow Social Media Users to Speak More Freely

San Jose Mercury News ^ | 5/3 | Salvador Rodriguez

[nickcarraway]

Aaron LaRue thought it was comical that a waitress at a Korean restaurant in Los Angeles would give him a fork and his Asian friend chopsticks.

He wanted to post about it on social media, but feared a potential backlash from racially sensitive friends. So he turned to Secret, a new social network that lets users say whatever they want without revealing their identities.

"I wouldn't tweet that. I wouldn't put that on Facebook," he said. "So by posting that on Secret, I get to share something that I thought was a funny experience and I have literally no repercussions."

Secret is among a wave of mobile apps that let smartphone users share their unabridged observations and life experiences anonymously.

They are growing in popularity because they allow users to speak freely and instantly about topics they might not feel comfortable sharing or discussing on Facebook and other social networks that require revealing their identities.

[Rightwing Conspiratr1]

I’m sure glad I don’t have any racially sensitive friends.

[stirrinthepuddin]

Why do folks continue to believe that there is such a thing as anonymity?

There isn’t and there is no app that will give it to you.

Try this .. from your so-called place (or device) of anonymity: Send your congressman, senator or even your local rep a threat.

(post it to Facebook under an anonymously assumed name if you wish)

I guarantee that the LEO (or Feds) will be at your door (or knocking it down) forthwith! 8)

I hate sounding so crass but you have to remember Where we are living nowadays! 8(

[E. Pluribus Unum]

FYI, "Secret" is hosted on an NSA server farm.

</sarcasm (maybe)>

[Southside_Chicago_Republican]

Or, he could have just gone ahead and posted on FB or tweeted about how he was the victim of Korean racism. /s

[Black Agnes]

You can probably leave off the sarcasm bit.

[Some Fat Guy in L.A.]

Suspect if some conservative on the hit list were to put something “racially insensitive” online through this ap it would magically be revealed who said it.