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Growing Concern For Anonymous Feedback App Sarahah

If you need help for cyberbullying or abuse on Sarahah or any other social media platform, follow the links to our support services throughout this article.

A new app, designed for sending anonymous feedback to friends or colleagues has been highlighted as a tool for cyberbullying and abuse. The app, called Sarahah, describes itself as a ‘Social communication application to send or receive honest anonymous feedback’, which users can use to develop themselves socially, personally or professionally through ‘discovering your strengths and areas for improvement by receiving honest feedback from your employees and your friends in a private manner.’

Worried parents have expressed concerns Sarahah makes it easy for cyberbullies to spread abusive and damaging messages anonymously, without any repercussions. Although the app, which topped the App store, is age rated 17+, it has not stopped younger people downloading it. Reports are already starting to emerge of young people being sent abusive comments and of parents who are warning their children not to download the app or restricting access on devices through parental controls.

“We are starting to see cases coming through where young people have been subjected to appalling abuse via Sarahah. It is crucial that anyone downloading this app is made aware of the risks and where they can get help if they are targeted.”

Iain Alexander, Head of Engagement, The Cybersmile Foundation

Platforms and apps that invite anonymous feedback are by nature open to opinions and comments that may be offensive. Sarahah’s predecessors such as Ask.fm, Whisper and Sayat.me have all experienced controversy regarding cyberbullying and abusive behavior. Sarahah does provide privacy settings and content filters for users to filter out comments and block abuse, but if these are not set up, users will experience completely unfiltered anonymous feedback.

If you are affected by any type of online negativity we can help! Visit our Cyberbullying and Online Abuse Help Center or check out our Total Access Support section to see the different ways we can help. For further information about Cybersmile and the work we do, please explore the following recommendations.

Have you used Sarahah? Tweet us your thoughts and experiences @CybersmileHQ.