We will keep this one short, unlike our previous reviews about social media apps. So let’s just tell you very quickly why you need to know about this app Ask.Fm.
In 2013, a 14-year-old girl, living in Britain, Hannah Smith, killed herself after she was bullied online on her Ask.Fm profile. British Prime Minister, after this incident, appealed parents for boycotting of social media apps and websites that are fostering cyberbullying.
Kids love Ask.fm—but why?
Ask.fm is more like a duo, that serves both, a social media platform, and a network for questions and answers. Though, most of these questions are usually engaging and very normal, but whenever it comes to teens using this app, everything takes a harsh turn.
Why teens like this app is because of its anonymous interface. Yeah, you heard it right—the app is absolutely anonymous, unless someone wants to share their identity while questioning others. While your profile is visible to everyone, anyone can post a question.
The app is banned in many schools because of its anonymity and how it has contributed to cyberbullying.
How famous is this app?
The app has more than 150 million users and they are polarised mostly between 18-24-year-old individuals. Of these total users, 40 percent are between 35 and 54.
There is no age verification enforcement and anyone above 13 years of age can sign up for this app.
And it gets worse
Cyberbullying is a real problem on this app, because of its anonymity. This app is considered a hotbed of mean-spirited questions. What’s worse is that there is no way to track someone’s bullying behaviour. So all those anonymous predators stay hidden under this app’s unique protection.
As we have discussed in many of our posts that all those apps and websites who let anonymous stuff to be posted by individual be banned around kids digital space, we want to reiterate this appeal again, never let your kids roam around anonymous apps.
Parents! Avoid this app at all costs!
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