Review of Popular Messaging Apps

1. Snapchat - This app is risky. Many teens use it for fun and to send pictures and videos that disappear after seconds. However, the pictures don’t actually disappear. These pictures and videos are out there forever because whatever is online, stays online and can be recovered. Students may send pictures that end up getting spread and shared with many people. This will embarass the student and possibly even ruin the student’s reputation.

2. Burn Note - This texting app makes messages self destruct after 30 days. The app claims that nothing can be recovered and texts are difficult to screenshot using this app. Students may take advantage of this and send bold, daring texts because they know they won’t be there forever. 

3. Whisper - This app can be incredibly dangerous for students. People can post their thoughts at any moment anonymously. This leads to people, including students, posting inappropriate content. The information can even go public, as other social media sites such as Buzzfeed, feature things from this app. Ever heard the phrase, “Garbage in, garbage out” ? That’s exactly what this app demonstrates.

4. Secret - Speak Freely - This app is just like Whisper. People can say things anonymously. However, it does request your email address and phone number to use the app. Students can be exposed to inappropriate content and bad language on this app. It makes it easy for people to slander others which is harmful for students. 

5. Ask.fm - This website enables people to ask random, anonymous questions to others. Some things asked on this app are harmless, but other things are more sexual, crude, and inappropriate. This app has also opened the door to cyberbullying which is very harmful to the student. This app can cause emotional stress for students.

6. Omegle - This app enables anonymous chatting in chat rooms. You get paired up with a stranger and you can discuss anything you would like. This is not a good app for students because many people that use this app are looking for sexual relationships. This is a very inappropriate app and should not be used by any student ever.