TECH CRUNCH - Dec 19 - One of the bigger trends in 2014 was the rise of “anonymous social networking” – or apps that allowed users to post publicly to networks without using their real names. Users on these apps share secrets, gossip and other random thoughts. Secret has recently revamped its app, borrowing ideas from popular apps like Yik Yak and Snapchat and others in order to introduce new features like location-based posts and disappearing private messages. School officials warned parents about the dangers of the apps. On Yik Yak, cyberbullying became so bad this year that the company had to implement technology to block the app on school grounds around the U.S. Sadly, in private, people do want to read about shameful secrets, gossip, and other things that people think, but are too polite to say publicly. When any network caters to this sort of activity, it soars. When the trash talk dropped, so did the app’s popularity. Ask.fm is a great example of what “cleaning up” looks like (via App Annie). It declined from the top of the App Store down to #444 after its acquisition this year, which saw it agreeing to work with regulators to implement cyberbullying protections.
by Sarah Perez
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