“Send me anonymous messages” what could be wrong with that? Teens around the province, and world have all become involved with the app “Yolo” that allows users to send anonymous messages to each other.

This Q&A app allows it’s users to ask anonymous questions or send anonymous feedback. The app was released on May 2nd and has since been downloaded millions of times. 

The viral app allows its users to connect their Yolo account with their Snapchat account. This allows its users to add a sticker to their Snapchat Story that allows people to send them anonymous questions or feedback. The users can then reply to the anonymous messages on their Snapchat Story. In simple talk, the app is like an anonymous comment box on your life.

Though the app is pictured to have its users sending positive messages, not all teens are receiving this kind of treatment when using the app. 

App users do not commonly receive positive messages as the app pictures and the safeguard that was made to protect users from harassing messages does not work. (photo courtesy of Yolo)

Bullying, harassment, and threats often line the messages received through the app. When sending anonymous messages on Yolo, the app warns people to not bully, “Yolo is for positive feedback only. No bullying. If you send harassing messages to our users, you will be banned from the service.” 

Although the app warns users of this, the safeguards designed on the app to protect users from bullying do not work. 

Yolo is not the first anonymous messaging app and will not be the last. In the past there have been many that include: Sarahah, Yik Yak, Secret, Whisper, TBH, and many more. These apps all have died in popularity due to the bullying that comes along with using the app.

Many teens crave validation from their peers, and though many receive messages full of positive feedback like, “You’re so pretty!” or “You’re such an amazing person” there are many teens who have received the opposite.

Examples of messages that teens have recieved from the app include: “I hate you” “You’re a slut” “Kill yourself” “Send nudes”

Reportedly, teens have taken to harming themselves after the bullying they have received from the app. Others have been hurt by the app as they receive no messages from their peers.

Not only has the app taken its toll on teens, but it has a large audience of tweens, kids aged 9 to 12, who have have taken to joining the trend. These kids can be sent inappropriate messages and hurtful comments.

Experts say, the questions you should ask your children include: “Do you have the Yolo app” “Are you receiving messages from the app?” and “Are you sending others messages through the app?”

Kids can be cruel to each other, especially behind a screen. The sexual content teens receive in the messages of the app can be from anyone. When given anonymity to leave comments on other people it opens a gate full of possibilies.