Every day, it seems there’s a new app trending around school that people are downloading. Recently one app caught the attention of students, “After School”. After School is an app that allows users to anonymously post to with other users. This app lets users use Facebook to login. After that, they can choose a school’s posts to see.
Only students can use this app. Parents and administrators can’t get on it to see if anything bad is happening without having to lie about their age.
“I think it was a smart idea at first because people were writing some nice thing; then it got real negative,” sophomore Ethan Westhoff said. “About almost everything from cheating on someone and saying rude things about people.”
Bullying is a risk of allowing users to anonymously post. Bullying is a major problem, and this app could lead to bullying at Staley. Many of the posts are about who likes whom and random thoughts people have about each other. The app filters out posts that mention sexual things, drugs, profanity and posts that could be labeled as “gross,” and users have to be 17+ to view them. Even with the filters, sometimes sexual posts still get through.
Talking about somebody else’s body parts and how much someone likes or dislikes them can make someone uncomfortable. This is classified as sexual harassment. On top of feeling uncomfortable, this app let’s users post anonymously so one can’t see who wrote it. Therefore, one can’t confront them, all they can do is report the post. According to redcode.net, since the app launched four weeks ago, there have been many incidents already, and parents at a Michigan high school have started petitions to remove the app from the App Store. At another high school in Michigan, a student posted that he was bringing a gun to school on the app, which resulted in a police and FBI investigation.
“I think we need to watch out for everybody else. It’s called standing for the silent or speaking for the silent, and if people know that somebody is being the target of meanness” assistant principle Sharon Roberts said. “I think it’s good to report that wether you use our text-a-tip, which people use to get help for other people. Because how lonely must that feel to be the target of this mean stuff and not have anywhere to go?”
People fail to realize that if a post is threatening and the police are contacted, the app keeps cell phone data so that they can track whoever is posting it. Considering parents and teachers can’t get on it, law enforcement has to rely on students to report suspicious activity such as threats and bullying.
“After School” has been removed from the App Store a few times before due to the lack of safety features. According to Washingtonpost.com, they have added a fast system that contacts police when a threat is detected on the app. Also, when a student makes a post about being depressed or threatened, it alerts the app and a message is sent to the student asking them if they would like to text with a counselor who works within the app.
A lot of people believe this app is a danger to our student body and that it runs the risk of false rumors being spread and bullying within the app. According to redcode.net, students and parents at a Michigan High School have started petitions in hopes to get rid of this app. Staley students hope the fad of this app at our school will fade out and apps like this wont continue to be developed.