How many times have you wished you could tell off your BFF without facing any consequences? Well, great news! Now you can!
Introducing Sarahah, which means “honesty” in Arabic. The premise of the app is simple: Tell your friends all those things you would never dare say to their faces under the guise of anonymity.
According to the app’s website, it’s purpose is to provide “honest feedback” by letting friends “be honest” about “areas for improvement.”
The app, which was launched a little less than a year ago, was created by Saudi Arabian developer Zain al-AbidinTawfiq, who originally started it for Arab employees to vent about their bosses without getting in trouble. But it has since taken a slightly different direction.
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It didn’t take long for people to begin using it so shit talk directly to their friends faces. The app doesn’t tell them who sent the message, nor does it allow them to reply.
Here’s an example of some of the missives people are sending:
Of course, not all the messages people send are quite so venomous. Some are slightly nicer:
But Timothy Rawles over at the San Diego Gay and Lesbian News isn’t so sure about the app. He writes:
Once you have created a username and password you can then search for people you want to connect with and “say something constructive (smilie face)” the interface reminds you.
Here’s an example of one “constructive” post I found of one person’s screenshot “feedback” from the app: “I’m tired of you using your mental illness as a crutch for never ever growing up. You have no manners and mooch off of people and only want to talk about yourself.”
These are your friends?
Rawles says he’s worried about the negative effects the app would have on young people, particularly LGBTQ youth.
In the LGBT community being bullied is a real problem and giving a hateful person a platform to spew epithets is a bit like giving them a free pass for homophobia. Sarahah may now be a ‘safe’ way to bully school kids who are fooled into thinking the technology is fun or humorous and parents may never know.
He concludes by writing:
Americans have no problems identifying themselves when they have something to say these days, so I am perplexed at how Sarahah is useful for anything but antipathy. You don’t have to be anonymous to say something nice to someone.
What do you think? Is it just fun and games, or does Sarahah open the door for bullying and hate? Share your thoughts in the comments below…
bridyyc
People demonstrate the thoughtful and constructive dialogue that happens on the internet every day. What could go wrong with this?
Jack Meoff
Just what the internet needs more ways for people to bully each other. Just wait till the school kids get their hands on it. The comments people make to each other in forums like this one are bad enough as it is.
Captain proton
someone reinvented formspring, how (not) nice.
seaguy
An App for people who do not have the spine or balls to say it to the person’s face. Pathetic!
Heywood Jablowme
Most of these “anonymous” posters seem to have photos and/or screen names that would immediately indicate who they are to anyone who actually knows them IRL?
But leaving that little problem aside: couldn’t most people figure out fairly quickly which “friend” wrote something negative? There are always little clues.
Well, except maybe for that gender-fluid person. It could be that all of his/her/their friends have the same attitude.
lensinm
It’s a good app. Gives people the chance to in courage others, help build them up by saying nice things about one another. Which in my opinion is a great thing!! But I wish that when they send me the anonymous messages or comments that I could respond to tell them thank you or if they have a question about me or need advice they can send it anonymous as well and I can respond back with whatever it may be. But this is a new app, so I’m sure it’ll get better.Get the free version of app from Tutu helper download.
Luna1979
This must be an Arab thing. My family has been doing this for decades. They anonymously send a card or letter to the person and tell them off. I used to think they were all insane…ok, still do… but sometimes you gotta let it out.
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