The internet has changed our lives in myriad different ways and continues to throw up new and interesting applications that enrich, ease or simplify life. It also throws up that which is worrying and harrowing from time to time. It is constantly evolving and finding new ways to amaze us; creating viral trends that swamp the entire world. The Sarahah app is a new internet sensation: dubbed the honesty app, here is the good, the bad and the ugly:
If you're on social media you couldn’t possibly have missed it: people sharing images of messages in a speech bubble edged in aquamarine, with the website name: Sarahah.com. Most of those messages are likely to have been appreciative and complementary.
It is an app rather like similar others before it (for instance stayat.me, the personal feedback URL) that claims to help “people self-develop by receiving constructive anonymous feedback”. It is available for free download.
It is an app that lets people anonymously send messages to any other person who has the app. There is no reply feature and no way of knowing who sent the message. The only options are to share the message on social media, block a user or mark the message as a ‘favourite’.
Obviously people like receiving compliments; appreciative and loving messages. People also enjoyed being able to tell reveal their true feelings to the object of their affection without having to reveal their identity. The world is now divided into these four categories of people apparently.
People receive messages telling them how wonderful they are, how they are being missed or if they have a secret admirer. Many users feel that this is a stress buster and a way to make their day brighter.
Yes, it could be a vehicle for humour as well – as standup comic Sorabh Pant assures us here.
Anonymity emboldens people to say what they like, to vent their frustration upon those they dislike or may be jealous of. Sarahah is a new weapon for abuse as well.
The app is not all about shiny, happy people. It is also used to threaten, intimidate and send hate messages. It has become a new way to bully people. There are those who have received death threats via the app.
Obviously curiosity is acute when you receive a love/hate message. So far there is no way to know who sent a message via Sarahah. Something called Sarahah Spyer promises to decrypt messages. Those that have tried it, say don’t waste your time with the fake site.
If you're in the mood to receive some honest feedback and are willing to take the rough with the smooth, you may want to download the app. It installs within seconds and the registration is simple too. But do remember that disabling it is quite difficult. The app itself has no account removal functionality though you can logout. You have to go to the website to remove your account. And remember you may have to develop a really tough hide to manage the rough with the smooth.
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