Ask.fm

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Ask.fm
Asklogo.png
Askfmapp.png
Ask.fm Application Source
Type Social Networking
Launch Date Jun 16, 2010
Status Active
Product Line Ask.fm
Platform iOS, Android
Website www.ask.fm

Ask.fm is a question and answer format social networking site founded in 2010 that allows users to ask questions anonymously. It was created by brothers Ilja and Mark Terebin in Riga, Latvia who wanted to create a rival of Formspring, another Q and A style social networking site.[1] Questions are only displayed publicly on a user's profile when they respond to them, and users can opt-out of answering questions.[2] Ask.fm has a reputation for its ethical concerns as it is a site where an abundance of cyberbullying has occurred, and the platform has been linked to the suicides of teens in Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the United States.[3][4][5]

History

Ownership

lja and Mark Terebin founded Ask.fm in 2010. In 2014, the site was bought by InterActiveCorp (IAC), the company that owns Ask.com. IAC promised to improve safety measures and address bullying concerns. In 2016, IAC sold Ask.fm to the asset management firm Noosphere.[6]

Headquarters

When Ask.fm was purchased by IAC in 2014, their headquarters moved from Latvia to Dublin, Ireland. IAC determined that to help Ask.fm with their safety issues, they need to have them in a location with pre-existing infrastructure and networks.[7]

Branding and Interface

When first created in 2010, Ask.fm was initially thought of an uncensored place to anonymously send questions. Ask.fm featured tabs to see questions submitted to the user and friends’ responses to questions.[8]

IAC, new owners, promised to address safety concerns in 2014. They tightened policies, created a Safety Center, hired Catherine Teitelbaum as Chief Trust and Safety Officer, and created a Safety Advisory Board. They committed to removing users with multiple complaints and respond to complaints immediately. New measures also gave parents and adults the power to request an account be deleted.[9][10]

Owlcat Mascot[11]

A rebrand in 2016 highlighted the natural collective curiosity humans have as social beings. It emphasized the importance of learning about people’s thoughts and feelings to create better connections and discover more about oneself. A mascot designed to emulate the wise nature of owls and curiosity of cats named Owlcat was introduced. Other rebranding updates included more simple elements to allow users to emulate their personalities. They also included the ability to respond to questions with gifs from GIPHY.[12]

In 2017, a discovery page was created for users to see the most liked posts in their area and people that use similar hashtags. Updates were also made that provided more customizable background options, hashtags for profiles, suggested friend connections, a “view more” button for long posts, and the ability for the user to indicate if they are online or offline.[13]

Later in 2017, to address negative comments and the issue of self-bullying, Ask.fm implemented the emotion-distress management service, Koko. Self-bullying is a phenomenon where users send themselves hurtful messages anonymously to display on their page for followers to see. Koko finds this type of content and removes it as well as offers support to users affected by pointing them to support.[14]

In 2018, Ask.fm works with a UK charity, and adds a Safety Center page on the website that includes material to educate students, teachers, and parents about online safety and specific Ask.fm safety features.[15]

Later in 2018, Ask.fm released an Initial Coin Offering (ICO). They buried 50,000 ASKT, their cryptocurrency, at the peak of Mount Everest to promote the new cryptocurrency.[16]

Askfm 2.0

In 2018, ASKfm created a new major project known as ASKfm 2.0. This idea was based around the implementation of a new blockchain based platform and the creation of a proprietary cryptocurrency known as ASK Token (ASKT). The initial launch of ASKT offered up 1 billion tokens, 50% of the total amount, to investors and users, and set the initial price of a token at $0.1 USD, with plans to then sell an additional $100 million USD of the crypto. [17] This change in the platform was done with the intent to breakaway from an largely advertising based revenue model and instead rely on payment directly from users as fees on these transactions. [18] CEO of ASKfm, Max Tsaryk, remarked on the release of ASKT and ASKfm 2.0 saying, “...blockchain technology can boost access to knowledge and how it is assessed through a tokenized social media community where people are incentivized to deliver thoughtful and in-demand responses.” [18]

ASKfm 2.0 was intended to be a separate platform from ASKfm, with users having the option to switch to the new platform and partake in the cryptocurrency based interactions. [19] The use of ASKfm tokens on the site includes the ability for users to offer bounty for answering certain questions. Another user would then be able to provide an answer, and after that answer is verified, they would be rewarded with the bounty tokens. Additionally, an answer to a bounty question can be answered by multiple users, who would each then receive a portion of the reward. [20]

Use

A user must create a free account to use Ask.fm. To sign up, users must provide their email and date of birth. They will not be allowed to sign up if they are younger than thirteen. Once an account is created, they can add a profile picture, write a bio, add hashtags to their profile, and declare if they are online or offline. To find friends, users can connect their various social media accounts. Ask.fm gives suggestions based on these accounts. At the top of the screen are six icons. The house icon is where the user can see their feed of questions and friends' questions. The question mark icon is where questions that the user has been asked show up. The person icon is the user's profile. The icon of two people is where the user can search for friends, hashtags, and connect their other social media accounts. The lightning bolt is where notifications show up, and the gear icon is where settings are.

The settings page allows the user to opt-out of receiving anonymous questions, letting other users share posts and subscribe to their account, and their online or offline status. They can pick a gif that describes their mood. They can control notifications. They can also change their password, deactivate the account, view who they have blocked, and log out.

When the user clicks a red plus sign icon button at the top right corner of the page, they can ask someone a question anonymously or openly, create a photo poll where people vote on their favorite of two photos or ask questions to people nearby with a shoutout.

Users

In 2013, Ask.fm had 60 million users in 150 countries and gained around 300,000 new users every day. About half of all users are under 18.[21][22] They use the platform as a pastime and so they can feel a part of a community.[23] They can engage in a virtual world without adults and feel free from the constraints of supervision. It is also a place where users can explore their identity. Users want to be accepted by peers, so they join their friends and neighbors on Ask.fm. The possibility of someone they have not met or wants to remain a secret asking them questions and engaging with them is exciting for users.[24]

Ethical Concerns

Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying on Ask.fm[25]

Cyberbullying is a concern that has put Ask.fm at the center of attention. The anonymity of Ask.fm allows users to “hide behind a screen” and say anything they want without disclosing their identity[26]. This allows for heated arguments, harassment, bullying.[27] In its first years, Ask.fm had minimal safety controls, and users could not lock down their accounts. It was found that users on the platform have more issues with bullying and abuse than users of other social networking platforms. Ask.fm has more negativity than other sites.[28]

Suicide

In twelve months spanning across 2012 and 2013, nine Ask.fm users committed suicide due to the harassment and bullying they received. All victims were between the ages of 12 and 17.[29] The bullying did not stop after their deaths, and the founders of the site take no responsibility and blame society for the problems instead.[30] British Prime Minister at the Time, David Cameron, called for a boycott of Ask.fm and websites like it that allowed for unmonitored harassment. He pushed for those that create these sites to take responsibility and action on the issue.[31]

Isis recruitment on Ask.fm[32]

Isis Recruitment

Three teenage girls from Denver, Colorado were radicalized and joined Isis in 2014. They ran away from home and went to Syria to an Islamic State Camp. Thousands of Jihadist accounts on the platform would answer questions people had about joining them. Government and safety organizations struggled to combat the recruitment because of the casual nature and language of the conversations. There were not many references to violence, so words would not be flagged in filters.[33]

Dangerous Marketing

Ask.fm’s mission to bury 50,000 ASKT, Ask.fm’s new cryptocurrency, on the peak of Mount
Member of the Ask.fm Mount Everest team[34]
Everest, was accomplished, but not without damages. The team that embarked on the journey was comprised of four people heavily involved in the cryptocurrency world and Lam Babu Sherpa, the sherpa that aided them on their journey. One team member suffered from frostbite on his fingers and feet. Lam Babu Sherpa was left behind on the descent and is now dead. The 500,000 ASKT remains on the mountain for anyone to attempt to recover.[35]

EXPANDING ON / REWORKING THIS AS EDIT William Babbitt 3/18 6:30 pm

Commitment to Internet Safety

In 2015, Ask.fm became a sponsor of Safer Internet Day 2015: Actions and Activism Toward a Better Net and World. The event promoted internet safety for all.

Ask.fm created the website StopBullying.US in conjunction with its #nobullies social media campaign to bring attention to cyberbullying and inspire people to end bullying.[36]

References

  1. ↑ Blake, J. (2015, February 9). Ask.fm owners 'considered shutting down' social network. BBC. https://www-bbc-co-uk.proxy.lib.umich.edu/news/newsbeat-31249209.
  2. ↑ Farrugia, L., Lauri, M. A., Borg, J., & O’Neill, B. (2018). Have you asked for it? An exploratory study about maltese adolescents’ use of ask.fm. Journal of Adolescent Research, 34(6), 738–756. https://doi.org/10.1177/0743558418775365
  3. ↑ Dickey, J. (2014, June 26). Ask.fm Co-Founders Mark and Ilja Terebin Interview. Time. https://time.com/2923146/ask-fm-interview/.
  4. ↑ Farrugia, L., Lauri, M. A., Borg, J., & O’Neill, B. (2018). Have you asked for it? An exploratory study about maltese adolescents’ use of ask.fm. Journal of Adolescent Research, 34(6), 738–756. https://doi.org/10.1177/0743558418775365
  5. ↑ Blake, J. (2015, February 9). Ask.fm owners 'considered shutting down' social network. BBC. https://www-bbc-co-uk.proxy.lib.umich.edu/news/newsbeat-31249209.
  6. ↑ BBC. (2016, July 4). Ask.fm changes hands once again. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-36702766.
  7. ↑ Ask.fm Relocates to Ireland. (2014, November 10). Entertainment Close-up. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A389431826/BIC?u=umuser&sid=BIC&xid=e7528359
  8. ↑ ASKfm. (2016, January 14). "What's your spirit animal?". Medium. https://medium.com/@askfm/what-s-your-spirit-animal-25bce7e69c30.
  9. ↑ Perez, S. (2014, August 14). IAC Agrees To Work With Regulators On Cyberbullying Protections Following Ask.fm Deal. TechCrunch. https://techcrunch.com/2014/08/14/ask-com-agrees-to-work-with-regulators-on-cyberbullying-protections-following-ask-fm-acquisition/.
  10. ↑ Ask.fm Creates Safety Advisory Board. Wireless News. (2015, January 20). https://bi-gale-com.proxy.lib.umich.edu/essentials/article/GALE%7CA398002967?u=umuser&sid=summon.
  11. ↑ ASKfm. (2016, January 14). "What's your spirit animal?". Medium. https://medium.com/@askfm/what-s-your-spirit-animal-25bce7e69c30.
  12. ↑ ASKfm. (2016, January 14). "What's your spirit animal?". Medium. https://medium.com/@askfm/what-s-your-spirit-animal-25bce7e69c30.
  13. ↑ ASKfm. (2017, February 7). ASKfm Launched Discover Feed Feature. Medium. https://medium.com/@askfm/askfm-launched-discover-feed-feature-16f0e0585459.
  14. ↑ ASKfm. (2018, January 23). ASKfm Teams Up with Koko to Tackle Self-Messaging Issues. Medium. https://medium.com/@askfm/askfm-teams-up-with-koko-to-tackle-self-messaging-issues-6408d742a95f.
  15. ↑ Safety Center. Ask.fm Safety Center. (2018, January 31). https://safety.ask.fm/.
  16. ↑ Serrels, M. (2018, June 5). Man dies on Mount Everest during ASKfm cryptocurrency promotional stunt. CNET. https://www.cnet.com/news/man-dies-on-mount-everest-during-cryptocurrency-promotional-stunt/.
  17. ↑ Askfm 2.0: Creating a Self-Sustainable economy of knowledge. (2018, May 10). Retrieved March 18, 2021, from https://www.newsbtc.com/sponsored/askfm-2-0-creating-self-sustainable-knowledge-economy/
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 ASK.fm tokenizes Q&A. (2018, May 21). Retrieved March 18, 2021, from https://bitcoinmagazine.com/press-releases/askfm-tokenizes-q
  19. ↑ FinSMEs. (2018, May 9). ASKfm, the Largest Q&a social network, to launch its ico. Retrieved March 18, 2021, from https://www.finsmes.com/2018/05/askfm-the-largest-qa-social-network-to-launch-its-ico.html
  20. ↑ Johnson, Z. (2019, October 22). How to become a better entrepreneur with askfm 2.0 q&a community. Retrieved March 18, 2021, from https://ceoworld.biz/2018/06/19/how-to-become-a-better-entrepreneur-with-askfm-2-0-qa-community/
  21. ↑ Abad-Santos, A. (2013, October 29). Ask.fm Is the New Way for Teens to Cyberbully Each Other to Death. The Atlantic. https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2013/08/twitter-bullying-over-ask-new-way-people-be-awful/312421/.
  22. ↑ Guardian News and Media. (2013, August 6). Ask.fm: is there a way to make it safe? The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/aug/06/askfm-way-to-make-it-safe.
  23. ↑ Farrugia, L., Lauri, M. A., Borg, J., & O’Neill, B. (2018). Have you asked for it? An exploratory study about maltese adolescents’ use of ask.fm. Journal of Adolescent Research, 34(6), 738–756. https://doi.org/10.1177/0743558418775365
  24. ↑ Guardian News and Media. (2013, August 6). Ask.fm: is there a way to make it safe? The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/aug/06/askfm-way-to-make-it-safe.
  25. ↑ Edwards, J. (2013, September 16). Users On This Web Site Have Successfully Driven Nine Teenagers To Kill Themselves. Business Insider. https://www.businessinsider.com/askfm-and-teen-suicides-2013-9.
  26. ↑ Farrugia, L., Lauri, M. A., Borg, J., & O’Neill, B. (2018). Have you asked for it? An exploratory study about maltese adolescents’ use of ask.fm. Journal of Adolescent Research, 34(6), 738–756. https://doi.org/10.1177/0743558418775365
  27. ↑ Dickey, J. (2014, June 26). Ask.fm Co-Founders Mark and Ilja Terebin Interview. Time. https://time.com/2923146/ask-fm-interview/.
  28. ↑ Farrugia, L., Lauri, M. A., Borg, J., & O’Neill, B. (2018). Have you asked for it? An exploratory study about maltese adolescents’ use of ask.fm. Journal of Adolescent Research, 34(6), 738–756. https://doi.org/10.1177/0743558418775365
  29. ↑ Edwards, J. (2013, September 16). Users On This Web Site Have Successfully Driven Nine Teenagers To Kill Themselves. Business Insider. https://www.businessinsider.com/askfm-and-teen-suicides-2013-9.
  30. ↑ Dickey, J. (2014, June 26). Ask.fm Co-Founders Mark and Ilja Terebin Interview. Time. https://time.com/2923146/ask-fm-interview/.
  31. ↑ Guardian News and Media. (2013, August 8). Cyberbullying websites should be boycotted, says Cameron. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/aug/08/cyberbullying-websites-boycotted-david-cameron.
  32. ↑ These personal details are part of a Q&A with an ISIS recruiter on Ask.fm. ISIS recruiting tactics: Apple pie and video games. CNNMoney. https://money.cnn.com/2014/09/30/technology/isis-recruiting/.
  33. ↑ Dewey, C. (2019, April 28). Inside the battle for Ask.fm, the site where Islamic State recruited three American teens. The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-intersect/wp/2014/12/12/inside-the-battle-for-ask-fm-the-site-where-islamic-state-recruited-three-american-teens/.
  34. ↑ Serrels, M. (2018, June 5). Man dies on Mount Everest during ASKfm cryptocurrency promotional stunt. CNET. https://www.cnet.com/news/man-dies-on-mount-everest-during-cryptocurrency-promotional-stunt/.
  35. ↑ Serrels, M. (2018, June 5). Man dies on Mount Everest during ASKfm cryptocurrency promotional stunt. CNET. https://www.cnet.com/news/man-dies-on-mount-everest-during-cryptocurrency-promotional-stunt/.
  36. ↑ Close-Up Media, Inc. (2015, February 9). Ask.fm Becomes Official Sponsor of Safer Internet Day 2015 Citation metadata. https://go-gale-com.proxy.lib.umich.edu/ps/i.do?p=BIC&u=umuser&id=GALE%7CA400748803&v=2.1&it=r&sid=summon.
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