Difference between revisions of "Whisper"
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{{SoftwareInfoBox | {{SoftwareInfoBox | ||
| + | |NAME=''Whisper'' | ||
|HEIGHT=800 | |HEIGHT=800 | ||
| − | |||
|LOGO=Whisper.png | |LOGO=Whisper.png | ||
|SCREENIMAGE=WhisperCat.PNG | |SCREENIMAGE=WhisperCat.PNG | ||
| − | |CAPTION=Whisper | + | |CAPTION=Whisper Categories |
| − | | | + | |IMAGEURL= |
|TEXT= | |TEXT= | ||
|TYPE=Social Media | |TYPE=Social Media | ||
| − | |||
|LAUNCH=2012 | |LAUNCH=2012 | ||
|STATUS=Active | |STATUS=Active | ||
| + | |PLATFORM=iOS, Android | ||
|PRODUCT=Confessions | |PRODUCT=Confessions | ||
| + | |SITEURL=https://whisper.sh | ||
| + | |URLTEXT= Whisper Website | ||
}} | }} | ||
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==Users== | ==Users== | ||
| − | Growth of Whisper has been exponential. In May 2013, the app had about 2 million users and in the year of 2015 they claimed that they have doubled their number of active users. As of December 2015, the anonymous-messaging app has reached over 20 million monthly active users. <ref>[http://www.ibtimes.com/whisper-app-hits-20-million-monthly-users-doubles-over-six-months-2015-2221702]Growth of Whisper</ref> | + | Growth of Whisper has been exponential. In May 2013, the app had about 2 million users and in the year of 2015 they claimed that they have doubled their number of active users. As of December 2015, the anonymous-messaging app has reached over 20 million monthly active users.<ref>[http://www.ibtimes.com/whisper-app-hits-20-million-monthly-users-doubles-over-six-months-2015-2221702]Growth of Whisper</ref> Because of the anonymity of the app it is difficult to determine the exact demographic of the users but Whisper has found its key age group is 18-24. <ref>[http://techcrunch.com/2013/05/16/whisper-on-android/] Techcrunch </ref> |
==Features== | ==Features== | ||
Each user has a handle that is tied to them but they do have the opportunity to change it. After seeing a post, one can respond to a post publicly or privately. Whisper offers users to view posts by local location and in specific categories. When first opening the app, you can view by latest, most popular, nearby, or my school. | Each user has a handle that is tied to them but they do have the opportunity to change it. After seeing a post, one can respond to a post publicly or privately. Whisper offers users to view posts by local location and in specific categories. When first opening the app, you can view by latest, most popular, nearby, or my school. | ||
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The location-based feature allows users to look at whispers nearby and at a specific school. There is an option to look closer or farther away under the nearby tab. Each post also shows the exact distance from where one is at the time of viewing. The other location-based tab is the ability to set the school that you are around. The user must submit a request saying that they are on campus and get approved before viewing these posts and posting themselves. | The location-based feature allows users to look at whispers nearby and at a specific school. There is an option to look closer or farther away under the nearby tab. Each post also shows the exact distance from where one is at the time of viewing. The other location-based tab is the ability to set the school that you are around. The user must submit a request saying that they are on campus and get approved before viewing these posts and posting themselves. | ||
==Purpose== | ==Purpose== | ||
| − | In general, Whisper is a social media application allowing users to share information and opinions. The main reason co-founders, Michael Heyward and Brad Brooks, created the application is because they felt that mainstream social media sites attempted to put people into one box too often. Rather than maintain a specific reputation, they believe people are more concerned with connecting to other people especially if they are struggling with similar issues. Whisper provides a platform to express concerns, joys, and fears without the opportunity of judgment. It is giving someone an out to keeping a secret and the chance to get something off their chest that they might not want to put on a public platform like Facebook. <ref>[http://allthingsd.com/20130905/why-should-you-care-about-whisper-the-secret-sharing-app-that-vcs-are-pouring-money-into/] allthingsd - Why should you care about whisper </ref> It is giving people a community of support to share “secrets”. | + | In general, Whisper is a social media application allowing users to share information and opinions. The main reason co-founders, Michael Heyward and Brad Brooks, created the application is because they felt that mainstream social media sites attempted to put people into one box too often. Rather than maintain a specific reputation, they believe people are more concerned with connecting to other people especially if they are struggling with similar issues. Whisper provides a platform to express concerns, joys, and fears without the opportunity of judgment. It is giving someone an out to keeping a secret and the chance to get something off their chest that they might not want to put on a public platform like Facebook.<ref>[http://allthingsd.com/20130905/why-should-you-care-about-whisper-the-secret-sharing-app-that-vcs-are-pouring-money-into/] allthingsd - Why should you care about whisper </ref> It is giving people a community of support to share “secrets”. |
| − | Another use of Whisper has been just as an outlet for groups with opinions about a specific issue or topic. For example, when most social media was blocked in Iraq, Iraqi’s took to Whisper to share their statuses and updates rather than sit back in the dark. <ref>[http://www.buzzfeed.com/michaelrusch/social-media-reportedly-down-across-iraq-and-people-take-to#.dqpe7rE66] Iraqi's using Whisper</ref> | + | Another use of Whisper has been just as an outlet for groups with opinions about a specific issue or topic. For example, when most social media was blocked in Iraq, Iraqi’s took to Whisper to share their statuses and updates rather than sit back in the dark.<ref>[http://www.buzzfeed.com/michaelrusch/social-media-reportedly-down-across-iraq-and-people-take-to#.dqpe7rE66] Iraqi's using Whisper</ref> |
==Ethics== | ==Ethics== | ||
| − | Like with any social media app, and specifically anonymous apps, there come a lot of ethical issues that need to be considered. There are issues of cyber bullying, threats, and people who share things that should be reported to law enforcement. Whisper has put into place a guideline for law enforcement in case there is a scenario where they need to be involved. This goes against their main draw of being an anonymous. This is a main concern of all anonymous apps. There are benefits and drawbacks of each. Some benefits are that it creates a sense of security, offers privacy, protects reputations, and promotes freedom of speech. A few drawbacks are that it increases cyber bullying and reduces overall safety in the scenario that there is a threat and law enforcement is not able to respond quickly enough. <ref>[http://www.resourcesforlife.com/docs/item2560] Effects of anonymity</ref> There are also the dangers of online predators. This can be the case with any profile too but anonymity might be worse because there is no way to read into suspicious activity. This app is geared towards young adults who are usually the most susceptible to online predators, specifically at night when many social media apps are accessed. <ref>[http://www.ksfy.com/home/headlines/The-hidden-dangers-of-anonymous-messaging-apps--368902951.html] Dangers of anonymous messaging apps</ref> It is difficult to toe the line between keeping the role of anonymous server and being sure that the safety of users is a priority. | + | Like with any social media app, and specifically anonymous apps, there come a lot of ethical issues that need to be considered. There are issues of cyber bullying, threats, and people who share things that should be reported to law enforcement. Whisper has put into place a guideline for law enforcement in case there is a scenario where they need to be involved. This goes against their main draw of being an anonymous. This is a main concern of all anonymous apps. There are benefits and drawbacks of each. Some benefits are that it creates a sense of security, offers privacy, protects reputations, and promotes freedom of speech. A few drawbacks are that it increases cyber bullying and reduces overall safety in the scenario that there is a threat and law enforcement is not able to respond quickly enough.<ref>[http://www.resourcesforlife.com/docs/item2560] Effects of anonymity</ref> There are also the dangers of online predators. This can be the case with any profile too but anonymity might be worse because there is no way to read into suspicious activity. This app is geared towards young adults who are usually the most susceptible to online predators, specifically at night when many social media apps are accessed.<ref>[http://www.ksfy.com/home/headlines/The-hidden-dangers-of-anonymous-messaging-apps--368902951.html] Dangers of anonymous messaging apps</ref> It is difficult to toe the line between keeping the role of anonymous server and being sure that the safety of users is a priority. |
==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 21:08, 19 March 2016
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Whisper is an anonymous smartphone application that allows users to post and scroll through messages that are considered to be a secret by the poster. Users write text and the application suggests a background for the post. Alternatively, you can set your own background. Users can scroll through popular posts, recent posts, or specific categories of posts and can “heart” them or reply to the poster. Whisper was created in March 2012 and has grown to over 20 million users.
Users
Growth of Whisper has been exponential. In May 2013, the app had about 2 million users and in the year of 2015 they claimed that they have doubled their number of active users. As of December 2015, the anonymous-messaging app has reached over 20 million monthly active users.[1] Because of the anonymity of the app it is difficult to determine the exact demographic of the users but Whisper has found its key age group is 18-24. [2]
Features
Each user has a handle that is tied to them but they do have the opportunity to change it. After seeing a post, one can respond to a post publicly or privately. Whisper offers users to view posts by local location and in specific categories. When first opening the app, you can view by latest, most popular, nearby, or my school.
Categories
Whisper also offers its users to search for “whispers” based by category if they choose. These include Confessions, Personal, NSFW, Family, School, LGBTQ, Work, Animals, Tattoos and Piercings, Military, Food, Fashion, Faith, and Sports. Users do not have the option to post to a specific category but Whisper sorts them itself.
Location
The location-based feature allows users to look at whispers nearby and at a specific school. There is an option to look closer or farther away under the nearby tab. Each post also shows the exact distance from where one is at the time of viewing. The other location-based tab is the ability to set the school that you are around. The user must submit a request saying that they are on campus and get approved before viewing these posts and posting themselves.
Purpose
In general, Whisper is a social media application allowing users to share information and opinions. The main reason co-founders, Michael Heyward and Brad Brooks, created the application is because they felt that mainstream social media sites attempted to put people into one box too often. Rather than maintain a specific reputation, they believe people are more concerned with connecting to other people especially if they are struggling with similar issues. Whisper provides a platform to express concerns, joys, and fears without the opportunity of judgment. It is giving someone an out to keeping a secret and the chance to get something off their chest that they might not want to put on a public platform like Facebook.[3] It is giving people a community of support to share “secrets”. Another use of Whisper has been just as an outlet for groups with opinions about a specific issue or topic. For example, when most social media was blocked in Iraq, Iraqi’s took to Whisper to share their statuses and updates rather than sit back in the dark.[4]
Ethics
Like with any social media app, and specifically anonymous apps, there come a lot of ethical issues that need to be considered. There are issues of cyber bullying, threats, and people who share things that should be reported to law enforcement. Whisper has put into place a guideline for law enforcement in case there is a scenario where they need to be involved. This goes against their main draw of being an anonymous. This is a main concern of all anonymous apps. There are benefits and drawbacks of each. Some benefits are that it creates a sense of security, offers privacy, protects reputations, and promotes freedom of speech. A few drawbacks are that it increases cyber bullying and reduces overall safety in the scenario that there is a threat and law enforcement is not able to respond quickly enough.[5] There are also the dangers of online predators. This can be the case with any profile too but anonymity might be worse because there is no way to read into suspicious activity. This app is geared towards young adults who are usually the most susceptible to online predators, specifically at night when many social media apps are accessed.[6] It is difficult to toe the line between keeping the role of anonymous server and being sure that the safety of users is a priority.
