Whisper, Secret, Ask.fm, and Other Apps to Watch out for

Trend Alert: 6 Messaging Apps That Let Teens Share (Iffy) Secrets

You probably never thought you’d see the day when Facebook wasn’t the center of teens’ universe. But keeping up with Facebook friends through ad-filled newsfeeds and lengthy profiles, especially given the fact that everyone knows your name, is starting to feel tiresome to many teens.

Facebook is still a go-to place for many things, such as wishing someone a happy birthday or stalking a crush. However, newer social apps make it easier, faster, and more fun to capture and share fleeting moments — sometimes anonymously. These temporary and anonymous-messaging apps provide an environment that feels more appropriate to the random, silly, saucy, and experimental sides of the average teenager.

Perhaps most importantly to teens, these apps can feel consequence-free. But of course they’re not. Data never really disappears, and anonymity carries big risks. If you don’t recognize the apps your kid is currently obsessing over, here’s what you need to know:  Read the rest of this article on one of Audra’s Fave Sites, Common Sense Media.