Apps Anonymous: Sarahah

Sarahah, the messaging app, is currently surfing at the top of global charts. Launched in June, the app allows users to send anonymous messages to each other. The anonymity of the app allows users freedom to express their raw thoughts. Although concerns of cyberbullying have been raised, most users have had positive experiences with the app. Ananta Ahmed, a private university student, said: “When I first opened an account on the app, I got a text saying – 'I will wait for you forever.' It was awesome to get it, but then I really wanted to know who sent it to me.” Sababah Sabnam Nidhi, another college student, said: “My first text on the app was 'I wanted to tell you for a long time, but I could not say it. Today, I want to tell you anonymously, I love you.'” “Who does not like being loved? The text made me feel good,” she added.

From #SarahahI, too, prefer tall women. pic.twitter.com/tSjHka0Bgy

— Jason Marsden (@JasonMarsden) August 9, 2017

Samiul Hossain, 32-year old banker, said: “We cannot always fulfill all of our desires. Especially when one person likes someone, there is sometimes only a small window of opportunity. That is why I like this app, it allows you to fulfill those little wishes of telling someone that you like them.” “Recently, I have noticed on Facebook that these kinds of apps are really popular with teenagers. They are using them to express their hidden desires or thoughts that they could not express before,” he added. University student Suriya Islam said: “Sarahah is like a mirror – it allows you to see what other people think of you. The opinions you get on Sarahah are usually frank, so you cannot just blow them away as lies.”

What is Sarahah?

Sarahah allows users to send completely anonymous messages through the app to other users, with the recipient having no idea who the sender was. The app's purpose is to allow users to express honest opinions without fear of repercussions. Sarahah was established by Saudi app maker Zain Al Abdin Tawfiq, who created the app with a vision to allow people to send candid and (potentially) affectionate notes to each other, and for businesses to provide honest feedback to their employees. It has now become the number one app in 30 countries, including the US, UK and France in the last month. Sarahah was originally created for employees to send constructive criticism to their superiors. But the app's anonymous feature made it popular amongst everyone.

How does the app work?

Sarahah allows users to leave anonymous messages on other users' profiles. Once a user registers for an account, they can share their profile link with friends (or post it publicly), and anyone with the link can share messages to their profile. The app does not allow users to reply to messages, nor can they see who a message is from, unless the sender includes their name in the message. Users also have the option to only receive messages from other registered users.

Using the app

Initially, the app was only released for iPhones, but it was then made available for Android after public demand. The app is free, and users must be over 18 to use it. Options also exist to post one's account name on Facebook, Snapchat and other social media networks.

Sarahah takes over Facebook

Facebook newsfeeds are a window into the lives of others. Often one may have questions or comments about other people's posts, but the comments are not made to avoid hurting feelings or creating awkward situations. Sarahah seems to be the answer to the limbo in between.

It has been a long day of sending "You're wonderful and beautiful and I'm going to hit you with my car!" to every #Sarahah account I see. — James Stebick (@DoctorStebick) August 9, 2017

Candid comments to Facebook posts have become common practice on Sarahah, with Facebook users frequently posting on their timelines to ask people to reveal themselves after they have posted something anonymously on Sarahah.

Creator's comments

While the app is still growing in popularity, one concern that has grabbed international headlines is the issue of cyber-bullying. The app has attracted severe criticism, with many youngsters claiming that they received hateful messages on the app. Zain Al Abdin Tawfiq, the app's creator, released a statement to address the concerns, saying: “Sarahah aims to create a platform where constructive feedback is enabled in an environment of candor and frankness to all our valued users.” “Unfortunately, the possibility of misuse of digital platforms is a challenge facing all these platforms including the major ones. Sarahah takes this issue very seriously and we have taken several measures to address this challenge and we will continue to enhance these measures,” it added.