With over a million downloads, the top spot in the Play Store trends ranking, and the title of the most downloaded app for iPhones in Brazil, Sarahah has outpaced established brands like Facebook and Instagram in popularity in recent days. Have you heard of the app?
The principle is very simple: honesty. In fact, this is the literal translation of the term "sarahah", which is an Arabic word, just like the origin of its creator Zain al-Abidin Tawfiq. In summary, Sarahah allows the sending of messages anonymously, encouraging sincere communication.
How it works
By creating an account on the app, you can view your received and sent messages, always preserving the anonymity of the sender. It is possible to find profiles through the app's search, and those who do not want to be found can choose to have their profile accessed only by those who click on the direct link.
On the website, the developers point out the benefits of Sarahah as the opportunity to receive feedback from your coworkers, thus discovering areas where you can improve your skills, as well as strengthening relationships with your friends through honest communication. Will it be?
Déjà-vu?
It seems like we've seen this before, right? That's because we have! In 2014, the app Secret generated controversy after its initial intent to be a positive environment for anonymous messaging, the same as Sarahah, was distorted and cases of cyberbullying and inappropriate language led to the app's downfall. Secret shut down completely the following year, in 2015.
Outside of app stores, anonymous question sites are also popular on the internet. Formspring, Ask.fm, and the more recent Curious Cat have already accumulated impressive daily visitors, especially among teenagers.