S3Corp. Tech Blog

Do you remember what it was like being in school? From arguments over the latest fashion trends to enduring teachers’ complaints about your haircut, school life often felt like a world of its own. And then, there was the endless playground gossip.

In November 2014, playground gossip went digital with the launch of the After School app, available on iOS and Android. The app, which allows for anonymous posting of “funny school news, confessions, and compliments,” has created waves among parents and educators. This tagline alone could be enough to set off alarm bells for any parent.

If you’re wondering whether this app is safe for your kids, here are five reasons why you should be cautious.

Understanding How the After School App Works

Before we dive into the reasons for concern, let’s break down how the After School app functions.

The app is essentially an anonymous and private message board for students at individual schools. Users can post messages in the form of videos, images, or text, all visible to others within that school community. The catch? All posts are anonymous unless users choose to reveal personal details within their messages.

Users sign up through Facebook, which enables the app to verify their school based on profile information and friend connections. Although this seems straightforward, it opens up numerous vulnerabilities, as we’ll explore below.

1. Bullying and Cyberbullying

One of the app’s primary criticisms is the potential for bullying. Social media and anonymous apps have unfortunately become breeding grounds for cyberbullying, making it easier for bullies to target peers without the fear of repercussion.

When After School initially launched, it received a barrage of complaints about its lack of anti-bullying measures. Complaints poured in, leading to the app being pulled from both Apple’s App Store and Google Play. By April 2015, it had reappeared with new features, including live moderators who review posts, age verification controls, and content tags to indicate the nature of each post.

While these measures were intended to curb cyberbullying, they may be insufficient for an app that prioritizes anonymity. Bullying remains a significant concern, as anonymous platforms make it easier for users to post hateful or harmful content that might go unnoticed or unreported.

2. Limited Oversight from Teachers and Guardians

Teachers are more than educators—they play a parental role during school hours, watching over students and stepping in when a child shows signs of struggle or distress. This app, however, effectively removes that layer of support by moving discussions out of the visible realm of teachers and guardians. When students use After School, their frustrations, insecurities, or even extreme thoughts are hidden from adult oversight.

There have been instances where posts on After School have triggered safety concerns. For example, a Michigan user posted about bringing a weapon to school, resulting in police and FBI investigations. Although it turned out to be a hoax, the anonymity of the platform made it nearly impossible to trace the origin of the post.

To address these issues, After School introduced a service called FIRST, which monitors social media for threats and alerts authorities. However, the efficacy of this tool in detecting and preventing incidents remains unclear, especially as the volume of posts grows.

3. Weak Age and School Verification Controls

The app claims to have strict controls to verify users’ age and school attendance through Facebook profiles. However, relying on Facebook is far from foolproof. Facebook has struggled with its own issues around underage users, and many children find it easy to create fake accounts.

These lax controls open the door for outsiders, potentially including adults with malicious intent, to gain access to school-specific boards. An adult could create a fake Facebook profile that appears to belong to a teenager, add a few people from the targeted school, and gain access to the app’s message boards. From there, they could view content or even contribute harmful posts.

Furthermore, the lack of a robust verification system means that students from rival schools or individuals with grudges can easily enter these spaces, anonymously stirring up trouble or targeting specific individuals. This potential for outsiders to infiltrate supposedly closed communities heightens the risk for all involved.

4. Exposing Personal Information and Privacy Risks

We live in a world where privacy is increasingly eroded by technology, and the After School app could exacerbate this trend for minors. Using Facebook’s network means the app has access to details like friends, school, and location to confirm a user’s identity. However, this level of access into a minor’s personal information raises serious privacy concerns.

Even if the app does not misuse this data, the risk of a security breach is ever-present. A single hack could expose sensitive information, making anonymous users identifiable. Parents should ask themselves if this is a risk they are willing to take.

Additionally, the app’s anonymity feature can be misleading. For instance, some users mistakenly believe their privacy is fully protected. But with personal data stored on servers, there’s always a chance that this information could be used or misused by third parties, or worse, fall into the hands of hackers.

5. Impersonation and Fake Invitations

While the app requires Facebook credentials for initial sign-up, that doesn’t prevent users from impersonating others once inside. Anonymity allows users to craft any identity they choose, creating potentially dangerous scenarios.

For instance, one of After School’s marketing images featured an invitation to a party, complete with an address. But who sent this invitation? Was the host even aware of it? Impersonation opens the door for scenarios in which unknown individuals could spread personal information, like addresses, or make false claims in someone else’s name.

In a real-world example, Mya Bianchi, a 15-year-old student from Michigan, reported being impersonated on the app. The user posted her phone number, implying she was open to being contacted for photos, which led to a series of harassing messages. Mya ultimately had to change her number. This incident highlights the dangers of impersonation on platforms that don’t prioritize user accountability.

Is the After School App Worth the Risk?

The developers of After School are working hard to present a positive image of their platform. Their website and marketing materials include testimonials from students, with quotes like “I like After School because I’ve only seen nice things,” and “After School is probably the best app on the marketplace.” However, a quick search online reveals countless parents and educators who disagree, expressing their concerns about the potential dangers associated with the app.

The After School app raises several valid concerns for parents, with issues ranging from cyberbullying to privacy risks and impersonation. While it’s tempting to dismiss these worries as fear-mongering, the evidence suggests that these risks are real and could impact children in harmful ways.

So, What Should Parents Do?

If you’re a parent, the first step is to open a conversation with your child. Discuss what apps they’re using, and ask them about the types of interactions they have on these platforms. Encourage open dialogue so they feel comfortable coming to you if they experience harassment, privacy invasions, or anything else troubling.

Additionally, consider setting up parental controls on your child’s devices to limit app usage or regularly review the apps they download.

The Future of Apps Like After School

The After School app is just one example of how social media and anonymity applications are changing the dynamics of adolescent social life. While these apps can offer benefits—such as a space for students to vent or connect with peers—anonymity brings risks that are often difficult to control.

Ultimately, as technology continues to evolve, parents, educators, and software developers alike must work together to ensure these tools are safe for young users. After all, a tool that connects and empowers students is only truly valuable if it also protects their well-being and safety.

Your Thoughts Matter

If you’re a parent and your child has used the After School app, we’d love to hear from you. What has your experience been like? Have you noticed any of the issues mentioned here, or do you think the risks are exaggerated? Let’s work together to ensure we’re making the best choices for our children’s safety.