An anonymous posting site that doesn't collect any personal information and assigns random usernames. Users can post text and pictures and comment on content from sites such as Buzzfeed and Mashable.
Why it's popular: Cloaq is gaining traction because its community is relatively supportive of its own members. Some users claim that they "hold themselves to a higher standard."
What parents need to know:
- As with any anonymous posting site or app, there are risks: People behave differently when their identities are protected, and they may be emboldened to say things they wouldn't otherwise.
- Posts are sometimes personal, sometimes philosophical, and sometimes just chatty, but language is the most frequent iffy content in the main feed.
- Despite the developer's claims that no information is collected or kept, there are no guarantees, so it's critical that kids understand that nothing written online or in an app is ever really anonymous, as it's always linked to the device they're using.
