Marketing senior Jennifer Capodiferro shows off the new Whisper application, which lets its users share photos and personal secrets anonymously. The application also features a geographic interphase which allows people to share where they are. (Photo by Dominic Valente) A free app is getting people’s attention because of users' availability to share their secrets anonymously.
The Whisper app, which was developed a year ago for Android and Apple, allows students to use pictures and text to share their secrets, feelings and anything else they choose to post, said Jennifer Capodiferro, campus representative for Whisper.
“Whisper is an app where people can share their secrets to get them off their chests,” Capodiferro said. “Sometimes it is good to get things off their chests, but people don’t want others to know they have this issue.”
Capodiferro, a marketing senior, said the app creates a strong community or bonds between people that come from sharing personal situations or feelings in a safe way.
Users of the app can share anything, and posts range from serious to funny, Capodiferro said.
“There is a good combination of things that are fun and some that are serious and need feedback,” she said.
Posts from the Whisper blog cover a variety of topics.
One posts reads, “I wish I could love someone as much as Kanye West loves Kanye West.” Another says, “I clean to take out my anger.”
Other examples include, “I feel like I am losing myself,” and “Sometimes I feel like I’ll never make it out alive.”
People can comment and message the posters to offer support, assistance or people to talk to on posts with a more serious message, including drug abuse, sexual assault and depression.
People often do not want to be viewed differently because of problems they face, but the anonymity of the app creates a safe environment for people to get help, Capodiferro said.
“You are not only anonymous, but you know it’s just between the two of you,” she said.
Capodiferro said quite often when someone is struggling the outreach from the comments and messages can be helpful in finding assistance and support.
She said another campus representative saw a post about someone contemplating suicide. The representative reached out to the user and convinced her to go to the hospital. Now, the two are close friends and support each other through difficult times.
The app offers students complete anonymity, and takes added measures to protect the users, Capodiferro said.
“Your name isn’t attached to it anywhere," she said. "When you sign up, you choose a username. It can’t be traced, and it can be changed.”
Since the app is still relatively new, most students haven’t heard about it. Still, several students say it could be helpful to people.
Applied linguistic graduate student Lusia Nurani, who has not used Whisper, said sharing things anonymously has its benefits.
"If people know it is you who wrote it, it seems that they will perceive it differently," Nurani said.
Nick Pirone, an urban planning sophomore, said he felt it could be beneficial, but he would not be using the app.
“It’s up to (the users),” Pirone said. “I don’t think it is something I would download on my phone.”
Whisper is partnered with a nonprofit organization called Your Voice to promote acceptance of each other and of mental health problems.
“They make it easier for people to say, ‘This is me!'" Capodiferro said.
Reach the reporter at sgslade@asu.edu or follow her at Twitter @shelbygslade
