What it is
Ask.fm and apps like it let people send questions to a profile, including anonymously. Children are told it is a bit of fun. In practice it is a place where insults, rumours, and sexual comments arrive with nobody's name attached.
Anonymous contact also gives an adult a way to start a conversation without you being able to see who they are. The branding and owners of these apps have changed over the years. The pattern is what matters.
What to look out for
- Anonymous questions that are sexual, threatening, or about their body.
- A mood change after they have been on the app.
- Links in answers that lead to a private chat somewhere else.
- A profile that uses their real name and school.
Ways to stay safe
These steps are for Ask.fm. The house rules still apply on every app.
- Turn anonymous questions off, or remove the app. There is little reason for a child to receive questions from unnamed people.
- If they are being piled on, save what you can, block the source, and tell the school if classmates are involved.
- Do not let them post their full name, school, or daily routine.
- If an adult is behind the questions and the content is sexual, use the help page.
In the news
Published reports you can read yourself. A headline is the proof, not a set of instructions, and this page does not repeat graphic detail.
- FTC bans anonymous messaging app NGL from users under 18 This order is about NGL, an anonymous question app. Ask.fm hides the sender in the same way.
A way to start the conversation
Ask whether they would read the last ten questions aloud to you. If the answer is no, you already know the app is not a game.
Video
Ask.fm parent briefing
A short video for this guide can be added by an editor. Until then, the written briefing above is the one to use.