Whisper

Use With Care

Whisper let users post anonymous 'secrets' and message other users. The combination of anonymity and location-based features made it extremely dangerous for minors, and predators used the app to identify vulnerable children sharing personal struggles and contact them directly. The service quietly went offline in 2025 after being pulled from the app stores, but the pattern it pioneered lives on in other anonymous apps.

This app requires proper parental controls and ongoing oversight.

Whisper Shut Down in 2025

Whisper quietly went offline in 2025 with no announcement from its owner, MediaLab, after being repeatedly removed from the Apple App Store and Google Play. If the app is still installed on your child's device, remove it - and know that the same anonymous secret-sharing pattern lives on in other apps.

We're keeping this page up because Whisper's history shows exactly how anonymous apps put vulnerable kids at risk.

Why Whisper Was Dangerous

Whisper marketed itself as a place to share secrets anonymously. For children and teens, this often meant sharing their deepest struggles - depression, anxiety, family problems, questions about sexuality, and more.

How Predators Exploited Whisper

Predators specifically searched for vulnerable posts from young people. When they found a child expressing emotional pain, they would:

Send sympathetic messages - "I understand what you're going through"
Build trust - Pretending to be a caring friend or peer
Isolate - "Your parents wouldn't understand, but I do"
Escalate - Moving to more private platforms or requesting meetups

The Location Problem

Whisper showed "nearby" posts based on location. This meant:

Predators could find children in their area
They could learn where a child goes to school, hangs out, etc.
They could potentially find a child in person

A 2020 data breach revealed that Whisper was storing location data despite claiming posts were anonymous.

Emotional Vulnerability

Unlike other apps, Whisper specifically attracted children who are struggling. This made users particularly vulnerable to manipulation. A predator posing as a supportive friend can have enormous influence over a child who feels alone - a dynamic that applies to every anonymous app, not just Whisper.

What To Do If Found

Remove the app immediately - it no longer works, and similar apps may be installed alongside it
Talk to your child about what they've been sharing and why
Address underlying issues - If they're posting about depression, self-harm, or other struggles, they need real support
Check for concerning contacts - Look for any adults who have been messaging them
Consider professional help if your child has been expressing serious emotional struggles

Documented Incidents

Predator ActivityAug 2019

Sex Offender Used Whisper to Target 12-Year-Old

A registered sex offender used Whisper's location features to identify and contact a 12-year-old girl, eventually traveling to meet her. He was arrested by police in a sting operation.

Source: ABC News

Data/PrivacyMar 2020

Whisper Exposed User Data Including Location

A data breach revealed that Whisper had been storing user location data despite promises of anonymity. Years of supposedly anonymous posts were linked to real locations.

Source: Washington Post

App Information

Age Rating

17+

Platforms

iOSAndroid

Last updated: 7/20/2026

Key Risks

•Complete anonymity attracts predators
•Location sharing reveals where children are
•Private messaging with strangers
•Content often involves depression, self-harm, sexuality
•Predators target vulnerable posts
•No meaningful age verification

Warning Signs

•App icon is a purple 'W' with speech bubble
•Child posting about personal struggles publicly
•Unknown contacts reaching out
•Secretive phone behavior

What Parents Can Do

✓Remove immediately if found
✓Discuss healthy ways to process emotions
✓If child was sharing struggles, address underlying issues
✓Consider counseling if needed

Safer Alternatives

→Journaling apps (Day One)
→Talking to trusted adults