After School App

Some students have recently received texts from the "After School App". The wording in the text is, 

"An anonymous boy picked (student's name) on AfterSchool afterschoolapp.com./ManliusPebbleHillSchool" 

The hyperlink at the end takes you to the app on the app store.

The After School App is billed as "Funny Anonymous School News for Confessions & Compliments". It is an anonymous posting app where students can write anything in a "chat" with students only from their school. No adults (teachers, administrators, parents) are allowed as participation has to be verified. According to the site the verification comes through Facebook accounts, I'm not sure if there is another way. If you want to learn more about the app, here is some more information from Common Sense Media and Kids Privacy. 

If your child received this text they should delete it and block the number. My best research tells me that another student chose contacts from their phone that the message was then sent to, not that their phone number was shared with the site. 

I am sharing this with parents as opposed to students since it is Friday afternoon. I didn't want students to go all weekend without more information on the text they received. Please talk with your child about the app and if they use it. If they do use it, please do some research before deciding whether to allow them to continue to post in it or not.