In recent day several schools across Ireland have sent letters or SMS to parents asking them to talk to their children about the use of the very popular chat app SimSimi.
The app, currently the most downloaded app in Ireland on Apple’s iTunes charts and the second-most-downloaded app on the Google Play store, allows users to view anonymous – and often insulting – messages left about them by typing in their name.
According to the Irish Times, one Dublin secondary school told parents and guardians this weekend that the app allowed individuals to be targeted easily. “We request that you use the weekend to discuss the possible fall-out of the use/misuse of this particular app with you children,” one senior member of staff warned parents.
Other secondary schools also followed suit and texted parents to warn them about episodes of cyberbullying and inappropriate messages linked to use of the app. “Please check your sons / daughters use of this app and monitor same. We do not wish any students to be the targets of inappropriate messages,” the school advised.
This is what Harry McCann, a secondary school student and founder of the Digital Youth Council told the paper about the app and students reactions to it:
“There is an awful lot of interest in it. Some people seem to think it’s funny, but students who’ve contacted us are very worried about it . . . It seems to have the sole purpose of insulting and demoralising people,” the 18-year-old said. “We’re planning to raise this at the Government’s data protection forum soon to see what can be done from a safety perspective.”
Does YOUR tween/teen use the app? Let us know in the comments or tweet us at @Herfamilydotie
