Sayat.me
By Neilie Johnson,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Anonymous feedback from friends, strangers, too risky.
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Sayat.me
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What’s It About?
SAYAT.ME is a social networking app (related to a website of the same name) that lets users exchange anonymous feedback. Originally created for use in a corporate environment, it's intended to help individuals improve their professional and interpersonal skills and "build their brand." Upon registering, users choose two to five hashtags to describe themselves, and the app suggests other users with similar hashtags. Users can solicit criticism by posing questions for friends and colleagues to answer, or wait for it to arrive organically. They can also choose whether to submit feedback anonymously or with their username attached, and can respond (publicly or privately) to received feedback. Note: Though feedback can come in the form of text or imagery and isn't strictly monitored, it's possible to block or report users who send bullying or obscene content.
Is It Any Good?
Like seemingly all other anonymous feedback apps, this one's tailor-made for bullying. Back in 2017, the media blamed the app for a UK teen's suicide, and despite algorithms and profanity-blocking, the app's inherent risk is the anonymity itself.
The app's terms of use go on at length about the developer's abhorrence of bullying and encourages users to express themselves in a "humble" way. It then offers something of a disclaimer that "not all feedback is positive" and tells users "not to get mad" and to "seek help" if using the app causes negative feelings. These things should of course, go without saying, but those disclaimers and warnings don't stop people from using the app to hurt others. It does contain a built-in profanity filter that stops you from sending feedback with swear words in it, but the bully-blocking AI the app claims it has (and that's supposed to stop you from sending mean and threatening messages) is either broken or nonexistent. And though you can turn off the Anonymous toggle and send feedback with your username attached, users can respond (either publicly or privately) to feedback, and this could spark some nasty exchanges. Worse yet, the built-in search function lets you shop strangers' profiles, follow them, and send them feedback. No good can come of that; if bullies don't take advantage of it, online predators will; the latter will no doubt enjoy the private messaging and the ability to send photos. Though Sayat.me functions fine, and can provide well-adjusted adults the criticism -- or praise -- they might crave, kids under 18 should stay as far away from it as possible.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about anonymous apps like Sayat.me. What are the risks that come with anonymous communication? Why do you think so many people want to use apps like this, despite those risks?
Think about giving and receiving criticism. Is there ever a time you should criticize someone anonymously? When might it be useful?
Discuss the damage words can do. What can you do to help make sure that kind of damage doesn't happen?
App Details
- Device: Android
- Pricing structure: Free (contains in-app ads.)
- Release date: August 1, 2016
- Category: Social Networking
- Publisher: SayAt.Me LLC
- Version: 2.0.12
- Minimum software requirements: Android 3.0 and up
- Last updated: May 20, 2019
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