Allykatzz Launches 'Post Secret' For Tween Girls
Posted by anastasia on 02-22-2008
Normally, I would just link this in Essentials, but I am already finding what girls are posting anonymously on Allykatzz's new I Have A Secret section fascinating…and a little scary. Maybe because I'm thinking about the application we're working on that will have some of this capability (to post anonymously about problems or issues), but with resources and experts right there to respond. According to their press release, "It's where GIRLS AGES 10-15 ANONYMOUSLY POST THEIR SECRETS. In less than 48 hours over 425 SECRETS were posted."
Many of the posts are benign, regular tween girl stuff. But some are also:
"i cut myself"
"Everyone hates me…"
"A friend of mine who has an account here is really controlling…and I'm afraid to tell her…"
"I am always afraid to eat in public. When Im with my friends, family, or by myself, I'm fine. But like at the cafeteria at school, or at a mall, I can't eat. I never eat lunch any more because I'm so paranoid that people are watching me, or they'll think I'm a pig or something. I hate it! But I cant help it!"
"I don't have many friends, I'm ugly, I'm fat, I'm bad at every sport, I hate my unhappy life…"
If you're interested in what tween girls are saying or how they express themselves online, definitely check it out. I would like to see some sort of resource base (and partner with them once our application is up and running) as a part of this new section in the meantime.
Categorized under: Tweens
February 22nd, 2008 at 5:39 pm
The 'Post Secret' tween site is definitely an eyebrower raiser as we're seeing a LOT of this social chatter in middle-school circles…(both the harmless secrets AND the 'hmnn…hold your tongue don't over-think this' ones)
Granted, some 'secrets' are the creation of overblown drama where there isn't any, (a jaywalking dash becomes "I almost got hit by a car") while others are more akin to shock effect/oneupsmanship (e.g. who has the most 'whoa' tidbit of news for the day) and some are genuinely 'intervention' based concerns (tweens IM-ing each other about peers with ‘issues,’ outreach via anonymity, and adults being left out of the loop in ‘Kid Nation’ mode, like a club they ‘couldn’t possibly understand’)
This latter part is the one that leaves me squeamish, since peer to peer handling sans emotional maturity and context of the ‘really tough stuff’ (esp. the self-harm, sexual bravado and shame/blame situations) is risky business.
That said, until parents and educators prove they won’t faint, ban, over-react, or put heads in the sand to ignore the real life issues circulating among tweens, the collaborative mashups of multigenerational insights will give way to secretive whispers. (‘twas ever thus, eh?)
To me, that’s the increasing danger…misinformation potential coupled with easy access to media info re: handling depression/peer self-harm, etc.) that ups the ante on flying solo at a very tender age…
I look forward to hearing how AllyKatzz will handle this from a moderation perspective of the dicey ‘what ifs’ that may come their way as “secrets”…
p.s. Has Izzy Neis weighed in on this yet? I’ll have to check her site…I'd love to interview the AllyKatzz crew for a post, as soon as I'm out of 'blue screen of death' system board mode…
February 27th, 2008 at 6:14 am
Hi! Want to share how we do monitor blogs on AllyKatzz. Every word and picture are reviewed by college students/female adults before posting. We call them the "blog patrol." We do not post "come into my web and cut with me" blogs. We do post, "I want to cut myself." And we do post positive/helpful comments back to the girl including, "Don't do it…You're life is too important…Talk to your mom or teacher or some adult you trust." We won't post "You are a loser" comments back! And the blog patrol does refer girls to toll-free help lines. Anastasia, LOVE to talk with you about the application you're working on… you know where to find me!
March 12th, 2008 at 4:48 pm
Since you like PostSecret you might wish to try CommonTies.com. We publish art with stories as well. But we do more than just secrets. Also we pay for the stories and art we publish. you must be at least 16 to submit.
March 29th, 2008 at 5:45 am
Hi Anastasia,
We also allow girls to post comments (previewed by monitors) on our site (Beacon Street Girls) and they are all monitored — no personal info, no mean comments, etc. Boy, is it educational. Interestingly enough, every comment we decide to post that calls out for help — I don't feel good about myself or I'm fat or other concerning remark, gets a supportive outpouring from the community that has developed on the site. It makes you proud of our tween and teen girls!