Secret (app) - Wikipedia

Secret was an iOS and Android app service that allowed people to share messages anonymously within their circle of friends, friends of friends, and publicly ... Secret(app) FromWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia Jumptonavigation Jumptosearch Anonymousmessagesharingapp SecretDeveloper(s)Secret,IncInitialreleaseJanuary 30,2014;8yearsago (2014-01-30)OperatingsystemiOS,AndroidTypeSocialNetworkingWebsitewww.secret.ly  SecretwasaniOSandAndroidappservicethatallowedpeopletosharemessagesanonymouslywithintheircircleoffriends,friendsoffriends,andpublicly.ItdiffersfromotheranonymoussharingappssuchasPostSecret,Whisper,andYikYakinthatitwasintendedforsharingprimarilywithfriends,potentiallymakingitmoreinterestingandaddictiveforpeoplereadingtheupdates.[1]ItwasfoundedbyDavidByttow,theformerleadforSquareWallet,andChrysBader-Wechseler,aformerGoogleproductmanageratGoogle+,PhotovineandYouTube.[2]Bader-WechselerleftthecompanyinJanuary2015,withthestatedreasonthatthecompany'sshiftawayfrombeautifuldesignandtowardsmoreminimalisticdesignmeantthathefelthewasnolongerthebestpersontobeatthehelmofthecompany.[3]ByttowannouncedtheshutdownoftheappandthecompanyonApril29,2015.[4][5][6][7] Contents 1History 1.1Launchandinitialbuzz 1.2LegalchallengesinBrazil 1.3Redesignandchangeoffocus 1.4Shutdownoftheappandthecompany 2Reception 2.1Receptionuponreleaseandgrowth 2.2Receptionuponshutdown 3Seealso 4References 5Externallinks History[edit] Launchandinitialbuzz[edit] InDecember2013,TechCrunchreportedtheexistenceofSecret(theninstealth,soitspurposewasunclear),andalsothatitwasraising$1.2million,basedonaSecuritiesandExchangeCommissionfiling.[2][8] TheappwasreleasedprivatelywithinSiliconValleyoverthenexttwomonths.ItstartedreceivingpresscoverageinearlyFebruary2014,whereitwasrevealedthatthecompanyhadraised$1.4millionfromKleinerPerkinsCaufield&Byers,GoogleVentures,AlexisOhanianandGarryTanthroughtheirInitializedCapitalvehicle,IndexVentures,MatrixPartners,SVAngel,andFuelCapital.[1]AnumberoftechnologynewswebsitesbilledSecretasthelatestcrazeinSiliconValley.[9][10][11][12] Thecompanyhadthreeemployeesandraised$8.6millioninitsSeriesAroundinMarch2014.[13] FalserumorsaboutanimpendingacquisitionofEvernotewerecirculatedviaSecretinearlyFebruary2014.[9][14]BusinessInsiderreportedrumors(circulatedonSecret)thatSecretwasabouttoacquireWhisper,anotheranonymoussharingapp.[15] OnFebruary10,MashablereportedthatclothingretailerGapwasthefirstbrandtojoinSecret.[16] OnFebruary13,2014,SecretlaunchedaBugBountyprogramforhackerswhofoundvulnerabilitiesinitsapp.[17]OnFebruary14,ForbesreportedthatSecretwouldaddmoreprivacycontrols.[18]ThishappenedonFebruary21:Secretaddedsubscribe/unsubscribeoptions,postflagging,andunlinkingoptions.[19] OnMay21,SecretbecameavailablegloballyandalsolaunchedontheAndroidoperatingsystem.[20]SecretaddedsomemoreimprovementsinJune:thelaunchof"SecretDens"forschoolsandworkplacesonJune9,[21]andtheabilitytohaveafeedwithonlyfriends'postsonJune16.[22] OnJuly14,2014,Secretannouncedthatithadraiseda$25millionSeriesB.FundersincludedIndexVentures,RedpointVentures,GarryTanandAlexisOhanian,SVAngel,FuelCapital,CeyuanVentures,andanonymousinvestors.[23][24] LegalchallengesinBrazil[edit] OnAugust18,2014aBraziliancourtgrantedapreliminaryinjunctiontoapublicprosecutorthatprohibitscompaniessuchasApple,Google,andMicrosoftfromdistributingtheappandalsocompelsthethreecompaniestoremotelydeletetheapponusers'devices.[25]Theprosecutorsoughttheinjunctionafterreceivingusercomplaintsofbullying.Currently,auser'sonlymeansofredressagainstbulliesistosendaletterinEnglishtoanAmericanjudgeviatheBrazilianforeignministry,essentiallyleavingBrazilianuserspowerless.Thedecisionitselfisbasedonchapter5,article1oftheBrazilianconstitution.Thearticlestates,"theexpressionofthoughtisfree,anonymitybeingforbidden."[26]ThejudgeruledthismakesSecret'spromiseofanonymityunconstitutional.ThethreeAmericancompaniesweregiventendaystocomplybeforefacingfinesof20,000reals($8,870)aday.ThethreeAmericantechgiantshavethechancetoappealaheadofafinalruling. AftertheBraziliancourtshearing,thedevelopersincludednewfeaturesforboththeAndroidandiOSversionsoftheappaimedatsafeguardinguserprivacy.Afterthechanges,userscanonlyusephotostakenatthetimeofaposting,ratherthanimagespreviouslystoredonthedevice.Thiswasadirectresponsetothecourt'sconcernsabouttheuseofprivateimageswithoutconsent.Animprovedscreeningprocesswasalsoimplementedtopreventcertainfeelings,keywordsandimagesbeingpublished.Thecompany'steaminvestigatespossibleviolationsandusersarenotifiedofanypotentialbreach.[27] Redesignandchangeoffocus[edit] InDecember2014,thecompanyannounceditwouldlaunchafaster2.0versionwithnewchatfeatures.[28] InJanuary2015,Secretlauncheditsfirst"geofencedfeed"attheCESconference,wherebothmakingandviewingpostswasrestrictedtopeoplewithinthegeographicallocationoftheconference.[29]Laterthatmonth,Secretco-founderBader-Wechselerleftthecompany,withthestatedreasonthatthecompany'sshiftawayfrombeautifuldesignandtowardsmoreminimalisticdesignmeantthathefelthewasnolongerthebestpersontobeatthehelmofthecompany.[3] InMarch2015,itwasrevealedthatthecompanywasworkingonnewappsbasedonwhattheyhadlearnedaboutuserneedsfromtheSecretapp,butintendedtocontinuetoretaintheoriginalproduct.[30][31]ItwasalsorevealedthatSecretDenswerebeingusedextensivelyinternallyatcompaniessuchasGoogle,Facebook,andTwitter.[30] Shutdownoftheappandthecompany[edit] OnApril29,2015,Secret'sfounderandCEODavidByttowannouncedhisdecisiontoshutthecompanydown,claimingthatthewaypeoplewereusingtheapp,includingthespreadingofmaliciousrumors,wasnotinlinewithwhathehadoriginallyenvisioned.[4][5][6]TheappwasremovedfromtheiOSandAndroidstores.Byttowintendedtousethenexttwoweekstowindthecompanydown,returnmoneytoinvestors,anddeletealluserdataaccumulatedbythecompany.[4]Ofthedecisiontoshutdownthecompanyandreturnthemoneytoinvestorsratherthanattempttopivot,hewrote:"Innovationrequiresfailure,andIbelieveinfailingfastinordertogoonandmakeonlynewanddifferentmistakes."Healsopromisedtoeventuallypublishpostmortems"sothatotherscanlearnfromtheuniquemistakesandchallengeswefacedandthewisdomgainedfromsuchanincredible16months."[6][32] Reception[edit] Receptionuponreleaseandgrowth[edit] TechnologycommentatorslikenedSecrettotheshutteredappPostSecretandtheappWhisper,allpartofagrowingtrendtowardsanonymousandquasi-anonymoussharing,apushbackagainstFacebook'ssuccessfulpushtoencouragerealnameusethroughouttheInternet.[1][33] AnarticleinTheGuardianarguedthatalthoughSecretwasfastbecomingacraze,"weshouldbecautiousaboutwhowetrust".[11] DetailedreviewsofSecretwerepublishedinTechnologyReview[34]andTechCrunch.[35] OnJuly31,2014,SarahLacypublishedalengthycritiqueofSecretinPandoDaily,notingthatoneoftheapp'smainusecaseswastospreadmaliciousliesaboutpeopleandorganizations,andthatshewaspuzzledthatinvestorssheconsideredethicalwereconsideringinvestinginthecompany.Shealsosuggestedthattherewasareasonablechancethattheappwouldleadtoteensuicidesduetobullyingandliesbeingspreadaboutpeople.[36]Secretco-founderDavidByttowdismissedthepostinatweet,notingthatitsentverylittletraffictoSecret'swebsite.PaulCarrrespondedonPandoDaily,[37]andSecret'sPRrepresentativeexpresseddisappointmentsayingshedidn'tlikeitwhenpeoplewrotebadthingsaboutotherswithouttalkingtothemfirst.Carrrespondedagain,notingtheironyofthetweetgivenSecret'smainusecase.[38]Lacywroteafollow-uppostaweekafterherinitialpost,discussingeventsthathadtranspiredovertheweekandtheirimplicationsforherthesis.[39] Receptionuponshutdown[edit] Upontheshutdownoftheapp,MikeIsaacwroteintheNewYorkTimesthatSecret'srapidrise,subsequentfallandeventualshutdownillustratedthe"flash-in-the-pan"natureofmanySiliconValleycompanies.[5]Thearticlealsonotedthattheco-foundershadcashedouttothetuneof$3millioneachduringanearlierroundoffundraising,raisingquestionsoftheircommitmenttoandconfidenceinthelong-termvisionandsuccessofthecompany.[5]IssieLapowsky,writingforWiredMagazine,noted:"founderDavidByttowseemstohaverealizedwhattherestofushaveknownallalong:anonymitymakespeopleintototalassholes"butlaterinthearticlequestionedwhether,ifSecrethadenjoyedthetractionthatcompetitorYikYakhad,Byttowwouldstillshutthecompanydown.[7] Seealso[edit] Anonymoussocialmedia Whisper(app) PostSecret YikYak References[edit] ^abcCutler,Kim-Mai(February3,2014)."Anonymity'sMoment:SecretIsLikeFacebookForWhatYou'reReallyThinking".TechCrunch.RetrievedFebruary18,2014. ^abCutler,Kim-Mai(December6,2013)."FormerSquareWalletLead,GooglePMRaise$1.2MForSecret(WhichIsASecret)".RetrievedFebruary18,2013. ^ab"SecretCo-FounderChrysBader-WechselerStepsDownBecauseIt'sNotAboutDesignAnymore".TechCrunch.January29,2015.RetrievedApril5,2015. ^abcByttow,David(April29,2015)."Sunset".Medium(service).RetrievedApril30,2015. ^abcdIsaac,Mike(April29,2015)."AFounderofSecret,theAnonymousSocialApp,IsShuttingItDown".NewYorkTimes.RetrievedApril30,2015. ^abcHelft,Miguel(April29,2015)."Secret,The$100MillionSocialApp,ShutsDown".Forbes.RetrievedApril30,2015. ^abLapowsky,Issie(April29,2015)."Secretshutsdownbecauseanonymitymakespeoplemean".WiredMagazine.RetrievedApril30,2015. ^"SECFORMD".RetrievedFebruary18,2014. ^abLawler,Ryan(February5,2014)."ThatSecretAppIsBecomingSiliconValley'sNewBlindItem".TechCrunch.RetrievedFebruary18,2014. ^McCracken,Harry(February8,2014)."'Secret'BlackberryAppIsSiliconValley'sNewestObsession.It'shonest.It'sfake.It'snice.It'smean.Andsometimesyoucan'ttellwhichiswhich".TimeMagazineTechlandblog.RetrievedFebruary18,2014. ^abDredge,Stuart(February13,2014)."Wouldyoureallytrusta'secret'apptoprotectyoursecrecy?AnonymoussharingappSecretisalltherageinSiliconValley,butweshouldbecautiousaboutwhowetrust".RetrievedFebruary18,2014. ^Rogowsky,Mark(February10,2014)."DoYouWantToKnowASecret?DownloadThisApp".Forbes.RetrievedFebruary18,2014. ^ChronicleNewsService(2014-03-15)."Secretsocialnetworkraises$8.6million".SanFranciscoChronicle.Retrieved2021-04-21.{{citeweb}}:CS1maint:url-status(link) ^Abbruzzese,Jason(February6,2014)."AnonymousBloggingAppSecretProducesItsFirstViralHoax".Mashable.RetrievedFebruary18,2014. ^Dickey,MeganRose(February7,2014)."TwoEx-GooglersHaveANewAppForSharingSecrets,AndHere'sWhatPeopleAreSayingAboutSiliconValleyOnIt".BusinessInsider.RetrievedFebruary18,2014. ^Fiegerman,Seth(February10,2014)."Secret'sOut:GapClaimstoBeFirstBrandonAnonymousSharingApp".Mashable.RetrievedFebruary18,2014. ^Lawler,Ryan(February13,2014)."SecretLaunchesBugBountyProgramForHackersWhoFindVulnerabilitiesInItsApp".TechCrunch.RetrievedFebruary18,2014. ^Olson,Parmy(February14,2014)."AnonymousApp'Secret'WillAddMorePrivacyControls".Forbes.RetrievedFebruary18,2014. ^Etherington,Darrell(February21,2014)."SecretAddsSubscribe/UnsubscribeOptions,PostFlagging,UnlinkingAndMore".TechCrunch.RetrievedFebruary23,2014. ^Lawler,Ryan(May21,2014)."AnonymishSharingAppSecretLaunchesOnAndroidAndOpensUpInternationally".TechCrunch.RetrievedSeptember6,2014. ^Perez,Sarah(June9,2014)."SecretIsTakingItsAnonymousNetworkingAppToSchools,WorkplacesWithNew"SecretDens"Feature".TechCrunch.RetrievedSeptember6,2014. ^Buhr,Sarah(June16,2014)."SecretFinallyLetsAllYourFreakyFriendsHaveTheirOwnFeeds".TechCrunch.RetrievedSeptember6,2014. ^"Onward:thenextsixmonths".Medium.com.July14,2014.RetrievedSeptember6,2014. ^Lunden,Ingrid(July14,2014)."AnonymishAppSecretHasRaisedAnother$25M,AddsFacebookLoginAndCollections".RetrievedSeptember6,2014. ^Geuss,Megan(August21,2014)."BrazilcourttoApple,Google:wipeanonymoussharingappoffusersphones".ArsTechnica.RetrievedAugust25,2014. ^"BrazilConstitution".RetrievedAugust25,2014. ^Mari,Angelica(August25,2014)."SecretBoostsPrivacyFeaturesFollowingBrazilLegalWoes".ZDNet.RetrievedAugust25,2014. ^Newton,Casey(December18,2014)."Secretisrelaunchingasafasteranonymoussocialnetworkwithchat".TheVerge.RetrievedApril5,2015. ^Constine,Josh(January5,2015)."SecretWantsToBeTheStreamOfConsciousnessForLiveEvents,StartingWithCES".TechCrunch.RetrievedApril5,2015. ^abLunden,Ingrid(March27,2015)."SecretIsWorkingOnNewApps,Won'tShutDownOriginalProduct".TechCrunch.RetrievedApril5,2015. ^Shontell,Alyssa(March24,2015)."AfterpocketingmillionsandbuyingaFerrari,SecretfounderDavidByttowmaybepivotinghisyear-oldstartupyetagain".BusinessInsider.RetrievedApril5,2015. ^Collins,Terry(April29,2015)."Secret'sout:CEOshutsdownapp.Aftergoingpublicjustoverayearago,thestrugglinganonymous-messagingappisshutdownbyCEODavidByttow".CNet.RetrievedApril30,2015. ^Rusli,Evelyn(February12,2014)."NewAppsWhisperandSecretCatertoaCravingtoDishFreelyMessagingServicesOfferAnonymityandaWebWithFewerConsequences".WallStreetJournal.RetrievedFebruary18,2014. ^Metz,Rachel(February14,2014)."CanYouKeepaSecret,App?Secret,anewappthatletsyousharehonestlyandanonymously,isaddictive".TechnologyReview.RetrievedFebruary18,2014. ^Lawler,Ryan(February9,2014)."MySecretLife".TechCrunch.RetrievedFebruary18,2014. ^Lacy,Sarah(July31,2014)."InvestorshavetostoptryingtojustifytheliesandlibelofSecret".PandoDaily.RetrievedOctober11,2014. ^Carr,Paul(August1,2014)."Secretfounderdoesn'tcareifteenagerskillthemselves,aslongastheydon'tcauseaPRheadache".PandoDaily.RetrievedOctober11,2014. ^Carr,Paul(August2,2014)."Secret'sheadofPRapologizesfor"carelessandflippant"responsetoteensuicideconcerns".PandoDaily.RetrievedOctober11,2014. ^Lacy,Sarah(August3,2014)."Nowwe'veseenSecret'suglysoul,willinvestorsact?".PandoDaily.RetrievedOctober11,2014. 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