Today, social networks are an inalienable part of people’s lives, especially for teenagers and young adults. Of these platforms, Instagram may well be one of the most widely used that connects, shares, and entertains millions of people around the globe. Moreover, there are a ton of new trends and features that roll out on Instagram each month. A ton of users have recently been curious about anonymous messages on Instagram and its implications. So, this article outlines the modality of anonymous messaging, the risks, and what parents can do to help their kids remain safe on Instagram.
What are anonymous messages on Instagram?
Instagram anonymous messages are those messages in which the sender of the message does not reveal his or her identity to the receiver. This feature is not inherent within IG, but it has been made available due to the IG API and third-party app developers. It gives the users an option of sending messages to other people anonymously most commonly by links shared in Instagram Stories or bios sections.
The whole idea of anonymity is pretty trendy as it gives people a new way to share feedback or prank their friends. However, anonymity might also remove accountability from people’s behavior. So, overall this trend does compromise the social experience since people can misuse such opportunities.
Why are anonymous messages popular on Instagram?
There are several reasons why anonymous messages on Instagram are popular:
- Privacy and confidentiality: User can use Anonymous messages to share their personal information. It can make them express themselves freely without revealing their identity.
- Honest feedback: It can avoid the potential repercussions. People may feel more comfortable giving or receiving honest feedback when anonymous.
- Increased social engagement: Anonymity encourages more interactions and conversations between users. They may feel more willing to participate without the pressure of being identified.
- Curiosity and novelty: It draws users to explore and experience anonymity. This concept can be intriguing and exciting.
- Avoiding judgment: It can avoid potential negative responses. Users may often be judged or criticized by netizens. So, using anonymous messages can eliminate unfavorable judges.
- Trend and peer influence: Adopting trendy features can stay current or fit in with their social circles. Anonymous messaging becomes more popular, users may be influenced by peers or trends.
What third-party apps or services allow for anonymous messaging on Instagram?
A lot of tools have hit the market when it comes to sending anonymous messages on Instagram. Here are a few famous options that teens use to get in on the trend.
- NGL (Not Gonna Lie): NGL is an app that has been solely developed for anonymous messages on Instagram. Using NGL, the users can share their accounts with the app and get a special link that can be posted in Instagram Stories. Followers can then click the link to send anonymous questions or comments which can be answered by the user such that the response is visible to the general public.
- Sarahah: Initially as a standalone app for anonymous sharing and feedback, Sarahah soon became linked with Instagram and other platforms. It allows the users to share a link to the Sarahah page on the Instagram profile. Thus, any of the user’s followers can send an anonymous message containing a compliment, a question, or even a threat sometimes.
- YOLO: Originally designed for use in Snapchat, YOLO is also used in Instagram. However, some users had issues setting it up with Instagram and the link kept getting bugged out.
- Tellonym: Similar to the other apps above, this app also lets people generate links posted on stories and posts.
What are the risks of using anonymous message features on Instagram?
Even though you might think that anonymity is all fun and games, many people exploit it to say mean stuff. Here are some of the more common risks that someone like your child might have to face when using anonymous messages on Instagram.
- Cyberbullying: Bullies feel more secure when sending nasty, painful, horrifying messages when they know that their identities are safe. So, you can expect these people to exploit anonymous messaging to continue with this heinous behavior.
- Harassment: Another downside of anonymous messaging is that it enables harassment. Since the identity of the sender is concealed, it can be hard to block such users from interacting with further posts.
- Mental Health Impact: Being exposed to negative or abusive anonymous messages could affect a person’s mental health in one way or the other.
- Invasion of Privacy: A lot of the third-party apps that facilitate anonymous messaging take users’ details, such as Instagram profile details.
- False Sense of Security: Users might think that anything done in an anonymous messaging app is fully safe and can’t be interfered with by a third party. But unlike what one might expect, anonymity within these apps is not complete, and there are situations in which messages can be associated with a specific user.
How does an anonymous message work on Instagram？
Anonymous mode is not directly available on the IG App, but it can be implemented by using some third-party tools. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of how anonymous messaging works:
1. Download and Install a Third-Party App. People start by downloading an application for anonymous communication like NGL, Sarahah, or Tellonym.
2. Link the App to Instagram. Here, the users can link their Instagram account after they download the application. App integration provides an opportunity to create a special link posted on Instagram.
3. Share the Link on Instagram. Once linked, the app creates a unique link that is shared with the user to be used in the Instagram bio or Instagram Stories. This link makes the followers post anonymous messages or questions.
4. Receiving and Responding to Messages. In the current design, when a person types a link and clicks to submit a message then that message is sent to the user in an anonymous third-party app.
5. Maintaining Anonymity. The user who sends the message is unknown to the one receiving the message, as the apps assure the anonymity of the sender.
Is it possible to receive anonymous messages on Instagram?
Yes, if you intend to receive anonymous messages on Instagram, then you will need to use the third-party app. Private messaging on Instagram is not exactly a native feature of the application, and you can’t access this service after simply increasing your profile privacy.
Instead, to receive anonymous messages, a user has to download one of the third-party applications I’ve listed above > connect it with the Instagram account > and share the created link in the Instagram account or Stories. Fans can then use this link to send anonymous messages. And these messages are received and replied to through the third-party app.
Are the anonymous messages on Instagram anonymous or can they be traced?
Even though messages on Instagram are claimed to be anonymous, they are not fully anonymous. The third-party apps that offer this capability normally retain logs of the users who engage in messaging. While these records can hardly be viewed by the common user, they can be obtained by the application developers or, in some instances, the police. Hence, in as much as the identity of the sender is concealed, the message is not entirely anonymous.
Are anonymous questions on Instagram anonymous?
Anonymous questions on Instagram, like anonymous messages, are generally through third-party apps. These questions are indeed anonymous from the perspective of the recipient. However, the app itself may still have access to the sender’s identity. This means that while the recipient cannot see who sent the question, the information may still be stored within the app’s database. As a result, the anonymity of these questions is conditional. And there is always a possibility that the sender’s identity could be revealed under specific circumstances.
Can you DM someone anonymously?
As much as people love to think they can anonymously DM someone on Instagram, it is not possible. Still, people experiment with different apps and use fake accounts to get in touch with their friends to prank them. Anyhow, there is still no real way to send an Instagram DM where your identity will be completely safe from the receiver.
Can we see who sent an anonymous message on Instagram?
Most of the time, one cannot know who sent an anonymous message on Instagram. However, there are ways you can pinpoint who exactly within your followers is sending you disgusting messages. Like, if you’ve posted a link for anonymous messages on Instagram, just check your story views. From there, you can start narrowing down the suspects. On the other hand, you can get in contact with local authorities to help you out if you’re getting bullied.
Are anonymous messages safe for Instagram?
The whole point of anonymity is to allow people to say stuff or send stuff that they don’t want to link with their name. So, it is only natural that you worry about the safety of such messages when your child is using IG.
- Exposure to Inappropriate Content. An anonymous messaging system might lead to sharing content that is improper, obscene, or unsafe. One cannot report the other person for harassment as the identity of the sender most often remains anonymous, making it almost impossible to pinpoint anyone as the offender.
- Bullying and Harassment. These apps allow people to hide their identities, making it easy for them to indulge in cyberbullying or cyber teasing. This may have disastrous emotional and psychological implications for the individuals.
- Security Risks. Most of the third-party apps that allow users to ‘talk’ anonymously are likely to ask for your Instagram credentials among other details.
- Unwanted Contact. Since the messages are anonymous, people can send messages by clicking the link in your kid’s bio, and this may be an issue for teenagers since they will be receiving such messages from strangers.
Can anonymous messages be blocked or filtered on Instagram?
There are a few ways to limit or filter anonymous messages on Instagram by deciding who you choose to share the link with. You can easily blacklist some unwanted people from viewing your stories, and you won’t get any messages from bullies that way. Here are further details on the matter.
- Adjust Privacy Settings. On using the Instagram application, the users can easily control privacy settings; on whom they want to receive messages from.
- Report and Block. If you receive a nasty anonymous message or a message that makes you feel uneasy, you can complain to the app devs, or ignore the sender.
- Avoid Sharing Links. As pointed out earlier, anonymous messages are usually received through links that are shared in stories or bios. So, just filter who can see your bio or story.
What to do if you have an anonymous message on Instagram?
It goes without saying that if someone sends you an anonymous message on Instagram, it is better to treat this with caution, especially if the received message is aggressive or causes discomfort. Here are some steps you can take:
- Do Not Respond Immediately. Try to think about the message before immediately responding to it. Attacking back in anger, for instance, when replying to a rude or ill-mannered message just aggravates the situation.
- Save the Message. In case the message is threatening or abusive, then such should be saved to present it as evidence. This can be useful in case you decide to forward the message to the apps’ developers or police.
- Report the Message. All the third-party anonymous messaging apps reviewed in this article allow users to report senders.
- Talk to Someone. If the message is particularly distressing, then it is important to report it to a friend, family, or therapist.
How does Instagram’s privacy policy address anonymous messages?
Even though Instagram is pretty strict when it comes to bullying and harassment, it doesn’t have any direct control over anonymous messages. These messages are almost always carried out through third-party apps. So, you’ll instead have to focus on the policies held by the third-party app that you’re using with IG. Moreover, you need to always remember that no third-party app will have a better privacy policy when compared with Instagram. Thus, it is entirely possible to run into issues with cyberbullying and harassment.
How can parents protect their teens from anonymous harassment on Instagram?
Everyone who has a child as a teenager wants to spare them from unpleasant situations with anonymous messages on Instagram. Here are some steps you can take to safeguard your child:
1. Educate Your Teen. Sit down with your teenager and explain to him or her the dangers of using apps such as anonymous messaging. Describe the possibility of cyberbullying, harassment, and other ill behaviors that may be executed where the identity is concealed.
2. Use Monitoring Tools. Try parental control applications like FlashGet Kids can help you keep an eye on your kid’s activities. This app will ensure your child remains safe from bullies by offering these features.
- Notification tracking from FlashGet Kids will help you check all the messages your child gets on their phone, even from anonymous third-party apps.
- Keyword detection within this parental control app will alert you whenever it detects any inappropriate word or comment on your child’s phone.
3. Discourage the Use of Anonymous Messaging Apps: Advise your teen against using a third-party app that allows people to send messages anonymously.
4. Report and Block: Explain to your teen how to report and block individuals who send undesirable or unhealthy anonymous messages.
In this way, you would be able to shield your teen from the worst of anonymous harassment on Instagram and keep them safe online.
