Apps that let people send your child anonymous messages — often bolted onto Snapchat or Instagram. Anonymity removes accountability and drives bullying. What parents should know.
Official age
13+
We recommend
16+
Developer
Various (e.g. Sendit, YOLO, Tellonym)
Risks
3
Sendit, YOLO, Tellonym, and similar apps let users invite anonymous questions and messages, usually by linking to a Snapchat or Instagram story. They are a sibling to NGL, which we cover separately. The appeal is curiosity — 'ask me anything' — but anonymity removes accountability, and these apps are repeatedly linked to bullying, cruel messages, and pressure, because a sender cannot be identified.
A child posts an anonymous-question link to their story; friends and strangers reply without their name attached. What can start as fun quickly turns hurtful, because there is no consequence for cruelty. Some apps have also been criticised for sending fake or provocative 'anonymous' messages themselves to drive engagement, and for paid features that claim to reveal who sent a message but rarely do.
Story link sharing
Location: Snapchat / Instagram story where the anonymous link is posted
Set to: Do not post anonymous-question links; remove existing ones
These apps work by getting your child to broadcast a 'send me anonymous messages' link. Not posting the link is the most effective control — without it, there is no inbound anonymous stream.
In-app purchases
Location: App store / device family settings
Set to: Block — paid 'reveal who sent this' features rarely deliver and drive spending
Much of these apps' money comes from children paying to try to unmask an anonymous sender. Blocking in-app purchases removes that pressure.
Check for anonymous-messaging apps and whether your child has posted an anonymous-question link on their Snapchat or Instagram story
Time: 10 minutes
Talk about how anonymity changes behaviour — that people say cruel things they never would with their name attached, and it is not a reflection of your child's worth
Time: 15 minutes
Agree to remove the app, or at minimum stop posting the links and block in-app purchases
Time: 10 minutes
In immediate danger: call 999. For non-emergency police matters, call 101.
Concerned about a child but it's not an emergency? NSPCC helpline 0808 800 5000. Childline for young people 0800 1111.
Last reviewed: 2026-07-27