Facebook moves towards anonymity with new app

Although the app is slated to look differently than competing apps Secret and Whisper, are there implications for marketing professionals? 

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One can argue the worst parts of the Internet persist due to the ability to remain anonymous.

Facebook, which has never encouraged anonymity, is reportedly working on a stand-alone mobile app that will allow you to remain anonymous.

The New York Times learned about the app, appropriately enough, from an anonymous source who told the Bits blog that the app “reveals a different, experimental take on Facebook’s long-established approach to identity.”

More on the app from the New York Times:

The point, according to these people, is to allow Facebook users to use multiple pseudonyms to openly discuss the different things they talk about on the Internet; topics of discussion which they may not be comfortable connecting to their real names.

Facebook’s approach has been to see what other apps are doing well, and then either acquire them (Instagram) or imitate them (Snapchat, with the “Slingshot” feature). It would make sense that Facebook is going this route with an eye on squashing apps like Secret and Whisper, which allow anonymous photo sharing and written posts.

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