An example of a GIF that might be seen on the Unseen app.
Kelsey Davidson, staff writer
Unseen lives up to its name. It is a totally anonymous app that allows the user to post, comment, and like pictures.
“Unseen encrypts all information coming from users’ devices so that nothing posted to the public feeds can be traced back to an individual,” resulting in a completely anonymous direct messaging feature.
Because the messages are encrypted, if a hacker were ever to get into the Unseen server, they would not be able to read any of the messages. The app’s creators are also currently adding a new feature planned to be released on Monday called “Flicks” which are looping gifs.
The app was made with college campuses in mind with currently over 200 using it. Which is not surprising considering the type of content that can come up on Unseen, the majority being women’s breats.
“Not all of them are inherently good or bad, in terms in what pictures and the descriptions of the pictures, some are just scenes on campus,” Austin McManus, a history major, said.
The anonymity of the users comes with a lack of responsibility toward whatever is being posted. Given the rules and regulations that one agrees to when downloading the app there are some restrictions on pictures and comments. That does not stop certain pictures from being posted, be it breasts with pastries or pictures of friends with rude comments written on the picture.
However, as Michael Schramm, Unseen’s CEO says “One of the coolest things about Unseen is that each school’s feed is its own living, breathing, constantly changing organism,” so what is on the app is really just a reflection of what the users of the app want to see.
The app does contain some regulations.
“Nobody wants to be in an app full of trolls,” Schramm said. “So we moderate 24/7 to take down content that is graphic or offensive purely for the sake of being graphic or offensive.”
Schramm also mentions how Unseen relies on its users to report inappropriate content.
“One of the central reasons we created Unseen was so that students would have a place to share images and say what’s on their mind without having to worry about people judging them. So when it comes to moderation, we don’t judge. Want to talk about how much weed you smoke? Cool. Want to show off how your butt looks in your new jeans? Cool.” Schramm said. “Leaving the door open for content like that lets users know that when they have a deeper issue to talk about one day, say, drug addiction, or body image, they can do that on Unseen. It’s not our job to silence anyone.”
“It’s just another way for people to interact in terms of social media,” McManus said.
Unseen allows for a more anonymous approach than a lot of other social media apps. Having only come out in May of 2014, the app still has a lot of time to spread and change over time.
“[Unseen is] definitely diverse in its content, ” McManus said.
