Knesset Children’s Rights Committee head Orly Levy-Abecassis says it’s used for "cyber-bullying."
By LAHAV HARKOVSmartphone.(photo credit: REUTERS)
The smartphone application Secret is being used for cyber-bullying, Knesset Committee for Children’s Rights chairwoman Orly Levy-Abecassis warned, calling for the Justice Ministry to ban it.Secret is an app that allows people to share anonymous messages and photos, either within their circle of friends, or publicly.Levy-Abecassis said on Wednesday that there have been several cases of children and teens using the app to publicize lies, embarrassing photos and sexual content to bully other young people.According to Levy-Abecassis, Brazil has already asked Apple and Google not to sell the app to Brazilians and erase it from phones that have already downloaded it.The Committee for Children’s Rights asked Communications Minister Gilad Erdan two weeks ago to have his office examine how to block the app.“Unfortunately, the application turned into a platform for cyber-bullying for Israeli youth, who, in many cases, used it to smear and harm others,” Levy-Abecassis said.“In some cases cyber-bullying ends in tragedy. This problem has become acute recently with the use of Secret as a social tool that can harm teens and we must do all we can to prevent such situations,” she added.
