Digital Smarts - Anonymous Messaging Apps Make Cyberbullies and Harassers Hard to Track

Prosecutors say that cyber-harassment crimes are proving to be difficult to verify, since many new social media apps make it hard to preserve messages. Many incidents go unreported and suspects are finding it easier to mask their identity with anonymous messaging apps such as Kik, Whisper, Snapchat and Surespot, all which allow users to talk with friends or strangers without revealing their identities. Some cases involve spoofing technology with sites like FakeMyText.com that trick people into picking up the phone when their caller ID shows someone from their contacts list. In addition, many local police departments don’t have the resources to digitally investigate cyberbullying and domestic abuse cases.