What Parents and Carers Need to Know about W App

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Dr Claire Sutherland Online safety consultant, educator and researcher
Guide

This free online safety guide takes a look at W App, a social networking app aimed at teens which encourages them to take part in anonymous popularity polls.

The brainchild of three Berlin-based developers, W App (initially known as ‘Slay’) was an instant hit – claiming the number one spot on the App Store in its home country just four days after launching in early 2023. Its central concept – to “promote positive online interactions” – is certainly praiseworthy but can actually introduce additional risks if not delivered carefully.

W App’s comparative lack of verification processes at the sign-up stage, for instance, leaves the door open for misuse by impersonators and potential predators: far from ideal on a platform that’s explicitly geared towards a school-aged teen audience. Our free #WakeUpWednesday guide tells parents and carers what they need to know about the possible pitfalls on W App.