Harmless jokes turn into public shaming and speculation on teachers’ lives
- An anonymous-messaging app called Fizz caused chaos at a high school in Vermont
- Posts on the app quickly turned from harmless jokes to public shaming and speculation about teachers’ personal lives
- Students felt they couldn’t trust anyone and were constantly checking the app for posts about them
- The app has drawn comparisons to Yik Yak, another anonymous messaging app that shut down due to bullying and threats
- Fizz relies on users to police each other’s posts, but moderators struggled to keep up with the volume of content
An anonymous-messaging app called Fizz has caused havoc at Champlain Valley Union High School in Vermont. What started as a message board for harmless jokes and memes quickly turned into a platform for public shaming and speculation about teachers’ personal lives. Students felt they couldn’t trust anyone and were constantly checking the app for posts about them. The app has drawn comparisons to Yik Yak, another anonymous messaging app that shut down due to bullying and threats. Fizz relies on users to police each other’s posts, but moderators struggled to keep up with the volume of content.·
Factuality Level: 2
Factuality Justification: The article provides a detailed account of the negative impact of the Fizz app on high school students, including instances of cyberbullying, harassment, and harmful content. It includes firsthand experiences and quotes from students and school administrators, giving a comprehensive view of the situation. The article does not contain irrelevant information or misleading details, and it presents a clear picture of the events surrounding the app’s use at Champlain Valley Union High School.·
Noise Level: 2
Noise Justification: The article provides a detailed account of the negative impact of the Fizz app on high school students, highlighting the harmful consequences of anonymous posting and lack of accountability. It includes specific examples and quotes from students and school administrators, as well as information about the app’s founders and their intentions. The article stays on topic and supports its claims with evidence and real-life experiences. However, it could benefit from more in-depth analysis of the broader implications of such apps and the responsibility of tech companies in ensuring user safety.·
Private Companies: Fizz Social
Key People: Teddy Solomon (Co-founder of Fizz), Ashton Cofer (Co-founder of Fizz), Rakesh Mathur (CEO of Fizz), Adam Bunting (Principal of Champlain Valley Union High School), Lio Miller (Student at Champlain Valley Union High School), Zoe Epstein (Student at Champlain Valley Union High School), Gabriella Serafini (Student at Champlain Valley Union High School), Nikhil Blasius (Student at Champlain Valley Union High School)
Financial Relevance: No
Financial Markets Impacted: No
Financial Rating Justification: This article does not pertain to financial topics or events that impact financial markets or companies. It discusses the negative effects of an anonymous messaging app on high school students, but does not have any direct financial implications.·
Presence Of Extreme Event: No
Nature Of Extreme Event: No
Impact Rating Of The Extreme Event: No
Extreme Rating Justification: ·
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