When?PostSecret, the beloved secret-on-a-post-card sharing site,?announced?it had to take down its app because of "content that was not just pornographic but also gruesome and at times threatening,"?fans were not happy about it.?After founder Frank Warren made it official on his blog, app users took to the PostSecret Facebook page, posting over 600 comments on one Facebook update alone. But the most dedicated users, who really can't live without the app, which allowed anonymous postings of secrets from anyone, have migrated to its bootleg?step-sibling?Secret, a text based service that allows for anonymous postings of secrets from anyone.
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The iPhone app, unlike the site, let anyone who payed the $1.49 fee post whatever postcard secrets they wanted, like the cached one to the right we found. That meant anyone could find an audience for their emo moments. Without the app, PostSecret hopefuls will have to hand create post-cards, snail mail them in and hope Warren picks them as a part of his 20-per-week secrets. Or, if they don't want to take very slim chance, they can get their fix over at Secret, where some PostSecret addicts have migrated.
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After downloading the app, which works just like PostSecret without the visual aspect, we found it littered with messages to and from PostSecret users. Without the twee post-card picture part, the app reads like the diary of a very messed up 14-year old. "Do guys like skinny girls??? ... I'm 14 and I wana know what a guy notices in a girl," wrote fgslfivealfb, to give one example. Not exactly as fulfilling as the original PostSecret app, those who have switched over?have started complaining. "I hate to keep bringing up but man I miss post secret!" wrote user Jourdane. But then again, without the visual part, we won't come across any penis pictures. ?
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While 99 percent of the content posted on the PostSecret app matched the type of moving stuff found on Warren's curated blog, that unsavory one percent dominated enough for Warren to pull the plug. "Unfortunately, the scale of secrets was so large that even 1% of bad content was overwhelming for our dedicated team of volunteer moderators who worked 24 hours a day 7 days a week removing content that was not just pornographic but also gruesome and at times threatening," he writes on his blog. We all know what happens when the Internet gives users a visual forum to roam anonymous. The site became "rife with penis pics, vicious attacks and other disturbing messages," according to ReadWriteWeb. Surely the penises were more graphic than the one above. Warren also said he received threats and had disabled the app for his daughter weeks ago.
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Like the site, the app had nice moments, too. For those who never had a chance to download it, like Android users, Warren's posted a best-of the app list up on the site. And for those willing to take the time to search, Google's cached archive has some gems, like the one above.?
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