The PostSecret iPhone App is Now Closed: Sad end to the PostSecret iPhone app.
99% of the secrets created were in the spirit of PostSecret. 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.
Bad content caused users to complain to me, Apple and the FBI. I was contacted by law enforcement about bad content on the App. Threats were made against users, moderators and my family. (Two specific threats were made that I am unable to talk about). As much as we tried, we were unable to maintain a bully-free environment. Weeks ago I had to remove the App from my daughter’s phone.
I was always a little ambivalent about the app. I appreciate that it made it easier for people to submit secrets, but one of the cool things about PostSecret has always been that people had to write an actual postcard and send it in. It took a certain level of time, creativity, and commitment.
I thought that perhaps the app diluted the quality of the submissions by making a little too easy.