Yahoo Finance Facebook buys weeks-old app that encourages teens to be nice to each other
Facebook has snapped up an app that encourages teenagers to be nice to each just nine weeks after it was launched.
The tbh app – “to be honest” – has been downloaded 5 million times since it went live in August and has reportedly generated more than a billion responses.
According to the TechCrunch site, Facebook paid less than $100m for tbh, and it will be allowed to run independently of the social media giant.
MORE: BBC iPlayer Radio now plays nice with Carplay and Android Auto
tbh said: “We were compelled by the ways they could help us realise tbh’s vision and bring it to more people.”
The free app presents users with multiple-choice questions where a random four friends from their contacts are the answers to complimentary questions like “Could win an Olympic gold medal for their eyeliner game”.
One of the friends (they have to have also downloaded the app) are notified when they are selected, but the details of who chose them is kept anonymous.
MORE: Airbus to partner with Canada’s Bombardier amid Belfast jobs fears
Other messages include compliments like “who has the best smile” and “who makes me laugh the hardest”, to help teens feel more validated and positive.
The app appears to have addressed the thorny issue of online trolling, abuse and harassment that dogs other services, such as Twitter.
The tbh app is available only in 13 US states at the moment, including Alaska and Hawaii. Users are mainly teenagers and high school students, says tbh.
MORE: Wi-Fi networks around the world ‘at risk’ from hackers thanks to newly discovered flaw
Facebook said: “tbh and Facebook share a common goal – of building community and enabling people to share in ways that bring us closer together.
“We’re impressed by the way tbh is doing this by using polling and messaging, and with Facebook’s resources tbh can continue to expand and build positive experiences.”
