Slay
Slay
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MINIMUM AGE: 13+
WHAT IS IT? Slay is an anonymous Q&A and compliments app targeted specifically at teens. Users receive positive messages and vote in polls that highlight classmates or friends (e.g., “Who makes you laugh the most?”). The app promotes a feel-good experience and is designed to foster kindness rather than criticism. It positions itself as a safer, more uplifting alternative to apps like NGL, Tellonym, or AskFM, which have been widely criticised for enabling bullying. WHAT WE SAY: Treat with Caution. 🔞 Exposure to Inappropriate Content Slay encourages users to link their profiles to Instagram or Snapchat, making it easy to identify and contact users outside the app. While anonymous, this cross-platform exposure can lead to privacy breaches or unwanted attention. Additionally, location and school information may be inferred from social connections. 🔐 Privacy Concerns Anonymity always carries the risk of abuse. While Slay tries to limit harmful behaviour with pre-set prompts, users can still game the system—by using fake accounts to vote for themselves, manipulate polls, or exclude others. There is no way to verify who sent which message, making it hard to hold anyone accountable. 📢 Lack of Accountability Anonymity means users often face no consequences for sending cruel or inappropriate messages. This makes trolling, impersonation, and targeted bullying common, especially among teens. 📱 Cyberbullying and Harassment Although marketed as “positive only,” teens have found ways to use the app to bully through exclusion (“never being picked”), send sarcastic praise, or target individuals repeatedly in polls. The pressure to be liked or voted for can also create anxiety and social comparison. 🚨 Sexual Harassment Despite built-in filters, sexualised comments or flirtatious polls can still occur. Because the app lacks strong moderation or AI detection, young users may be exposed to inappropriate content, especially when strangers gain access via linked social media accounts. 🧑💻 Online Predators & Grooming Slay does not verify ages strictly, and since usernames and polls are often shared on Instagram or Snapchat, predators posing as teens can easily follow links to initiate contact. The app can act as a gateway to private DMs on other platforms. 🚨 Closed System = False Sense of Security Because Slay uses pre-written poll questions, it gives the illusion of being completely safe. However, users can still misuse this structure to exclude or humiliate others. Lack of transparency on moderation processes means parents and educators may wrongly assume it's fully safe. ⚠️ Content May Be Screen Captured or Shared While the app feels temporary and anonymous, screenshots of polls or compliments can be saved and shared, sometimes out of context, on other platforms like TikTok or Snapchat—leading to embarrassment, bullying, or long-term consequences. |
SAFETY TIPS:
📲Understand the app: Familiarise yourself with Slay's features and how they work. Knowing how the app works will help you guide your child effectively. 👨👧Parental supervision: Check their interactions and adjust privacy settings accordingly. Try to stay up-to-date on Internet trends and best practices. 📢Underage Accounts: Slay might have an age restriction but it lacks a proper age verification process. Therefore, there’s little stopping users from faking their dates of birth or creating bogus profiles and targetting children and young people. 👥Manage friend requests: Teach your child only to accept friend requests from people they know in real life. 📷 Cover the Webcam When Not in Use Physically cover your camera when you're not ready to go live. Always be mindful of what’s visible in your background—it can reveal location clues. 🧠 Trust Your Instincts If something feels uncomfortable, it is uncomfortable. Leave the chat immediately and don’t engage with users who seem suspicious, aggressive, or inappropriate. 🖥️ Place Devices in Shared Spaces Keep internet-connected devices in living rooms or kitchens, not bedrooms. This makes risky behavior less likely and easier to notice. 🙋♀️Conversations: Have open discussions with children and young people about the topics associated with online use - bullying, grooming, sexual and criminal exploitation, body image, as well as accessing support and how to report. 🚨 Know the Signs of Trouble Watch for behaviour changes—like anxiety, secrecy, mood swings, or suddenly deleting apps. These can signal something inappropriate happened online. 💬Conversations: Have open discussions with children and young people about the topics associated with online use - bullying, grooming, sexual and criminal exploitation, body image, as well as accessing support and how to report. FURTHER SUPPORT: For parents/ carers If you're worried about your child or need support call NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000. If you discover criminal content when online then report it directly to the police or the Internet Watch Foundation. If you're worried about online grooming or sexual behaviour online then report directly to the police or contact CEOP. For Children & young people if they're worried or want to talk, encourage them to contact Childline Online or call 0800 1111. Check out our Resource Centre for further information and useful online safety tips.ul online safety tips. 
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