TELLONYM
TELLONYM
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MINIMUM AGE: 18+
WHAT IS IT? Tellonym is an anonymous messaging app that lets users receive and respond to messages—called Tells—from other users. People can send messages without revealing their identity, and the recipient can reply publicly on their profile. It's marketed as a way to “get honest feedback” from friends and strangers. WHAT WE SAY? Use with extreme caution. 🔞 Exposure to Inappropriate Content Messages can include sexual content, hate speech, or abuse—and there’s no filter before they appear in a user’s inbox. Even with word filters enabled, users can get around them with misspellings or emojis. 📱 Cyberbullying & Harassment Tellonym is frequently used for anonymous bullying, including name-calling, shaming, and threats. Since messages are untraceable, the sender faces no consequences, making it appealing to bullies and trolls. 🧠 Mental Health Risks Teens may become fixated on others' opinions, especially when negative or cruel. Regular exposure to harsh or abusive Tells can lead to low self-esteem, anxiety, or depression. The anonymous nature can intensify feelings of isolation or inadequacy. 🔐 Privacy Concerns Tellonym collects user data, including phone and usage info. Though profiles can be private, many users leave them public, and links to other social accounts can make them easily identifiable—even when replying to anonymous messages. 🧑💻 Online Predators & Grooming Because strangers can send messages without logging in, the app can be misused to initiate contact, ask for personal info, or manipulate teens into private chats on other platforms. ❌ No Reliable Moderation Tellonym claims to use moderation tools and user-reporting features, but many users report that harmful or inappropriate messages stay visible long after being reported. ✅ Language Filters: Tells pass through automated language filters. You can set its strength. ✅ Custom Word Filter: Users can manually add words to restrict questions that feature those words. This is helpful if a user wants to avoid trigger words around self-harm, wellbeing and more. ✅ Tells from Registered Users: By default, anyone can send an anonymous Tell. However, users can restrict Tells to registered users only. ✅ Reporting: Users can report Tells, answers and profiles. If Tellonym doesn’t remove what you report, contact [email protected]. ✅ Blocking: Users can block individual profiles as well as non-registered senders. |
🛡️SAFETY TIPS:
📲Understand the app: Familiarise yourself with Tellonym'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: Tellonym 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 targeting 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. 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. 
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