How to stay online and anonymous

Want to be online and anonymous. Especially in this digital age of technology and smartphones, it is tough to keep your identity secret – but as always, there is an app for that. In fact, there are three apps, for the iOS and Android platforms.

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Conversations are split into two types15 -- - those by your friends and friends-of-friends, and randomly selected threads, called Explore. Even here, in case you feel something is unacceptable, you can flag the conversation. There is also an option to follow a thread without commenting on it by subscribing to it. Also, if you posted something and don't want it up online any more, you can also delete the post.

Secrets can range from your secret crush, to how you ate only cheese for dinner last night to your colleague's secret vice. You can also share conversations on social media — though your identity will stand revealed.

Yik Yak [http://yikyakapp.com]

Compared to Secret users, Yik Yak has a lower following as of now, so you may not find the same level of variety in conversations. But the community is growing.

Whisper [http://whisper.sh/]

You can choose the area before you make a post, use an image from your library or shoot one. Whisper also lets you comment on your own story and change the title if you want, and lets you choose from various images. Your account is registered with nickname and a personal identification number (PIN), so you can use Whisper on another phone as well.

Whisper has an additional feature over Yik Yak and Secret. It allows private conversations. It also lets you to "love" a conversation, flag it and share it on other social media networks — your identity stands revealed.

Remember, though: Secrets come at a cost. There is no guarantee they won't come back to you. My personal board is filled with messages of problems in relationships, problems with venture capitalists, and some secrets even name people. That may be a bad idea. At the end of the day, your IP Address is captured, so the anonymity is limited.