The golden rules
- Would it make their day better? If not, don't send it.
- Would you say it with your name on it? Anonymous isn't untraceable — we always know who sent what.
- Their secrets aren't yours to share. No outing, no exposing, no screenshots.
- Threats are treated as real. Even as a joke. Even once.
What we love to see
- Compliments that are specific: "your presentation on volcanoes was genuinely interesting" beats "ur cool."
- Thank-yous you never got round to saying.
- Noticing quiet kindness — the person who sat with the new kid, the one who always lends a pencil.
- Harmless fun and inside jokes that the person would laugh at too.
- Polls that celebrate people: best laugh, most likely to make your day, best playlist.
Bullying and harassment
The single biggest reason anonymous apps go wrong. Not here.
Not okay
- Insults, mockery or "jokes" about someone's looks, body, weight, voice, clothes, family or money.
- Telling someone they're unwanted, that nobody likes them, or that they should leave or disappear.
- Repeatedly whispering someone who clearly doesn't want it, or getting friends to pile on.
- Backhanded "compliments" designed to sting ("you'd be pretty if…").
- Anything meant to embarrass someone, even if it's technically true.
Hate
No attacking, demeaning or excluding anyone because of race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, disability, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other part of who they are. No slurs, including "reclaimed" or misspelled ones, and no hateful symbols or stereotypes.
Sexual content and exploitation
Zero tolerance. Most people on Whisp are under 18. Breaking this rule means a permanent ban on the first offence, and any content that sexualises a minor is reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and to law enforcement, as the law requires.
Not okay
- Sexual comments about anyone's body, or sexual "compliments."
- Asking anyone for photos, to meet up, or to move to another app.
- Sexual innuendo, rating people's bodies, or "who would you…" questions.
- Any attempt to build an inappropriate relationship with a young person.
Violence and threats
No threats against anyone — including threats to hurt someone, "watch your back," or anything suggesting violence at a school. We treat jokes about school violence as real threats, and we may share them with school officials and law enforcement to keep people safe. No celebrating or encouraging violence, and no organising fights.
Self-harm
Never encourage anyone to hurt themselves, stop eating, or end their life — not even as a joke. If someone seems to be struggling, report it so we can see it, and please tell an adult you trust.
If you're struggling, you're not alone. In the US, call or text 988 any time to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. More support is on our Safety page.
Privacy and outing
Not okay
- Sharing anyone's private information — phone number, address, passwords, messages, or where they'll be.
- Outing anyone, or speculating about their sexual orientation, gender identity, health, or anything else personal they haven't chosen to share.
- Revealing secrets someone told you in confidence.
- Posting or describing screenshots, photos or recordings of someone without their consent.
Rumours, lies and impersonation
- No spreading rumours or false claims about real people — "I heard they…" counts.
- No pretending to be someone else, including teachers, staff, or Whisp.
- No making someone look like they said something they didn't.
Polls
Polls name real people, so they have their own rule: only questions you'd be happy to be picked for.
| ✅ Okay | ❌ Not okay |
|---|---|
| Who has the best laugh? | Who's the most annoying? |
| Most likely to become famous? | Most likely to end up alone? |
| Who gives the best advice? | Who's the ugliest / hottest / fattest? |
| Best playlist in the grade? | Who's secretly dating…? |
Polls that name real students automatically reject negative superlatives, and we remove any mean ones that slip through.
Clues and reveals
- Revealing is part of the game; punishing isn't. Don't confront, call out or retaliate against someone because you found out they sent you a whisper.
- Don't screenshot or share a reveal to embarrass the sender.
- Don't pressure, bribe or threaten people to tell you who sent something.
- Keep your profile honest. Clues come from it, and a fake profile makes every clue you send a lie.
Drugs, alcohol, weapons and illegal stuff
No buying, selling, promoting or arranging drugs, alcohol, vapes or weapons — and nothing that encourages anyone to break the law, cheat on schoolwork or tests, or put themselves in danger.
Spam, scams and gaming the system
- No ads, selling, links to other apps, or chain messages.
- No farming whisprs, trading votes, or using extra accounts to boost anyone on the leaderboard.
- No sharing your school's join code outside your school, or vouching for people you know don't go there.
- No bots, scripts or anything that uses Whisp automatically.
What happens if you break them
We look at what was posted, its context, and the account's history, and respond in proportion:
| Situation | Usual response |
|---|---|
| Borderline or first minor issue | Content removed, and a warning. |
| Repeated or clear violations | Features restricted — like sending whispers or creating polls — or a temporary suspension. |
| Serious or persistent harm | Permanent ban, including any new accounts. |
| Sexual content involving minors, credible threats of violence, exploitation | Immediate permanent ban, and a report to NCMEC and/or law enforcement. |
Being anonymous to classmates doesn't protect anyone from enforcement — we always know which account sent what.
Reporting and appeals
Tap ••• on any whisper, poll or vote to report it, or to block the sender silently. A person reads every report, and we aim to look at each one within 24 hours. You don't have to be sure it breaks a rule — report it and let us decide.
If you think we made the wrong call on your content or account, email downloadwhisp@gmail.com with "Appeal" in the subject within 30 days, and someone will take another look.