After School was a proprietary

iOS iOS (formerly iPhone OS) is a mobile operating system created and developed by Apple Inc. exclusively for its hardware. It is the operating system that powers many of the company's mobile devices, including the iPhone; the term also includes ...

and Android,

social network A social network is a social structure made up of a set of social actors (such as individuals or organizations), sets of dyadic ties, and other social interactions between actors. The social network perspective provides a set of methods for an ...

mobile application that allows users in a defined network, aimed at high schools, to share anonymous text-based posts and images with others. As of July 2016, After School had users at more than 20,000 American high schools. According to CEO Michael Callahan, the app was created as a network “that teens could use to express themselves, to reach out to others and to ask for and offer help to fellow teens in distress.” The app, created by Michael Callahan and Cory Levy of ONE, Inc., debuted in mid-November 2014. In the re-release of the app in April 2015, After School implemented “mature content” filters, age verification, 24/7 live anonymous support, and FIRST (Fastest Internet Response System for Threats). In February 2016, After School announced raising a $16.4 million Series A round. The app also detects threatening or harmful messages using "language algorithms" and "enforces a single-report immediate user removal for violations." While the service has not been formally discontinued, the website is offline and the applications are no longer available for download in the

Google Play Store Google Play, also known as the Google Play Store and formerly the Android Market, is a digital distribution service operated and developed by Google. It serves as the official app store for certified devices running on the Android operating sys ...

and

Apple App Store The App Store is an app store platform, developed and maintained by Apple Inc., for mobile apps on its iOS and iPadOS operating systems. The store allows users to browse and download approved apps developed within Apple's iOS Software Deve ...

as of 2020. It is now part of the Utah operation of

Ancestry.com Ancestry.com LLC is an American genealogy company based in Lehi, Utah. The largest for-profit genealogy company in the world, it operates a network of genealogical, historical records, and related genetic genealogy websites. In November 2018, ...

Criticism

The service has received criticism for enabling

cyberbullying Cyberbullying or cyberharassment is a form of bullying or harassment using electronic means. Cyberbullying and cyberharassment are also known as online bullying. It has become increasingly common, especially among teenagers, as the digital ...

due to its anonymous nature and intended audience, as well as not being accessible by parents or teachers.

Cofounders & acquisition

The company's staff was acquired by Ancestry.com LLC in 2021. https://corylevy.com/

References

IOS software Encryption devices Social networking mobile apps Secondary education Utah Software companies of the United States Software companies based in Utah {{Mobile-software-stub