Nicki Minaj and Will.I.Am have come under fire for investing in an app that is widely seen as a perfect avenue for bullying. Both musicians are backing Blindspot, which allows users to send messages to their contacts without revealing their identities.
The app's concept is similar to the Secret social networking site, which has already been shut down. Unlike Secret, however, which had an adult user base, Blindspot can enable any user from different age demographics to anonymously send text and images directly to another person, Fast Company reported.
The Shellanoo Group Ltd., the developer of Blindspot, argues that the app was created to be used among friends, is designed for fun and to make communications more interesting. Ideally, it also aims to let people know what its users think without fear of comeback. "We believe in being open and honest, providing a safe environment for people to chat freely without worrying about being judged," the app's creators told the Daily Mail.
But since the reciever of a message or an image never knows the identity of the sender, the potential for bullying is immensely high, many observers say. It is a "possible platform for hate, meanness and violence," according to a user comment in the app's Google Play Review section where it garnered a low 2.1 rating.
Aside from Minaj and Will.I.am, Shellanoo Group Ltd. enjoys the backing of other celebrities such as David Guetta, Tiesto and Roman Abramovich, the billionaire who owns the Chelsea football club.
