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PostSecret Pulls Popular App Over 'Gruesome,' 'Threatening,' & 'Pornographic' Content

PostSecret Pulls Popular App Over 'Gruesome,' 'Threatening,' & 'Pornographic' Content

"I was contacted by law enforcement about bad content on the App."

The popular, anonymous secret-telling project PostSecret has pulled its popular iPhone app after it couldn't keep up with the "gruesome," "threatening," and even "pornographic" content users were submitting.

"99% of the secrets created were in the spirit of PostSecret," founder Frank Warren wrote on the PostSecret blog. "Unfortunately, the scale of secrets was so large that even 1% of bad content was overwhelming for our dedicated team of volunteer moderators who worked 24 hours a day 7 days a week removing content that was not just pornographic but also gruesome and at times threatening.

"Bad content caused users to complain to me, Apple and the FBI. I was contacted by law enforcement about bad content on the App. Threats were made against users, moderators and my family. (Two specific threats were made that I am unable to talk about). As much as we tried, we were unable to maintain a bully-free environment. Weeks ago I had to remove the App from my daughter's phone."

The concept for PostSecret, as explained on its website, "is an ongoing community art project where people mail in their secrets anonymously on one side of a homemade postcard." Warren then posts them on the website or complies them for coffee table-like books:

The app, however, gave users the opportunity to submit their secrets electronically. But due to abuse by some users -- and the inability to keep up wihith a screening process -- that option is now gone.

"Deciding to remove the App from the App Store last week and holding back the release of the Android version cost us money but we feel it was the right thing to do," Warren said.

Now, secrets will have to be told via snail mail.

"Thanks for helping to keep the true spirit of PostSecret alive by mailing your secrets in 2012."

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