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AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Facebook is preparing to release an anonymous chat app soon

And if you’re thinking this sounds similar to apps like Secret or Whisper, you would be correct.

FACEBOOK HAS HAD problems with identity recently (it had to apologise to drag queens last week after forcing some to use their real names) but it’s looking at other ways to facilitate posting without using your real identity.

The company is said to be launching its own app which will allow users to communicate anonymously, similar to Secret and Whisper, according to the New York Times. It’s expected that the app will be released sometime over the next few weeks.

It will be a stand-alone app that will allow users to interact inside of it without having to use their real names. It’s not clear how exactly the service will work, whether it will allow people to message each other or whether it will interact with the main Facebook service, if at all.

The main project is being worked on by Josh Miller, a Facebook product manager who joined after the company acquired Branch, his startup which focused on products that fostered small, online discussion groups. Miller and his team have been working on the app in different forms for the past year.

The aim is to allow Facebook users to use multiple pseudonyms which will allow them to discuss things they might not say if it was attributed to their real name.

This isn’t the first time Facebook has tried to copy a popular app. It tried twice to copy Snapchat, first with Poke and later with Slingshot, an app which required users to send messages to be able to read them.

Poke was taken down from the App Store while Slingshot removed its requirement for users to send a photo or video first before reading one.

Read: Facebook has finally closed its $21.8 billion WhatsApp deal >

Read: Turns out people have practically stopped updating their phones to iOS 8 >

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14 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Celtic Lady
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    Nov 16th 2012, 6:37 AM

    This would definitely ensure that many small businesses would fold.

    73
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    Mute Martin Mac
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    Nov 16th 2012, 7:50 AM

    While they force up rates for business too, some up by 75%. Enda Kenny is killing Irish business but you are all to blind to see it.

    33
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    Mute Rob Zombie
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    Nov 16th 2012, 6:46 AM

    A lot of lazy idiots will simply take the piss and take a load of sick in a row, knowing well the employer cant do anything about it.

    I think most decent workers who don’t currently have a sick pay entitlement in work would only use it if they really needed it.

    54
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    Mute rodrigo detriano
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    Nov 16th 2012, 6:55 AM

    I’ve never heard such rubbish. There are no advantages in this to be had by an employee. In fact all this legislation does is give an employer another reason to lower wages even more. It also encourages infighting between healthy and sick employees.

    41
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    Mute Tony Skillington
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    Nov 16th 2012, 7:49 AM

    I’d definitely be leaving at least one person go when this comes in. Government just don’t get it do they?….small businesses are on the cross at the moment and are treading water at best. This must be one of the most anti business measures they’ve brought it.

    44
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    Mute Pajo Keane
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    Nov 16th 2012, 6:54 AM

    Well we do know the Government are dumb enough to be thinking about it…
    Lets see how many jobs they create after this comes in….its serious enough to make a multi national company choose another location over Ireland

    38
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    Mute PubSpy
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    Nov 16th 2012, 7:56 AM

    Hair brained scheme. Reckless carry on from our Government. SME’s would implode.

    36
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    Mute kingstown
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    Nov 16th 2012, 7:08 AM

    Corrupt, sleazy, reckless private sector mismanagement in the economy threatens 100% of us all

    29
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    Mute Ian Walsh
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    Nov 16th 2012, 11:48 AM

    I think you mean public sector…

    8
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    Mute Mjhint
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    Nov 16th 2012, 2:13 PM

    Kingstown the private sector create the wealth like it or not & if we ever get out of this we will have the private sector to thank for it.

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    Mute Mick Byrne
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    Nov 16th 2012, 10:58 PM

    The private sector does don’t create wealth the consumer does

    1
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    Mute JakkiB
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    Nov 16th 2012, 6:59 AM

    So would that mean no more P.A.Y.E contribution? Nah dont think so!
    I love these soundbites everyday coming up to the budget…..

    26
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    Mute Caroline Locke
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    Nov 16th 2012, 7:18 AM

    Sad times for the PAYE employee.

    19
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    Mute Antoinette Coffey
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    Nov 17th 2012, 1:11 PM

    What about the employer who can’t even get benefit if the company closes??

    3
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    Mute William Grogan
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    Nov 16th 2012, 8:51 AM

    This nonsense is the law in France and cripples small businesses and as a result small businesses avoid hiring anybody other than family. A little restaurant I used to go to had 3 waitresses employed, 2 were “on the sick”. When the third did the same, the man’s wife became the waitress. They won’t employ anyone else in a long time.

    11
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    Mute Bernard Cantillon
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    Nov 16th 2012, 9:02 AM

    This is an excellent idea. It is right wing crap to suggest workers would deliberately go sick. There will always be a tiny number but the overwhelming majority would never do such a thing. I am a public servant with decent sick pay provision and have not taken any sick days this year (as I haven’t been sick!). The private sector will see similar stories to me and my colleagues. It is anti-worker drivel to suggest otherwise. If people take the piss, deal with them through the disciplinary procedures

    10
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    Mute howsaboutya
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    Nov 16th 2012, 9:19 AM

    I’m guessing you do not have employees? Trust me, the piss gets taken.

    Ridiculous law and more smoke and mirror games by the shambles of a government.

    Its all part of the FG plan, divide and conquer. And people wonder why there are no protests? We are all arguing over this crap while the country is destroyed further.

    a strategy known as it’s “the roman circus”

    11
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    Mute Dave Hammond
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    Nov 16th 2012, 9:24 AM

    Right wing crap ? Really , and are you aware of the appalling track record of some of the public sector levels of sick …for example the health system as highlighted in the following article recently to illustrate

    ..”Staff in the ‘other patient and client care’ category had some of the highest absenteeism rates across the hospital system, reaching 15.63 per cent in Drogheda. Nursing absenteeism rates meanwhile varied from 0.4 per cent in St James’s Hospital to 11.17 per cent in Lourdes Orthopaedic.

    The place for the government to start tackling real abuse in the sick system is its own front door as the public service employer , by hurting RTE really small business with 2 or 3 people which this does is crazy timing as they are struggling far more in a recession

    9
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    Mute Dave Hammond
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    Nov 16th 2012, 9:25 AM

    Not RTE…..should read The really small business

    9
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    Mute Kerry Man
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    Nov 16th 2012, 3:07 PM

    As an employer take my word for it, this proposal will cost jobs and increase demand on social welfare. Nothing will be saved by dept of social protection as in the case of my business the cost of sick pay will have to be made up for in reduction in overall pay bill by reduction in numbers or more part-time working.

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    Mute Kerry Man
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    Nov 16th 2012, 3:10 PM

    BTW, this is regardless of whether the cases are genuine or people “take the piss”

    1
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    Mute Antoinette Coffey
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    Nov 17th 2012, 1:10 PM

    This government are brain dead if they don’t realise how many small businesses will have to close if they persist with this lunacy .

    1
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    Mute Mick Byrne
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    Nov 16th 2012, 11:01 PM

    This must mean that 42% of Business were always unviable and were merely existing because of the PAYE sector

    1
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