Canary is an app that spreads workplace gossip anonymously and allows co-workers to get the daily dish. The app is seen as the grown-up version of Whisper, an app that lets you post secrets about yourself online. Also said to be a mixture of Glassdoor and Snapchat, the hearsay app has already adopted users from Keek and Thrillist.
When signing up online, Canary requires your work email address and a verification code to begin. In your newsfeed, you can see gossip from not only your company, but any other company that has been listed on the app. Refinery29 reports for now, the majority of posts are in French, however, the app is growing in the English sector.
We can't begin to imagine the implications this will have. So for now, we'd rather hear no evil.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Anonymous Workplace Gossip Apps
- There is an opportunity to create more apps that allow co-workers to share anonymous gossip online.
- Workplace Communication Disruptors
- The development of such apps signals a growing desire for alternative communication methods in the workplace.
- Hearsay-based Social Networking Apps
- Canary and similar apps demonstrate the potential for social networking platforms based on anonymous hearsay.
Where This Applies
- HR Technology
- The development of anonymous workplace gossip apps could present an opportunity for HR technology to monitor employee behavior and sentiment in real-time.
- Community Management Software
- These apps could spark a need for better community management software that can track real-time conversations, sentiments, and trends.
- Social Media Management
- Companies may need to invest in new social media management tools to monitor, track, and respond to negative chatter about their employees or brand.
