Anonymous 'Secret' social media app to shut up shop

'Secret', a smartphone app that gained notoriety for allowing users to make anonymous, sometimes unpleasant, comments to friends and nearby people, said it was shutting down after just 16 months.

Co-founder David Byttow said in a blog post he made the decision in consultation with the board, and that the "significant amount of invested capital" would be returned.

Byttow did not offer a detailed explanation for the shutdown but noted that "Secret does not represent the vision I had when starting the company, so I believe it's the right decision for myself, our investors and our team."

The company raised an estimated US$35 million from investors. It was unclear how much remained of those funds.

Secret was one of the more popular smartphone apps which enabled people to express themselves anonymously, sometimes generating controversy for unpleasant or hurtful comments.

"I'm extremely proud of our team, which has built a product that was used by over 15 million people and pushed the boundaries of traditional social media," Byttow said.