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Australian dads create safe-sexting app

Mobiles have become such a permanent extension of our fingers and minds that some of us thumb-type while asleep.

Mobiles have become such a permanent extension of our fingers and minds that some of us thumb-type while asleep. Shutterstock

Two Perth-based fathers who want to put a stop to ‘revenge porn’ have invented an application to allow safe sharing of nude photos by young people.

The photo-sharing service named HotShots is designed so pictures cannot be screenshot, saved or forwarded, and the app’s servers are wiped daily to avoid being targeted by hackers.

Co-creators Shane Bell and Derek Hayes were sharing a few beers at a local pub when they started talking about their fears of sexting and revenge porn, wondering what type of world their children — aged 2 to 14 — were growing into.

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There have been recent reports of naked pictures of people uploaded onto ‘revenge porn’ websites by former partners without their consent, and they didn’t their kids to be part of that.

Mr Bell said the app may seem controversial, but they were pragmatic fathers who realised that realistically, sexting wasn’t going anywhere,” The Australian reported.

The app aims to keep people safe when sending racy pics.

The app aims to keep people safe when sending racy pics. Photo: Sour Gun

“It’s always something that has happened and always will happen, and if we can make it safe for people, then that’s more power to them.

“We think this app is something that could help solve a big issue.”

But cyber safety experts continue to urge people to avoid sending nudes all together.

Curtin University clinical fellow Amanda Lambros told The Australian HotShots appeared safer than many available apps — including Snapchat — but warned the web was complex and the only truly hack-proof way of revealing yourself to somebody was in the bedroom.

Mr Bell said while he believed his app was a more secure option, he didn’t claim it to be impenetrable and stood ready take feedback for future tweaks.

“We are committed to this and will try and make it safer,” he said.

He described the app, and said when a user wanted to send an image they just took a picture and select a recipient.

The receiver will briefly view a distorted version and can only view the clear image if they answered correctly a secret question posed by the sender.

Once seen, it is deleted forever.

HotShots can be downloaded free by Android users and the Apple version should be completed by the end of July.

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