KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Police say an Overland Park man and registered sex offender used the Whisper app to talk to and meet a 15-year-old girl.
Prosecutors say Richard Barrett then had a sexual relationship with the girl. According to court documents, the two shared pictures and eventually met in person. The teen eventually tried to block Barrett on the app but he then allegedly showed up at her job.
Cyber experts say Whisper is a dangerous app. It allows users to share anonymous thoughts with people. There’s supposed to be an age restriction, but it isn’t enforced. Users can search posts to find people nearby and privately respond.
For parents, communication and monitoring are the keys to keeping teens safe online.
