LIST: Apps that people have been using to cheat on their partners
In the digital age, receipts are always accessible to those who know where to look, and recent celebrity scandals prove just that.
A prominent example is Ellen Adarna’s public allegation against her husband, Derek Ramsay, whom she claimed was unfaithful during the early stages of their relationship.
In November, the actress took to her Instagram stories to post screenshots of what appeared to be messages of her husband's alleged "side chick" who was complaining to another person about the actor's lack of commitment to her.
"Nanahimik ka na lang sana because I've got receipts. This is just the beginning," Ellen warned her husband.
Similarly, in late 2024, Jam Villanueva gained significant attention for sharing screenshots of private messages between Maris Racal and Anthony Jennings, whom she claimed were having an affair.
These scandals show that a relationship can be broken by a single thread. As a result, those looking to evade accountability have moved away from "obvious" platforms to more deceptive digital spaces.
Messenger
One common avenue for infidelity is through Facebook Messenger. Even if you know your partner’s account credentials, they could still engage in secret interactions using alternate or dummy accounts, not to mention the secret conversation feature. These end-to-end encrypted chats exist only on the sender’s and recipient’s devices—making them inaccessible even to Meta.
Telegram
If cheaters can't find luck on Messenger, they use Telegram, which also has a secret chats feature that only you and the recipient can access.
Per Telegram, messages from this feature cannot be forwarded, and users can set messages, photos, videos, and files to self-destruct from your and your recipient's devices after they have been read or opened by the recipient. It can also only be accessed from the device of origin, so no one can see it if they log in on a different device.
The platform also features a "dual-delete" function, allowing users to erase specific messages or entire threads for both parties.
WhatsApp also has end-to-end encrypted chat. You can also auto-delete a message for everyone, set a specific time, either 24 hours, 7 days, or 90 days.
There's also the chat lock that can only be accessed through fingerprint, Face ID, or a device passcode, and the "View Once" messages that allow photos and videos disappear after being opened once.
Cheating doesn’t always mean direct messages. "Micro-cheating" often involves subtle actions, such as liking photos or sending flirtatious reactions to someone outside the relationship.
Here, one can send disappearing photos and videos, share private stories with "Close Friends," or use Vanishing Mode in Direct Messages, where messages disappear after the chat is closed.
Instagram also makes it easy to find new people through the Explore page, which shows posts the algorithm thinks you’ll like.
Discord
In Discord, users can use direct messages, private servers, or invite-only servers for specific people to join. Conversations can also be easily deleted.
There are also voice channels and video calls, which leave no trace of any illicit conversation with others.
Like Facebook, users can have anonymity through their username.
One Reddit user shared that she caught her boyfriend of four years cheating after she saw his conversations about sexting, including exchanging nude photos with multiple girls, and being a part of a polyamorous server
"I discovered everything on his tablet while he was playing games in the other room. We share passwords, but I’d had a gut feeling something was off. He’d been hiding his phone, closing Discord when I entered the room, and acting distant," she wrote.
Snapchat
Another app that is popular for cheating scandals is Snapchat. On this app, users can send photos or videos that disappear after being viewed. Users can also set messages to delete after a certain period, such as 24 hours or seven days, once they have been opened.
Users can share stories with select friends through private stories. To leave fewer traces, they can also enable Ghost Mode, which hides their location from contacts.
Kik
This messaging app does not need phone numbers, and users can primarily be identified by their usernames, which adds that layer of anonymity. You can also find and meet new people through private and public groups you share interests with.
You can also easily create multiple accounts and delete messages, but unlike Telegram and WhatsApp, messages are not end-to-end encrypted.
SMS
Cheating via text messages is an old but still easy way to exchange illicit conversations—but it seems cheaters have gotten more creative. One Reddit user shared noticing his taxi driver sending flirty messages to a contact saved under the name “Shopee."
Notes app
Other than making grocery lists or to-do tasks, the Notes app on iOS can also be used to secretly communicate with others.
Social media users have pointed out that its collaboration feature allows multiple people to edit a document in real time. This makes it possible to wait for a response without triggering notifications, creating a discreet (and sneaky) way to cheat.
Reddit users have even reported discovering unexpected texts or photos on their partner’s Notes app.
To save yourself from this toxic situation, look for these five signs that your partner may be cheating on you.
