The developer won't actually create the new Secret himself, to begin with. He's currently running an enterprise startup, Bold, and would hire a new team that operates under his watch. Also, Byttow wants to be cautious this time around, avoiding the mistakes that plagued Secret in its brief original existence. He'll consult with many other people to make sure it's done well.

Version 2 could be a long time in coming. Byttow doesn't have a timetable, and he won't be leaning on venture capital to build the new app. This isn't a profit-making endeavor, he stresses -- if there are any profits, they'll go directly to good causes. Still, the revival is good news for anyone who saw Secret as a tool for promoting free speech and healthy discussion, not just a rumor mill.