Jott, a messaging app for Android and iOS which works without a data plan or a WiFi connection, is becoming increasingly popular with American high school students, according to a TechCrunch report.

The app, which hit half a million active users in March and is seeing 15,000 to 20,000 new users sign up every day, has an AirChat feature which uses  “a proprietary technology that lets nearby users chat even without cellular or internet service by creating an offline mesh network”.

This means students can message each other on a closed network within a 100-foot radius without internet access.

Another app aimed at the same age bracket, YikYak, has come under fire for its potential to enable cyber-bullying because it is anonymous. However, Jott requires full identity disclosure.

Those who want to join a school network must create an account with their real name and age and verify if they go to the school. Students can flag fake accounts if they think a user does not attend their school.

Additional features of the app include disappearing messages and screenshot detection similar to Snapchat.

It ranked in the top 75 apps on iOS for social networking in the US in mid-April, according to the report.