Yik Yak has become a popular social media app for many college students. Those who use the app are able to post statuses anonymously and see other posts that are within a 5-mile radius of their location.
Since this app is popular on college campuses, many students use it to post about events happening on campus or in the area, along with asking questions concerning the campus. However, as a result of all posts being anonymous, some users are making statements that are bullying, harassing and sexualizing others, in addition to using slurs.
“The fact that you can choose to be 100% anonymous on it is definitely what drives people to say things they would never say face to face. It’s like hiding behind a screen,” said Emma Oresic, a sophomore elementary education major. “People get really bold when what they say is anonymous.”
There are many posts made by students that are merely rumors intended to start drama, but the statements are hurtful to those who are being discussed. This school year, there have been various posts about Greek life which have started rumors about those involved.
“I, as well as many other people, like to indulge in some drama, but some of the comments that are made on Yik Yak can be really harmful,” said Sabrina Hafner, a senior digital information design major.
A student who would like to remain anonymous said that she saw a threatening comment made about her and her friends on Yik Yak while she was on campus.
While hanging out with some of her friends and eating lunch in the DiGiorgio Campus Center, they were making jokes and laughing. After settling down, one friend saw on Yik Yak that someone made a threatening post about them.
The post on Yik Yak read, “the girl with the bob in Digs and her friends need to stfu before I beat their ass.”
“I didn’t think anything of it because it is Yik Yak and I highly doubted that person would inflict harm on us, but it is scary how people can make threats like that with no repercussions,” the anonymous source said.
Despite there being so much negativity on the app, Oresic believes that the app could be used for good.
“I do not think that the app is something college students should have on their phone unless the negativity stops,” Oresic said. “If the negativity left Yik Yak, I believe it could be used to spread awareness about things, promote organizations and events and be a fun and relaxing place for people to go when they need a little escape.”
Rather than posting rumors and slurs about people on campus, students could use this app to share information concerning events on campus, share news and find people who are in their classes to start study groups. This may be a possibility if the app can begin to censor what is posted anonymously. However, the app may lose its appeal as a result.
