I may be a little too old for this app – I’ve tired it and saw it as useless and just plain dumb. But, I’ve noticed it popping up and popping up for the same reasons. The app I’m referring to is Yik Yak. Yik Yak is an app that can be considered an anonymous Twitter. It allows users in a geographic range update a short “status” or “statement” for users in that same geographic range to view.
More common Yik Yaks
In doing research for this blog edition I came across an NPR article that reveals how much of a commotion this app is creating. Multiple universities are having issues with students (or people who happen to be in the same location) posting threatening and hateful comments. Examples the article gives:
At Western Washington University, there were calls to lynch the black student body president.
At the University of Missouri, students threatened to shoot all black students.
How things can get out of hand
These are just a couple of examples – but there are loads more. Some universities (including Emory University) have responded to student’s concerns by blocking the app on their Wi-Fi networks, but that isn’t restricting those their cell networks.
Students are calling for Yik Yak to set up a geo-fence around zip codes of their universities to block the app. This is something that is being currently put into use in middle and high schools – the workaround for that is that the app is meant for users over the age of 17.
Let me back up a bit… what is geo-fencing? Geo-fencing is a predefined set of boundaries based on location. A great example is just that of a middle or high school campus. Even some businesses use it as a form of marketing (Big Brother is watching).
Obviously, this won’t cure the issue of people being hateful towards one another. But this isn’t free speech this is hate. By eliminating one forum to “anonymously” post these comments will do the world of higher education good. But, at the same time there will always be another way for people to post hate. It is unfortunate for those who use apps such as Yik Yak for playful jokes and innocent posts. What’s the saying? A few bad apples spoils the bunch.
To read the article in it’s entity visit:
Yik Yak Tests Universities’ Defense Of Free Speech
Mobile Social Network/Media 
This was not only well written, this was very interesting as i was SO unfamiliar with the app and the concept of geo-fencing. Will have to do more research on that. I agree that nothing prevents people from being ugly unless it’s looking at perfect beauty.
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Thanks! I downloaded the app not too long ago – I work at Georgia State University – because I was curious as to what our students were saying. Luckily, there was nothing threatening but I did witness a lot of bullying to unknown people. This is a pretty neat technology – it’s a shame that people can’t put it to better use.
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Thanks for sharing this information, Katie. I am just knowing about geo-fencing and it makes a lot of sense to me. I am happy you came up with such an educative topic. Thanks for sharing.
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Great post and very informative Katie. Using the Geo-fencing sounds like a cool idea for businesses or neighbors to interact. However, the first thing I thought of is… why does such an app exist? I have never heard of it either. There needs to be some regulations for some of these apps because they are detrimental for peaceful society. Katie, you could write an article or a blog to inform people of this app and send it to most of these schools. I will definitely share this in the next PTA meeting. As a mom of a middle school student, I am obviously concerned because who knows what the kids are talking about that parents are unaware of. Thanks for sharing
~ Carol
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To most reasonable people this is just a quirky app that you can anonymously post your thoughts or pose questions to those in the same area as you. When I have children – and if they have access to such apps I’ll more then likely screen what they can have on their devices and discuss the proper way to use and respond to them – just for such issues. The more technology comes out the more we have to be worried about – just the nature of the beast.
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Yes, I don’t really see a point in this app either. I’m not too keen on the idea of people being able to post anonymously (at least so easily) I feel this will promote a lot of negative behavior. Interesting post. I had not heard of this app prior to this posting. Thank you for sharing!
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