The Dangers of Anonymity on Yik Yak

Should students have the ability to post to Yik Yak while remaining completely anonymous? Students and faculty at Ohio Wesleyan feel that while it can be somewhat positive, it has been used in the complete opposite way, as a shield from punishment to allow them to speak hatefully about things and people on their campus. 

Yik Yak is an app for college students to communicate with their peers on campus and keep in touch with campus life. “On Yik Yak, anonymously connect with everyone at your college.” This is the direct message of the Yik Yak website. 

Yik Yak is used by campuses around the country. There seems to be a common thread among college students that it has good intentions but, overall, is a place for students to make fun of others and bash individuals or groups on campus with no repercussions.

People continue to use the app, whether looking for the positive or negative, but it can become a toxic place for students to say what they want with no fear.

Reagan Davis, a junior student, said she uses the app “pretty much every day.” Davis would go on to explain that while she does use the app daily, she uses the app more later in the week to find out about things to do on weekends. 

Students who live on campus enjoy using the app to figure out what is going on throughout the week. However, Davis also goes on to say that controversy was a common sight among users of Yik Yak. 

“Almost every time I open the app, I would see something controversial,” said Davis.

That does not mean that it is harmful or dangerous content, but simply that it pushes the limits. 

While not having anyone affiliated with the university running Yik Yak, there is a committee of faculty members who monitor the app. They review what is being posted to protect the safety of the students and prevent anything from happening to anyone using the app. 

Dawn Percer, a faculty member at Ohio Wesleyan, first learned about Yik Yak from her daughter, an Ohio Wesleyan student, but after working here, she learned about the group of staff members who monitor the app. 

Most likely, the original goal of the app was to create an environment where students would feel safe to speak out about things they feel strongly about. A place where students can promote things on campus without the fear of being shamed or harassed. Unfortunately, that is not the case, as certain unknown students use it to attack people or ideas. 

Many students and faculty members feel that keeping it anonymous does open the floor to more conversations that people would be afraid to have otherwise, it promotes behavior that is negative. They feel that if students had to put their face with the things they say, they would be less likely to be so daring and aggressive with the things they say.