By NATALIE SACKET
Staff Reporter
Marva Haltom, student reporter, also contributed to this story.
Yik Yak is a social media app that has taken mobile devices by storm. The controversial app has also managed to create storms at universities across the nation, and Northwestern is no exception.
Lately at Northwestern, there has been a lot of “yak” about Yik Yak.
The new app creates a chat room for individuals to share statements anonymously within a two-mile radius. It is designed to post things anonymously in the area and users with the same app can vote statements “up” or “down” on the page. It was originally created for students to use as a tool for school to share information about classes and use as a virtual bulletin board, but recently there have been bullying issues with the app. Many campuses have already taken the action of blocking the app from the Wi-Fi because of psychological impacts it was having on some students who were being bullied. There have also been schools that have had to evacuate classes and campuses because of anonymous threats that were posted to the app.
The app apparently strayed from its good intentions by making all users anonymous. People are posting false statements about others all while hiding behind their smart device. This is creating a social barrier for some students, who are getting bullied and retreating into hiding – possibly even become depressed by continued bullying.
The app’s creators have tried to help with the monitoring of the app by restricting some access points and using a GPS location on posts so viewers can see where the post was actually uploaded. Also, if a statement is down-voted or deemed offensive by five or more users it will be removed from the feed. But those moves haven’t stopped the bullying and people still feel they have the power to say whatever they want without any regard to anyone else’s feelings and how it may affect them.
Yik Yak presents a list of rules on the app, two of which stress no bullying or targeting of other “yakkers.” However, a number of Northwestern students have been victimized and targeted on this app by others who hide behind a safety cloak of anonymity. One such student was Rachel Wasson, whose last name began popping up on the app with direct attacks.
“It doesn’t really bother me because none of [the insults] are true, but I just wish people would realize what they are doing,” Wasson said. “Now when people hear my name they automatically think ‘the girl from Yik Yak’ and that’s not how I want to be known. People don’t understand that they can ruin someone’s reputation just by the rumors they start. Words can hurt.”
Students are not the only individuals who have downloaded the app; Northwestern faculty, professors and administrators have as well.
Allison Zimmerman, Northwestern professor, has been mentioned on the app as well.
“Yik Yak is cyber-bullying,” she said. “There is no way around it. It’s dangerous because people don’t have to be held accountable for their words. I hate to think what would have to happen for people to wake up and realize that words are powerful and damaging.”
Regardless of opinion, Yik Yak has garnered much attention, coming into the focus of Northwestern administrators. The amount of inappropriate content on the app has spurred talk of restricting Yik Yak on campus Wi-Fi, according to Steve Valencia, associate vice president for university relations.
“It has been a discussion as to whether or not we should restrict access, though we have not made a final decision,” Valencia said. “It is unfortunate that students have chosen to use Yik Yak in such a negative way. Found on Yik Yak is mostly cyberbullying, intimidation of students and, if it were to be said in person, sexual harassment. These are things our campus does not need to be facilitating. If students do have concerns in regards to Yik Yak, or any other social media platform, we will investigate and take disciplinary action if necessary. It is false to say that Yik Yak is entirely anonymous. There are ways to track the individual, which we may do if necessary.”
So far there have not been any changes or actions taken to ban Yik Yak from campus but it could eventually happen due to all of the negativity that is accumulating on the Yik Yak bulletin board. Administration on campus has already contacted the school’s IT department to see what can be done to control the situation.