We’ve all had that moment when a professor pissed us off or we got screwed over by that cute boy and just wanted to let out some steam without any repercussions. What do you do? You can’t tweet about it, because it’ll either be a subtweet and everyone will still know or you run the risk of sounding whiny, you can’t put it on Facebook, because, well lets face it, Facebook is an online photo album these days, there is no anonymity in snapchat, so where do you turn? Yik Yak?
Yik Yak is a mobile app sweeping across campuses all over the nation. I myself even updated my phone in order to get in the loop and understand what the infamous app is all about. It enables it users, the closest 500 people around you, to post thoughts in 200 characters or less. Other users are able to “upvote” if they agree with the statement or “downvote” if they disagree. Any particular post gets too many downvotes and the powers that be will take the comment off the site.The catch? It’s completely anonymous. Originally intended for a stream-of-consciousness sort of commentary within college communities Yik Yak is used almost exclusively here at UT and among other campuses to bash on and bully individuals. If you were to look at Yik Yak near our campus you can quickly tell that students are using it in order to attack sororities, fraternities, GDIs, certain majors, and on multiple occasions; Texas students have been criticized by name.
While it is understood that the yak was intended for good fun it is putting a bad name on our students. People openly are expressing racism, oppression of women, “slut shaming”, homophobic feelings, and shining a light on the modern day caste system that is apparent everyday on our campus. Now I’m not going to sit here and say that I don’t check my phone at the very least every couple hours to see what people are talking about on the app, and I also won’t say that Yik Yak is a social problem. I think creates a safe environment to voice opinions. There is a little bit of truth in every joke you make and Yik Yak is the epitome of that statement.
So next time you need to b**ch about something, go work out, or head to Big Bite, don’t degrade others on social media! Someone is always on the other end reading it, and just because it doesn’t say your name doesn’t mean you didn’t say it. Have a good time on Yik Yak Texas, but as for me, I’d rather be out on the Forty Acres having some of the best times of my life!