By Jade Robles
Staff Writer
If you have a phone, then you might have heard of Yik Yak. Created by Tyler Droll and Brooks Buffington, this app is known for its anonymousness. The app allows its users to post “Yaks” anonymously to everyone else who has the app within a 5-mile radius. People can use it to announce news, make comments, and get to know everyone in the area, since it is in a 5-mile radius. Seems like a pretty harmless app, however, it is one of the apps that schools and colleges despise the most.
Why do schools and colleges hate Yik Yak? Because of the threats, harmful or hateful comments about people, and/or even inappropriate comments about the school.
It makes sense, as the true purpose of Yik Yak was made for gossip; so, something bad was bound to happen, nonetheless.
Even here, at Penn State Altoona, around Halloween time, this year, there was a threat on Yik Yak. The student responsible for this was identified and arrested.
Some students such as Jay Deonarine, a sophomore says, “It’s unnecessary… and a lot of fake news on it,” and his friend John Ashcom, a freshman, adds “It’s bad because its anonymous,” and proceeds to talk about how people talk about the “weirdest” things and sometimes feels “bad” when rumors and people’s names are on it.
The power and dangers that Yik Yak can bring to people and constitutions are scary, nonetheless, and that is why many schools have banned this app.
Schools that have banned Yikyak
| Colleges | Reasoning |
| John Brown University | Racists comments/remarks |
| Oklahoma Christian University | Cyberbullying |
| Illionois College | Harassing/Threatening/Bullying |
| College of Idaho | Safety reasons involving threatening |
| Tri-state area high schools in New Jersey | Hate speech |
https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2022/03/07/yik-yak-re-emerges-after-shutdown – John Brown University
https://www.news9.com/story/612e827d6a95750bf5b5cd21/oklahoma-christian-university-bans-use-of-yik-yak-app – Oklahoma Christian University
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/illinois-college-banned-yik-yak_n_570d0bb7e4b0836057a25ad7 – Illionois College
https://www.dailydot.com/debug/yik-yak-bans/ – Tri-state area high schools in New Jersey
https://www.cosmopolitan.com/college/news/a40578/yik-yak-is-now-banned-from-the-college-of-idaho/ – College of Idaho