Comparable to how alcohol gives people liquid courage, anonymity can allow people to express what’s really on their mind.
Yik Yak is an anonymous social media app that is available for iPhone and Android users. The app allows you to post and view posts from people who are within a 1.5 mile radius of you.
The way the app works is when you see a post you can either reply, “downvote” if you disagree with the post or “upvote” if you like it. Once a post receives five downvotes it is removed.
I know, stupid, right?
This can create a snowball effect. Someone will downvote a yak and others will see that the post has received downvotes and will continue to play the follow-the-leader game until the post is removed.
Upvotes of a post can eventually develop it into a popular vote seen by thousands of users. Once these posts become popular, they can then be copied, pasted, and reposted as someone else’s yak to be posted.
It’s silly, no doubt about that. A way to quickly release a quirky thought may be appealing to some. But sometimes, comical can turn into coarse very quickly.
Users feel safer posting profane statements through Yik Yak they wouldn’t usually verbalize.
Some of my acquaintances, who are Yik Yak users, have mentioned that sometimes it can become irritating when people try to search for a love interest on Yik Yak. That’s what Tinder is for. The world we live in doesn’t need any more catfish.
A recent post said, “I find more pride in being a top yak than getting a 4.0.”
Do you really? Being proud to post nothingness to populations of nobodies who have no idea who are you is sad.
I guess you could say I’m an outspoken person — some may even say I’m blunt. Whatever the case may be, I just want people to know whatever I’m saying is coming from me and my mouth (or keyboard).
Why are people so eager to speak out when their name and face is a mystery? Simple — if there is no source to be credited to, then nobody can get dragged down for what they dish out to other people.
Hiding behind posts is cowardly and childish.
So, I guess Yik Yak is somewhat better than parody accounts on Twitter, since the relevance of the posts have to do with people in your neighborhood or who attend your school. Meanwhile, parody accounts on Twitter are fueled by people who post general cheesy statements and opinions.
Parody accounts are accounts owned by people who shield their identity. They usually display themselves as someone well-known, such as Kylie Jenner, or a general interest such as MSU Crushes.
Just like anything new, Yik Yak gets old. It’s kind of like fireworks. Once it begins, it’s all so captivating to watch, then after about 30 seconds you realize you’re staring at the same thing over and over again.
