Social media app re-emerges, but is it safe?

It's back.

Yik Yak, a social media app shut down in 2017 following incidents of bullying on high school and college campuses, has reinvented itself and is blowing up once again.

Created in November 2013, Yik Yak was the brainchild of two college students in South Carolina who intended the app to be beneficial for college students. After changes were made to limit anonymous postings, use significantly dropped off.

Essentially, the app allows any user to create "Yaks," or anonymous threads. App users within a five-mile vicinity can join in the discussion. "Yaks" can be commented on or upvoted, which is the equivalent of liking someone else's comment. Posters earn points - or "yakarma" - on up votes received.

In 2021, the app was bought from Square Inc., a mobile payment company. In August 2022, the new owners, who have yet to be named, created community guardrails, claiming the app does not tolerate bullying and harassment, discrimination or privacy violations.

"If you see a yak that doesn't vibe with the community guardrails, please immediately downvote and report it," the app's website states. "Yaks that reach -five total vote points are removed from Yik Yak."

While guardrails are in place, it seems fairly uncommon for Yaks to actually be deleted. After hearing stories that have occurred on the Wayne State College campus, the SAM spoke with several Summerland students, under the condition of anonymity, about their thoughts on the app. Of the students asked, only 50% had downloaded the app.

"I honestly downloaded it because my friends said there was something funny on it, and I wanted to see," one student said.

When asked if the students thought the app could be positive or negative, the response was the same all the way around.

"I see it as a negative app because people can get away with things that they normally wouldn't do face-to-face," one student replied. "I think Yik Yak is harming to students because it only encourages them to be mean because they are hidden behind a phone screen; it also can be harmful to adults because adults aren't as likely to have the app, which then gives the students a free ride to say whatever they please about that person."

Another common response from students was that the comments were funny on the app at first, but it has quickly gotten out of hand the braver people get behind the screen.

According to respondents, students are making comments about each other, teachers and even adults in the community.

The app may be seen as a vehicle for misinformation. According to a University of Michigan report, false news stories are being spread on the app, "with no verifiable facts, sources or quotes."

What should users know about the so-called anonymous factor of the app?

While yaks are anonymous, every comment contains an IP address that includes location data which can be tracked by law enforcement. With that being said, criminal charges from inappropriate use of the app could lead to jail time.

Finally, a person's digital footprint can be found, even if it seems anonymous. It is important to know that if something needs to be found online it can be found so keep the digital footprint in mind when utilizing all social media.