BROOKE ULICNY, Special to The Denisonian—
Yik Yak is an app where individuals can post anonymously, and everyone relative to a 5-mile radius of their location may see whatever they choose to post. As a first year student, I was surprised to hear about the app’s freedom of standards. Automatically, I assumed Yik Yak was bad news. However, I made it my goal to fully examine both the valleys and the peaks associated with usage of this app.
We can first discuss the negative thoughts that are more than likely to make up one’s first impression. What if someone says something mean, rude, hurtful, or disrespectful to me or someone else?If someone does make a bad choice, there will be no repercussions because it’s anonymous. How is that fair?
The truth is: Sometimes, issues do arise. Sometimes, individuals make posts because they think they’re being funny and don’t realize the scope of their actions. Sometimes people choose to make a post as some sort of redemption against one of their friends or someone they may not get along with. Other times, the app is used to create division, or separate and differentiate certain groups of people. Sometimes, it is even used to herd people to places or get-togethers that simply don’t exist. However, the app has become good at tracking problematic posts like these and taking them down. Most of the time a post that has been made with bad intentions is spotted and reported within minutes of being published. As the app is relative to location, the Denison students play a large role in the feed of the app and the preciseness of deleting harmful posts helps protect Denison’s community.
Moreover, the app is definitely not all bad. In fact, many jokes and conversations around every crevice of campus stem from Yik Yak posts. Some people post things that make others feel confident–Thank you to the men in suits who never fail to make others smile. Some choose to talk about their day to day experiences–Thank you to the weather (wo)man who announces the highs and lows of every day. Oftentimes, people use it to announce different things they’ve noticed (like when the espresso machine is down). Others choose to use it as an outsource for their emotions in which they’re often met with an abundance of support in the comment section. Because the app is anonymous, it can give courage to those who wouldn’t normally crack the joke or open up and can serve as a wonderful outlet to express themselves. It not only builds confidence, but reassures students that they are not alone. I would argue that it secures common ground which strengthens the campus community. It can be helpful in both practical and emotional ways. Yik Yak always supplies Denison students with something interesting to read. The app produces so many unexpected giggles for us when we open our phones everyday. It unites Denisonians and proves that there is always good to be found in every day, around every corner.