Victoria Houghtalen is a first-year
intended political science major
from Noblesville, Indiana.
In March of this year, the app Yik Yak started appearing on the tech-world screen. Yik Yak is a compilation of short, 200-character messages sent out within a 10 mile radius of a user. Developed by two graduates of Furman University, a private school in South Carolina, Yik Yak has taken off at over 100 college campuses nation-wide.
The app services one realm on the social media phenomenon not yet explored: anonymity. While other social media networks strive to serve the ego with follower ratios, retweets, likes, favorites or connections, Yik Yak is the first in its kind where all participants cannot be rewarded with a name badge. A unique experiment in social capital in itself, it is surprising how well the app has taken off, and DePauw is no exception.
Understand that the app is most popular, although not exclusive, among DePauw’s first-years, the experience has allowed the smaller class a chance to get to know each other without the fear of an individual being pinned as having a specific reputation. Each person can anonymously post what they want as many times as they like. And there seems to be one rule among the freshmen: do not talk about what you posted. The joy of an app like this is the secrecy of it. For the first time, an app has allowed us to be who we are without the fear of public perception. I am so thankful for that sense of unity at a time where so many new faces are around me.
Unfortunately, not all Yik Yak discoverers feel this way. In fear of the component that gives the app its uniqueness—the anonymity—some users feel as if a dangerous door has been opened. The pitfalls of our media society, such as cyberbullying and threats, expand in scope when propogated by an app with no accountability.
And perhaps they aren’t so wrong.
On Wednesday, Sept. 17, an Indiana State University student posted on the app about his or her curiosity about a school shooting. The ISU Student Media webpage reports that within 90 seconds of the initial posting, the yak was taken down. Still, campus police advised students to be cautious and took the threat very seriously, utilizing app administrators to track down the student who thought that the app’s anonymity was untouchable.
Fortunately, no event near this sort of seriousness has occurred on DePauw’s campus. The most rambunctious criminal activity reported on the app is the stealing of Longden’s makeshift cardboard sign—which we still want back by the way.
I think it speaks volumes about how DePauw’s users are handling the responsibility of the app. Perhaps it is because we all enjoy the beauty of the app or maybe because the new class understands that nothing is anonymous on the Internet. Nevertheless, DePauw’s campus has yet to abuse such a power.
So keep posting those Spongebob quotes, Tigers. The app’s benefits are far too grand for us to ruin it now.