By now, most people have heard of a new app that’s sweeping the nation called Yik Yak. For those who don’t know, Yik Yak is an “anonymous messaging app” where you can upload a limited character post, similar to twitter, and it is posted based on location and region, usually within a ten-mile radius.

People can use it however they choose, add their own names or labels to the “Yaks,” and give up-votes or down-votes to posts they like or dislike.

The number of users for this app skyrocketed this year. It has a lot of everything on it, including: gossip, fishing for compliments, shout-outs, or public posts trying to sell something or meet up. That little yak is already gaining some widespread recognition, and with it comes both fame and infamy. It has a pretty strong presence at Gustavus Adolphus. The question is: How is it affecting the college and the community?

“It’s the users who have the power to make it good, bad, or even obsolete. In the meantime, try to keep it clean and watch what you post. The Internet isn’t written in pencil, it’s written in ink.”

One thing to remember with the Internet and apps, especially “anonymous” apps, is that people are much more willing to be mean or aggressive due to the impersonal nature of the Internet and online posting. Another thing about the Internet that people tend to forget is that “anonymous” barely even adheres to its annotative definition anymore. You can track nearly anything down that has been posted on the Internet.

Yik Yak’s own legal page states that “Yik Yak does maintain a log, however, of the following information for each message posted: The IP address from which the message was posted; The GPS coordinates of the location from which the message was posted; The time and date when the message was posted.” So before you post anything you might regret, remember that it’s completely traceable.

However, Yik Yak can have some positive effects. People can come together to support each other and maybe spread some good feelings and wisdom. There have been some posts that have just been along the lines of “Keep it up” or “Feel good about yourself,” which can really help someone, regardless of whether it was just for them or posted to make a bunch of people feel good. It also shows a lot of people being grateful for their friends, as well as just talking about how much fun they might be having or how much they enjoy hanging out with someone. Some people also really know how to get a laugh out of you!

Yik Yak also has an interesting section where you can check out what’s going on in other locations, even by specific schools. A recent update has narrowed the list because now it has “Peeks” which are areas you can check in on based on a point you select on a map. You could set it up to keep up with events in your hometown if you’re not from St. Peter, or maybe even a larger metro area like the Twin Cities. There are tons of options for you to look at.

Overall, Yik Yak has its good times and its bad times. The app is still very much in its youth and is updating and expanding and seeing more and more users joining it. Whether or not it will survive for very long, or have a positive or negative impact has yet to be seen. However, it’s the users who have the power to make it good, bad, or even obsolete. In the meantime, try to keep it clean and watch what you post. The Internet isn’t written in pencil, it’s written in ink

-Cameron MacDonald