Yik-Yak is ruining Elon University.
Some fortunate people might ask, what is Yik- Yak? Well, it is an app similar to twitter that allows users to post comments anonymously. The app uses a GPS signal to create a live feed of posts happening in your area. Users can choose to reply, like or dislike the post, all anonymously. Essentially, it’s Elon Compliment’s evil stepsister.
So what’s the issue with this? Everything. Elon students have taken this to an extreme by involving Greek organizations, faculty members, individuals, and organizations on campus. Anonymously bullying, stereotyping, and targeting someone or a group of people is not only cowardly but also juvenile. There are issues across the country with Yik-Yak at other universities, high schools and even middle schools.
I thought maybe, just maybe, Elon would be better than this. I thought Elon was above saying things like “I want to see some hot b****** tonight” or “Saw a black kid today. It was a monumental occasion."
Yik-Yak does have the option to report posts, but that isn’t stopping people from posting terrible things. Sure, claim your First Amendment right, but what about the right to not be harassed or bullied? Elon needs to do something about this before it gets out of hand. Frankly, it has already gotten out of hand. It saddening to see Elon students getting satisfaction by so “bravely” and anonymously hiding behind their cellphone while choosing to insult their peers for no good reason. What happened to “if you don’t have anything good to say, don’t say it at all”? Right now Elon’s mentality is “if you don’t have anything nice to say, get a Yik Yak.”
Although the people who just have the app to get a good chuckle while on the toilet feel they aren’t adding fuel to the fire, the issue is that the app is being used and there is an audience. All of it needs to end, bystanders included. I am ecstatic to see all the Yik-Yaks responses to this article, but then again, people on Yik-Yak are probably too busy thinking of “witty” insults to use on the next group of people than to read an article in their school newspaper.