This article was written by The Zillennial Zine’s fall editorial intern Jason Tsoi. Find him on Instagram at @jason.tsoi. If you would like to share an article with The Zillennial, send us an email at thezillennialzine@gmail.com.
Let’s face it. It’s difficult to make friends during your first year of college, and in general. You’re away from your hometown family and friends, and surrounded by unfamiliar faces. It can be overwhelming and scary. But, did you know there’s an app that can help you connect with students on your campus? It’s called Yik Yak — an anonymous social media app designed for college students. Here is a Yik Yak app review that explains everything you need to know about the platform.
The History of Yik Yak
But first, it’s important to note that the current version of Yik Yak is not the same as when it initially launched. The app was founded in 2013 by Furman University alumni, Tyler Droll and Brooks Buffington. Following its launch, the app saw a significant increase in downloads and the founders raised up to $73 million in venture capital funds. However, Yik Yak’s early success was short-lived as the app confronted a series of controversies, regarding safety and security. The app quickly became a source for cyberbullying and hate speech. On top of this, schools and groups of people throughout the country faced threats of violence from messages sent by Yik Yak users. As a result, growth on Yik Yak declined, causing the app to shut its doors in 2017.
However, Yik Yak made a comeback in 2021 under a new management, who decided to stay anonymous. In a statement, the team made it clear they would fight against cyberbullying and hate speech by “any means necessary. Then, the team announced the platform’s “Community Guardrails” — a set of guidelines to ensure a safe environment for all Yik Yak users. And last year, Sidechat — another anonymous social networking platform — acquired Yik Yak. Since then, the platform has continued to grow and expand in numbers. So, how do you use Yik Yak?
How Does Yik Yak Work?
Once you have downloaded Yik Yak from your device’s app store, it’s time to create an account. Creating an account is quick and straightforward. In order to use Yik Yak, you will be asked to provide your phone number for verification purposes. The app will also ask permission to track your location, allowing you to interact with users within your college. Then, you will be able to customize your account by creating a username and profile picture. You can upload a custom photo or use an emoji for your profile picture.
Like many social media platforms, Yik Yak functions through community posts, known as Yaks. Similar to Reddit, the app uses a point system, where you can track your Yakarma — points that are controlled by users upvoting and downvoting your posts. When you first start using the app, you will begin with 100 Yakarma. If your post gets downvoted by multiple users, your post will be automatically removed from the thread. This system incentivizes users to engage on the app in an orderly manner. Since the app is anonymous, you can choose not to share your username when you send a post.
The process of creating a post is quick and easy. Simply click the plus symbol on the bottom right corner. This will take you to a new page, where you can create texts. To go along with your texts, you can add memes, photos and videos. Like other social media platforms, you have the option to make polls for users to vote on a topic. Once you’re ready to send a post, you will have to choose which community you want to share it to. But what are the types of communities on Yik Yak?
The Communities On Yik Yak
One of the first communities that you will gain access to is your school. Joining your school’s Yik Yak community opens you up to a world of possibilities. It not only allows you to find out what’s currently happening at your college, but it can also be helpful to form friendships with students on campus. This is attainable through Yik Yak’s direct messaging feature. If you encounter a post from a fellow student who shares a common interest or is looking to find friends, you can click the paper airplane icon located below the message. From there, you can exchange social media accounts to get to know more about the student. It is nerve wracking to meet someone who you have never met before, especially in an online space, but it’s a chance to make lifelong friends.
The direct message feature also allows you to join or create group chats with other students on your campus. Some of these groups can range from study groups to party groups. But, you can also join group chats outside of your college community.
Besides joining your school’s community, Yik Yak also has communities, where you can connect with other college students from different campuses. To find and explore communities, press on the compass icon on the bottom of your screen. From Swifties to relationship advice, there are hundreds of communities to join on the app. There is even a community where you can pretend to be Karens. But, if you don’t see a community that fits your interests, you have the ability to create a community on your own.
Overall, Yik Yak is a great resource for students to utilize during their college years. The app is easily accessible and is on par with some of the most prominent social media platforms. Yik Yak stands out for its community feature that allows users to connect with students within their college campuses, as well as students outside of your campus. There are the occasional vile posts, but the app is on the right track in comparison to its former self. If you are looking to interact with fellow college students, this app is for you.
What do you think about Yik Yak and will you give it a try? Do you agree with this Yik Yak app review? Let us know in the comments.
Leave a Reply