Until a couple of weeks ago, I had never been on Yik Yak - the app used mostly by college kids to anonymously express any and every thought going through their heads. But after Yik Yak came up in repeated conversations I’ve had with Boston’s student population, I felt like I had to see what it was about. And what I found, I had not expected from the app.
Yes, there’s a raunchy post sprinkled here and there. That, I had anticipated. But for the most part, it looks like Yik Yak has become a political forum for our nation’s youth.
It makes complete sense. Most social media outlets are inundated with strong political commentary whenever we’re in the midst of a presidential election. Sometimes, it can just be too much. I know a lot of people who usually go on an “unfollow” frenzy during this period of time. So I can see how Yik Yak, being totally anonymous, might give students a safe space to express their political opinions without starting a political throwdown with their friends and family members, as it happens on other social media platforms. Sure, people might disagree with them, but it’s not as personal as it would be on, say, Facebook.
The revelations didn’t stop there. Scrolling through the Yik Yak feed just from today, it was alarming how politically balanced it was. There were opinions from all points on the spectrum and they all took different approaches to comment on what’s going on the presidential race.
For instance, some went for a softer approach, using humor. For example, someone posted, “On the bright side if Trump wins we’re gonna have some sick Punk Rock,” while another articulately put it, “Trump that dude nobody wanta admit they dig.”
Others users took a more profound, if not poetic approach, like, “Trump wants to build a wall to keep people out. Bernie will have to build a wall to keep businesses in,” and, “Even the most leftist founding father was more pro freedom than any Republican today. And let’s not even mention Democrats.”
More than a third of the hottest 65 posts that I went through this afternoon featured political commentary. I don't have the quantitative data about my other social media accounts, but based on anecdotal evidence alone, there is no way my Facebook feed has ever been that obviously political.
In fact, one of the top posts called out how outrageously overwhelming it was on Yik Yak. They said, “Politics should be banned from yik yak I can’t take this shit anymore," a sentiment that many people have expressed on other social forums.
Images are app screen shots via Olivia Vanni.
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