I wash my face before bed, I open my phone to get my dopamine hit from Instagram reels, and eventually, before I tuck myself into bed, my fingers unconsciously and routinely click on YikYak.
If you have ever had the unfortunate experience of downloading YikYak, I’m sorry. By definition, YikYak is an anonymous social media app designed for college campuses for students to post outrageous comments because they are hidden by the anonymity of the app. In other words, YikYak is childish slop designed to create drama and division. Beneath the gossip and rumors that circulate throughout YikYak, there is a sense of community and openness that has blossomed.
Yakkers share updates regarding current events such as dangers in the area, as one Yakker exclaimed, “Police Activity!!” or use it as a space to ask academic questions, such as professor or class experiences; “Has anyone had Rodenas for Intro Spanish?” Even some just make positive comments, “I love handsome men,” and “I love lesbians.” I have even encountered professors who claim to have the app or interact with the content, highlighting that YikYak goes beyond being a domain for student gossip, but as a refuge from the superficiality of campus interactions.
A place for unfiltered comments amidst the lies that pollute everyday conversations, YikYak has been a foundational piece for honest discussions for the Whitman College community.
When I first came to Whitman College, I can recall my first interaction with YikYak. As I was eating my Cleve chicken strips, I looked over my friend’s shoulder to see what she was reading, and as she saw me peeping, she turned the phone my way so I could look. At the beginning of the year, the app was filled with where the parties were or how people felt about transitioning to college. At the time, this felt alluring, yet seeing my friend scrolling through YikYak every time she opened her phone felt off-putting. For months, I said I would never download YikYak because it’s a place full of hate speech, bigotry and most likely left permanent damage to my mental health.
However, I have succumbed to the pressures of Yakking out of FOMO (fear of missing out). At first, I would almost never open the app, but as of recently, I have found the beauty that is hidden in the filth of YikYak. Don’t get me wrong, the app is truly brain-rotting, but at a place like Whitman, where people construct different versions of themselves in classrooms, parties and quick interactions in Reid, it’s an escape.
People are often scared to voice their opinions out of fear of being ostracized on such a small campus. Behind anonymous users and upvotes, students express themselves freely, whether it’s through a comment, a post or a simple upvote. YikYakers are honest. A sincere YikYak post stuck out to me a few months back when a user posted that they felt isolated and unable to make friends on campus. To my surprise, the post had over 50 upvotes and dozens of comments relating to the experience. When I saw this, I came to the realization that a sense of community can be found in such a divided and hateful space. Maybe the real “Yik Yikes” isn’t what people post, but how much of ourselves we feel safe revealing when nobody knows it’s us.
Although my hate for YikYak is intense, it is important to have a space for the Whitman community to be honest, whether it’s a sincere comment, “I am so overwhelmed with homework,” or random comments, “Damn I lowkey want a hot dog,” and of course, the mass amount of fraternity propaganda that contaminates YikYak every weekend. It’s honest, and that is something that our campus often lacks. Whether you are a fan of YikYak or not, it is a commonly used platform on campus. So, instead of bashing YikYak, we should embrace it and appreciate the honesty that is hidden behind the filth.
