For those of you who might not know, Yik Yak is an app where users can post anonymous messages. These messages can be seen by anyone using the app within a 1.5 mile radius, and users can make comments on other's posts, as well as upvote or downvote the original post. Yik Yak was released to users in November 2013, and the app is becoming increasingly popular among millennials, especially on college campuses. Many people describe the app as addicting.

So what are users posting on Yik Yak?

There are positive and negative things posts on Yik Yak, just like any other social media website. Often times, the top posts are humorous and relatable. This app gives users a place to vent and discuss ideas anonymously. College Yak posts often discusses campus events, parties, and things going on in the town. Students have a place to post about class work they may have missed, what professors to take for an upcoming semester and so on. Yik Yak creates a space for college students to speak their minds about stress, relationships, schoolwork and everything in between. The same app that creates a place for discussion also creates a place for hatred and negative content.

Critics have attacked Yik Yak since its release, claiming that the app creates a platform for cyberbullying, harassment, profanity and so on. Many parents, students and others have realized the dangerous potential of the app, especially in younger users. Attention was called to this fact, and now Yik Yak no longer allows material to be posted or viewed when in close proximity to a middle school or high school.

Much of the content posted around campus grounds features appalling content, with vulgarities thrown around. The negative material that is typically posted on college campuses includes but is not limited to: rumors, sexual content, harassment and cyber bullying and attacks on both professors and students alike.

The anonymity of the app can make users forget that they are speaking to a real person. It is easier for one to speak his/her mind honestly when the posts are anonymous; there are rarely ever consequences associated with posting inappropriate or vile content. Offensive material like this is unacceptable coming from college students. College campuses should be a safe place, and nobody should feel threatened by anonymous online posts. College students need to work to create an environment of positivity for themselves and others around them.

As previously discussed, Yik Yak has both good and bad elements to it. Yik Yak is a free area to discuss thoughts and ideas, although posts often can spiral out of control with cyber attacks.

There are a few solutions to take a stand against the negativity of anonymous social media. First, users can down vote negative posts and post Yaks that are non-offensive to members of the community. Additionally, users can demand increasingly strict filters to be set in place by the developers of Yik Yak. Yik Yak can be a safe and fun app to use, but users need to be cautious.