1.) It has been banned from most Middle and High Schools.
Most of cyberbullying that happens, happens in Middle and High schools. The co-creators partnered with Maponics, who have the GPS for about 85% of the school in the United States and have been working to get it blocked from Middle and High Schools.
2.) People are most outspoken, and willing to stand up to others.
Though many people find Yik Yak to promote bullying because it is anonymous. This does give people the freedom to say what they want when they want, but even then some still choose not to say rude or hateful things. Hateful comments are usually one of the first things taken down when posted as well. Professors at Colgate University started to post different things on Yik Yak to show the positives of it being anonymous along with trying to get the good out of Yik Yak.
3.) You can't post names, numbers, or personal information or it gets taken down.
I found from the survey that I ran that students found the anonymous part of yik yak to be positive and negative at the same time. It gives students the freedom to say what they would like. Though this is true there are a few things you can't do with yik yak, such as, post your name, number, snap chat name, and other personal information. A study that was done by Fabio Sticca and Sonja Perren to find out the severity of cyber bullying compared to traditional bully. The only thing students say was more sever was posting pictures and videos, you can't do that on Yik Yak either.
4.) Some times you just need a good laugh
College can be a little rough. With the stress from classes, the homework that keeps piling up, your social life being completely erased, and often work. Yik Yak is that little break that some people need to get a little laugh. Muhozi Aimable a freshman international affairs major, that The Red & Black interviewed said, “When I am upset, I just look over it and laugh at what other people are saying,” he said. “I would see some struggles that people are going through that are the same struggles I am going through and I am like ‘Oh, wow. I am not alone’
5.) Relatable for College students
College is usually a tough and stressful place like I said earlier, along with getting a few laughs out of it, students also use it to relate to others. They find it nice to know that someone near them is having close to the same problem as them.
6.) Has self-policing
One of the nice features about Yik Yak is the fact that there is a down vote button. So if something is rude, disrespectful or just plain out mean, people can get rid of it, If some reports it, the person that posted it is enable from being able to post anything for the next 24 hours. They are also taken down almost immediately, unlike other websites where it takes a bit.
7.) People often post Suicide hot lines
![Picture](/uploads/4/9/6/1/49618731/1427971714.png?250)
One of the things that make me smile most is the fact that some people take the time to find and post different suicide hot line. A lot of things you see on Yik Yak is about how much cutting and all that they do. Not only do they post the hot lines, but some also randomly post friendly, nice comments like, the person reading this right now is beautiful. And to think most people think this is a bad application.
8.) Keeps you updated with what is going on around campus
This Yak is from the Eastern Michigan University feed. People often post events that will be happening around campus, where the are located and what time they start. This gives students a little heads on up, and keeps a lot of them involved with the school. This is always a way that people get the word out about their tryouts. The Emu Club Volleyball team had a post saying when, where, and how much tryouts would be.
9.) Most are very supportive
This is a Yak from Eastern Michigan University feed. This person is posting about how much weight they have lost and getting congratulated for it. This is not the only one I have seen before either. One time I seen a post from a girl apologizing on not knowing how to use the treadmill and called herself a fat whale. None of the comments were rude, everyone congratulated her, and told her how amazing she was at doing that.
10.) Even some teachers think it has potential
Eastern has had a few problems when it comes to Yik Yak, including the honors 179 problem last semester. Though this happened there are still teachers/faculty standing up to not get it banned. Steve Krause posted in his blog about how he thinks he could use the application in future classes. Eric Stroller says "And, how does higher education change the world? Not by banning or blocking, but by teaching and educating."