Yik Yak Returns: The App is Back Online

Yik Yak Re-Emerges: A Second Chance for the Anonymous App

The once-popular anonymous gossip application, favored by college students, has been revived after its initial closure in 2017. Yik Yak made its return to the iOS App Store on Monday, generating renewed interest in the previously defunct social network. Currently, an Android version is not available.

Past Challenges and the App's Initial Demise

The original iteration of Yik Yak faced significant difficulties stemming from widespread cyber-bullying and harassment. These moderation issues were central to the app’s ultimate failure.

By 2016, Yik Yak’s presence on college campuses had diminished considerably, leading to substantial layoffs and struggles with user engagement. An attempt to reposition the app towards location-based social networking proved insufficient, and the company was eventually sold.

Acquisition and New Ownership

In 2017, as the original founders, Tyler Droll and Brooks Buffington, discontinued the app, Square acquired several Yik Yak engineers and intellectual property rights for $1 million. The company had previously secured $73 million in funding and held a valuation of approximately $400 million in 2014, at its peak.

Details regarding the current ownership, reportedly based in Nashville, remain unclear, as requests for information from TechCrunch have not yet received a response.

A Renewed Focus on Safety and Moderation

The team behind the relaunched Yik Yak is demonstrably aware of the original app’s shortcomings. A new onboarding process, initiated after phone number verification, emphasizes a strict “one strike” policy against bullying and threats.

“We are dedicated to actively countering bullying and hate speech on the Yik Yak platform through all available methods,” stated the new Yik Yak team, which obtained the rights to develop the app in February, on their newly launched website.

The Challenges of Anonymous, Location-Based Social Networking

Successfully addressing potential issues on a social network and effectively moderating content at scale represent distinct challenges. Yik Yak’s anonymous nature, combined with its focus on real-world, nearby activity within a limited radius, could amplify moderation difficulties.

The app features a sidebar providing users with access to “stay safe” resources, covering topics such as ridesharing, bullying, sexual consent, and COVID-19. However, explicit misinformation policies are not yet implemented.

Reporting and Content Removal

A dedicated section within the sidebar offers a list of mental health resources and encourages users to report and downvote instances of bullying for review by the Yik Yak team. Posts receiving five or more downvotes will be automatically removed from the app’s feed. Further details regarding content moderation procedures, including the existence of a dedicated moderation team, have been requested.

How the New Yik Yak Functions

The new Yik Yak centers around location-based sharing, allowing users to post messages, termed “yaks,” to individuals within a five-mile radius. Users in areas with limited activity can explore popular national posts displayed on a chart.

Early User Reactions

Initial posts from high-ranking users largely express excitement about the app’s return, primarily from older millennials who previously used Yik Yak during their college years. Some posts caution that younger users unfamiliar with the original app may be unprepared for its unique environment.

“Is this app now exclusively for users aged 25-30?”

“The Gen Z demographic isn’t prepared for the return of the Yak,” another user commented.