‘Yik Yak’ is Here. Have You Ever Heard of It?

I was recently at a meeting when the speaker starting saying that his organization would be utilizing social media including Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, and before he could reel off another option, was interrupted with a comment from an elderly person who said “What the hell are you talking about?” 

I was in tears laughing at his comment along with everyone else, plus the speaker. Oh, I knew what the speaker was talking about, but I don’t use all those options myself. Well now comes an option I had never heard of until I saw it in Time Magazine (March 20, 2015 edition). That option is “Yik Yak”.

What is “Yik Yak?”  It is an anonymous social media app and is available for iOS and Android and according to Wikipedia it allows people to anonymously create and view "Yaks" within a 10 mile radius.

Yik Yak, by sharing comments primarily with those in close proximity to the user, makes it more intimate for people reading the posts. So basically, your comments won’t be seen by the rest of the world.

The Yik Yak app was released in November 2013. Basically a year and a half ago proving once again that I am behind the times no matter how hard I try. I can still here my teacher telling me and my fellow students to quit "yik-yaking" and now people want us to yik-yak. How confusing!