Are kids causing chaos on Yik Yak?

[jtbell]

It's only four months old, and already it's causing problems:

Yik Yak anonymous message board app causes uproar at schools (Los Angeles Times)

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

Never heard of it. Not surprised it exists though. Nothing schools can do about it. Wouldn't be surprised if in the near future a class on internet safety is mandatory for grade schools.

 

[StatGuy2000]

I have never heard of Yik Yak until now, but from what I've read in the LA Times article, the app sounds similar to Twitter.

 

[jtbell]

Yes, it's basically an anonymous version of Twitter that broadcasts only within a restricted geographical area, e.g. within a school or college campus. It was created by two students at a small college.

Yik Yak app disabled in Chicago amid principals' worries (Chicago Tribune)

"The app was made for users college-age and above," Brooks Buffington said in an email to the Tribune.

Buffington developed Yik Yak with Tyler Droll, a classmate at South Carolina's Furman University. The app initially was marketed to students at Southern colleges as a way to connect with others on campus.

 

[Psinter]

Nope, I don't Yik Yak. I just PhysicsForum... :tongue:

On the serious side, this would make a great sociological study. I would approach it with critical theory.

The term "critical theory" is often appropriated when an author (perhaps most notably Michel Foucault) works within sociological terms, yet attacks the social or human sciences (thus attempting to remain "outside" those frames of inquiry).

Out of the academic thoughts on this, I personally frown down upon the reaction educators authorities have taken upon this. One could argue with a little of research that those in charge of education will try to ban it's use bacause it is the work they've been doing in educating those kids what is being reflected in those messages.

 

[harborsparrow]

Any messaging board that is "anonymous" in an invitation for bullying and bad behavior. I shudder to think what grade school students would do with it.

 

[Psinter]

Any messaging board that is "anonymous" in an invitation for bullying and bad behavior.

Indeed.

Kids are suppressed a lot by adults, I find no surprise in they trying to seize anonymous ways to shout back their frustration at those in charge. Explosions and killing included in the package.

In the end it wasn't anonymous at all for geo-location information was shared with authorities (just to make kids' frustration of always being under the control of adults even bigger).

 

[Mark44]

Kids are suppressed a lot by adults,

Which, overall, is probably a good thing, although I would word this as "supervised" rather than "suppressed."

I find no surprise in they trying to seize anonymous ways to shout back their frustration at those in charge. Explosions and killing included in the package.

In the end it wasn't anonymous at all for geo-location information was shared with authorities (just to make kids' frustration of always being under the control of adults even bigger).

Kids left to their own devices, without the supervision of adults, can find ways to get into a lot of trouble, including the explosions and killing you mentioned.

 

[Psinter]

Kids left to their own devices, without the supervision of adults, can find ways to get into a lot of trouble, including the explosions and killing you mentioned.

True. I always avoided trouble as a kid. I never understood how my friends always got into trouble until growing a little more that I was told that "avoiding trouble is an ability many lack." Specially kids.

edit: One, out of the many reasons they fail to avoid trouble, is because they want to be heard and praised as awesome. Therefore, they can't allow themselves to be controlled by someone else, as they define that as lame and not cool. But each to their own definition. This application probably maybe made them feel in control by scaring the adults they dislike so much.

Anyway, just like I frowned the adults at my first post, now I frown down those kids as well who think they achieve the big thing by scaring or offending their adult counterparts. They won't achieve much by behaving like that.