Is Yik Yak Anonymous? Everything You Need to Know

Yik Yak, also described as a “hyperlocal anonymous Twitter,” allows people to know what’s happening around them. It became popular since its launch, primarily due to its anonymity factor. However, it was closed down in 2017 over issues like cyberbullying and harassment and relaunched in 2021 with better moderation. But the question is Yik Yak anonymous remains. Well, the answer is no.

This guide details Yik Yak, how it works, and whether it’s as anonymous as it claims to be. It also discusses the best way for parents to keep their children safe from the platform's risks.

Part 1. What Is Yik Yak and How Does It Work?

YikYak is a social media application that provides a live feed of what everyone says around the 1.5km radius. In other words, it’s an anonymous version of Twitter, where a user posts a “Yak” for others in the range to see. The app is location-based and combines the GPS and messaging services to provide the update.

To use Yik Yak, you’ll need an Android or Apple smartphone with a stable internet connection. However, users do not need to register; they can view and post Yaks once the installation is complete. Hit the pen icon at the top-right corner and compose the Yaks within 200 characters.

On the home tab, you’ll see “hot” and “new” Yaks within the radius. You can hit up and down arrows to add Yaks to the “hot” list. Besides, there’s an option to report abusive or invasive Yaks.

Part 2. Is Yik Yak Anonymous?

No. Although Yik Yak doesn’t gather names, email addresses, or any private information of users, it records user’s geolocation and app usage. By clicking on the Yak, other users can see the location from where it was sent and the delivery time.

Part 3. What Is Yik Yak Used For?

Yik Yak primarily became popular among college students as a source of news and gossip on college campuses. Students can use it to explore the world around them without revealing their identities.

However, people under the hood of anonymity tend to be involved in bullying and racist threats. Within a few years of its launch, it saw a rapid increase in cyberbullying and harassment. Many schools banned the app, and the company potentially shut down in 2017.

Yik Yak was relaunched in 2021 after the lockdown with similar features and use cases. However, according to the developers, there is now greater emphasis on improved moderation to combat cyberbullying or similar issues.

Part 4. How to Protect Children on Yik Yak?

Despite the company’s attempt at moderation, issues like cyberbullying, spreading misinformation, and harassment still exist. Other than that, the platform isn’t as anonymous as it claims to be, so there’s a potential for misuse of available data.

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As Yik Yak is still a thing, anonymity might appeal to children, especially teenagers. The chances of them being bullied or misusing information are always high. So, parents must be aware of the situation and make efforts to keep their kids safe.

If you want to monitor your kids’ activities, try using a third-party monitoring app like KidsGuard for Children that works on Android, iOS, Mac, and Windows. This ultimate parental control tool can track Android or iOS devices without rooting or jailbreaking. The best part is that kids cannot uninstall the app once bound with your phone.

Setting up is straightforward: install the app on your target device, bind it to yours, and that’s it. The app ensures you remain updated about what your kids do on their phones and whether they use Yik Yak. You can track and block such inappropriate apps or websites. In addition, KidsGuard for Children lets you get real-time location and a detailed activity report.

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FAQs about Yik Yak

Does Yik Yak show your name?

No, Yik Yak does not show your name. The platform is designed to be anonymous, so users do not need to reveal their names while posting any “Yaks” on the app.

Are Yik Yak chats anonymous?

No. A user’s name is not revealed on the Yaks, and the platform is not entirely anonymous. One can track their location based on the device IP address and location coordinates available on the Yaks.

Can people see what you post on Yik Yak?

Yes, people can see what you post on Yik Yak, except they don’t know your name. As the platform is designed to be anonymous, you don’t need to register by providing your name or email address.

Why did Yik Yak get shut down?

Yik Yak experienced widespread issues with hate speech and cyberbullying, which led to many schools banning the app. This created a negative perception among people, which led to a significant decline in user engagement.