I was recently made aware of a new app called “Yik Yak”. Naturally, I downloaded it to see what it had to offer.
The app is essentially an anonymous version of Twitter.
It allows you to post short messages, without the use of a name, that are only seen by those in your area.
So, for example, if you are somewhere on Saint Xavier’s campus, you’ll be seeing only the “yaks” (which is what they call these posts) of other people that are also on campus or somewhere nearby.
I did not find the app all that interesting, it’s been done before and I can almost guarantee it will fade away in a few months or less.
However, I did find the posts of Saint Xavier students to be quite interesting. A lot of the posts were clearly composed by people who were trying to stir up controversy or say something ridiculous just because they felt safe enough to do so when they could remain anonymous.
But it quickly became clear to me that people tend to “yak” from the diner and about the diner.
They complain about the food, the prices, the hours of the various dining locations on campus and even the staff. It was an extremely common theme.
Over time, it began to somewhat anger me. And it didn’t anger me because I think Saint Xavier’s dining services are perfect, because I know there’s a lot of room for improvement.
It angers me because that was the forum through which these students chose to voice their complaints and concerns…on Yik Yak.
As a communications major, I know that channels are one of the most important elements of the communication process.
I am not referring to TV channels or radio channels. A channel is the medium through which a message is transmitted to its intended audience. Text messages, face-to-face communication, Twitter, Facebook, Emails, phone calls and video conferences are all possible channels of communication.
Well, how does this relate to these Yik Yak diner complaints?
To effectively communicate, you must choose the channel that is both the most appropriate for the situation and the message and also that gives you greatest chance of accurately transmitting your message and the receiver understanding it in the way you intended.
For example, if I wanted to contact my aunt, I probably wouldn’t email her because she is not what one might call “technologically savvy.” My chance of successful communication with her using this channel is rather low.
I can only assume that the reason these students chose to complain about dining services on Yik Yak was because they want something changed.
As students, we have every right to voice our opinion and get what we want at this university.
But what baffles me is that young people today find social media rants to be the best way to initiate that change.
I can say with confidence that your success rate for making a point via Yik Yak is going to be extremely low.
It disappoints me that students are choosing to yak about the diner knowing that there is a good chance no one that actually has the ability to make some of these changes will ever see their comments.
What is even more baffling is that there is a table with comment cards no more than ten steps away.
I fear that as a generation, we want to complain and complain and complain about the things we don’t like from safely behind our computer screens, but when it comes to actually taking action, leaving your phone or computer behind and talking to someone, that’s just a little too much effort.
And to those of you who say that speaking with management and officials doesn’t change anything, I beg to differ.
As many of you have probably noticed, the diner has abandoned Styrofoam cups and begun using a biodegradable plastic as of this semester.
You know how that happened? The students (particularly members of Mercy Students for Peace and Justice and ECO) sat down with the directors of dining services and asked for it.
I think we often seriously underestimate the university’s (and the world’s) willingness to listen to us.
It’s not easy and we don’t always get that instant gratification that we so desperately crave, but I can assure you that Yik Yak will not get you much either. As a generation, we must learn how to choose a more appropriate channel and manner to express ourselves.
Bridget Goedke
Senior Viewpoints Editor
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