An executive at Yik Yak, an anonymous social media network, is speaking out after a suspect was arrested over threats made on the platform against black students at the University of Missouri.
The messages came amid heightened racial tension and protests at the university, which saw the school’s embattled president step down earlier this week.
“There’s a point where discussion can go too far – and the threats that were posted on Yik Yak last night were both upsetting and completely unacceptable,” wrote Brooks Buffington, co-founder and chief operating officer of Yik Yak, an anonymous chat app popular on college campuses, in a blog post. “Let’s not waste any words here: This sort of misbehavior is NOT what Yik Yak is to be used for. Period. It is not condoned by Yik Yak, and it violates our Terms of Service.”
Read More: You Asked: What Is Yik Yak?
The suspect’s arrest came after a Yik Yak user threatened to “shoot every black person I see” at the college, amid other warnings. Some University of Missouri professors canceled classes over the messages, while other students posted on social media about staying home for the day.
It isn’t yet clear if Yik Yak staffers helped authorities locate the user who posted the threatening messagesm but Buffington’s statement noted the company’s general cooperation with police. “Furthermore, please remember that Yik Yak and law enforcement take threats seriously,” he wrote. “Yik Yak works alongside local authorities to help in investigations, and we may share information with law enforcement as set forth in our Privacy Policy and legal page.”
Read Buffington’s full post below:
Tyler and I created Yik Yak to let people connect with everyone around them, and it’s become a place where communities share news, crack jokes, ask questions, offer support, and build camaraderie. It’s also a place where communities can engage in open and honest conversation – and we love seeing discussion that is productive and thoughtful. With the power of open and honest conversation comes a great level of individual responsibility, however, because those words form the basis of a community. And at its core, Yik Yak is your community; it’s an extension of the real world directly around you.
Just like the rest of you, we’ve been following the recent events at University of Missouri and we’ve felt a mix of inspiration, disappointment, hope, and sadness at what the Mizzou community has been going through. Ultimately, we’ve been impressed by the strength of the student body during an extremely tough time.
It’s our hope that the range of discussion on MU’s campus can help to bring about positive resolution and a better understanding within the community. But there’s a point where discussion can go too far – and the threats that were posted on Yik Yak last night were both upsetting and completely unacceptable. Let’s not waste any words here: This sort of misbehavior is NOT what Yik Yak is to be used for. Period. It is not condoned by Yik Yak, and it violates our Terms of Service.
Yakkers, if you haven’t done so lately, please take a moment to review our Terms (they’re always accessible right within the app, along with our Rules) and make particular note of the Unauthorized Activities section. We have the right to suspend or ban users who are found to be in violation of these guidelines. Furthermore, please remember that Yik Yak and law enforcement take threats seriously. Yik Yak works alongside local authorities to help in investigations, and we may share information with law enforcement as set forth in our Privacy Policy and legal page.
Open and honest conversation can be a great thing – but it’s up to each and every one of us to ensure that it remains constructive, too. Being a part of a herd means showing respect for one another, through our commonalities and our differences. There’s a saying that we always keep in mind on our team: With our thoughts we make the world. Let’s be sure we’re making a good world, starting with the communities around us.
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