The social media app Yik Yak has been growing in popularity nation-wide among college students, Penn State researchers have observed. The app allows for students to post anything they want anonymously for anyone within a five-mile radius to see. At a small campus like Bluffton, this averages as many as 30 anonymous posts a day.
Sophomore math major Bishop Florence found himself at the center of many of these posts when an inside joke between friends started to trend on the social media platform, leading to a surge in his popularity on campus.
According to Florence, the inside joke began at a Christmas party that he threw for the Becoming a Scholar group he was mentoring last semester. Those in attendance were convinced that Florence was the “best mentor ever” and decided to recognize that through mass-posting to Yik Yak.
“Bishop is a hilarious guy and he always made BAS so fun,” said freshman social work major, Ella Meyer, one of Florence’s former mentees. “I’m glad he’s getting the fame he deserves on Yikyak.”
By the beginning of this semester, many students on Bluffton’s campus were on board with contributing to the Yik Yak posts. Florence said he had people he didn’t know approaching him, some even asking for an autograph.
“It was, I think, a Wednesday night before break,” said Florence. “I was in a group doing some homework with some people and I went back to my room and my roommate Colby was on Yik Yak and he told me there was a lot of posts about me.”
Colby Schlabach, a sophomore math major, was in the heat of the Bishop Yik Yak posting, not just scrolling but also contributing to the posts, claiming they were “hilarious” and “amazing.”
Florence described that over the next night the entirety of Yik Yak consisted of posts about him, and even after the first 24 hour period the posts about him continued, stretching into the second semester.
“It was so surreal,” said Florence. “I would never expect anything like that. I’m not really an outgoing person.”
Yik Yak post featuring Florence. Photo by Aspyn Rafac.
The posts about Florence ranged from merely uplifting to what some may consider flat-out bizarre.
“Guys Bishop invented sliced bread,” one Yik Yak-er posted.
“Will there be a Bishop tribute at finals breakfast?” another asked.
Yikyak post featuring Florence. Photo by Aspyn Rafac.
Some posts even consisted of only the word “Bishop,” pulling a minimum of five upvotes or “likes.”
Florence’s peers said they were amazed when they noticed his Yik Yak popularity. Basil Gates, a sophomore art and writing major who has known Florence since being taking BAS together their freshman year, had this to say upon observing his Yik Yak popularity.
“I saw that [the posts], and I was like wow I know that guy,” said Gates.
Although the posts about Florence might seem like a fun pastime to some, the posts have made a substantial impact on his personal life.
“Random people who I never thought I’d talk to come talk to me who I don’t even know their name,” said Florence. “It’s just so strange. I guess it makes me be more social because people know my name and, you know, if people see me walk into Marbeck they’ll know my name and it’s all because of Yik Yak.”
Using this platform for encouragement is awesome. Unfortunately this platform is also used in ways inconsistent with Bluffton’s values of respect toward other individuals. A platform that requires one to sign off on who is saying it, like this comment on the Wit platform, would be more in keeping with our Bluffton values and just overall values of decency.