Group Pressures Colleges to Ban ‘Yik-Yak’ App on Student Cell Phones

A coalition of more than 70 activist groups has asked the Department of Education to ban the cell phone app Yik-Yak from college campuses.  The social media app allows users to post thoughts, shares and reviews from their cell phones concerning just about any topic including comments about individuals.  The app protects the user but does not prevent the identity of others from being posted.

The coalition claims racist and sexist content is being posted on the site and that schools have a requirement to at the very least, regulate its usage because of Federal laws under Title IX and Title VI.  A letter was send to Secretary of Education Arne Duncan requesting immediate action.

"I can't think of a legal basis to ban such an app," said Attorney Joe Hobika of the Hobika Law Firm.  He added that it's unclear what ability schools would have to regulate or ban usage of the app considering the fact that the app is not sponsored or affiliated with the school and it lives on students private cell phones.

Here's more info about the app: