3 Things Tech Founders Can Learn From a Controversial App’s Rise and Fall, One Year After its Relaunch.

In 2017 the anonymous social media app, Yik Yak was shut down after becoming known as a vehicle for sexual harassment, racism, bullying, and physical threats among teens and college students.

It’s been one year since it was relaunched under new (and slightly mysterious) ownership.

How is the app different now and what lessons can founders in tech learn to ensure history doesn’t repeat itself?

First, the company’s backstory.

Yik Yak is a mobile app that has a cute and fluffy yak as its icon. The brand is the color of mint Tic Tacs and their tagline boasts that you can “Find your herd. Anonymously connect with everyone within 5 miles”.

I want to find my kids to find their herds. Don’t you wish the same for yours?

The app was launched in 2013 by two 23-year-old fraternity brothers, Tyler Droll and Brooks Buffington. During its peak in 2014, it had over 200 million teen and young college users nationwide.

Droll and Buffington stated, “Anonymity levels the playing field. It gives people a blank slate to work from, effectively removing all preconceptions about them.”