Students React to BSU Snapchat and YikYak
Two social media applications that have proven integral in keeping college students connected are Snapchat and YikYak. Once enrolled at BSU, students can add their school email to Snapchat and post freely on the joint class story. Since no admin is observing the story and it’s an unofficial BSU social media, students have free reign over what they post. The difference between each class at BSU varies vastly.
By far the most active is the 2027 story with at least 20 posts per day. The 2027 story ranges vastly, anywhere from posting concert clips, promoting their business, or disgusting pictures from dorm life. There is constantly some kind of back-and-forth argument between the freshmen over something someone else posted. “I find that there’s a lot of unnecessary bullying in the 2027 Snapchat story. But honestly, it’s kinda ‘slay the house down boots’.” Yaslee Dube, a BSU freshman, said. Dube went on to explain how there’s usually a person each week who will post something that others will continue to react to.
After speaking to multiple students, many agreed that the posts are usually made by the same users and most refrain from posting on it. “The stories are very entertaining. I would never post on the stories, I would much rather view them”, stated freshman Lily Picchioni. “People get bullied for posting literally anything on that story.”
Part of the social media culture at BSU also involves the app Yik Yak. Yik Yak is an app that allows students to autonomously post written comments and reply to others in organized groups. Bridgewater State students will often post in the BSU YikYak page to state their opinions on the school or ongoing things related to the school.
The posts on Yik Yak range vastly, anywhere from genuine questions, complaining about dorms/classes, and discussions on posts from the school’s Snapchat stories. Due to the app’s autonomous nature, just about anything goes. Many would say that people don’t have much of a filter on the app.
Through Snapchat and Yik Yak, students can freely express themselves without too much admin interference. Many are entertained by the wild posts made but tend to keep out of it.
