Also this week, a couple of college students were arrested on suspicion of making threats to black college students at the University of Missouri, the site of racial tensions and protests.
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Further information will be released later on Friday, Donovan said.
Neither of the men were found on the main campus, but have been taken into custody. But the app, built by two college roommates and fraternity brothers in 2013, started on the campus of Furman University and expanded by specifically targeting college campuses.
In September, MI Tech Police turned to Facebook to dispel rumors after Yik Yak users attempted to “troll the freshmen” with statements about random drug searches.
Since then, Yik Yak has cooperated to help obtain information about the post and they have increased police presence on campus. She cites other positive effects Yik Yak has had on campuses, including an incident where a student posted suicidal thoughts and was quickly talked off the ledge by other Yakkers.
On Yik Yak, those sentiments were echoed in an emotional, and anonymous, conversation about protests and fear.
More than 60 students and activists have marched through the Wright State University campus in southwest OH, squeezing into administrative offices and demanding that the president meet with them to discuss rights for black students.
A few schools have successfully banned the app from being accessed through their wi-fi networks.
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Granneman pointed out one of the features of the Yik Yak is that you only see the posts of people who are geographically close to you. Deputy Tony Moore, who works the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s electronic communications triage unit, said his group has dealt with Yik Yak on only one occasion but “it was an exigent circumstance and they responded accordingly”. Authorities also sent out email bulletins to students, staff, and faculty members. Officials are following up to investigate the threats and working with other law enforcement agencies as needed. About 1.1 per cent of them are black, Donovan said.
