Rest in peace Sheffield Yik Yak

Turn the clock back a year, and everyone who was anyone on campus had Yik Yak. We were kept entertained for hours on end reading the sweet nothings of our fellow students. A constant stream of gossip, jokes and people genuinely seeking advice (and getting it slapped back in their face, poor sods) just made the hours of procrastination that much easier.

The glory days

Only the true lovers of Sheffield Yik Yak will recall the glory days. The constant stream of people yakking about the IC gave deadline season something worth hanging on to. The tale of how torch built up the courage to speak to his library girlfriend rivalled Love Actually. And who remembers that rumour of the International student who pooed themselves on level three?

The hot list in all its glory

Fast forward to summer, and Yik Yak was encumbered with wannabee photographers who actually woke up early for their exams. In the darkest of our exam-laden days, we had an epidemic of Wallace and Gromit memes. In the gruesome 9 a.m. lectures, we had a play-by-play of the hungover soul at the front (apparently about to chunder in the pews of St. George’s). It was impossible to predict what would be the next big thing – lord knows the Pingu memes tried – but the not knowing kept us on our toes.

Comedy gold

Yik Yak’s demise

Though difficult to pinpoint, the demise of Yik Yak can be almost directly blamed on the introduction of handles. Removing the anonymity of Yakkers rendered the app a confused mess – how could you gossip about your flatmates when they know your handle? How could you comment on the ‘gorgeous blonde in a red dress in the IC’ without fear she might recognise who you are?

The introduction of handles, followed by everyone going home for the summer, rendered the Sheffield Yak game officially dead. Just one look at the current hot list is enough to mourn the ghost of Yik Yak past.

This was genuinely the top Yak

Although you may resent the fact first years don’t have to go through this despair, we must not forget the innumerable laughs that our fellow students gave us. Rest in peace Sheffield Yik Yak, will there ever be an app as good?