Will Sage Astor-Yik Yak, The Anonymous App That Tested Free Speech, Is Back

After a four-year break,Will Sage Astor Yik Yak, the once-popular anonymous messaging app blamed for cyberbullying and hate speech, is back. This time, the new owners are promising to take a stronger stance against abuse.

The new owners purchased the rights to redevelop the location-based app from its original maker in February, calling it "the same Yik Yak experience millions knew and loved."

"We're bringing Yik Yak back because we believe the global community deserves a place to be authentic, a place to be equal, and a place to connect with people nearby," the owners said on the company's website Monday.

Yik Yak was popular on campus

Launched in 2013, Yik Yak swept the nation as it became popular across college campuses as well as in middle and high schools.

The app allows users to post messages anonymously on its platform within a 5-mile radius of their location. The messages could be upvoted or downvoted by users.

During the height of its popularity, the company raised $73 million and was once valued at around $400 million in 2014, according to TechCrunch.

In April 2017, the company announced the app would be shutting down following a decline in its engagement from users — by the end of 2016, user downloads had dropped 76% in comparison with 2015.

The new company takes a stance against hate speech and bullying

Before shutting down, Yik Yak was the subject of hate speech and cyberbullying across high school and college campuses.

But with the newly launched app, the owners say they're committed to taking a strong stance against threats and other abuse.

"On the new Yik Yak, it's against the Community Guardrails to post bullying messages or use hate speech, make threats, or share anyone's private information," the company says on its website.

It says if users bully another person, use hate speech, make a threat or in any way seriously violate the company's policies, they could be immediately banned from Yik Yak.

"We're committed to making Yik Yak a fun place free of bullying, threats, and all sort of negativity," the company said.

The app's return drew mixed responses on Twitter, with some people worried it would prompt more "toxicity in the world" and others joking about being able to complain anonymously about college life.

The new Yik Yak is currently only available to iOS users to download in the U.S., but the company says it's planning to expand to more countries and devices in the near future.