Smartphone apps like Trivia Crack and Yik Yak are taking the college world by storm, and it’s not just at Castleton.  

I’ve talked to some college friends from the University of Vermont, Providence College and SUNY Plattsburgh, and they are all actively using these apps.

Then I talked to friends still in high school and they have no idea what I’m talking about when I refer to these apps. Currently, Trivia Crack is the most popular free app in the app store. It shocks me that it’s mainly the college communities making this app so popular.

What is Trivia Crack?

Well, for those of you who don’t know, it’s a game you can play against your friends answering trivia questions in various categories such as entertainment, science, or history.

There are pros and cons to every form of entertainment, whether that be television, radio or game apps. But other than the fact that we are playing it so religiously that it can become more important than other life priorities, Trivia Crack has no other cons in my opinion.

For college kids, or anyone in school, we know how hard it is to sit down and learn something in classes all day. If we can learn something while having fun, why don’t we?

This is why Trivia Crack is the number one game. Not only is it fun and competitive, but we are gaining knowledge without even realizing it. The fact that college kids are taking advantage of this app is amazing. Seeing that we are getting attached to something that helps us become better students just goes to show how far we have come as a generation of students.

Yik Yak on the other hand, although funny, can be very destructive, and also pointless. Nevertheless, there are pros and cons to everything. This means that even Yik Yak can be useful for college students. I’ve seen many Yaks about students asking where Soundings events are, or whether or not campus is closed.

It is being used as a positive way of getting information that is beneficial to many students, but that is only by a handful of students.

Most of the Yaks are complaints or destructive comments.

I won’t deny that there are definitely some funny comments.

I recently saw one that really made me laugh: “Making my way to class, walking fast, haulin’ ass, ‘cause it’s cold out!”

As a fan of the Vanessa Carlton song, “A Thousand Miles,” you can see why I got a kick out of that one.

Yik Yak is generally a place for people to complain anonymously, attack people anonymously and judge people anonymously.

It is easy for someone to comment about someone else when there is no way to find out who it is. Those attacking comments on this app are unacceptable and cowardice. Also, it seems like many guys and girls think Yik Yak is a fun place to comment on the opposite sex.

I’ve seen Yak’s that say things like, “That girl wearing the red dress and boots in my bio class, you are gorgeous.”   

Did it ever occur to you guys that it might be more rewarding to get a response or a thank you from that person, instead of an up vote on an app? That’s a real compliment, and real conversation.

Technology is practically taking control of our lives, but we can choose whether it can be for the good or the bad.