Mira Costa High School Closed Due to Yik Yak Threat
Mira Costa High School in Manhattan Beach was closed Tuesday due to threats posted on Yik Yak, police aid.
Yik Yak is a social media app available for Apple and Android phone that allows users to post anonymously. Yakkers can see each other’s posts within a mile and a half radius.
A message saying, “If you go to Costa, you should watch out very closely at school today” caused the high school to go on lockdown Monday. The Manhattan Beach police are investigating the message.
Yik Yak has been criticized for allowing students to post negative, threatening statements in the past.
Tuesday a second message was Yakked saying, “Nice try costa, today was just a drill.”
Following the incident, the principal said the school’s biggest concern is the safety of the students. Because of the multiple threats, they decided to cancel classes.
Similar threats have been posted around the country causing schools to go on lockdown. In March, San Clemente High School went on lockdown after a bomb threat was made on Yik Yak.
In a news release, one of the co-founders of Yik Yak responded, “We created Yik Yak to give college students a private platform for communicating with their entire campus. Yakkers have used the app to find a place to crash, report lost and found items, and alert other students about deals at nearby bars.”
Officials will make an announcement at 8:30 p.m. on whether or not the school will remain closed on Wednesday, according to CNS.
Here's a look at some of the most common factors behind school bomb threats in the U.S. Secret Service and the U.S. Department of Justice.
