Another social networking site is born.

Likealittle.com is the newest form of communicating online, purely designed for flirting. Only this site is different because it allows users to hide behind pseudonyms that are given to them, usually a type of fruit.

Simple format for posting on site

It’s as simple as logging on, typing in the gender, hair color, location, flirt, and clicking.

“At Biola: Male, Blonde,” a posting on the site reads. “Your luscious golden locks send my heart turning every time you turn my way. Your ocean blue eyes dance every time they glance into mine.”

According to the website, Like a Little was originally meant to be a place where college students could anonymously flirt with one another. There is no allowance for bullying, sexist, or negative messages, and users are encouraged to report them. Like a Little founder Evan Reas wrote on the website, “Like a little, was created all in good fun… Let’s keep it fun, flirty, and complimentary.”

Student development and AS teaming up to respond

“Biola’s Administration is aware of the website and student development services is working with Associated Students to figure out how to respond to this in a more developmental way,” said Jenna Bartlo, Biola’s media relations coordinator.

A message on MyBiola was posted on Tuesday about Biola’s response to the website. John W. Black, dean of student development, said in the message that Biola’s Like a Little page will not be blocked. Instead, Biola is taking this opportunity to “prepare students for how to respond to other similar sites in the future,” the message read.

“Our hope is that, when people who don’t know us come across this site, they would leave with a very clear impression that we love Christ, that we love each other, and there is evidence that we are indeed being equipped in mind and character to impact the world for Jesus Christ,” Black wrote in the message.

Biolans encouraged to reflect Biblical character

The message includes thoughts on how to communicate in a way that reflects Biblical principles, how to think appropriately, and challenges students to practice self-control on sites like these.

The message also includes suggestions that encourage students to hold each other accountable, not to use inappropriate language, use humor that is uplifting, and to remember that people from off campus are reading these comments as well and they will be making judgments about Biola’s character.

Site moderated by fellow students

The message states that the student-moderators of the site will be checking it, making sure that it stays clean.

Many students, like freshman Aaron Smith agree with the school’s decision to keep the site up and leave it to students to practice self-control.

“It should be people’s responsibility to take care of themselves, but they should also be aware of what they’re getting in to,” Smith said.

Smith heard of the site from his friend who attends University of La Crosse in Wisconsin, whose college also has a Like a Little page. Smith stated that his friend’s school seemed to be using the site for what it was originally intended for in comparison to Biola’s students use of it.

“This problem is reflective of Biola’s issue with unity,” Smith said.

“I don’t think this site is a good representation of the students here,” sophomore Rachel Fredericks said.

Like a Little founded to “connect the unconnected”

Likealittle.com is the brainchild of Reas, who graduated from Stanford’s School of Business in 2009. Reas created the site to help people communicate with people around them. Reas worked closely with Prasanna Sankaranarayanan and Shubham Mittal, who shared the vision of creating another social networking site to “connect the unconnected.”

“I think most people find dating difficult,” Reas said. “I know I have trouble finding out whether a girl is interested or not.”

The site is targeted toward college campuses, and many Biola students were eager to participate in the action.

Biola sophomore Landon Maslyn recently created Biola’s Like a Little page.

What was intended to be a place that allows people to harmlessly flirt with others; however, certain Biola students, who are users of the site, have used to publicly post sexual innuendos.

Biola’s posts reflect lust

Over the last few weeks, Biola’s Like a Little page has gotten progressively worse, according to several students.

“I don’t think students use this site for what it was intended for,” said sophomore Rekah Kagawan. “I think it promotes lust and it’s not what Biola students should be focusing on.”

A user recently posted their disapproval with some of the things that students from Emerson Hall had been posting earlier in the week.

“At Emerson: Male, Blonde,” a post read. “All the guys at Emerson need to check their hearts…you should be ashamed.”

Some users of the site are now expressing their regret and remorse for previous posts.

“Female, Blonde,” another anonymous user posted. “To all of you on here. I now come to see that I’ve made mistakes on this site, mistakes I could have prevented if my head and heart were in the right place. As such, I ask for the forgiveness of all of you and I ask that you please pray for me in my struggles. I am sorry for what I’ve done and I myself pray that I never find my way here again.”

“I’m surprised to find out that there are so many people that are so shallow,” Smith said. “I would expect more out of students here.”