In this digital age, the concept of anonymity on the internet has allowed users to thrive. The facelessness of these platforms creates a safety net, allowing account owners to avoid repercussions for their actions. In particular, accounts such as UAHS Almost Friday and Barstool UA have taken Upper Arlington High School students by storm. As a student, I feel captivated every time I see a new post on my Instagram feed and always find the content to be amusing. From the weekly Thursday posts on Almost Friday to the memes bashing other schools on Barstool, these accounts always provide relatable, humorous content that fuels conversations around UAHS.
Barstool UA first began posting content on Nov. 4, 2021. Accumulating around 1,970 followers, Barstool regularly posts content supporting UA sports teams and memes criticizing other schools. UAHS Almost Friday’s first post was published on May 14, 2022. Now, the account has over 2000 followers and content is released every Thursday. Posts consist of pictures and videos of UA students with the words “Almost Friday” stamped across them.
Both Barstool UA and UAHS Almost Friday are following in the footsteps of larger accounts that have influenced social media tremendously, such as Barstool Sports. The Barstool Sports account was created 20 years ago by David Portney, acting as a free print publication for gambling ads and fantasy sports projections. Now, it is now one of the most influential sports brands on the internet. The popularity and fondness of the account has allowed it to amass over 17 million followers on Instagram.
Likewise, the original Almost Friday account was created in 2019 by Max and Jack Barrett. Now a media platform, company, and lifestyle brand, the account originated as a comedy Instagram account. Currently, Almost Friday has around 521,000 followers and posts content regularly to keep up with the demand of fans.
Barstool UA and UAHS Almost Friday are centered around the concept of humor. They flourish off of the conversations students have surrounding their posts and the content that is adequately sent in. After every new post is uploaded, I’ve always found myself talking with my friends about the comical aspect of each post, who was featured, and what images to send in next. While walking in the hallway, I’ve also heard bits and pieces of conversations rattling on about the newest Barstool or Almost Friday post.
Although these accounts serve as humorous entertainment to be passed around the lunch table, they occasionally cause more negative discourse than they cause good. Multiple instances involving UA students, specifically on UAHS Almost Friday, have led to the removal of content. The widespread opinion amongst students is that these posts are funny until you are affected by them. Some pictures uploaded on these accounts do not bother students. However, occasionally posts will contain images that students never want to circulate on the internet.
As a UA student, I have firsthand experience of the unease acquainted with an image being posted that was not meant for the entire internet to see. To some, posts may be seen as funny, but to others, they could cause harm due to the lack of accountability correlated with these accounts.
However, the harm caused by these accounts can easily be limited through communication. If students wish to have a picture taken down, they have the ability to reach out to these profiles and request for a removal. This approach allows students to truly be in control when it comes to specific content.
Nevertheless, the question that remains is: who are the students that run these accounts? This inquiry has popped into my mind multiple times. I’ve found myself wondering this at school when passing my peers in the hallways and even at football games while surrounded by my classmates. Despite the desire to know who the face is behind the screen, the obscurity surrounding these accounts is truly what makes them different. Without the invisibility that these accounts provide, I doubt the content posted would be the same. The parachute that a hidden identity provides allows these owners to post content without fear of backlash. It is truly the aspect of remaining anonymous that has allowed them to continue to thrive.
Nonetheless, both Barstool UA and UAHS Almost Friday are cherished accounts that students continue to follow constantly. The sporadic Barstool uploads combined with the weekly Almost Friday content allow for conversations to be sparked with students across the school. Whether the posts include a compilation of random pictures or funny memes, the content is sure to get students talking.
