Peek Inside College Life: Digital Diaries Go Viral as Influencers Illuminate Campus Realities
As the seasons transition, the familiar sight of SUVs and U-Hauls loaded with the belongings of hopeful college students returns. The aisles of Target are left bare, stripped of dorm room essentials, as parents prepare to bid teary-eyed farewells to their young scholars embarking on the journey of higher education. Yet, in this modern age, as the traditional aspects of college move-in persist, there’s a novel twist brought by Generation Z. These incoming college students are turning to a new breed of guides for their preparations – social media content creators – seeking advice that spans from harmonious cohabitation with roommates to the art of avoiding academic stumbles.
While college orientations remain the bedrock of logistical information, there’s a new layer of guidance offered by the digital realm. YouTube has become a stage for content creators, often college students themselves, to chronicle their experiences across campuses nationwide. Their collective stories have garnered millions of views, granting young adults and teens a coveted glimpse into the rhythm of college life – a window into the daily happenings beyond mere pamphlets and brochures.
But these content creators offer more than mere packing lists; they illuminate facets of the college journey that might otherwise remain concealed. These college influencers, a new breed of social media personalities, are modern storytellers who capture the essence of higher education in its entirety. They create a bridge between aspiration and reality, between uncertainty and a reassuring sense of shared experience.
A Genre Blossoms: College Influencers and Their Digital Diaries
Within the expansive tapestry of social media, college-related content occupies a thriving niche, particularly on YouTube. The digital realm is rife with over 800,000 videos bearing the tag #college, and an even larger number flaunting labels like #dorm, #backtoschool, and #movein. A multitude of content creators, most of them current college students, embark on a journey of vlogging common experiences: moving into dorms, braving the first day of classes, or advising their followers on dorm essentials through “haul” videos. They offer sartorial counsel, guiding the sartorially curious on the appropriate attire for various college outings. Moreover, they address the cerebral challenges, imparting wisdom on navigating academic stress.
Mia Aston, a rising junior at New York University, recalls her high school days spent avidly watching college videos on YouTube. NYU was her dream, and she yearned for a tangible peek into the day-to-day cadence of campus life. The vignettes that etched themselves into her memory were those depicting move-in days, dormitory tours, and week-in-the-life snapshots. These immersive narratives delineated the living conditions, room arrangements, and even the socio-academic milieu she might encounter at NYU.
Though she initially devoured the available content, she found herself eventually exhausting the resources. Thus, when she donned the mantle of a college student herself, she committed to regularly posting her own experiences on YouTube. Aston’s content creation process is meticulous; she meticulously plans her filming days, deciding what moments to capture, and then weaves them into cohesive narratives. Her camera becomes a silent companion, whether she’s settling into her dorm room or embarking on a night of revelry with friends. The footage captured in these unscripted moments is later meticulously edited and shared with the world, all while juggling the rigors of coursework.
Audrey Atienza, a senior at the University of Texas at Austin, gravitates toward YouTube as her platform of choice for college-centric content. She finds solace in the platform’s extended video formats, offering a canvas where in-depth explanations can flourish. For her, the allure lies in being able to intimately converse with her audience through the camera’s lens, allowing her to provide comprehensive insights into the tapestry of college life.
The Roots of Motivation: Content Creation and Its Drivers
While some content creators amass legions of followers – numbering in the thousands, or even millions – through their college-related content, the driving forces behind their forays into content creation can be diverse. Jae Ahn, a senior at Brown University, embarked on his YouTube journey two years ago, fueled by his passion for videography. His channel metamorphosed into a digital diary, a window into his life that anyone can peer through. The initial impetus was to capture his college years in a timeless archive, a trove of memories to revisit in later years. Ahn envisioned it as a medium to relive the nuanced tapestry of his college life, whether for personal nostalgia or to share with potential offspring.
Lexi Poole, a recent graduate of Lehigh University who now resides in Atlanta, Georgia, followed a trajectory from college-related content to a series aptly dubbed the “Postgrad Diaries.” This series emerges as a beacon of guidance for fresh graduates navigating the uncharted seas of post-college existence. Having experienced firsthand the trepidation that often accompanies the transition to college life, Poole felt an unspoken responsibility. She sought to embody not just an entertainer, but a relatable figure, someone to whom her followers could relate and draw solace from.
The transition from home to college can be a daunting ordeal for many, as they grapple with newfound independence and separation from familiar surroundings. Poole recognizes this emotional turbulence and underscores the power of representation in easing such transitions. Her platform extends its reach beyond mere entertainment, offering a nuanced lens through which followers can observe pivotal junctures in their lives, be it the summer before entering college, navigating middle school, or struggling through the tumult of college life.
As Poole ventured into her junior year, first-year students approached her with heartfelt expressions of gratitude. She served as a beacon of inspiration, motivating them to seek admission to Lehigh University. Some admitted candidly, “I’m here because of you!” Such a profound impact resonates with Poole daily, a testament to the authenticity and resonance of her content.
Transparency, Authenticity, and Shared Advice
While universities furnish prospective and admitted students with a suite of resources, encompassing campus tours and admissions sessions, current students possess an unparalleled perspective. Their firsthand experiences, unfiltered by official narratives, offer a glimpse into the unscripted reality of collegiate existence. Lexi Vee, an attendee of an HBCU in Alabama, elucidates the appeal of her content, which she defines as “realistic.” Her audience resonates with the authenticity she embodies, mirroring their own journey of self-discovery. As they grapple with their evolving identities, her content serves as a beacon of relatability.
For Jae Ahn, an ardent advocate of mental health awareness, his platform is a bastion of openness about stress and mental health-related struggles. The transition to college often engenders an expectation to embody the archetype of the perpetually cheerful and engaged student. Ahn counters this narrative, sharing his personal tribulations online. Through his stories, he seeks not only to foster empathy but to form a network of shared understanding, one that envelops both triumphs and tribulations.
This transparency extends to their experiences beyond the classroom. Lexi Poole, for instance, confronts the topic of racism head-on in her content. Lehigh University, predominantly white, becomes the backdrop for her candid explorations. Poole believes that such a dialogue adds immeasurable value to her platform, offering viewers a nuanced perspective of life as a Black woman in a predominantly white institution. Her vulnerability paves the way for shared connections, as viewers acknowledge shared experiences or perspectives.
