Over the past few months, an anonymous Instagram account called “Real CRLS Gossip” has gained traction in CRLS student feeds. The account has a link to a Google Form in its description, which students can click to send in gossip; then, the account posts these updates for their followers to see. There have been numerous school gossip accounts over the years spreading false rumors and misinformation, and at first glance, “Real CRLS Gossip” seems like another one of these accounts. However, while there are plenty of false posts, the account has also become a place for students to express their love and gratitude, creating a warm online community.
The account has many posts centered around student relationships. These posts often involve the dramatic side of high school dating, but this isn’t always the case; “Real CRLS Gossip” has also posted quite a few endearing relationship submissions completely unrelated to any drama or conflict. On October 4th, the account posted a submission that read, “I love my boyfriend, he’s the sweetest.” This post was well received, earning nearly 40 likes. That same week, the account manager announced a “cute little submission of the day,” posting, “I have no gossip, I just miss my man.” The post received almost as many likes as the previous one. High levels of peer engagement on these sorts of posts show how emotionally connected CRLS students are with one another.
“Real CRLS Gossip” has also become a place for students to share their positive feelings towards our school. On November 19th, the account posted a submission praising a particular computer science teacher: “Dr Wu is the best teacher at our entire school!” The account manager agreed with this, writing, “Yes he is, I love him!” in the caption. Two days later, the account posted the submission, “Why do we all love the school lunch? Like, it shouldn’t be that good, right?” This post received 53 likes and had several comments affirming the sentiment. There have also been posts from students praising one another, with one from September 26th reading, “All of you guys are so beautiful, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise!” Submissions like these help create a more positive community outlook on CRLS.
“Real CRLS Gossip” has become a surprising source of warmth and positivity in the CRLS online community. It serves as a great opportunity for students to share their feelings with one another and to praise our school as an establishment. Although it does occasionally post incredulous rumors, unlike past gossip accounts, it features more wholesome posts, creating a friendly atmosphere that brings the CRLS community together. As for who manages this account, we may never know. This person has carefully covered their tracks, leaving no evidence of their true identity. So keep your eyes and ears open, for they might be amongst you at this very moment!
