“Damnit bro,” lamented Instagram user @natan1bo1. User @Totallynotsophle joined in, commenting, “Are we serious?” One would probably guess that these are comments between joking friends, however they are actually a part of a broader, generational trend. These comments were posted under our district’s own @lmschools Instagram account to protest reopening our building after two virtual ‘snow’ days.
Online protesting has come to the forefront more in recent years than ever. Incorporated in countless different facets, such as @kamalahq, a platform dedicated to Harris’ campaign agenda during the 2024 election cycle. In all of the posts on these accounts, comment sections are inundated with supporters making funny remarks regarding the content of the uploads alongside memes that often poke fun at a certain topic. However, protesting is very prevalent and accessible in comment sections. Whether the medium of protesting is a meme, a quick blurb, or even a longer, more coherent paragraph, each serves the same purpose: speaking up.
The beloved democratic liberty of protesting is exercised frequently by LM students, despite the often satirical undertones. Take a gander at the take a gander at the@lmschools Instagram post announcing a virtual school day on the night before a large, anticipated snowstorm. I guarantee you will see a comment section celebrating the long-sought-after announcement with statements similar to user @bonn.leee’s message, “dawg i love you.” On another post with a similar virtual day announcement, user @penelope.mast commented, “Boys we did it,” in celebration of their “snow day” that students across all ages covet so preciously. When asked about her comments on the page and what her activism means to her, Penelope Mastialgo ’27 stated, “It’s mostly a joke, but it’s also kind of a tradition. So many people check the comments and laugh at them, so it feels like you are a part of something bigger.” This humor, shared across all grades, creates a social community where students can collectively react and celebrate.
However, the comment sections are not always positive reinforcement. In many instances—both on Sundays before virtual day school day announcements and under posts stating when the building will reopen—students responded with apprehension. One upset user, @cou1t3r, posted “monday too i heard” under a Sunday building closure post in an effort to make his voice heard for an additional day he wouldn’t have to enter school. “No, I don’t really think it changes anything, but I enjoy being on my phone and having my friends hear my opinions,” Coulter Seidell ’26, the owner of the commenting account proudly attested when asked if he believed his efforts made an impact. For many students, the comment section is less about altering school policy and more about participating in a shared online ritual, where opinions are shared quickly and community is built through collective excitement.
Others, likely parents and guardians, were excited about the announcement our building would be reopened. One enthusiastic LM parent, user @peterhslutsky, asked, “Can we drop them off now? 12 hours early???” His lighthearted response highlights how the same announcement can spark entirely different reactions depending on the audience. In just one comment section, a combination of frustration and relief transformed a simple weather update into a snapshot of community joy and connection—something that has felt increasingly harder to find post-Covid.
Although it is commonly acknowledged that little change is derived from these quick, humorous comments, we can still realize that they are the inkling of a larger, more generational trend that encourages the community to voice their dismay with decisions. It creates the idea that no matter whether it be deemed a joke or not, it isn’t powerless and won’t go unacknowledged. Comments are an incredibly effective way of alerting your fellow peers of a situation and publishing your own solution. So, next time you get a laugh when scrolling through the comments our peers are posting, remember that they are fighting for something they care about, a vital liberty everyone should have.
