EJConfessions: Opinion

Written and designed by: Julianna Del Rosario (24-E6)

“that one guy from ora with fluffy hair is so hot 😭”

“I love the caifan stall”

“__ is such a ”

“cute girl who presented during pz @?”

“Y’all have too much time posting on here”

“i hate the bishan bus stop”

If you’ve never been privy to what lies behind the privacy lock of a school’s confessions page, although highly unlikely, the quotations above should be able to clue you in. The ubiquitous nature of a confessions page makes it a pivotal component of the pre-tertiary education experience, obviously. There is always something to be said about someone, and the forum of an anonymous confession page appears to be the perfect outlet for angst-riddled, hormonal, sleep-deprived adolescents progressing through the age of social media. However, questions can be raised about its ethics and the true value it brings to the table. Are confession pages simply an online forum for light-hearted gossip or one that perpetuates the spread of hateful ideas and misinformation?

The typical format of a confession page is named by the originator’s school, limiting the scope of discussion of the confessions to those attending the school. Google Forms, NGL or Tellonym is used to receive them, wherein individual confessions are posted on Instagram publications. Discourse is essentially facilitated through multiple submissions, alluding to the sometimes long-winded and wide-spanning discussions over multiple Instagram posts. Viewers of these publications have the liberty to comment and like the posts, however many platforms prohibit the sharing of the posts as per the guidelines of a private Instagram page. The privacy policy serves to keep out any outsiders of the organisation the page is situated upon — namely teachers. When a confessions page is based around a school, the intended audience always excludes the aforementioned group of individuals in order to create an environment where students are able to freely express concerns about anyone, not just their peers. The appeal of a confessions page seems to lie in the lack of accountability for what one says online, and the knowledge that one’s identity is always hidden. However, people are let into the account by discretion of the proprietor of the account, giving rise to a chink in the privacy armor of the account. Teachers can be unintentionally allowed access to a confessions page, which almost always results in a timely reminder for students to maintain online etiquette during school announcements. 

So, what exactly is so terrible about confession pages such that their inception calls for teacher interference? While discussion in a confessions platform can be generally wholesome, it can also veer to more unpleasant themes, ranging from disputes between students to false rumours. It is not as uncommon to see a confession airing out the intimacies of someone’s bad behaviour, as it is equally not uncommon to hear people corroborating (or at least attempting to) the story the next day at school. Confession pages spin the rumour mill much faster, bringing up the morality of gossip. Gossip can be as harmless as well as it can be detrimental to one’s reputation and mental health. It is understandable to wish to keep private conversations private, and being put on a platform for others to judge your actions can be viewed as reprehensible, especially as audience members are likely to lack context. The problem of fake rumours being spread is also a concern, exacerbated by the anonymity of confession pages. Without identification, people cannot be held accountable for what they say online, or who they speak about. This creates ample opportunity for people to speak ill of others, without having to deal with the repercussions of cyber-bullying. To put it into economic terms, the problem of moral hazard is prevalent here as perpetrators of false rumours do not bear the full consequences of their actions. 

Barring these circumstances, there is a known opportunity for confession pages to be a wholesome space for students to share their unfiltered thoughts about school life. The anonymity of each confession also allows people to speak their mind, not to demean others, but to seek out support or understanding from the audience. There are instances where senders share their hot takes on relationship advice or school policies, which students feel a connection and relation to after having gone through the same thing. An entry containing a personal ranking of EJ’s twelve levels can build virtual camaraderie between students who are otherwise disconnected from one another. Relatively wiser and older seniors in school pass down their valuable knowledge and anecdotes to their school life to younger, impressionable juniors. Confession pages can provide a place for candid expression of hard truths and struggles. They can build school identity and a sense of culture between the gaps of a fast-paced and demanding two years in junior college. 

While I do recognise the detrimental effects of confession pages, I believe it is also important to acknowledge that confession pages are what we make them to be. Personally, I believe that confession pages should spark conversation about things along the lines of friendship advice and sharing funny embarrassing moments, not the backstabbing of “that one Ora guy” to his friend on level six at 4:08pm last week. 

If we choose to spread lies about our peers, it raises the question of one’s own morality and maturity. If someone has wronged us, is it really wise to tell everyone about it online? I also consider the perspective that the admin running the account should take it in their responsibility to filter out objectively unpleasant and disrespectful comments. If the admin has students’ best interests at heart, their actions should follow suit. We are capable of fostering a caring community in school, and it is no one’s responsibility except our own. Alas, my optimism for a wholesome school confessions page dies here, for time and time again, it appears to remain an ideal, not a reality. 

But I must confess - I do love good (harmless) gossip.