For many years, schools have created student-run accounts to represent their programs, such as sports, ASB, and club accounts. Although a different kind of account has been started across the country with different high schools and colleges. The “Barstool” type accounts have been starting to gain popularity as student run accounts meant to promote sporting events or show off videos sent in by other students. The accounts are usually run anonymously by students with most accounts having a description of not being affiliated with the school they are representing. But where do these accounts come from? 

In 2003, a blog was started as a weekly print in Boston, Massachusetts that was, at first, used to show off fantasy sports projections and gambling advertisements but would later move onto an online forum in 2007 and would start to talk about different topics such as lifestyles as well. Less focused on the profit, headlines, and clickbait, Barstool focused more on the brand that continued to grow. The website continues to run and produce content about sports and commentary, but students had other ideas for the brand.  

Started by colleges and universities, “Barstool” accounts became a way to post videos and pictures sent in by students, making relatable content for students, often including people or things that are associated with the school. This trend would eventually make its way into high schools, with accounts used to promote sporting events and popularize people, focusing on basketball and football. “Last year GP had a short-lasted Barstool run, and it was a lot of fun when it lasted, so I wanted to start a new one this year and it gained a lot of popularity from our school and others as well,” the anonymous account runner said. 

One thing Barstool accounts consider is who they support. With many other accounts supporting nearby schools, for example, Glacier Peak’s basketball team went head-to-head with Jackson’s team for the second time this season. Schools such as Everett High School and Cascade High School support the Glacier Peak team on their Barstool accounts. “I love it because we have a little alliance between us, they think the same as us. We love our Everett and Cascade fellas,” the account runner said.