FEATURE
The Failing Falcon Student Insta account finds audience with humor Written by Rachel Studer & Kaleigh Heffernan
6
RED&BLACK / Spring 2022
F
ailing Falcon. The name can be heard in Back in December, the ‘nafo.sleepers’ Instagram the cafeteria, in the halls, and in classpage commented on one of the Failing Falcon’s posts rooms. Many know or have heard about using insults and profanities. this account, but who really is the Failing They then continue the mocking on their InstaFalcon? gram story because Failing Falcon had deleted their No, it’s not a student struggling with academics. profanity-laced comments. Failing Falcon (‘23) is an Instagram page, aiming “I thought that the whole ordeal was humorous, to put smiles on student’s faces one meme at a time. but I also questioned the morality of our student “I created the ‘Failing Falcon’ account over body,” Failing Falcon said. Thanksgiving break last year Besides appealing to adminiswhich was when there were a lot of tration, they also have to worry “At the end of the school-related Instagram accounts about approval from their followpopping up around that time,” day, I continue to keep ers. the creator said. “I figured that I “The hardest part about runthis page up to make might as well take advantage of the ning the “Failing Falcon” account popularity of school-related pages is trying to create a meme that everyone’s day just a so I decided to make the account a will appeal to a large majority of meme page.” the student body while also being bit better.” The page soon started to gain entertaining and retainable,” the traction after its creation, gaining creator said. followers from the other ‘NFHS’ pages. Currently, Failing Falcon also has to consider another factor the account has over 600 followers. in the situation: when does a joke cross the line? “My plan at the time was to slowly amass a large Some posts, such as the Ukrainian flag post and following and then sell merchandise to my audience- the tier list of the school hallways post, have brought which has yet to be a reality,” the creator said. “How- forth criticism from portions of the student body. ever, the main reason that I created this account was Though some posts may cause push-back from a to put a smile on people’s faces and help develop few vocal individuals, the creator of Failing Falcon positive school culture. I consider myself to have a feels like it’s in the account’s best interest to leave all great sense of humor, so I wanted to pass the laughs of the posts up. onto my peers.” “I know that there is a limit but I know that I havIt isn’t always smooth sailing for the Failing Falen’t crossed it,” Failing Falcon said, “nor do I plan on con, who at times receives criticism for posts. Some crossing it in the future.” criticism comes from other ‘NFHS’ accounts. Failing Falcon often sacrifices time to bring these
