This time last year, Sarah Coon had no idea why people were so obsessed with #BamaRush and the broader phenomenon that later came to be known as #RushTok. I did.
Now, 34-year-old Kuhn is one of thousands of women, especially women from the University of Alabama, who have invested in her TikTok, going through a traditional Greek life process. are documenting their experience as a PNM (“potential new member”). She rushes to find out about the on-campus sorority in hopes of being offered an invitation to join one last time.
She was mesmerized by the #BamaRush video. The video received millions of views last year. This time she, she created a spreadsheet to keep track of everyone. People who have already started posting. She made the list public for others to follow.
However, some people, including Greek Life officials, have criticized Coon's spreadsheet. She said she was humiliated in Facebook posts and direct messages she shared with NBC News, calling out on an online Greek Life forum called Greek Rank.
} "Some people were saying, 'I know you think this is crazy, but you've been named in the Greek ranks, so be careful.'" Ohio State coon said. she said. She was told, "Don't do it. [PNM] is going to be blacklisted."
The blowback was a surprise to Kuhn.
Those re-listening to what the internet is calling "Season 2" of #RushTok have no problem with their love of the trend. In fact, the TikTok algorithm will show more videos on its "For You" page next week, as many people publicly celebrate the resurgence of #RushTok in their tweets, especially commenting on related videos.
Megan Soey, Ph.D. A Cornell University candidate studying social media, influencers and content creators, says that for many young women and their parents in a hurry, this means virality and He said it was his first brush with what it means to be a public figure in a parasocial relationship. Therefore, backlash may occur.
"Greek Life has exclusivity, so the fact that we can witness it on TikTok and see the recruitment process these women go through makes this a spectacle." Mr Sawey said. "Now you can pick up the popcorn and see."
The term parasocial relationship was written by sociologists Donald Horton and Richard Wall in Appears to date back to article. Or radio. The phrase has become especially important as social media offers both consumers and creators unprecedented access to each other's online presence. The more creators share online, the more viewers can relate to them.
For viewers, #RushTok is like tuning into their favorite reality show. Some even call it the "NFL Draft for Women."In addition to the spreadsheet, Coon created bingo her cards for this year's Rush.
#RushTok's 'Season 2' kicks off
The hashtag #AlabamaRush saw him get nearly 20 million views on TikTok last year, while #BamaRush hit his 55.6 million views. Played over. TikToks features videos where PNM shows off outfits for themed events and names the brand and store for each item. Other videos give a behind-the-scenes look at how they prepare for and, in some cases, attend events.
Recruitment for this year's Alabama sorority will officially begin on her August 6th. The #RushTok video hasn't fully appeared on his TikTok yet, but those who followed him hard last year are ready for drama (again).
"Just like last week, when I saw the Bama Rush video for the first time, I was like, 'Oh my God, it's about time,'" said Jen Ficarra, 30, of Los Angeles. Our experience in the sorority was very different from other sorority experiences, so I've always been fascinated by the southern sorority culture."
People across the country said they were drawn to following trends because they were fascinated by Southern sorority life, and BamaRushTok provided a window into what was foreign to them.
One of her TikTok users, Emily Rose, said in a video: It contains subliminal mind control technology, but all I know is that this is my Super Bowl. ''
So far, this year's videos have focused on the so-called 'Work Week', which is a test run of sorts for her PNM. This means that the outfits, hairstyles, and other preparations shared on TikTok are just practice for the real deal.
Some of her PNMs, such as Glassine Edmonson, have already posted some outfit plans for her Rush Week, which ends on August 14th.
"Rush I'll show you everything in her bag," she told followers in her recent video. The video has been viewed over 400,000 times since it was posted last week. Her pink Longchamp bag contains a portable fan, toiletries and other necessities like a Tide-to-Go pen, she said.
Will there be fewer #BamaRush posts this year?
As far as the spreadsheet is concerned, Coon says that if someone asks to be removed from the list, they will remove the name immediately. Everyone on the list had her TikTok public about joining Rush.
Finally listing women on #BamaRush because she said she continues to see posts from angry parents and messages from her PNM who are feeling anxious , and the spreadsheet now only shows women from other schools.
Kuhn said her mother and young women were nervous about her list due to rumors circulating that her PNM in Alabama was advised not to post on her media social media. She thinks that
Some #BamaRush enthusiasts suggest they've heard rumors about social media crackdowns.
"Who do I need to talk to about my #bamarush pledge being banned from sharing OOTD? There are so few simple pleasures in this world, so why am I being stripped Are you there?” she wrote Tyler McCall on Twitter.
However, in its "2022 Greek Chic Recruiting Guide", the Alabama Panhellenic Council put her TikTok under the action contract of a potential new member. does not have any rules for
A spokeswoman for the University of Alabama said there was no official social media ban on Greek Her Life members.
``The Alabama Panhellenic Association does not have a social media policy for active or potential members and does not restrict or limit what can be posted on social media,'' the publicity said. said the rep. “Potential members should be aware that social media is one of several factors that individual chapters may consider during the recruitment process and chapters may have social media guidelines for active members.
One of the things we've learned over the last year is that #RushTok videos are gaining more viewers than we expected.
"Things that are highly localized, such as rushing a sorority at a particular university, are much more globalized than they used to be. People living in different You can see them rushing through sororities in ways they haven't before," Soe said. "There's a lot more eye on these things."
