Where Does Barstools Come From?

The majority of the Upper Learning student body (and maybe faculty…) knows of the Scots Barstools account on Instagram, despite it being unaffiliated with Galloway. As Thursday comes around, students excitedly refresh their Instagram pages awaiting the “Almost Friday” posts. With this in mind, it sprouted some curiosity in me. Barstool accounts span across high schools, colleges, and sports teams worldwide–but why? And since when? 

In 2003, Dave Portnoy founded the social media blog Barstool Sports, Inc. the brand centers itself around sports journalism, pop-culture, and personality driven content. Following its initial launch, around 2007, the brand rapidly expanded through social media, especially via viral videos, throughout the 2010s. Barstool Sports grew its college following, leading to student-led “spin off” accounts such as local high school accounts. 

High schools across the country participate in these accounts to, “generate excitement for any upcoming game by posting the themes, trash talking the other team and overall hyping up their own school.” While these accounts are made in good fun, they do sometimes result in negative feedback amongst students. Non-participating players or students can get posted, which can lead from one thing to another. These infamously anonymous account runners must respect the boundaries of students as they teeter on the line between fun and what some deem cyberbullying. 

While there is this thin line to respect, Barstool Sports and the spin off accounts were created with the intent to hype school spirit, create school-wide engagement, and overall just inspire a good time for communities. These intentions are applaudable, and the people who run the accounts are held up to these expectations.