Going back to school used to be about neatly polished shoes, a heavy bag full of new books, and the nervous excitement of meeting classmates after the holidays. Parents would take a quick photo at home, and that was it. Those memories stayed in family albums or diaries.
Fast forward to today, and the first day of school has become an event on social media. Children are not just preparing for classes, they are preparing for content. Instagram reels, TikTok videos, and Snapchat stories are now part of the back to school checklist, alongside notebooks and uniforms.
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‘Planned my reel’
Amna, a 12-year-old student at a school in Al Twar can’t stop talking about her first day back at school in Dubai. “I am excited to meet my friends and teachers again. I have already planned my reel. I will show my new sneakers, my bag, and then a short clip of me walking into the school gates,” said Amna.
Her mother laughed, saying that the family had become part of the production team. “Last year we took a few photos outside the building. This time, she has made a storyboard in her head on what she should film, when she should wave, how she should turn before entering,” said Amna’s mother.
For Omar, a 14-year-old who studies at a school in Oud Metha, the excitement is all about his new backpack, water bottle and new set of uniform which he likes the fit of. “My backpack has a power bank slot for charging, so I want to show that on my Instagram story,” he said.
Over the holidays, Omar had already been posting vacation photos from his trip back home. “Now I want my first post to be my back to school look. It’s like a fresh start, and my friends are all doing the same,” added Omar.
He said that he’s already discussed it with classmates on WhatsApp. “We are all thinking of posting our first-day uniforms. One of my friends even said he’s going to make a slow-motion reel of him entering the classroom,” said Omar.
Parents as cameramen
Even parents are being pulled into the trend. Fahad Kazi, resident of Al Maktoum Road in Deira and a father of two, said he has already been booked by his daughter for the first day. “She told me, ‘Baba, you have to drop me to school on Tuesday. You will film me in the car, then film me waving bye and walking into the campus.’ She even practiced how she will open the door and put her bag on her shoulder,” he said.
For Fahad, it’s a complete contrast to his own childhood. “When I was their age, we didn’t even own a camera at home. The first day of school meant standing in assembly with sweaty palms. Now, it’s about how many likes or comments their post will get.”
Parents often reflect on how different school life was a generation ago. Twenty years back, the first day of school meant butterflies in the stomach, covering books with brown paper, and carrying a tiffin box filled with simple home-cooked food. Some schools had a tradition of handwriting welcome notes or asking students to introduce themselves in class.
Now, children return to school after a summer of posting vacation photos and are quick to follow it up with first-day reels. From showcasing new gadgets to highlighting fresh hairstyles or sneakers, back to school is no longer just about entering the classroom it’s about entering the social media feed.
For parents, it’s a balancing act. “I don’t mind filming my daughter’s reel, it makes her happy, and it’s harmless. But I also tell her that she should focus on her studies and enjoy her friends, not just the phone camera,” he said.
Some parents said that they find the whole trend amusing. “When I was a child, the first day of school was about whether my uniform was clean and my shoes were shiny,” said Amna’s mother. “Now, my daughter worries if her eyeliner will smudge before she takes a selfie.”
“Back in the days, for us the first bell was the start of a school year. For our children, it’s also the start of a new Instagram and TikTok feed,” added Amna’s mother.
