Deputy Editor-in-Chief Penelope Spencer-Simpson explores why gossip might be one of the most important and misunderstood parts of student life.
Gossip has been given a bad reputation.
From medieval torture and executions to TV shows and tabloids, we are taught that gossip unleashes chaos on society. Despite the many didactic tales warning against it, we continue to fill the void of our curiosity through gossip.
Since we first learned to communicate, we have sought entertainment and answers to the why, the what and the how through gossip. The practice was publicly condemned during the sixteenth- to eighteenth-century witch trials, where women were openly shamed using the ‘scold’s bridle’, an iron cage-like instrument used to punish so-called ‘scolds’. Men, on the other hand, would demonstrate their ‘intellectual wit’ in coffee houses. So men needed to gossip to help run society, whereas women were repressed to help society run properly.
We can understand the myth that women spread gossip while men speak the truth. Even today, men reject the label of ‘gossip’, often disguising it with “I’m not one to gossip, but…” before proceeding to talk at meticulous length. It’s strategic. Men and women can now coexist in gossip.
This coexistence thrives in institutions like universities. However, rather than coffee houses, gossip is now communicated through anonymous social media confessions. It makes gossip accessible.
Universities across the world have created confession pages to strengthen the student community. Roar asked confession pages at KCL to comment on the behind-the-scenes of their pages:
Why did you start your page?
“I thought it would be nice to give back to the KCL community and create an account that not only had more visually appealing posts than a screenshot of a DM, but an account that would post regularly.”
kingfess1829
“I started KCL Raw because I wanted to create a space where students could anonymously share funny stories, awkward moments, opinions, and experiences from university life. The aim has always been to create a page that reflects student culture while giving people a voice they might not otherwise have.”
KCL Raw
How often do people send you confessions?
“I get confessions daily I would say. There is the odd day where I don’t get any submissions, but I would estimate that I get on average 5 a day. There are times during which I get 10+ confessions too, which is lovely to see as it means there are interesting things going on around King’s.”
kingfess1829
“It varies depending on the time of year. During term time I usually receive submissions every day, and activity increases around exams, Freshers’ Week, and major university events.”
KCL Raw
Are there consistent types of gossip/confessions people send you?
“I would say the 2 most common types of confessions I get are sex-related as I receive many weird sex stories and nights out sexual experiences, and also many confessions about flatmates or neighbours…It’s also worth mentioning what is probably the third most common type of submission, which is someone spilling some crazy tea about someone they know.”
kingfess1829
“Most submissions are light-hearted. They tend to be about dating, friendships, missed connections, flatmate issues, funny experiences, societies, or university life in general.”
KCL Raw
How has the KCL community responded to your page?
“I have had messages and submissions thanking me for starting the page and keeping it going, which are always lovely to receive…the only negative feedback I had received was about some awful unfunny/cringe captions I had written back when first starting the account.”
kingfess1829
“Most people enjoy having a page that brings students together through shared experiences and humour. Of course, with any anonymous platform there are occasional criticisms, but I welcome constructive feedback and try to moderate the page in a way that keeps it entertaining while respecting people’s privacy and wellbeing.”
KCL Raw
So, gossiping at university keeps us sane through those harsh deadlines and expectations of academia. Confession pages can keep us updated about drama across the university without actually speaking to people. Arguably, this could risk parasocial relationships. But, importantly, it strengthens engagement by keeping us connected to the unfiltered, day-to-day realities of student life. We need gossip to keep student life, and society, authentic. Even if our own reputations are on the line.
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