Written by: Alexis Dewey
The SAU Confessions Instagram account has been a topic of conversation on campus for quite some time. Although the account was taken down by Instagram in 2023, it paved the way for two new accounts with the same premise. The bios state that the accounts are “not affiliated with Southern Adventist University.”
These accounts allow students of Southern Adventist University to anonymously submit comments, questions, concerns, etc. to the owners of the accounts (also anonymous), who then post what the contributors send in. This has given the students an outlet to say what they are feeling and thinking without their names being attached.
SAU Confessions may be an outlet for some students, but for others, it has damaged their reputations and hurt them deeply. A majority of the anonymous posts include other students’ names, along with either something they did, said or perhaps commenting on their body, displayed for the rest of the students to see. However, anyone can be mentioned by name. While it seems harmless to some students, it is greatly affecting many others. Students who have been exposed on the account have a hard time going to class afterward.
The accounts have posted comments about students’ relationships or their looks, about how they break campus rules, and so on. Reading these comments is disturbing and disheartening. Frankly, it is none of our business to know who has the “best body” or who is doing drugs, having sex, cheating on tests, and sneaking into dorms. It is not anyone’s business to know. And, although we have the freedom of speech in America, I certainly do not think it should be anyone’s right to publish it online.
With these Instagram accounts, we are giving in to the gossiping and negative social media that the older generation says we indulge in — we are proving them right. The owners of these accounts and anyone who submits a post are not shedding a positive light on Christianity, as we are called to do.
The accounts remind me a lot of the story of Mary Magdalene found in the Gospels. “The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, ‘Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?’ This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her” (John 8:3-7).
This story is explaining that the men who were trying to punish Mary for her sins were, in fact, sinful themselves and had no right to bring her to death.
Where will it end? How long are we going to sit around and let these accounts hurt people? Next time you think about posting something anonymously on either account, just remember that you could be tearing up someone’s life. Ask yourself if you would want someone to post a similar comment about you.
My question for the owner(s) of SAU Confessions: Why are you helping ruin people’s reputations?
My question for the anonymous tippers: How are you justifying what you are doing and saying about others?
My hope for everyone reading: unfollow and stop interacting with this account. The fire will keep growing only if gas keeps being poured onto it.
