April Fools’ Day has long been a tradition of pranks, jokes and lighthearted deception, but in today’s fast-paced digital age, is the holiday still relevant to college students? With social media playing a dominant role in communication and humor evolving with internet trends, the way students engage with April Fools has changed significantly.
For decades, April 1 has been a day when people played pranks on friends, family and even institutions. College students, in particular, have historically embraced the holiday with campus-wide pranks, dormitory antics and humorous social experiments. However, in an era where misinformation spreads rapidly online, some students may be more cautious about participating in or believing April Fools’ jokes.
Social media platforms have transformed the way April Fools’ Day is celebrated. Instead of traditional, in-person pranks, many students turn to viral memes, satirical news articles or elaborate hoaxes posted by influencers and brands. While some enjoy these digital pranks, others feel that the holiday has lost its authenticity and has become another tool for marketing rather than genuine fun. For example, FAMU’s Greek organization, Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity, recently posted on its Instagram page a flyer for “Shimmy Like a Nupe.” This post got many likes, shares and comments from people believing that the event was real — when in reality they posted it as a prank for more page attention. Additionally, social media has made pranks more accessible but also riskier…