Are freedom walls locking you up?

Three years ago, I overheard a conversation between a group of incoming undergraduates. “I would go to UST but their freedom wall is so inferior to ADMU’s,” one said. It’s a curious sight indeed: students huddled in groups, dissecting the latest posts on their university’s freedom wall.

Freedom walls are by no means evil, especially when we trace back their empowering history of bringing the voices of students on physical walls towing the lines of vandalism and the right to protest. In recent years, however, freedom walls have hopped on over to different outlets which have, in turn, turned them from these calls to action for change into an omnipotent watcher reminiscent of “Gossip Girl” and even “Bridgerton.”

In fiction, these trails of drama would play over well. In higher institutions, it begs the question of responsibility as the youth can tap into influence through the platforms they make for themselves. You would assume that this is no issue for majority of the population. However, if the students of today account for a social media confessions page as a variable in the privilege of choosing higher education, then there would be a problem with how media discernment is being exercised.

Free speech is critical. We know this by heart. Freedom walls are for free speech—for those whose opinions would be ordinarily dismissed. Must we be reminded that critical discernment is how we make free speech a long-lasting right to be exercised rather than a gossip train? The freedom wall has long been an active way to voice out the unspoken things on campus. The very heart of education is the pursuit of knowledge and discourse.

This begs the question: Are freedom walls healthy? The main motivation behind 80 percent of viral freedom wall posts is to call out behaviors that would attract attention. One look at the country’s top freedom wall pages and you get a sense of belief systems that unintentionally represent the schoolgoers. Not all of these freedom walls are rants or anonymous tips. The silver linings are the recruitment postings and the call for participation. These posts, however, do not gain much traction compared to more trivial matters. Sometimes though, freedom walls are effective whistleblowers.

When we remember the very reason behind freedom walls, we may be able to ignite much-needed conversations on disparity and inequality. The medium is the message!

Nyx,

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