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Reels, selfies: Some UAE students make first day at school about Instagram, TikTok
Instagram reels, TikTok videos, and Snapchat stories are now part of the back to school checklist, alongside notebooks and uniforms
- PUBLISHED: Sat 23 Aug 2025, 6:00 AM UPDATED: Sat 23 Aug 2025, 8:24 AM
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."
Her mother laughed at the level of preparation involved, saying that the family had become part of the production team. “Last year, we just took a few photos outside the building. This time, she’s made a storyboard in her head on what she should film, when she should wave, how she should turn, and even the angle she wants as she walks in,” she said.
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, the fit of which he likes. “My backpack has 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 camera crew
It’s not just the kids getting involved — parents are being pulled into the trend, too. Fahad Kazi, a father of two from Al Maktoum Road in Deira, shared how his daughter has already assigned him the role of videographer. “She told me, ‘Baba, you have to drop me to school on Tuesday and film me in the car. Then film me waving and walking onto the campus,’” he said, amused. “She even practiced how she will open the car door and put her bag on her shoulder.”
Fahad reflected on how different things were when he was a student. “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 ago, back-to-school rituals included wrapping books in 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.
SM Ayaz Zakir is a Senior Correspondent with a flair for extraordinary stories. His playground? Every corner of the UAE. He often ventures into remote corners of the country to capture compelling news and human interest stories.