Is restricting reels out of touch with student reality?

Half of the Delhi University experience for any student is its campus life, and in the age of Instagram, where reels dominate social communication and expression, digitally capturing snippets of our lives is Gen Z’s way of being present. Ask any fresher and they’ll tell you how half the first year was spent making reels.In an age when half the videos online are about creating content – ‘learn how to earn through your videos’, ‘this is how much I make with brand deals’ and ‘how to be financially independent as an influencer’ – seeing a college take that away from students feels ironic.Colleges are spaces where students explore, express and find themselves among a diverse mix of people. Digital expression shapes youth culture, and restricting it within colleges feels out of step with student realities. Every class has a few content creators simply trying their hand at content creation, with some even making it in the industry. From simple “get ready with me” videos to documenting fests, freshers’ parties and farewells, college reel culture is not disruptive; it is creative expression at its finest.Colleges are meant to nurture creativity and self-expression, so restricting a medium can seem like a harsh step for students who are trying to learn from it. While institutions would naturally want to avoid any untoward incident and that seems fair, regulating student expression this closely can feel restrictive.