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Frats are becoming a lifestyle brand. I’ve noticed this post pandemic where we have started recording a lot more than we used to. I used to run the Instagram for my house, and we’d post for fun events, fundraisers, and whatever else. The vibe wasn’t to impress people or claim that we’re ‘a sick house’ it was just a place to put pictures of the guys for their memories. Now though, that’s completely changed.

I’ve been to four different frats as an invited guy, it’s called an away bar. Usually, it’s pretty fun since I have no responsibility and I don’t worry about the police because I’m not in charge. However, everyone that I went to has had a guy with a super nice camera recording the party. Full light on the camera, recording girls dancing on elevated surfaces, taking pictures of good-looking girls with some questionable dudes. I can’t help but think, are fraternities becoming hype houses?

The trend starts with rush videos, 2–3-minute videos posted at the beginning of the semester showing off the house and some of the brothers. In the past they focused on the physical structure of the house, but not it focuses on the parties, girls posing with letters, and creating an image of what you could be if you rushed there.

Personally, I get it. You want to show off your socials and the people that come to your house. However, it’s starting to become so much that brothers take pictures of girls they don’t know at all, giving a false indication of who you could be friends with. I guess some people care about being around strangers, but I now see it as overrated.

20 years from now I can see the 25 or so houses still left at psu having cameras everywhere and livestreaming. It’s getting cringe quickly but I guess it’s the way ‘to the top’.