Earlier this semester, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) ranked Boston College 251 out of 257 U.S. colleges and universities for free speech culture. Many students expressed concern over this, turning to news outlets, their friends and classmates, and, for some, Fizz.
Fizz is an app originally created by two Stanford students and has become popular in colleges across the country. According to the app’s website, it is “a discussion and news feed for your community, whether that’s your college or city.” For college students specifically, “the community is closed and the privacy of the community is maintained through the requirement of a valid university email or proof of enrollment.”
For many students, the appeal of Fizz is its anonymity. This feature allows students to freely post about their classes, meme their professors, and complain about their roommates without fear of repercussions. However, in a climate where political tension is on the rise, some students have begun discussing politics on the typically more lighthearted app.
In addition to students expressing concern over BC’s FIRE ranking, there have been discussions about various political events on Fizz. Following conservative influencer Charlie Kirk’s death in September, students expressed beliefs from across the political spectrum, to the point where some users complained about the prominence of the topic on the app. One user posted, “when i open fizz to get a good giggle and it’s all…about charlie kirk,” expressing annoyance with the reoccurrence of the topic.
More recently, subjects such as Boston College Republicans hosting MAGA speaker and CEO of American Moment Nick Solheim, the New York City mayoral election, and the Trump administration’s restrictions on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits have been discussed by users.
Although the app is anonymous, that doesn’t necessarily mean it is free from confrontation. Many students have gotten into arguments with each other online as a result of a political Fizz post, but the identities of those involved in these discussions are kept entirely confidential. It’s very likely that the reason for the multitude of political discussions on Fizz is due to the private nature of the app; many students may be hesitant to have these conversations in public.
This hesitance expands beyond BC, as increasing political tensions have left America divided. Hostility has infiltrated discussions surrounding government policy and ideas, leading many people to stay quiet and not voice their opinions.
It can be assumed that on a campus ranked so low in regard to free speech culture—meaning many students feel they can’t openly express their beliefs—students would not be comfortable having intense political conversations in person. However, these conversations are incredibly important, and although it can be uncomfortable at times, students should be able to securely have political discussions.
It’s possible for Fizz to be a good outlet for political discussion, but, as previously mentioned, some users have complained about seeing politics on what they wish to be a purely social app. Additionally, anonymity can easily lead to hostility, which is not conducive to a productive conversation. Thus, it can be said that Boston College is in need of a culture shift that provides students with the opportunity to have certain conversations comfortably in an increasingly tumultuous political climate.
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