Behind the Bear: WBHS Confessions
December 17, 2021
If you’re human, you have secrets. Maybe you have a crush in your third block or you’ve cheated on a test before. If you have Instagram though, nothing compares to the secrets shared on the WBHS Confessions page. Western Branch students and graduates are able to submit confessions through a form anonymously to be posted on the page. Even schools across the Hampton roads area are aware of the secretive page and its revealing posts. The only thing left to tell is who’s behind the bear?
Every student has wondered who runs the page and is in charge of the madness. As of October 17, the page has changed ownership, but that’s not the only thing changing about the Instagram profile.
“ I took over this page because it seems to help a lot of Bruin students and the old owner didn’t want to keep up as they’re graduating,” the anonymous new owner said.
The old owner took pride in staying completely anonymous but the new owner is switching things up as there is a link to their personal Instagram in the Western Branch Confessions bio.
“In my bio there’s a link to my main Instagram account,” the anonymous new owner said. “Hopefully, soon I’ll end up posting myself, we’ll see.”
The new owner is a male and a junior. He has been a part of the Western Branch school system since first grade.
“I don’t believe I’ll receive any backlash on my personal account if I reveal my face; hardly anyone knows my introverted self,” he said.
Confessions on the pages are of all sorts and the owner sometimes finds it difficult to filter through them as they can sometimes be inappropriate or hurtful.
“I get a lot of confessions every day and sadly some are not school-appropriate,” he said. “[More] often than not, I still think they do a little more harm than good.”
The mystery of the infamous Western Branch Confessions owner can finally be put to rest and the page itself is moving in a new direction.
“I feel more people can benefit from [the page] without hate because hate causes people to be skeptical about what to post,” he said. “People can see how many other people care and input opinions about things which affect mental health.”