Endlessly scrolling social media is a common way for many students to use their free time. Tiktok, Snapchat, and Instagram are all effortless time-wasting platforms, as the millions of accounts lead to limitless amounts of content. Recently, a new account appeared on Instagram with the purpose of pointing out examples of bad parking at AHS, appropriately named ‘atlbadparking.’

The account first posted on Sept. 29, 2021, and depicted a student’s vehicle parked inches away from the rear bumper of another vehicle. With the caption poking fun at the closeness between these cars, the humor of the account was recognized by many students. Twenty-seven users liked this post and it remains the least liked of eight posts. The account quickly grew in popularity as people enjoyed the content, and the owner created a post soon after to capitalize on this newfound success.

Featured as the main focus in the first post, sophomore Nick Bennett originally found out about atlbadparking because the account followed him on Instagram. Bennett said being in the first post was a “very positive” experience. “People might bring up this Instagram account and I’ll say ‘Oh I was the first person posted on that’ and they go ‘Really?’ and I go ‘Yes.’ I really think this has added some new clout to my resume.” He enjoys seeing the account on his feed and “gives it a chuckle” whenever it pops up. 

He thinks the account is a positive and humorous view on parking and believes there are a few negatives that go with these posts. “The negatives would be all dependent on the owner of the account taking advantage of a bad situation, but it really comes down to the account staying true to what it does best and pointing out funny user errors.”

Junior Reese DeArment’s first experience with this account is very similar to Bennett’s, as she was in the first post too. Like Bennett, she discovered the account because it followed her on Instagram. She thought the first post was “really funny because I would always make fun of Nick for how close he would get to my car.” DeArment also thinks that this account is a good thing because, unlike previous Atlantic High Instagram accounts, people “understand that this account is a joke.”  

The images posted are not acquired only by the owner of the account, as many people submit pictures of bad parking hoping for them to be posted. Sophomore Alex Sonntag submitted a picture to the account that was later featured in a post. “I noticed a truck that was perpendicular and thought of atlbadparking, so I snagged a picture and sent it to the account.” Around two days after he sent the image to the account, it was posted on Oct. 21. There were no messages exchanged between the two, and Sonntag was not credited with the picture.  

Not all pictures that get submitted end up being posted though. Junior Edria Brummer, like Bennett and DeArment both, initially discovered this account when it followed her on Instagram. The owner of the account messaged Brummer about her feelings on parking. She has had previous trouble in the parking lot this year and was worried that she would end up in a post. “Sometimes I do park a little bad, so I just want to know if I ever get put on there.” She has yet to be featured in a post. 

There is a certain mystery to this account, as the owner is unconfirmed. There are many rumors as to who the creator of the account might be, and talks of who might be posting these pictures can be heard occasionally throughout the school day. Many names are thrown out when the creator is brought up. Bennett believes the owner must “be someone funny and clever,” and suspects that senior Drew Engler may be behind the posts. DeArment and Brummer both suspect junior Nathan Keiser of being the creator. When asked about the ownership of the account, Keiser said “I believe the owner is you. The account is wonderful and the owner should post more often.” Not all people have a certain suspect in mind though, as Sonntag has “no clue” who the owner is.