Ava Peñuelas ‘25 has been a part of the Clypian staff since transferring to South Salem High School from Aloha High School in Beaverton at the end of her freshman year. Now a senior, she holds the position of TikTok editor, a role she took on during her junior year.
“I think my favorite part about being the TikTok editor is showing underclassmen how to express their creativity through all the projects and videos we do for TikTok,” Peñuelas said.
Creativity and Challenges in Social Media
Social media for the Clypian involves following the latest trends and connecting them to South Salem High School. While the videos must be school-appropriate, creativity is highly encouraged.
“It is hard to get people to express their creativity, as it is nerve-wracking, especially when you are pitching your first idea or even creating the video, so I am always encouraging them to be brave and just go out there, interview people, and make it fun in their own way,” Peñuelas said.
Navigating Guidelines and Shadowbans
The TikTok team must adhere to both school and TikTok guidelines. The Clypian TikTok page has faced challenges, such as being shadowbanned twice for posting content about protests against the district’s alleged inaction on abuse.
“Every time we are shadowbanned, it is easy to tell because we will get no views, likes, or comments on the next video we post. We have to reach out to TikTok and ask them to unban us as it is our right to post about the latest news,” Peñuelas said.
Despite these challenges, TikTok allows Peñuelas to share information about students, faculty, and events. One of her videos, “South Salem High School teachers say brainrot,” went viral on Instagram with 126,000 views.
Future Plans
Peñuelas plans to attend the University of Oregon to major in Business with a concentration in sports. She also intends to join social media clubs to enhance her skills and engage with the community.
“Do not be scared to try new things. If things are not working, switching to different sections of the Clypian is always possible. Be bold, make friends, and have fun,” Peñuelas advised.
