Davis High students take on coronavirus (COVID-19) social media posts

PHOTO: Posted on Instagram, Twitter user Dana Jay Bein wrote a parody about coronavirus (COVID-19) to the tune of “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen.

By Emily Chapman,

BlueDevilHUB.com Editor-

From jokingly smack-talking on Tik Tok to spreading awareness of the importance of social distancing on Instagram, the coronavirus (COVID-19) is quite literally going viral.

The increase of virus-related content on social media has allowed Davis High students to make light of the situation while also addressing the seriousness of the disease’s effects. 

When senior Julia Sapeta found an Instagram thread by Dana Jay Bein with parody lyrics to the famed song “Bohemian Rhapsody,” she burst into laughter.

“When I first saw this post, I laughed up a storm. It was like a little light in the darkness of all the negativity and sadness of our world right now,” Sapeta said. 

Although she found it humorous, Sepata also grasped the severity of the parody’s meaning.

“There’s definitely some truth to it,” Sapeta said. “‘Mama, just killed a man, didn’t stay in bed, walked by him now he’s dead’ does show the severity of what being asymptomatic can do to others who are immunocompromised.”

Likewise to Sapeta, sophomore Sophia Rokop found a video on Tik Tok by DeStorm Power that made her laugh, yet also take in the reality of the lack of supplies like toilet paper available.

The Tik Tok showed a couple paying their pizza delivery man with toilet paper rolls instead of money.

“People selfishly hoarded toilet paper for themselves, making it not available for people who need it,” Rokop said, stressing the gravity of the pandemic’s effects. “The Tik Tok is also funny because it’s like money doesn’t even matter. Toilet paper has taken a whole new value.”

Another student, junior Sadia Chowdhury, found a Tik Tok by Swae Lee amusing.

In the video, the creator and his friends did a challenge where they held their breath for 10 seconds and if one of them were to cough, they have the coronavirus (COVID-19).

“One of his friends coughed and everyone began to run away,” Chowdhury described. “I just thought it was funny how they ran away from a single cough based on a test that could very likely be fake.”

In contrast to finding humor through social media posts, sophomore Youyou Xu found a thread on Instagram by Elliott Dunstan about the “mental health epidemic happening” that she feels is important.

The post talked about the decline in the economy being a “perfect storm” for a spike in metal health complications due to social isolation and layoffs.

“It’s something that matters to me as someone that advocates for awareness of mental health,” Xu said.