TANA VAN HEERDEN
Social media plays a big role in today’s society, especially for students. According to a 2015 survey from Pew Research Centre, Instagram is the most popular social media site used by university students. The statistics showed that 53% of adults, between the ages of 18 to 29, use Instagram every day. First year students might find it challenging to stay up to date with the latest news, events and rules around campus. Luckily, there is an entire Instagram community dedicated to the students of the University of Pretoria.
PDBYMedia
PDBY is the University of Pretoria’s official newspaper. It is also South Africa’s oldest student newspaper. We bring the latest news and broadcast media to students at UP. You can find a hard-copy of our paper on campus or you can read it online. Follow us at @pdbymedia, to be the first to know about what is happening on campus.
TUKSSport
UP has its own sports page. They update it regularly to make sure that you never miss an event. Action shots of matches are shared and diverse sport interests are represented by the page. Find them under @tukssport.
Meme Pages
Memes have revolutionised the way we communicate. Memes are understood all around the world, regardless of your native language, and they have become a tool to build strongrelationships within the cyber community. Memes inform the youth in a humorous way about politics, local and international issues and can create awareness.
@life_at_tuks centres around the highly relatable university experiences one goes through as a student. Around 40% of the memes found on this account come from students themselves. @life_at_tuks started off with a meme about test results and the comparison from a high school 50% to a university 50%. It is comforting to know that you are not the only student struggling with certain issues. The @ life_at_tuks creator says: “memes are a means to get by for some, and I’m just happy to help in that regard”.
@tuks_facultyofmemes is another must follow. This page finds inspiration on campus by carefully eavesdropping for new information, current student affairs and news. This page has received a lot of positive feedback from students and according to its creator: “We’ve had students contact us who say that the memes help them feel less alone or different in the face of adversity, helping them understand not only that their problems are manageable and common, but also helping them heal through humour”. It is true that the sense of camaraderie created by memes is beneficial and helps create bridges that people can cross socially, which is the main goal for @ tuks_facultyofmemes.
Another meme page that should also be on your following list is @tuksmemes. @ tuksmemes started off with a great passion and an opportunity to create their own meme page. They encourage students to send in meme submissions and any information about bizarre, funny things happening around campus. Their ultimate goal is to make you smile. Memes are definitely one of the quickest ways to include humour into your daily life. During a quick break, scroll through these meme pages as they are sure to brighten up your day.
TUKS FM
TuksFM is the University of Pretoria’s awardwinning, official radio station. You can listen to them on 107.2FM and also stay updated on extra news reports, their own memes, album of the week and famous throwback Thursdays on their Instagram page @tuksfm1072. The University of Pretoria The official Instagram account for the University of Pretoria is a highly recommended page to follow as a student. This page will keep you updated on important dates such as online registration and SRC elections. It also showcases great achievements by UP students. You can find insightful posts about mental health, how to handle exam stress and study tips as well as healthy food options for better brain clarity. This page is your basic guide to life at the University of Pretoria and can be found at @universityofpretoria.
Image: Provided