ZIP-A-DEE-DOO-DAH
One predictable aspect of our world is how history repeats itself, particularly when it comes to the trials of middle schoolers. No generation escapes the torment and confusion that define this pivotal stage in life.
Middle school is often the first time young people confront the more complicated aspects of existence: power, prestige, attraction, personal identity, and, importantly, humiliation. It’s a time when bodies ache for no reason, hormones surge uncontrollably, and the struggle to communicate can be overwhelming.
So, when I read a notice about Home Street Middle School students stealing zipper pulls and vandalizing each other’s backpacks as part of a TikTok trend, I couldn’t help but feel sympathy for the kids. Principal David Kalk posted the notice “with great frustration” last Tuesday, Sept 8, stating what began as a harmless trend had escalated into a serious issue.
“Today the problem reached a point where student safety was at risk when two students nearly fought over the theft,” Kalk wrote in the notice. “While this may seem like a relatively harmless trend, students’ backpack zippers have been broken or left in a manner in which the zipper can no longer be moved leading to costly replacement.”
To understand how this trend emerged and gained momentum, we have to look at the culture surrounding middle school backpacks and . Every generation has its “cool” backpack — when I was in school, it was The North Face brand. Today, it’s the Nike Elite backpack, priced at $87 and typically worn by student athletes.
The zipper pulls on these backpacks have become coveted items in the middle school black market. Dubbed as “dreads” for their resemblance to hair, these pulls can be easily collected, traded, and stolen.
Kids showcase their daily hauls online, often styling their “dreads” to the tune of “Hold Me Down” by Hunxho.
Prolific collectors display their trophies on the front loops of their backpacks. The goal is to possess both the Nike Elite backpack and its corresponding zipper pulls, with rarity determining value — yellow and rose-striped pulls are rare, while green ones are more common, akin to collecting Pokémon or baseball cards in the olden (Lunch’s childhood) days.
“I’m more worried about my elite zippers than school,” joked TikTok user @iahwz.ig, whose post showcasing their collection garnered over 500,000 likes as of October 10.
However, this trend has evolved. Non-Nike Elite zipper pulls have become just as desirable. As @ohiwhatupdog commented on a TikTok tagged #nikeelitezippers, “no backpack is safe.” As access to Nike Elite backpacks dwindles, pulls from other brands like Jansport and North Face have surged in popularity.
But now, according to Principal Kalk’s notice, trading and stealing any pull is now banned at Home Street Middle School.
“Although the value of the pull itself is small, taking property from another person without permission IS STILL THEFT and can be treated as such by administration,” Kalk wrote. “To be completely safe, students should not even ask other students for the pulls as those conversations can be intimidating if the individual does not want to give it up.”
Most of the students who have reported loss of a pull have said that it was taken without their permission, typically while the backpack is unattended, he wrote. Students are encouraged to use their lockers to prevent further vulnerability.
Once again, history has shown its cyclical nature. I recall my own principal banning Silly Bandz – colorful, shaped bracelets that served as status symbols – during my middle school years. These cycles highlight a fundamental aspect of human nature: the desire to attain wealth and social standing based on what is valued in our community.
However, while these trends repeat, social media and technology have revolutionized how we define value. Children across the country now assess wealth using the same criteria, thanks to the rapid spread of information.
My own middle school years from 2014 to 2017 were shaped by the presence of smartphones. The iPhone had recently made its debut, and many of us accessed the internet without parental oversight via devices like the iPod Touch and iPad. Vine and Instagram dominated social media, while TikTok (then known as Musical.ly) was just beginning to capture our attention, inspiring countless trends that we all felt compelled to follow. Born in 2001, I’ve never known life without the internet.
Though older technologies like TV ads have influenced perceptions of value for years, none have done so at such speed or with such active participation from youth. TikTok represents a platform where young people are not just consumers but also the driving force behind trends. Even I, at 22, find myself aging out of TikTok’s lexicon and culture.
As a result, kids today are at the forefront of modern marketing, navigating a landscape where trends like the stealing of zipper pulls reflect broader societal values. What may seem like just another passing trend offers insight into the intricate web of youth culture.
Perhaps that’s the reason I find these trends so fascinating – they reveal not just the challenges of youth but also the unchanging nature of our pursuit of belonging and identity
