How did a 30-second short-form video online affect the ceilings of Scarsdale High School? Short videos featuring the making and throwing of “paper darts” have been going viral on social media platforms such as Youtube, Instagram, and Tiktok. The concept is straightforward, and after watching a brief tutorial, students are quickly able to transform a sticky note into a paper dart, using just a few folds. The shape of the dart allows it to be launched with a high velocity, and the sharp tip lets it pierce through soft ceiling tiles. It is the perfect tool for classroom shenanigans. 

“I saw a bunch of Instagram reels on this. It’s crazy how easy it was to make and I honestly did not expect it to work,” Atharva Taneja ’29, said. Other students have shared similar sentiments, expressing that they thought the trend would be a gimmick, but they quickly learned it was not as it filled their classrooms. 

However, over time, what once was a creative trend has become a visible problem. Due to the darts’ simplicity and accessibility, they have spread rapidly spread through classrooms. As more students participate in the trend, sticky note darts accumulate on the ceiling tiles of classrooms and bathrooms alike. These cause disruption and distraction during class time, as many onlooking students glance with amused expressions at the ceiling. Not only is it a distraction for students, but custodians are now obligated to spend extra time collecting sticky notes from the ceiling tiles, adding on to their workload. “There were a lot stuck on the ceiling of my class,” SHS History Teacher Ron Widelec explained.

What began as a short video was shared across SHS; still, this was not the first time something like this had happened. Along with the paper dart trend, memes such as “67” and the “Pumpkin Game” also made their way into school life, influencing student behavior and classroom environments. The Paper Dart trend specifically highlighted how quickly social media platforms were able to affect real life.

“Although they are visible, they don’t bother me at all,” Widelec said. Some share this sentiment, expressing that the darts are not disruptive to the class environment. As long as students are not spending too much time making and throwing them, in many situations, they do not seem to cause a large distraction or take away from learning in the classroom.

Just like many trends, paper darts in the ceiling tiles are temporary. Trends that spread quickly often fade away as students move on to new content.  As attention and interest moves away from the trend, ceiling tiles are finally able to catch a break.