In recent months, every clinically online SHS screenager has probably seen the highly satiric Saratoga Peter Instagram account.
Started in March by an unknown Saratogan (or someone with at least a strong interest in the community), it features videos of things that might raise the eyebrows of all who actually live here: horses frolicking across grassy fields, idyllic skyscrapers and eagles soaring in a rainbow sky.
The reel has flooded the algorithms of local Saratogans and non-Saratogans alike, going trending for a single video, which collected over 420,000 views and 1,300 followers. Saratoga Peter paints Saratoga as an urban magnet — somehow rural enough to have horses and meadows everywhere. The account has boosted digital awareness about the city, even if it is misleading in its portrayal.
Saratoga Peter, paired with “gym bro” Ashton Hall’s videos dunking his head into ice-cold Saratoga Water, has driven up Google searches of the town.
While the account’s videos may be entertaining, they present the broader issue of whether deliberate and mocking misinformation should be used to garner attention.
Frequently, in content creation, accounts use tools like clickbait and dramatization to increase views. According to the American Psychological Association, the more regularly someone consumes misinformation, the more likely they are to believe and spread it. Especially for locals, the exaggerated content and clickbait may seem amusing, prompting them to interact with the account and spread it further.
And, of course, misinformation on the national stage is proving harmful these days. According to the Harvard Kennedy School’s Misinformation Review, those who read misinformation are more likely to continue to, and opt to read polarized information, which further increases political polarization and belief in fringe ideas.
As citizens of Saratoga, we are aware that Peter’s videos are inaccurate, and we realize someone from another city, state or even country might actually believe the videos portray a true portrait of our beloved hometown.
The curse of joke accounts has spread to other cities around the Bay Area, also creating reels with untrue information about them. With the rise of Palo Alto Lois, Saratoga Quagmire, Livermore Peter, Los Gatos Peter, Sunnyvale Stewie, Los Gatos Lois, Mountain View Peter and San Ramon Peter, it seems like the entire Bay Area is becoming a fantastical haven for unicorns and rainbows.
While the content may be angering and confusing, it’s important to recognize that this form of parody content is still protected by the First Amendment.
Take the precedent in a 2014 lawsuit between Peoria, Illinois, Mayor Jim Ardis and creator of a satirical impersonation account, Jonathan Daniel. In the case, Ardis led a police raid on Daniel’s house after discovering the account, and the ACLU and Daniel sued Ardis in return. Daniel ended up winning $125,000 in the lawsuit. Though it angered the mayor, Daniel’s joke was protected under the First Amendment.
Similarly, all citizens have the right to express their absurd imaginations through accounts like Saratoga Peter. Though the misinformation may be frowned upon by some of the community, it’s a good thing that this fantastical interpretation of Saratoga is free to continue.
In general, if you don’t like parody accounts like Saratoga Peter, it’s best to block the account and move on with your life.
