Brands use #FirstDayofSchool on Twitter to celebrate the dreaded day

It’s not only the first day of school for students, but apparently for brands too.

Companies wasted no time attaching themselves to #firstdayofschool, an unofficial hashtag for the dreaded holiday where grumpy students ranging from elementary school to university head back to homework hell.

The hashtag has been used in moderation for the past few weeks with it growing in popularity today. Topsy, a social analytics firm, measures 7,000 tweets using the hashtag.

It’s not all bad, kiddies! Brands are there tweeting away reassuring you that they too recognize the struggle that is school.

Naturally, the tech industry used #firstdayofschool to suggest to kids that if they don’t use its products, they’re going to fail out:

Food brands used it to remind kids that nothing pairs better with stress than lots of sodium:

The Big Candy industry also chimed in:

Lastly, two companies tugged the emotion heartstring (although we think parents are probably estatic for the day to finally arrive).

More in Marketing

Digiday+ Research: The 2026 guide to holiday marketing strategies, including A-Frame Brands, Mastercard and Ritual

Shoppers continue to grapple with higher prices and affordability, while brands face rising operating costs and increased pressure to prove their marketing dollars are delivering measurable returns. 

Inside the indie agencies founded by Omnicom and IPG’s former staffers

Thousands of media practitioners and creatives have left Omnicom since its merger with IPG. Some have already founded their own agencies.

Who owns the creative brief? Brands and creators are renegotiating the relationship

Brands are moving creators beyond sponsored posts and into the creative process, reshaping who influences marketing decisions.