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EpisodesSubscribeHoller/FollowIn this episode of Adult ISH, we teamed up with Hopelab, a social innovation lab working to remove systemic barriers to youth mental health.
Hopelab just published a study that highlights how LGBTQIA+ Gen Z youth form deep emotional bonds with social media creators, impacting their mental health and sense of identity. Hopelab’s survey of 1,715 young people ages 13 to 22, reveals how these parasocial relationships provide validation and community, offering much-needed support that many lack in their offline lives. For many, TikTok and Instagram aren’t just for fun — they’re lifelines for self-expression and community.
Adult ISH hosts Nyge Turner and Christian Romo have conversations with Hopelab principal researcher Mike Parent and Angel Joy Flores (@arkangeljoy), a transfemme content creator, streamer, performer, and coach, focused on celebrating LGBTQ+ lifestyle and visibility.
Adult ISH is produced by YR Media and brought to you by PRX’s Radiotopia. Be sure to follow all our socials @YRAdultISH!
Episode Transcript NYGE: Welcome to Adult ISH – produced by YR Media – and brought to you by Radiotopia from PRX. I’m Nyge Turner.
CHRISTIAN: and I’m Christian Romo.
CHRISTIAN: In this special episode of Adult ISH, we’ve teamed up with Hopelab, a social innovation lab working to remove systemic barriers to youth mental health.
CHRISTIAN: HopeLab just published a study that highlights new information on the power of content creators for queer youth.
ANGEL: I didn’t grow up with many idols, um, especially like after I came out as trans, um, and so for, for me, there wasn’t much of an experience of like being able to see people live a proud experience as a trans person, as a queer person in general. And so, um, for other people who follow me and then who see me as an idol, there is definitely an effect of, of pride, um, that, that spreads through like everything they do in the, the lives that they live.
CHRISTIAN: That’s Angel Joy Flores, a transfemme content creator, streamer, performer, and coach, focused on celebrating LGBTQ+ lifestyle and visibility. We’ll hear more from her later.
CHRISTIAN: Now, as someone who has previously claimed to be “chronically online” before it was officially a thing – I was excited to get a chance to discuss these dynamics through a deeper lense. From a creator who makes it their business to be visible online sharing their lived experiences likeness, and love for the world.
CHRISTIAN: But before we get to Angel, we’re kicking off this episode with a conversation between Nyge and Mike Parent, principal researcher at Hopelab. When Nyge sat down with Mike, he asked him what they were looking to find out.
MIKE: So this work builds on a body of research on what we call parasocial relationships. Those are the relationships that we form with people who we don’t really know in our personal life. We wouldn’t call them friends. Um, that research really began in the era of like, even television and radio. In terms of things like trustworthiness for newscasters. Um, and then really burgeoned as sitcoms became more diverse. What researchers then found is that watching shows like “Will and Grace” for many people, Will was the only gay person they knew or thought they knew or knew they knew. Um, and Watching that person on television actually improved attitudes toward gay people. And then further and further research has been done on this, finding essentially that these parasocial relationships were helpful in the context of television.
Of course, now many more people consume media via social media, which allows for — it’s not exactly the same as television. You know, people are sort of acting or playing a kind of role, but are more often being more authentic or themselves than playing a scripted part.
Um, and people begin to develop, uh, these parasocial relationships with content creators who share similar identities and who they can identify with more authentically perhaps than many television, uh, kind of fictional characters. Uh, and so our goal here was really to explore how LGBTQ+ young people, um, kind of construct and navigate these relationships and what some of the potential benefits might be to them.
NYGE: And what were some of the things that you learned from, from this work?
MIKE: Sure, so a couple of things. One was that these parasocial relationships are very, very common. So most of our sample reported having one LGBTQ content creator who they saw as being like, we, we just call them favorite. So your favorite content creator. The vast majority of the sample could identify one person and then the parasocial relationships that they had with these folks was very strong. Another really interesting finding that came out of the data was that these parasocial relationships, if, if I asked you, you might think people would say people like, you know, Sam Smith or like massively popular, uh, media personalities. But that actually wasn’t the case.
The majority of people who were identified as favorite content creators were pretty, were, were still, you know, more famous than me, uh, but still having, uh, you know, one one hundredth of the following of a major celebrity. So they weren’t these massive international brands. They were fairly, what we would call kind of middle-level popularity, uh, content creators, doing like a variety of things. Sometimes just Twitch streaming, playing video games and making some jokes.
So this really tells us that to have an impact, these content creators don’t need to wait until they become as popular as, like, Lady Gaga to be able to have a beneficial impact on, um, people who share the same identity as them.
NYGE: That’s really interesting. I mean, when you started talking about “Will and Grace” and how, uh, most people when that show was on only were identifying with — Will was like the only gay person that they knew or felt like they knew. I think it’s, I think it’s super interesting because that was a TV show, but now we engage with, with content on such more of a personal level and we really get to know that person, not just like a character. And so I’m interested, like, since people are like watching podcasts now and taking in like all of this content, like more and more and more and more and more. Like, do you feel like it, those parasocial relationships are even stronger because you know that person’s life and kind of intimate feelings on such a deeper level?
MIKE: Oh, yeah, I think certainly that’s true. Yeah, I think, I think you’re right that, you know, it was, Will was a character played by an actor who isn’t gay, as far as I know. Eric McCormack.
MIKE: Um, and so, so that, that was a character that was a fictional creation that still had this effect. Now, people have parasocial relationships with people who are being generally themselves. You know, I think obviously the content creators have good boundaries and aren’t, you know, disclosing everything about themselves, as is appropriate for that content creator. But they are letting people in kind of behind the scenes a lot more than people were with regard to newscasters or fictional TV characters. And the impact of that is a stronger sense of connection with a real live person.
NYGE: There have been other studies about LGBTQ+ youth using social media that show success in finding community and connections with people who can relate, but there are also points about finding more discrimination online and higher rates of depression, anxiety, and substance use. What do you say to those kinds of concerns?
MIKE: Oh, I think we, we need to acknowledge that social media in general is a double edged sword. So there are many things that can be positive and there are many things that can be negative. As you mentioned experiences of discrimination or harassment, cyber bullying that kind of a thing or not even that in that personal. Maybe just coming across this negative content that isn’t made toward you personally, but it’s made toward a group to which you belong and that can feel really damaging, especially if people come across that over and over and over.
And we all know that there are people who seem to have no other part of their life other than making rude comments on the internet And seem to take that as their full time job. So it’s not like there’s a limit on — or it’s not like these negative experiences are rare. They’re pretty common. What we’d like to see though is how social media can be used to create positivity, inspiration, creativity, connection, with real life people. So not some troll commenting in someone’s comments that, you know, some negative thing, but being able to form these meaningful connections with people who share some similar identities to ourselves through social media can also be very beneficial and helpful to people.
As you said, perhaps, especially people who are more isolated, kind of struggle to find people who are very similar to themselves in their everyday life experiences, kind of in, in real life.
NYGE: What was the impact following these creators had on these young people?
MIKE: So we found that the parasocial relationships with them were strong. Uh, people had strong parasocial relationships with these content creators, and that those parasocial relationships were generally good. Um, it seemed like from our data, in particular for trans and non-binary youth, there were, there was a relationship between having stronger parasocial relationships and having more pride in one’s identity and sense of community connectedness with other trans and non-binary folks. That doesn’t, of course, necessarily mean that one causes the other, but it does mean that they, um, kind of move together within the data.
NYGE: What are your biggest takeaways from this survey?
MIKE: So one thing is that these parasocial relationships are really, really common and they’re quite strong. I think sometimes people get a negative impression of parasocial relationships. I think sometimes people think of it as like stalking, or obsession and it’s really not that. It’s just a sense of a connection with someone who was a content creator or media personality. And so they’re more common than people might think. And they’re quite strong. And they’re usually beneficial. So they help people to gain some insights from people who are similar to them in some ways and have some differences. So it’s not exactly a mirror image of the, uh, consumer of the content. It’s, it’s another human being who has their own, uh, set of identities and experiences and knowledge. So being able to do that helps people to bridge, to understand both people who are similar to them and that people are sometimes different and help to build those connections. And then, if you’re making content, you might only have a hundred followers, but you could be really impactful to some of those folks. So you don’t have to wait until you think you have, you know, a hundred million folks following you to feel like your contributions to positivity and inclusivity on the internet and on social media could be impacting folks
NYGE: Mike thanks for joining me to talk about your latest report.
NYGE: That was Mike Parent, Principal Researcher at Hopelab. You can connect with him at Hopelab.org, or you can find a link on our episode page at YR.Media/Adult-ish.
[MUSIC] CHRISTIAN: Listening to Nyge and Mike discuss the HopeLab study got me thinking a lot about trans creators showing up online. In a world where trans representation in the media is nowhere near where it could be, how are trans youth and trans influencers interacting with each other online? It’s not exactly easy to find resources to study “how to grow up,” trans. All the more reason why trans influencers play a critical role in trans youth finding pride in their identity and finding the strength to exist openly. To go deeper on the topic and more, I had the honor of speaking with Angel Joy Flores.
ANGEL: So I am a content creator first, um, performer second and coach third, I guess you could say. My content’s very like LGBTQ lifestyle, very, uh, focused on like celebrating the life that I, that I’ve been living and people like me have been living and kind of just like spreading more info about like just our existence period.
CHRISTIAN: How do you see your content impacting your followers?
ANGEL: Um, really what’s, what started it all was like my, my episode on Netflix’s Queer Eye. And that kind of like did a lot of like inspiration and also just like created a lot more awareness for people like me. I had a lot of messages post the show, um, as I was kind of getting like a bigger following, um, where people were just telling me that they were just constantly, um, just blown away by just like how I live my life and how open I was and how out I was. And more and more people would message me saying that they felt inspired to, um, come out and be open and be proud, um, just by seeing another person on screen like that. And so it’s really been the same throughout like the past two years of, of doing online content. It’s been about kind of just inspiring people to be proud of who they are and also just inspiring them to be more of who they are. I think a lot of people just don’t realize who they truly could be until they actually ask the question.
CHRISTIAN: Speaking of pride, do you see your work providing gender affirmation or pride in identity and community?
ANGEL: Uh, yes, absolutely. Um, there’s just a lot of like, people tend to feel more proud of who they are when they have people like them that are very, very proud of who they are, right?
Like they’re, they’re sort of like a ripple effect of pride that kind of ripples out from people that they idolize. Um, I didn’t grow up with many idols, um, especially like after I came out as trans. And so for, for me, there wasn’t much of an experience of like being able to see people live a proud experience as a trans person, as a queer person in general. And so, um, for other people who follow me and then who see me as an idol, there is definitely an effect of, of pride, um, that, that spreads through like everything they do and the lives that they live.
CHRISTIAN: Wow. I really love that way you put it of a ripple effect. That’s yeah, it’s really deep. Um, all right, now we’re kind of getting into the meat and potatoes of this conversation. What does the term parasocial relationship mean to you?
ANGEL: Oh, that’s a great question. Ah, there’s so much to it, right? Like,parasocial relationship, for me, is very much, like, how I’ve affected people and how people interact with me based on how I’ve affected them. Right? Um, I know that a lot of people tend to stick to just like the basic, the basic definition of like like, oh, this is just how how my fans, my followers like interact with me. Um, but for me there’s so much more to it in that like I have had an impact on so many people and a positive impact on so many people right? And so to be able to kind of see their experiences and hear about their experiences, um, after feeling inspired or, or while being inspired by the things that I do or have done. Essentially, like, being able to listen to and see experiences post, like, being inspired by me, um, not only, like, helps me kind of see, like, what effects that my content has, but also helps, like, inspire me to do more, right? And I think that kind of rounds out how I experience parasocial relationships.
CHRISTIAN: I’m curious about what percentage of your audience, uh, consists of teens and young people 18 through 24, and I want to know how they show up in your community.
ANGEL: Gotcha. I honestly could just pull up the stats right now if you really wanted me to.
CHRISTIAN: Wow. Receipts.
ANGEL: Yeah just a couple receipts. Just off my Instagram alone. Just reach in general, let’s go down to audience, um, age range. Yeah. 18 to 24 is half of my Instagram followers I would say like anywhere from 18 to about like 35 tends to be where my people sit.
Um, based on like what content I’m posting at the time, whether I’m talking about being queer or talking about relationships and especially like non-monogamy, or I’m talking about, um, just existence in general. Right? Um, I think that the 18 to 24 age range my content appeals to them specifically because it’s very relatable. I get a lot of just like people saying like, This is real. This is real. This is what I’ve experienced. And they tell their story in the comments, right?
It’s not just like 20 people telling me, I’m hot in the comments all the time. It’s like: Okay like I’ve had this, I’ve had this experience. This is how I’ve experienced it. This is how I see it. Um, and that’s like a really really good, a kind of a really, really good conversation, um, hub for, for, for stuff that comes up in my content.
CHRISTIAN: Yeah. Wow. I love to hear that. Cause I already know how the internet can be and just like, just hearing how, how it’s kind of more reciprocal in your communities, like really beautiful to hear.
So, I want to read you a quote from a recent Hopelab study about queer youth and content creators and get your reaction: When reading about other POC transmasc experiences, especially from older trans people, I feel joyed that one day that could be me. One day I can be a thriving trans man as an adult.
ANGEL: Um, reaction, I completely agree. Like, I, I think for, for me,as a trans woman and then moving into like my transition back in, back in 2019, There was kind of a hopeless moment where I looked at things and I said, okay, I don’t really see many people that are, that are older and they’re like me.
Especially as an athlete too, like I entered the spaces as a, as a queer athlete and as a trans athlete. And so, um, to look towards the future and not see many people doing, doing what I wanted to do and doing, doing me. Right. Um, I. Had a moment of how am I supposed to get further than this, right?
Am I supposed to just do it myself? There’s no, there’s no textbook. There’s no outline for what my life is supposed to look like. And so, um, I’ve had a lot of, especially younger folk, where they’re like reaching their legal adulthood and they’re making their own medical decisions and they’re, they’re choosing to change their lives drastically and are able to go on and have faith that things will be okay because people like me exist and, and like beyond me, like other trans content creators exist, right?
Um, Whether they’re focused on comedy or, or inspiration or lifestyle or, or weightlifting or whatever it is, the more that we’re able to exist openly, um, as who we are, um, the more that other people will feel inspired to do the same.
CHRISTIAN: How has using the the platforms on social media molded your experience as a figure online? What are some of the benefits and drawbacks of being so visible?
ANGEL: Like the benefits of course are our visibility and of course like a career, right?
In terms of negatives, I have to say that like — I had a lot of struggle in my first year. I was trying to be something I wasn’t. Like, I think I had, I went from having a thousand followers to 130 in, in, in the maybe two weeks, um, 130 thousand.
Um, and for me, there was no like transitionary period of, Oh, I, I can learn how to do this and I can learn how to be a popular figure online. I can learn how to, um, like use social media in a, in a way that is healthy for me. So I kind of just like did what other people were doing and tried to like play my personality and my individuality into what the algorithm and what the platform wanted me to post. And, and wanted me to be, It was just so exhausting to not be truly myself for the sake of trying to grow. Right? Um, there was a lack of authenticity there. No matter how well I hit it. No matter how well people would say, like, you’re, you’re very authentic. You’re very straightforward. Um, I didn’t feel as authentic to my true self as I could be. So for 2023, I took a break.And I came back with kind of a, a, a reframed mind where I looked at the platform and I said, okay, negatives: the algorithm, negatives: self image, negatives: um, like trying to play to your audience. Right? Um, and I came back and I said, like, I had to play to myself and if they don’t like that, then that’s just how it is. Right? And, and I will grow based off, like, based off whether people like me or not. But that has to be, that has to be on them. That’s not on me. Um, and so I’ve found a lot healthier place now, and I’m growing a lot more thanks to that. Um, cause people genuinely do see the authenticity, but in terms of negatives, I really have to say the biggest one has to be like getting stuck in that box of like, this is who I’m supposed to be on this platform as opposed to just like being yourself. Right? Um, I get questions all the time from people like, how did you break into that?
And I said, well, you break into it by being yourself, not by being somebody else.
CHRISTIAN: Yeah. It, it just feels like whenever I’m on these platforms, there’s always like that template. There’s always like a, like the, the new trend. So for you to like, give your insight on like like receiving said opportunities and just being like, you know what? Nah. Cause that, that’s, that takes a lot of willpower. That takes a lot of just, self awareness that you’re just like, yeah, this, this doesn’t feel right. But that’s also the like path not often taken. So that’s, that’s really brave for you to like, really just be like, nah, I’m gonna do me.
You mentioned previously not having examples of trans femininity when you were younger. Um, where were you learning about transness? If you don’t mind.
ANGEL: Um, yeah, so, so growing up until, until about college, I really didn’t have any examples of like what I was feeling. Right? I think, um, for a lot of us, we grew up thinking like something’s off. Right? And I didn’t have any language or ideas of what that could possibly look like or be. I maybe encountered like one trans person and otherwise, it’s like, it’s, it’s media and, and like TV shows and, and movies where trans people, especially in like the, in like the late 90s, early 2000s and, and beyond that, um, are just not portrayed in a very positive light, right? We’re, we’re the, we’re the butt of a joke or we’re, we’re highly sexualized and oversexualized.
Um, and so it wasn’t until I, like, got to about like my junior or senior year, came out as queer and started like reading up about like different queer topics, um, at the end of high school, where I finally kind of like, learned a bit more, right? I wasn’t there yet in terms of like coming out and understanding where I was truly, but I knew that I was queer in some form or fashion. Right?
Um, I went from the like, very, very capable ally to: Okay, I’m queer, but I don’t know what. Um, and then finally in college, I was around trans people. I met trans people. I remember, I went thrifting once, um, in college. I remember I went to go like try on like, uh, some clothes. And the girl that greeted me like outside the dressing room, um, she turned, I said, hi, I told her that I liked her outfit, um, and that her hair is very pretty. And she just smiled and we, we had a brief conversation.She just had this beaming smile on her face because she felt affirmed in that moment. And it wasn’t until later that the friend that I had gone with told me, like, I think she was, I think she was trans, that I was like, Oh, she looked really happy. She looked really happy to like be acknowledged and seen as who she truly was.
Um, and I think it took me about like, Hmm, six months after that to come out. Um, I, uh, there was a Australian, I think it was actually, they’re actually a New Zealand content creator, um, Toby on the Tele, um, where, uh, essentially she was on, uh, the misfits podcast. Like they’re that the little, like a little like YouTube gang, um, that I don’t quite watch anymore because they, they pushed the boundaries sometimes. They had a podcast once and, um, essentially Toby is telling this story the entire time about how, how the experiences that Toby was having were just different. Like, everything about, like, Toby’s childhood and, and, and life were just different. They always knew something was off. They always, they, they preferred to hang out with the girls. They couldn’t connect with boys. They couldn’t connect with, um, with friends that they thought that they were supposed to be making.
Um, and they couldn’t live a life that they thought they were supposed to be. Um. And at the end of the podcast, um, I was on an hour-long drive back to San Antonio from Austin. And at the end of the podcast, she, she sits and she says, I’m coming out as trans. Right now. I am a, I am a trans woman. And. I pulled the car over and just sat. I just sat. And I was like, Whoa, is that? I think that’s me. Like, I think that’s, I think that’s who I’m supposed to be. I remember I texted my best friend at the time, um, uh, an out-and-proud lesbian. And I was like, Do you think I…?? Do you think I could be trans? Like, do you think I’m a, I’m a trans woman? And, and to be, uh, to, to give context, I was a very masculine, very, uh, muscular, very, like, gym rat, gym bro.
And so for me to text my best friend and say, I think I might actually be a woman, um, was definitely out of left field. But after the two of us kind of, like, sat for coffee and sat on it and said, like, oh, maybe I am feeling this. I think that, uh, like that kind of just helps round out my coming out experience, right?
It helps kind of like create this snowball effect of needing to be who I was and like, and finally making the moves and changes that I needed to make to be myself. I’d say that like, in terms of people that I looked up to or not even looked up to, but just like learn from it would have to be just like Toby. Honestly, like, I’m not even sure like what, what content she makes anymore. I think she’s just, she like pivoted to cars instead of video games at some point. Um, but she was like a very formulative, um, or formulative experience for me. And when, when she was talking on the podcast and, and, and making points and, um, and part of that crew.
CHRISTIAN: Yeah, that sounds like a really jaw dropping moment, especially like in that environment of going through a long drive and then you just literally had to pump the brakes. Wow. What a story. Um. Great name too, Toby on the Tele! Are there any questions you wish people would ask you?
ANGEL: I think that, um, when you have this con it’s constant and consistent online presence, um, especially when like you have a content plan and you’re speaking from a place of like, uh, trying to find topics and subjects to talk about. Right? Um, I think that people oftentimes are so focused on the thing that you’re talking about, that, that they kind of lose the person behind the camera, right?
Or the person in front of the camera, even. Even in my personal life, I have friends that um, they, they don’t do it on purpose, but they almost forget to reach out. They almost forget to be like, Hey, how are you doing? Right? Because they they feel like, Okay I saw you a few minutes ago. You’re on, you’re on everything. You look fine. You look great. Um, you’re beautiful. Okay, what could be wrong? Um, yeah. And there are some, some points where I still want to talk about a subject, but I’m not doing too great up here. You know, I’m, I’m, I’m, uh, I’m struggling a little bit. I’m going through a hard time, going through a breakup or I’m going through, um, a loss of friendship or I’m just stressed out. Right?
CHRISTIAN: Yeah, you’re human.
ANGEL: Yeah. I’m human. And sometimes I wish that some people would, would simply sit back and be like, Hey, you okay? What’s up? How’s your day? How are you doing? That’s one of the reasons I appreciate like Twitch streaming is that like I can, I can jump on and people will, people will notice really fast. Like, okay, like you’re, you’re having a rough day. Your gameplay sucks, but also you’re having a rough day. And, uh,
CHRISTIAN: Totally within the same chat message.
ANGEL: Yeah. Like, Hey, you’re not doing so good today. Um, are you good? Um, and so I think that sometimes people kind of lose track of that and I, nobody is truly, um, like, at least in my experience, through my community, nobody has truly been so self centered that they don’t want to reach out and say something. I think people just kind of forget sometimes, right? That there are humans in front of them. There are humans on their screen and sometimes it’s nice to just be like, Hey, like this is a great topic. How are you? You know? in terms of other questions, I think that, like, I as a person, as a queer person, as a trans person, have a very unique identity. And that I don’t really like, I don’t truly cling to any strict labeling of, like, what I am or who I am.
I am trans feminine and queer. And that could mean any range of number of things.
Sometimes I sit here and say, like, I am today, I’m kind of genderless. Like, I don’t really need you to gender mean if you, if you need to go, go like choose girl, but if you, if you can don’t. Um, and in terms of my queerness, like I don’t limit myself in terms of like who I see, who I, who I like, what, what I’m like, what I act like. Um, oftentimes it feels like I’m putting on a million different masks all day, um, and just, and just switching it up.
And so I think that, um, while, yes, I can use that as a topic and use that as like, um, as something that I can speak upon and speak about, I think that, like people who are interested could ask more questions about that. I think that while labels and, and, uh, and structures are very useful. Once we start to peel those structures away, things get very interesting and people should feel entitled to ask questions about that. And to start asking questions, not only about me and about other people like me, but also of themselves.
CHRISTIAN: Yeah. What’s behind the mask.
ANGEL: Exactly. Yeah
CHRISTIAN: That was Angel Joy Flores. You can connect with Angel online at arkangeljoy that’s A-R-K-ANGEL-JOY or you can find a link on our episode page at YR dot Media slash Adult hyphen Ish.
CHRISTIAN: I want to say thanks to Mike and Angel for joining us on this episode of Adult ISH and also give a special shoutout to HopeLab for sharing their study with us.
CHRISTIAN: Parasocial relationships can provide a chance to find and foster relationships with people with similar identities. While it may take some time to shake the stigma off, it’s evident that this dynamic can benefit those who might have had fewer personal offline connections.
[MUSIC]
CHRISTIAN: Adult ISH is produced by YR Media, a national network of young artists and journalists creating content for this generation.
CHRISTIAN: Our show is produced by Fredia Lucas, Nyge Turner, Shaylyn Martos, Christian Escobar, and by me, Christian Romo.
CHRISTIAN: Thanks to Hopelab for collaborating on this episode.
NYGE: Original music for this episode created by these young musicians at YR:
NYGE: Christian Romo, Anders Knutstad, Noah Holt, Jacob Armenta, Chaz Whitley, Michael Diaz, Sean Luciano Galarza, and David Lawrence.
Adult ISH is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX, a network of independent creator-owned, listener-supported podcasts. Discover audio with vision at Radiotopia-dot-F-M (Radiotopia.fm)
NYGE: And if you haven’t reviewed our show on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, please be sure to do so. Five stars is much-appreciated.
NYGE: You can follow us on all the socials at Y-R Adult ISH (@yradultish).
CHRISTIAN: And on that note, we’ll see ya.
So Irvine PD is getting an anti-drug Cybertuck, produced by a guy known for publicly doing drugs, and they introduced it with a video using music from The Terminator. Do we even need to say more?
Host/Producer/Editor: Malachi Segers-Seker
The Lowdown gives you the latest in news, pop culture, and everything else your friends will be talking about tomorrow. Don’t get FOMO, get The Lowdown with Malachi, every Friday here at YR Media.
Angel Joy Flores (she/her) considers herself a content creator first, performer second and athletic coach third. After being featured in an Emmy award-winning episode of Netflix’s Queer Eye, Angel found herself in a brand new industry — where people wanted to know her story, her opinions and the details of her love life. Over the past two years, she’s continued celebrating LGBTQIA+ lifestyle and visibility while building lasting community online. In partnership with Hopelab, YR Media’s Christian Romo (he/him) interviewed Angel on what it takes to live out loud on multiple platforms, and how she’s learned to balance her own needs with the needs of her growing audience.
This interview has been edited for clarity and length.
YR Media: How do you see your content impacting your followers?
Angel Joy Flores (arkangeljoy): Really, what started it all was my episode on Netflix’s Queer Eye. I had a lot of messages post the show as I was gaining a bigger following. People were telling me that they were constantly blown away by how open I was and how out I was. And more and more people would message me saying that they felt inspired to come out and be open and be proud, just by seeing another person on screen. And so it’s really been the same throughout like the past two years of doing online content. It’s been about inspiring people to be proud of who they are, to be more of who they are.
“Who put this hot trans on stage?” pic.twitter.com/LwE2q7iGAe
— V
(@arkangeljoy) September 25, 2024
YR: I love that. Speaking of pride, do you see your work providing gender affirmation or pride in identity and community?
Angel Joy Flores: Yes, absolutely. I didn’t grow up with many idols, especially like after I came out as trans. And so for me, there wasn’t much of an experience of being able to see people live a proud experience as a trans person, as a queer person in general. And so for other people who follow me and then who see me as an idol, there is definitely an effect of pride that spreads through everything they do and the lives that they live.
YR: You mentioned not having examples of trans femininity when you were younger. Where were you learning about transness?
Angel Joy Flores: I think for a lot of us, we grew up thinking something’s off. And I didn’t have any language or ideas of what that could possibly look like or be growing up.
And otherwise it’s it’s media and like TV shows and movies where trans people, especially in like the late 90s, early 2000s and beyond that, are just not portrayed in a very positive light, right? We’re the butt of a joke or we’re highly sexualized and over sexualized.
There was a New Zealander content creator, Toby on the Tele. Essentially she was on the Misfits podcast, they’re that little like YouTube gang that I don’t quite watch anymore because they push the boundaries sometimes. But essentially they had a podcast once and Toby is telling this story the entire time about how like everything about Toby’s childhood and life were just different.
They always knew something was off. They couldn’t connect with friends that they thought that they were supposed to be making. And they couldn’t live a life that they thought they were supposed to be. At the end of the podcast, I was on an hour-long drive back to San Antonio from Austin. And at the end of the podcast, she sits and she says, “I’m coming out as trans right now. I am a trans woman.”
And I pulled the car over and just sat. I just sat. And I was like, whoa, is that? I think that’s me. Like, I think that’s I think that’s who I’m supposed to be. I remember I texted my best friend at the time, an out and proud lesbian. And I was like, do you think I could be trans? So to give context, I was a very masculine, very muscular, very like gym rat, gym bro. But after the two of us kind of like sat for coffee and sat on it and said like, maybe this, maybe I am feeling this.
YR: Yeah, that sounds like a really jaw-dropping moment, especially in that environment of going through a long drive and then you just literally had to pump the brakes. Wow, what a story.
So what does the term parasocial relationship mean to you?
Angel Joy Flores: I think that especially now doing a lot more like live streaming and a lot more like in-person events, seeing a lot more people out and about, there’s so much to it. Like “parasocial relationship” for me is very much like how I’ve affected people and how people interact with me based on how I’ve affected them, right?
I know that a lot of people tend to stick to just the basic definition of like, this is just how my fans, my followers interact with me. But for me, there’s so much more to it in that I have had an impact on so many people and a positive impact on so many people. And so, to be able to kind of see their experiences and hear about their experiences not only helps me see what effects that my content has, but also helps inspire me to do more.
♬ Succession Main Theme – L’Orchestra Nazionale di Mendoni
YR: How much interaction is kind of taking place within, let’s say, this platform of Instagram. Like, are you on there on the daily trying to keep up with the comments?
Angel Joy Flores: I think it’s somewhere in the middle. There are days where I’m just go, go, go. Today, for example, I’m going from like in-person work this morning to this [interview], to content creation after this, to streaming afterwards. So there’s not as much time for me to sit and scroll through every single comment that I can. Also, there’s the hate that comes by, of course. And sometimes it’s one of those days where I just can’t deal with it. I don’t have enough snide comments to react with, right?
However, when I do have a good comment section where people are having conversations, like asking or answering questions, I like to chime in. I like to talk and kind of just like join the conversation. I see it a lot more now in terms of like being live on Twitch or on TikTok. People are looking for friends, and they want cool friends and they want cool people to talk to. And so for them to be able to jump on chat and say what they’re feeling, what they’re experiencing, and for me to be able to relate to them and answer questions and kind of help them through certain things that they need — it’s really important to me.
I keep making jokes that like, I don’t want to get big on Twitch, because like, I don’t want to have to stare at a chat that’s just flying by my face, right? I like my little community; I like my little set of people that can come in and be like, “Hey friend, like, what’s up? What’s going on? How are things?”
YR: How has using the platforms on social media molded your experience as a figure online? What are some of the benefits and drawbacks of being so visible?
Angel Joy Flores: I think that the benefits of course are visibility, and of course a career. That’s enabled me to have a lot of freedom in my life. An ex of mine used to say, well, you’re always gonna be able to lean on this as a job. That kind of changes how you see life. No matter what happens, like this job market, while unique and somewhat considered niche, it’s kind of always going to exist as long as the internet exists, right? It’s just a matter of pivoting.
In terms of negatives, I have to say that I had a lot of struggles in my first year. I went from having a thousand followers to, in maybe two weeks, 130 thousand. And so for me, there was no like transitionary period. So I kind of just like did what other people were doing and tried to like play my personality and my individuality into what the algorithm of what the platform wanted me to post.
And I think I quickly realized that like, it was just so exhausting to not be truly myself for the sake of trying to grow, right? There was a lack of authenticity there. No matter how well I hid it, no matter how well people would say like, “You’re very authentic, you’re very straightforward,” I didn’t feel as authentic to my true self as I could be.
I took a little bit of a break. I took six months and I was like, I’m not going to post every day. I’m just going to do every once in a while and kind of keep the numbers up. But I’m not going to take this as seriously. And I came back with kind of a reframed mind and I said, I had to play to myself. And if they don’t like that, then that’s just how it is.
I get questions all the time from people like, how did you break into that? And I say, “Well, I cheated, I was on a TV show. But you break into it by being yourself, not by being somebody else.”
YR: Do you have suggestions on how to foster community online?
Angel Joy Flores: Are we talking from the viewer standpoint or talking from the content creator standpoint? That’s my question.
YR: What would be the difference?
Angel Joy Flores: Ooh, that’s a great way of reframing that question for me, huh? The difference is whether you’re trying to foster the community yourself or find community. Or, whether you’re trying to create community or enter the community.
I’ve gotten a lot of questions about how to break into the space and create community. I don’t want to hammer on about authenticity because that’s what I talk about a lot. But I think that the more people feel like you are being truthful and honest and completely yourself, the more people will want to listen to you and gather around you and just understand that you’re being as real with them as they can be with you, right?
And as the viewer, I’d say the biggest tip I can give is don’t be anxious or nervous or fearful about how people will receive you. A lot of people nowadays, especially with so many people being diagnosed with neurodiversion, having anxiety, depression, and then various other things, so many of us get caught up in, “What if this community rejects me? What if this community is not as welcoming as I want them to be?” Be as real as possible and they’ll be real with you. And if it’s not your home, then there’s somewhere else for you.
There is a different page on the same app. There’s a different Discord server for you. There’s a different streamer with a better community for you, right? I think that those trying to build community, all they have to do is make a little bit of effort, reach out, say something. I think that fostering community is the best thing we can do with this internet, with the globalization effect that the internet has brought. What’s the point in having all this access to everybody else if we’re not going to use it for positive experiences and for community?
And it leads to so much more. It can lead to in-person meetups with groups of friends that you’ve met online; it can lead to years-long D&D campaigns; it can lead to a streaming career or a social media career — whatever the hell you want. Talk, say something, scream out your existence to the world. It’s more than just your responsibility. It’s your right as a human, as a user of these platforms.
YR: Hopelab’s research found the benefits of following online creators may be especially important to transgender and non-binary young people. What do you think these sets of parasocial dynamics will look like 10 years from now?
Angel Joy Flores: The platforms will always be changing, right? There’s always going to be a new platform that rises up. We’re steady and stable where we are. I think there’s a lot of options right now between the different streaming and social media platforms. But in five years time, there’ll be another one. I think that in the future, there’s going to be more of a disconnect between the larger content creators and the smaller ones. And there’s this interesting rift that I’ve been seeing where the larger ones build these massive communities around people that they don’t really interact with truly. They’re just kind of an entertainer at that moment. You’re going to a concert.
You’re another face in the crowd for them. If that’s how you want to consume the content you consume, that’s more than okay. We’ve been seeing recently — especially with how Chappell Roan’s been treated — that there are some negatives to that experience. However, I think the disconnect will grow. The smaller streamers and content creators are going to be even more personal, even more authentic to the small communities. And that we’ll start seeing this increase in parasocial relationship dynamics at the smaller level.
I think that, especially now over time, as people grow up, they want to be more involved and they want to talk more. And so they’ll find and reach out to smaller creators who they can actually connect with and have an experience with and have longer term parasocial relationships with.
♬ Ненавижу(?) – Xopowo
YR: Are there any questions you wish people would ask you?
Angel Joy Flores: When you have this constant and consistent online presence — especially when you have a content plan and you’re speaking from a place of like trying to find topics and subjects to talk about — people oftentimes are so focused on the thing that you’re talking about that they kind of lose the person behind the camera. Or the person in front of the camera even. Where even in my personal life, I have friends that almost forget to reach out. They almost forget to be like, hey, how are you doing? Right? Because they feel like, okay, I saw you a few minutes ago. You’re on everything. You look fine. You look great. You’re beautiful! What could be wrong?
And there are some points where I still want to talk about a subject, but I’m struggling a little bit. I’m going through a hard time, a breakup, a loss of friendship. Or I’m just stressed out. And I’m human. And sometimes I wish that some people would simply sit back and be like, “Hey, are you okay? What’s up? How’s your day? How are you doing?” That’s one of the reasons I appreciate Twitch streaming. I can jump on and people will notice really fast.
In terms of other questions, I have a very unique identity in that I don’t truly cling to any strict labeling of what I am or who I am. I am transfeminine and queer, and that could mean any range of number of things. Oftentimes it feels like I’m putting on a million different masks all day and just switching it up. I think that while labels and structures are very useful, once we start to peel those structures away, things get very interesting. And people should feel entitled to ask questions about that, and to start asking questions not only about me and about other people like me — but also of themselves.
Edited by shaylyn martos
Forty-eight percent of Americans are unfamiliar with their family’s cancer history, according to new research.
A survey of 2,000 Americans conducted by Talker Research to highlight Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month found that 42% of women and 54% of men were unclear on many of their relatives’ medical history.
Twenty-two percent of the 1,000 women surveyed felt confident they know who has or hasn’t had cancer in their family but were unsure of the actual type.
A fifth of women surveyed (20%) didn’t know at all their family’s cancer history, and just 46% of the 1,000 women surveyed felt confident they were up to date fully with all their health checks,
When asked to cite the reasons for not being up to date on health checks, anxiety and fear were the common responses with 30% of women who are not up to date naming this as their driving factor.
Being too busy (24%), and feeling physically uncomfortable with the process 21% were also prominent reasons given for not being up to date on health checks.
The survey results also highlighted a lack of awareness and understanding in ovarian cancer – one of the leading causes of cancer deaths among women.
Forty-two percent of the 1,000 women polled didn’t feel they could identify any symptoms.
Here are four key facts everyone should know about ovarian cancer:
A Pap test does not detect ovarian cancer. While Pap tests are vital for detecting cervical cancer, they do not screen for ovarian cancer. If you’re experiencing concerning symptoms, bring them up during your gynecological appointment.
Ovarian cancer is often diagnosed late. Since there’s no routine screening for ovarian cancer, it is usually found after it has spread, making it harder to treat. Awareness of symptoms can play a huge role in getting diagnosed earlier.
Diagnosing ovarian cancer before it spreads makes it much more treatable. The sooner it’s caught, the better your chances of receiving effective treatment.
Know the symptoms. While ovarian cancer can be challenging to catch early, knowing the symptoms can make a huge difference:
- Persistent bloating
- Difficulty eating
- Feeling full quickly
- Pelvic or abdominal pain
- Urinary symptoms (such as urgency or frequency)
“If any of these symptoms are persistent (meaning they don’t come and go), visit your primary health care professional.
Originally published by Talker News
It seems like every year there’s another “teen trend” parents need to freak out about. But unlike Tide Pods, not only is there actual evidence kids are doing this, it really is one of the year’s biggest viral trends! One question tho…WHY?
Host/Producer/Editor: Malachi Segers-Seker
The Lowdown gives you the latest in news, pop culture, and everything else your friends will be talking about tomorrow. Don’t get FOMO, get The Lowdown with Malachi, every Friday here at YR Media.
Diya Dabash (she/they) is a Palestinian Indian social media influencer, musician and model based in Canada. Diya is multi-talented — she uses music, writing, art and her social media platform to advocate for marginalized groups and build community. They are open and real about their own journey, showing LGBTQIA+ people of color and queer Muslims that they are not alone. The space influencers like Diya Dabash curate can be refuges for young queer folk of color. In partnership with Hopelab, YR Media’s Isha Smith (they/them) interviewed Diya about the parasocial relationships that build queer communities online.
This interview has been edited for clarity and length.
YR Media: What is a title that you would use for yourself?
Diya Dabash: I would say I’m a content creator, mostly. It kind of varies — with the names depending on which job that I’m doing. So sometimes I’ll say I’m a model, sometimes I’ll say I’m an artist, sometimes I’ll say I’m a content creator, influencer. It just really varies.
YR: How did you start becoming a content creator, and what influences how you create your content?
Diya Dabash: Do you want like a short condensed version or do you want like a lay it on the table, all very real?
YR: I feel like lay it on the table.
Diya Dabash: Okay, okay. So how do I explain this? I grew up in a very conservative part of Canada. And where I live if you are within a religious group, it’s very tightly together, as conservative places are. My dad was a very prominent religious figure in the community. And I was just taught that being queer equals bad.
I never really associated with people who weren’t Muslim or people of different beliefs. We were very strict on that. It was kind of like a clique. But once I started exposing myself to people of all races and all sexual orientations and all of this, just diversity. I met my ex-girlfriend actually. She identified as someone who was queer and grew up Muslim. And I was like… You can do that? Wait a second, you can do that?
I came out when I was maybe 18 years old. But I would say when I came out like officially on social media, not creating content — and this is right before COVID — I lost a lot of friends. My dad also ended up kicking me out because I didn’t want to wear the headscarf anymore. And all of my other siblings took it off and he just was like, “I don’t care. It’s not anything to do with God. It’s about my reputation.”
I was a hurt 18 year old who wanted to feel validated. So I got bored during lockdown, as we all did. And I took to social media to announce that I was queer and I was Muslim, and there was nothing wrong with that. I didn’t realize just how important representation was for people like me until I actually started doing it. So once I started doing it, I mean, I can’t stop. I’m going to try and normalize it and help as many people as I possibly can.
@diyadabash ♬ WRECKING BALL .. MOTHER MOTHER – vvoidheartt
YR: Yeah. Having that representation, people that look like you and people that are like you, is so important for people of color and queer kids. So what challenges do you face in aiming to create content that represents people of color and LGBTQIA+ communities?
Diya Dabash: I feel as though intersectionality plays a large part of it. Either I’ll get the age-old, “You can’t be Muslim, you can’t be religious and believe in God if you’re gay.” And I get it from not only religious people who want to gatekeep religion. I get it from other queer people as well who are either driven away by religion, who grew to hate religion — or they’re just like brainwashed into hating religion. So I get it from both sides and I face a lot of backlash from both sides, albeit the religious communities have more power than the queer communities do.
I’m in a privileged spot where I can speak freely and I get comments from both sides. So it also comes with me being Arab and Indian. Whenever someone sees me and they’re like, “You’re Muslim, but you’re Indian…Aren’t you Hindu? You have a Hindu name.”And I’m like, dude. And then Arabs will be in my comment section being racist, like, of course you’re queer, you’re Indian. Because they have this superiority complex. So I would say a lot of people don’t take me seriously. That’s a challenge that I face.
And when people do take me seriously, they think that I’m some sort of like FBI-planted government thing to ruin their religion or make their ethnicity look bad. I’m like, dude, I’m just a girl. just here like making content for those who really need it. And again, like I do have a voice and I’m privileged enough to use it. So why don’t I?
YR: In contrast to that, what do you feel you do to mitigate that and build supportive community?
Diya Dabash: I feel like I’m a troll. In the sense that I use a lot of humor in my content creation to try and, I guess, lighten the mood. Try and reach as many people as possible, try to be a little relatable. I make so many people mad just by existing. And I feel like people think that I’m trying to always pull a victim card when I simply speak about it.
I want to harbor a safe space in my comment sections; I want to show other people who are potentially reading these hurtful comments that it’s not that deep. It really isn’t that deep. So I kind of make light. I laugh at it and I let religious homophobes know; I let racist people know; I let Zionists know. If you are going to say something ridiculous, I’m gonna use you for content. I’m gonna get some money out of it. And I think that kind of shuts them up, and it’s like a big win on my end, you know?
YR: So, Hopelab’s research found that relationships with people online often serve as a refuge for LGBTQIA+ plus youth. Do you see this in your interactions online?
Diya Dabash: Absolutely, and a part of me growing up as someone who was severely closeted, I think like everyone around me kind of saw the signs, but I didn’t. But to kind of cope with that, I would look up to other queer creators and be in their communities as a safe space. I’m glad that I’m able to do that for other people. It makes me quite happy that people do think of me as a friend. Or they message me and say, “I have a problem, can you give me some advice?” I’m really here to try and help as many people as I can.
The only downside is that it does create some sort of like parasocial relationship between us. So a lot of people will cross boundaries or they’ll, you know, somehow get my number. I just feel as though a lot of people think that they know me and they put so much faith in me that it kind of makes me feel a little pressured to be a certain way.
@diyadabash If i dont laugh i will cry
♬ hey can i show you – checka
YR: Speaking of parasocial relationships, that term can be somewhat controversial. Some people think of them as just being unhealthy obsessions, but these connections can also be really beneficial in the lives of queer youth.
Can you speak from experience on what sort of relationships you have with other folk online? And do you see positives in those relationships in your life?
Diya Dabash: I mean I still do it, I’m guilty of it. I’m not like a big celebrity or content creator — not yet at least. I’m joking. But I’ll see a bigger queer creator or a smaller one, and there’s just a sense of relief when I see them. I feel like I relate to them a lot more than I relate to anyone else on the internet. And I believe that’s how people see me. Looking up to like other queer creators made me feel less alienated. It made me feel more safe. It made me feel like I’m not alone.
YR: What role do you think that smaller scale content creators like yourself play versus like celebrities in these types of relationships?
Diya Dabash: I feel as though because I am smaller, a lot of people feel like there’s more relatability. Whereas if I was a lot bigger then I feel like that gap gets further. So it’s like, maybe she won’t notice me because now she has like a million followers instead of just 100k or like 20k, you know what I mean?
I get a lot of people in my comment section or in my DMs asking me for advice on their specific situations, which I do my best to respond to. And I don’t think I would be able to do that if I was a lot bigger.I know a lot of fellow content creators that don’t have a dedicated following, regardless of how many followers they have.
Like yeah, they’ll go viral for being pretty or posting a thirst trap or saying something kind of controversial or relatable, but people don’t really stick around. They don’t comment on every reel; they don’t help with engagement. Not only do I feel as though my content is getting boosted all the time, these guys are really sticking with me. It makes me feel like I matter. Maybe it is a parasocial relationship on my end too.
YR: What have you gained through your content creation?
Diya Dabash: I feel like I gained some sort of validation. Because when I first came here, screaming to the world that I exist and there’s nothing wrong with it, and then I had other people let me know they are exactly like me, I felt as though a burden was lifted off my back. And my own religious trauma was lifted off my back. And now I don’t feel like I’m in the wrong either.
So honestly, like creating content has really helped me hopefully as much as I’m helping other people. And it’s quite nice because a lot of the people I was you know fans of back in the day, I’m like mutuals with, and some I’m even friends with. And it’s just giving me the opportunity to make connections that I don’t think I would have ever have made if I wasn’t in this field of work.
YR: Could you tell me a little bit about the creative projects that you’ve been working on or want to work on?
Diya Dabash: Oh my god, of course. When I was younger, I was super into Dodie. I was so into the British YouTuber, arts, music — that community. And it always seemed like an unachievable dream because being Muslim, or at least in my Muslim household, I wasn’t allowed to play instruments. And at some points, I wasn’t even allowed to listen to music. So it just seemed like an unrealistic dream.
But now that I can actually sit down and focus on projects, I have released some music kind of outlining my feelings and my experiences with religion and being queer. I’m so grateful that I can make that and potentially share it with the world. And then I’m also working on a book that is very much like a coming-of-age sci-fi dystopia.
Now I’m modeling, which I never thought I’d be able to do without everyone on TikTok making me as big as I am. I would have never gotten signed. I’ve met a producer that I’m making music with that I would have never known if I wasn’t friends with the people that I’m friends with. And like I got my first book done, and I’m trying to get it released and published. I’m just so grateful.
Isha Smith (they/them) is a student writer and photographer currently based in upstate NY.
Edited by shaylyn martos
The dynamic duo of Black Panther and Creed partner up again to give us a horror movie set in the Jim Crow era. Warner Bros recently dropped a rather mysterious trailer showing their movie, Sinners, directed by Ryan Coogler and starring Micheal B. Jordan. The two-minute trailer is relatively cryptic, not showing much about the plot of the movie, but giving enough to peak movie watchers’ interest.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Jordan is set to play the leading role of not only the character Smoke, but his twin brother who we see him embrace in the trailer. Alongside him is Hailee Steinfeld playing an unspecified character, but it’s speculated she’ll be the villain. In the trailer, however, she can be seen wearing white and dancing seductively in a room filled with other dancing characters. Other actors in the movie include Delroy Lindo, Jack O’Connell, Wunmi Mosaku, Jayme Lawson, and Omar Benson Miller.
The trailer leaves a lot of things up for speculation by not laying out the whole plot to us, which is a breath of fresh air. I actually couldn’t tell you what the movie was about based on the trailer alone, but according to credible sources, Jordan will be fighting vampires in this spectacle.
Read more …
This guest post is in partnership with True Star Media.
An anonymous donor recently gifted Paul Quinn College, a private four-year HBCU in Dallas, Texas, $20 million.
Paul Quinn is widely known for being the creator of the Urban Work College model, which gives students attending the institution direct access to the workforce in their field. This program provides students with years of experience before they walk across the stage at graduation. They also are the only minority-serving, federally recognized Work College in America.
This is the largest donation in the history of the institution, which serves under five hundred students according to Bestcolleges.com. Paul Quinn College has already made strides to ensure that the students have an affordable tuition, only furthering their mission to propel their students. The gift will be used to develop and push new initiatives and programs to directly impact future Quinnites.
ICYMI @PaulQuinn1872 received the largest donation in its history — $20 million from an anonymous donor
This will enable Paul Quinn to offer more student scholarships, enhance campus spaces & hire faculty and staff.
https://t.co/Qvdgl8jLw2 pic.twitter.com/ZtwcXfA4CV
— Student Freedom Initiative (@StudentFreedom) August 9, 2024
A portion of the money will be used for scholarships however Dr. Michael J. Sorrell, the president of Paul Quinn College, expressed the importance of investing in other areas as well.
“At an institution like Paul Quinn where we’ve already reduced the cost of attendance to reduce student loan debt…the overwhelming majority of our students are already experiencing a significant economic benefit from being here,” he said.
He shared that with 75% of their students receiving Pell Grants and the school charging around $22-23k a year for room, tuition and fees, the school is greatly affordable. Also, adding the benefits from The Urban Work College model, students are able to economically succeed.
As a way to pour back into the student body, they will be investing in their banking and finance program, a growing profession.
“The best way for them to share this experience is spending it the way that we believe doing so, which is investing in the sustainability of the institution. So, we are pouring money into our banking and finance major. Part of the reason we are doing that is because banking and finance as majors have a direct pathway to economic stability,” said Sorrell.
It will also help to curate an Office of Development for students along with physical upgrades to the campus.
Paul Quinn College is dedicated to preparing its students for the future and making sure they have the support they need, which is shown with their “WE over Me” motto. One of the ways that they ensure that is through their “Village Program,” an initiative that allows students to bring their village with them to college.
Students who are admitted are allowed to extend their admission to two additional people, which allows them to also attend college with them. The eligibility for the program requires the Base Student must be Pell Grant—eligible, with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. The additional student will be met where they are, meaning they can take classes online, in person or join a certificate program.
Students are now required to complete a business plan before completing their degree program, as a part of every “Quinnite is an Entrepreneur” initiative.
“This program requires every Paul Quinn student to create a business before they graduate. So at Paul Quinn, you will either graduate with a job or creating jobs,”
Paul Quinn College is dedicated and has shown through programming initiatives and their student body that they are molding their students into leaders and they are excited to share their programming with the world.
“We are expanding nationally, we are going to open up campuses in other cities across the country. We think our model deserves to be replicated. And we are thrilled that there are institutions out there replicating the urban work college model,” said Sorrell.
Paul Quinn College received a 20
Million donation— Roni
(@_Raeeeeeee) July 26, 2024
Ariyana Griffin is a graduate student from Morgan State University. She is a California native and also a graduate of Clark Atlanta University. Follow her on X: @Ariyanaaganee and Instagram: @ari.yana.g.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
The Black Greek effect stands on business and “service to all mankind.”
Vice President Kamala Harris continues to break the glass ceiling by being the first Black woman and South Asian person to run for President of the United States. Her culture-focused background as a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and a graduate of Howard University where she obtained a Political Science And Economics degree is just the beginning to her impact on the nation.
“America is not ready for what’s coming,” said TikTok user @brownljb.
@brobromitts AKA and D9 are not playing! Can’t wait to see what comes next! Nothing can prepare us. #kamala #AKA #D9 #Kamala2024 #greeklife #sorority ♬ original sound – brownljb
Harris has proven her loyalty to making a difference over the years by fighting for what she believes in such as, but not limited to creating change in the housing, child care, and college areas. Speaking of loyalty, her membership in the Divine Nine, which is a collective of nine fraternities and sororities that has a mission to conduct social change for Blacks, the community, and the country is all exemplified in her everyday work.
The Divine Nine is standing by Harris and supporting her campaign. Her sorority along with Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. has created a PAC in an effort to raise money from its members for political change. Other members of the Divine Nine are standing in support of her as well, such as Camille McCallum, a two-time graduate of the University of Mississippi and Southern Methodist University with a Bachelor’s in Public Policy Leadership, a minor in Journalism and a Master’s in Higher Education. McCallum is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. and the founder of Black Woman on A Mission. She has been creating a viral buzz on TikTok with her campaign T-shirts and informative videos about the upcoming election.
@camilleviviana_ Replying to @Facts ONLY
the tshirt committee is on the job! #AKA #BlackWomanonaMission #KamalaHarris #winwithblackwomen ♬ original sound – Camille
“The Divine Nine unites us around scholarship, service, and sisterly/brotherly love. We have a long history of producing exceptional leaders in our community, and as we see one of our own in VP Kamala Harris vying for the highest office in our country, it’s important that we compound our efforts, abandoning any silos, and using our collective voice and influence to mobilize our community. D9 leadership will play a pivotal role in making sure marginalized communities are registered to vote, informed on policy, and have access to the ballot box,” McCallum told YR Media.
During Harris’s time as President Joe Biden’s running mate, the Divine Nine and others celebrated Harris by wearing pearls and chucks. Now, organizations are using their platforms to be a voice and spread awareness.
“My organization Black Woman on a Mission has made it a priority to emphasize voter registration and combat misinformation in this election season. I am working with organizations such as Higher Heights, a political organization dedicated to mobilizing and electing Black Women to spread the word about the Harris campaign and keep the youth engaged and involved. I’ll also be working with the Congressional Black Caucus PAC in this regard as well. Whether it’s collaborating through content, events, or merchandise, Black Woman on a Mission is ready to support all efforts to get the community engaged in our upcoming election,” said McCallum.
Who is the Divine Nine?
- Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
- Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
- Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
- Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
- Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
- Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.
- Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.
- Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.
- Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc.
Ayanna Williams is an Alabama-based journalist who covers all things entertainment, fashion and beauty. Follow her on Instagram at @yannanicolee.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
You just turned 21 and now you have no idea what to do but alas the idea of drinking comes to mind. However, you can still have a little fun despite the small things.
Jazz Club
This is solely for introverts who prefer to avoid talking to people and are in a space where there are few people to be around. Jazz music will always be helpful in calming down your emotions. It’s a good date night to go by yourself or if you’d like someone that’s even better because I know half the people around the world have some sort of independence problem when it comes to going out and that’s even better for sharing memories with that person. Besides all of that, there’s no kids allowed in there so you don’t have to worry about drinking your wine and listening to the screeching sound of a child. “Black Cat” is one of the most popular jazz clubs in the Bay Area, the environment is modern yet classy.
Album Release Attendance
Honestly, I barely came to the knowledge that some celebrities make album release parties for, of course, the music album that they are releasing soon. Basically, it’s a special event to commemorate and acknowledge the launch of new music that the artist is coming out with. It serves as a platform for the musicians to promote their latest releases to their fans, supporters, industry, and the world.
Clubbing
You know clubbing isn’t as popular anymore, but that’s because there’s a cr*p thon of creeps roaming around, and well who would sacrifice their Saturday night for that? But, if we are talking about the vibes that clubs bring out of people, that’s different. If you grew up in the early 2000s you would know that almost every kid imagined going to the club growing up and dancing to the songs that were popular, which probably consisted of PitBull and Lady Gaga. Honestly, the only reason why this is on the list is because of that, wanting to check off things you wanted to as a child that were madly illegal but now you can. Also, this is for my extroverted people … you get to meet new people, which is probably right up your alley.
Casino
Ah yes, one of the most enriching things to do in American culture, wasting your hard-on money for filthy, capitalist, money-hungry companies, gotta love it. Just kidding (not really). Casinos are one of the finest activities you can do during your 20s but if you are planning to go to one of these gambling sorts, make sure to have a limit of money you can waste on the games you are going to play, for example, $40 would be some peoples limit, for others, it would be $200. It’s important to be financially stable in this economy. Also, make sure you don’t end up like Bruno Mars, if you don’t have talents, then you’re screwed, but hey being in your 20s is a celebration.
Themed Parties
The creativity within your inner child will probably love you for this idea, most kids grew up going to theme parties but then probably stopped going as a teenager because it was deemed as “uncool”, But now that you are an adult and hopefully make your own money you can do that. Honestly, if you are holding a theme party, take keys away from your childhood (from what you remember) and put them down for ideas when you turn 21. It’s original to have something that reminds you of childhood yet has a twist into adulthood.
Ana G. Valdes (she/her) is an Oakland-based journalist who covers culture and entertainment, films and TV shows.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin have various programs designed to create pathways to youth employment by offering job and skills training, mentorship and career pathways for young people, especially those from underserved communities.
Illinois
Career Pathways (Chicago Public Schools): This program connects high school students to career-focused learning opportunities, including internships and apprenticeships, helping them transition into the workforce or higher education.
One Summer Chicago: This initiative provides job opportunities and internships to youth aged 14 to 24, mainly in Chicago. It connects young people with organizations across the city for six-week summer employment, focusing on career skills, mentorship, and community engagement.
Youth Employment Programs by the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS): These programs provide youth with employment and training opportunities, especially those from underserved communities. They focus on equipping young people with job skills, training, and internships to prepare them for long-term employment.
Minnesota
Right Track (St. Paul): This program offers summer employment for youth in St. Paul, focusing on connecting young people with meaningful work experience, professional skills development, and mentorship.
Step Up (Minneapolis): Step Up is a Minneapolis-based youth employment program providing jobs and internships for youth aged 14 to 21. It partners with over 200 businesses and organizations to provide work experiences in a wide range of fields, including finance, healthcare, and the arts.
Youth at Work Program: Managed by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), this program provides grants to local organizations to create employment and training opportunities for low-income and at-risk youth. It focuses on career pathway development in high-demand sectors like technology, healthcare, and manufacturing.
Wisconsin
Project SEARCH: This program is specifically designed for youth with disabilities, offering a combination of work experience and classroom instruction to prepare young people for employment.
Youth Apprenticeship Program: Wisconsin’s Department of Workforce Development (DWD) runs this initiative, which offers high school juniors and seniors work-based learning experiences. Participants earn high school credits and gain hands-on experience in industries such as health care, manufacturing, and IT.
Youth Employment Services (YES): YES is a Milwaukee-based program offering youth job readiness training and placement services. It provides teens with the skills they need for employment and connects them with job opportunities during the school year and summer months.
Rashad Alexander is a Green Bay, Wisconsin-based journalist and an alumnus of Marquette University. He can be followed on Instagram and X @ruhshaaad.
Carleigh Lewis is a high school journalist in Chicago.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
The youth unemployment in Minnesota and Wisconsin are typically much lower than in Illinois. While the specific data for the youth unemployment rate in Wisconsin and Minnesota have yet to be published, their youth unemployment rates tend to be higher than the overall rates due to factors such as little-to-no experience and temporary jobs.
And, Wisconsin and Minnesota, with lower overall unemployment rates and proactive youth employment programs, have fared better than Illinois where systemic issues such economic disparities and minimum wage laws and economic disparities continue to impact job opportunities.
Achieve Twin Cities, a nonprofit organization that provides access to college and career readiness programs in Minneapolis-Saint Paul, held a 2023 web seminar to discuss the state’s youth unemployment rates. They were joined by RealTime Talent, a Minneota organization that ensures young adults and teenagers have the necessary skills when seeking a job.
Erin Olson, director of strategic research at RealTime Talent, mentioned how younger workers are more likely to have their jobs impacted by events similar to the pandemic.
“Younger workers are also more likely than other age demographics to have their jobs impacted. Youth also tend to have lower levels of seniority and work experience, and that makes them more vulnerable,” Olson said.
Minnesota’s youth employment rate has seen better days since the pandemic, however. According to research from Minnesota Employment and Economic Development, the state has seen the number of teens in the labor force grow by 24,600 since 2021. The teen work participation rate went from 53.5% to 54.9% during the time span.
Achieve Twin Cities career and college readiness coordinator Kelsey Massey noted that many youth aren’t fans of certain jobs due to the pay. However, she encourages them to understand what’s on stake for the future when it comes to these jobs.
“How we are changing that around jobs … we are informing students that yes, these are not the highest paying jobs. But the benefits that come with this, and the connections that come are long term,” Massey said.
Other youth employment programs in the Midwest include Earn & Learn in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It was started by the city’s former mayor, Tom Barrett, in an effort to give young people in Milwaukee work experience through local businesses and nonprofit organizations.
It includes a summer internship program for 16-19 year olds, along with a community experience group for 14-24 year olds.
Established in 2007, Barrett expressed the need for today’s youth to be in the workforce, as it gears not just Milwaukee’s community, but for all youth to be great.
“There are a shortage of workers in a number of areas. We’re doing ourselves a huge disservice if we’re not training the young people, because they’re the future workforce.” Barrett said in a 2022 video discussing the program. “If we don’t have young people who are trained for jobs, those jobs are simply gonna go somewhere else, and the entire community suffers.”
Rashad Alexander is a Green Bay, Wisconsin-based journalist and an alumnus of Marquette University. He can be followed on Instagram and X @ruhshaaad.
Carleigh Lewis is a high school journalist in Chicago.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
Machaizelli Kahey, otherwise known as MacDoesIt (he/him), does it all. He is a content creator and internet personality, but his comedy grounds his work. As a self-proclaimed “organized hot mess,” he bridges the two sides of YouTube by making the offensive palpable and the normal into nonsense in the best way possible. Since joining the platform in 2012, his videos have reached millions of views with a subscriber count of 2.57 million. In partnership with Hopelab, YR Media’s Zipporah Pruitt (she/her) interviewed Mac regarding his thoughts on LGBTQIA+ content creators and his experiences with parasocial relationships.
This interview has been edited for clarity and length.
YR Media: How would you describe your content?
Machaizelli Kahey (MacDoesIt): It is kind of a collage of whatever I want it to be. I tell people I do like satirical commentary. That’s kind of like what I’m mainly known for — I tear apart anti-gay propaganda and anti-gay commercials.
That’s what I did for like basically for a whole decade. But I feel like I’m also a mixture of a comfort channel for a lot of people nowadays, because I have been doing this for so long, and people have grown up with me. So it’s kind of a mixture of satirical commentary mixed with just comfort content of whatever people want to see me do.
YR: What experiences in your life led you to content creation?
MacDoesIt: Um, boredom and obsession with the Internet. I mean, I watched YouTube throughout all of middle school. That was like all I did with my friends and then in high school as well. We all started our own individual channels together. And then I was the only one out of the group that decided to make my channel public.
And then here I am today. I mean, I’ve always been a creative person growing up. I did theater my entire life, since the third grade. So I’ve always been a performer, a person that’s just like been in the creative fields. YouTube was kind of like a good alternative step for me to be in a creative field where I was 100 percent my own boss. I just fell in love with that. And here I am today.
YR: Yeah, you’ve been doing it for over a decade. Am I right?
MacDoesIt: Twelve years this month.
Courtesy of MacDoesItYR: So how does your experience as someone working within the intersection of being Black and Queer differ from your peers in the way you are perceived online?
MacDoesIt: Where do I start? Being Black, that’s a very surface-level identity of mine. I mean, that’s a huge deep conversation we’ve been having for a decade online.
You know, it is a very obvious fact that more people are going to click on a thumbnail of a beautiful white brown-haired boy versus me. Just all for the fact that I’m not, you know, not their cup of tea. There’s a deep-rooted systematic racism, grown-up racism, generational racism that happens in people’s bodies and minds, and that creates biases that, you know, kind of makes me feel I’m naturally against the grain when it comes to a lot of internet culture.
One of my main goals when I did start digital creating was [that] I didn’t really see that many creators like me, that look like me, in a certain atmosphere of YouTube. And so that’s one of the reasons why I kept on pushing to do what I do. I am one of the reasons why there were so many diversity initiatives and panels put into a lot of conventions and YouTube itself over the past few years.
YR: Hopelab’s research shows that a lot of LGBTQIA+ youth have strong, beneficial relationships with content creators. Do you see this in your interactions with your fans?
MacDoesIt: I feel like my existence and me being very publicly myself online has helped people feel more comfortable in themselves and their own skin, and has also helped people form communities. You know, they find other people that watch my content and suddenly, I have whole discord servers and pages and like chat rooms based on just who I am and the common interests of me. It’s created like a sense of comfort for people; that’s what communities are. And it helps grow their comfort and authenticity.
I tell people that my channel was kind of like that rare slice where you found someone like me, a big Black queer creator, to be like fully the main character at all times. I wasn’t the side character; I wasn’t the comedic relief.
It’s my life, my perspective, my mind being blasted out 24/7 on my channel. And I feel like that you don’t really see that in the media for people like me. And I feel like that helps people gravitate, help people to learn and discover perspectives that are different, you know.
YR: Some LGBTQIA+ youth may use parasocial relationships because they don’t have real-life connections that could help them explore their identity. Do you have any thoughts on that?
MacDoesIt: Yeah, that’s wonderful. I did that too, basically. I feel like we all do that, especially when we’re like little gays in our own houses, not really fully out to everybody. Not really knowing who to talk to. You’re turning to the screen staring in front of you. You find that one creator that you’re like, oh, there’s more there’s more homosexuals out there like me. For me, it was like Kingsley.
Kingsley was very much that like, you know, that, that O.G. gay creator out there. I was like, oh, another gay Black man doing this thing, being funny, made me feel comfortable being gay and Black. It’s a beautiful thing. I feel like it’s very much proven that the internet has definitely helped strengthen the identity of queer people across the globe.
YR: What other people do you follow online that have a positive impact on your well-being?
MacDoesIt: There was a creator called Hartbeat. She’s a lesbian, a big Black lesbian creator. She doesn’t really do that much YouTube videos that much. She does like [The Sims] stuff now here and there. But she was also one of the OGs that I really fell in love with, I had a parasocial relationship with. Also because I became a YouTuber myself, those parasocial relationships kind of grew into actual connections.
But, without their existence online, I probably would never have the courage to step up in the game, too. But those, I feel like are the heaviest people. And then also, you know, for my comedic side, it was definitely Grace Helbig. I think still to this day I’ve only met this girl once on an elevator, like seven years ago. And still, to this day, I feel like we could be best friends.
YR: Do you have any suggestions on how to foster community online?
MacDoesIt: Discord servers definitely. There’s so many different ways to like talk to people and form groups. There’s group chats on Instagram, Twitter spaces or X talk groups, but you know, there’s so many different places to constantly communicate. There used to be Google Hangouts, but that’s not a real thing anymore.
I think it’s called just Google Meet, which is a totally different system now. But that’s what I used to do with a lot of my friends. Like a lot of my internet creator friends, we were just on Google Hangout for hours as we were editing.
There’s so many tools, I think nowadays more than ever before, to just talk and constantly chat with people that you have shared interests with. So many different forums, Reddit, Discord servers, Telegram groups, and so on. Unfortunately, because, you know, parasocial relationships can get to the point where it gets toxic and can get dangerous sometimes too for the person. And so I know I can’t be on the Discord server as much as I want to be, but, you know, I hover. I invisibly hover most of the time.
YR: And that’s fine. You got to set boundaries as well, you know? Protect yourself.
MacDoesIt: Boundaries are very important.
Courtesy of MacDoesItYR: In Hopelab’s research, the folks that our participants listed as the most impactful content creators were often considered more small-scale. What role do you think smaller-scale content creators play versus celebrities?
YR: I feel like smaller-scale content creators in general are one of the reasons why celebrities are even on the internet in the first place now. You know, one of the reasons why celebrities even have social media or even take it seriously now is because of the strides even smaller creators have made for the past couple of decades.
I feel like because online and digital creators have more of like a personal approach and that we seem more personally approachable than celebrities, we form, a stronger sense of community. Stronger responses, stronger interactions that I feel like a lot of celebrities nowadays look at and now have to try to emulate. That wasn’t how it was back in the day, but now, because the digital era and all these creators have showcased how stronger a brand can be when you form that community online. Now a lot of these industry execs have this bar they set for a lot of these celebrities.
I feel like queer artists that are coming out, you can definitely tell they were online on Tumblr, on YouTube. Like the rest of us looking at the same content, following the same people. And it’s nice to see. I feel like not just Billie Eilish, but it’s also like Chappell Roan, Lil Nas X. They’re all, these queer artists are showing like, yeah, they’re online 24/7. And I feel like it’s enriched them and it’s helped them create big communities around them.
YR: And speaking upon Chappell Roan, she put out an Instagram post and she made several videos talking about parasocial relationships and toxic fans approaching her. And she’s got a mixed reception on that. What do you feel about that situation?
MacDoesIt: I mean, boundaries are healthy. It’s like I said, there are, there can be toxic parasocial relationships. There can be parasocial relationships that lead to people having this feeling of entitlement towards the people that they watch. And it results in specifically what’s happening with Chappell Roan. I feel like she’s dealing with that situation where people just feel entitled to touch her whenever they see her, like interrupt her, whatever she’s doing. And like she probably can’t walk outside as much as she used to literally five, seven months ago.
I do feel like female creators, and like females in the public eye in general, have to deal with like an entirely different level of parasocial relationships than males. And so, there is that fear. I feel like you deal with a lot more stalkers, a lot more creepier people when you’re a female in the public eye. Even at like a smaller scale that like men only have to deal with when they reach like the tens of millions of followers online.
YR: What boundaries do you set for yourself? And what advice would you give new creators with parasocial relationships?
MacDoesIt: I mean, it’s typical boundaries. There’s a level of how much I, I guess, release information and like to converse with certain people about certain topics. I try to keep it, especially in real life, I keep it light. I keep it cute, a few pictures, a few smiles. Maybe a video or two.
It’s all just based on your comfort level, champion consent as much as you can. You have to champion consent like crazy when you reach the public eye — consent, consent, consent. Because a lot of people are going to try to take consent away from you. The higher you get in the public eye, you gotta fight it back.
Before you walk into a situation, you always want to test how comfortable you are with X, Y and Z. If you don’t want to get touched, maybe you don’t want to do a public meeting. Or maybe do a virtual meeting. You know, there’s so many different avenues you can really set yourself boundaries on how, how far you want parasocial relationships to be.
YR: I want to ask you for anybody who wants to start creating content, what advice would you give them. Or what would you tell yourself if you started now as opposed to 12 years ago?
MacDoesIt: Ooh, I keep on telling myself, if I tried to start now, I don’t even know where I would even land. I feel like it’s so oversaturated now compared to ever before. You’re now seeing people rise to levels of viewerships and followings in a matter of seconds that you’ve never seen before, ever. And the only advice I can give because of that right now is to just start. Just make content. See who gravitates. Make what you want to do, see where it goes, and just take it one step at a time.
I know a lot of people that have made content nowadays have that expectation and want to reach that skyrocket level off of one upload, because that’s what’s happening nowadays. That’s still like a one-in-a-million situation. Even though there’s a lot more content happening — now there’s a lot more millions popping out more than every second. But I feel like for any creative field in general, you just gotta throw yourself out there and learn hands-on. Ask questions, go to events, talk to people, make a video, comment on other video comments. Just go out there and grow.
Zipporah Pruitt (she/her) is an L.A. homegrown journalist who covers entertainment and culture. Follow her on X and Instagram: @zippzine.
Edited by shaylyn martos
The youth unemployment rate, as of July 2024 stood at 9.8%, an increase from the 8.7% rate in July 2023. The rate usually fluctuates seasonally, with higher activity during the summer months when more young people enter the job market for summer employment or following graduation. By August 2024, the rate stood at 9.7%, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
During the school year, some teens and young adults get jobs at retail and grocery stores, fast food places and restaurants. However, the summer months can see a competitive field of youth seeking jobs, as college students enter the mix as well.
Luckily, a few teens throughout the Chicagoland area had some luck getting jobs. And some learned valuable lessons along the way.
“Trying to find a job as a teenager was hard. It took me almost a year, maybe a little more, to get one. A lot of people aren’t trying to hire people with limited, or no, experience. I’m now working at a fast food place and I feel like I have some financial independence. I’m able to buy some things on my end instead of having to ask my parents, and I’m also able to save some money so I can buy a car. Well, at least help pay for it,” said Chinyere Freeman, 17, of Blue Island, Illinois.
Peighton Williams of Chicago had a pleasant working employment experience and increased her social circle.
“My experience with my summer job was actually not as bad as I thought it would be. I didn’t really know what to expect, but it allowed me to have individual management skills and it was actually pretty fun. And it was cool to meet new people I can relate to,” said 15-year-old Williams.
Learning the art of adulting the light at the end of the tunnel for a high school student in Chicago.
“Working after school provides me with an opportunity to transition from being a full-time student to making an effort towards achieving my life goals. It offers me an insight into the real world and what it means to be responsible as I grow older,” said Madisyn Godbolt, 15.
On the flip side, having a summer, or after school, job isn’t the ideal option for some as it messes up the school-work balance some students grapple with.
“I thought work after school would benefit me, but it actually damages me more. Having to work after school not only takes away time to complete my homework, but it also mentally and physically drains me. When I have a large load of homework in one week, it’s harder to complete all of my necessary assignments due to the time consumption of work as well as loss of energy,” stressed 16-year-old Corey Collier Jr. of Chicago.
Youth unemployment may continue to be an issue in the Chicagoland area, especially for Black youth. A 2023 study by the University of Illinois at Chicago revealed that in 2021, 20 to 24-year-old Black people were jobless at a rate of 57% and increasing. White and Latino 20 to 24-year old’s in 2021 were jobless at a decreasing rate.
What makes these matters worse, is that these systemic issues are often linked to a rise in violence in areas that have a strong youth unemployment rate.
“A study done by the city (Chicago) in 2012, looked at about 1,300 kids who are in need some extra services,” explains Jack Wuest, who is the executive director for Alternative School Network in Chicago. “They worked seven weeks in the summer and the University Chicago tracked. Seventeen months later, their violent crime went down 40%.”
ASN has been working 50 years in Chicago to ensure equal educational and employment opportunities for Chicago’s. It’s one of multiple Midwest programs that looks into the systemic issues and how to combat them.
Wuest and ASN serves more than 4,000 Chicago students/young adults. The program has also directed funding to community based organizations that help the cities at risk youth.
“There are jobs everywhere, but kids need to have some experience where they’re successfully working in the neighborhoods, so they can go and work in these jobs in the private sector,” Wuest said. “There’s no national commitment right now, and it’s a disgrace.”
Another reason for the high rates of youth unemployment includes the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw many jobs get cut at historic rates.
Rashad Alexander is a Green Bay, Wisconsin-based journalist and an alumnus of Marquette University. He can be followed on Instagram and X @ruhshaaad.
Carleigh Lewis is a high school journalist in Chicago.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
Unlike in most countries, shooting people in America isn’t just normalized, it can make you rich! But is it actually justified in this case?
Host/Producer/Editor: Malachi Segers-Seker
The Lowdown gives you the latest in news, pop culture, and everything else your friends will be talking about tomorrow. Don’t get FOMO, get The Lowdown with Malachi, every Friday here at YR Media.
Since eighth grade, most of my concerns were college-related. From internships to tutoring to Advanced Placement classes, I worked myself to the bone to achieve my goal: acceptance into a top college. For all those years, it was the only thing on my mind — and the only thing that mattered to me.
The college application process is finally over for me. While I don’t regret much, there are a few things I wish I did differently.
My parents, especially my mom, thought that I was pushing myself way too hard. She was especially concerned by how sick I was throughout high school. It felt like I was constantly dealing with a sore throat or stuffy nose.
Looking back, I think my parents were right. Even though I’m glad I put in the work, I should’ve taken better care of my health. Maybe if I prioritized myself a little more, I wouldn’t have developed a poor snacking habit that ruined my skin sophomore year. I might’ve also avoided years worth of terrible sleep deprivation, which also contributed to my poor immune system.
And most of all, I wish I didn’t stress so much after college apps were submitted. Those extra worries didn’t impact my admission results in the slightest; all the overthinking, the frantic phone calls made to friends, and the agony from not knowing were definitely not necessary.
Part of me wonders why I only realized all of this now that high school is over. But everything I was doing — overworking myself and adopting unhealthy habits along the way — was expected of me. My friends were encouraged to do the same. But pushing ourselves to our limits shouldn’t be the standard just to get into college.
Now I know I’ll need to find a better balance. I’m already working really hard in college. But I’m trying to be more mindful of what I put on my plate and really listen to my body. After all, it’s impossible to be truly successful without taking care of yourself.
LaVie Saad (she/her), is a rising freshman at Stanford University.
Edited by Amber Ly
Sony revealed their new PS5 Pro for a whopping $700. And for $200 more than the original, you’d think this has to be a major upgrade, right? Wrong. Watch for more info on what’s included and what’s not.
Produced by Jason Sanford
Children in families who spend lots of time in front of a screen have weaker language skills, according to a new study.
And video games had the biggest negative effect on vocabulary, say scientists.
Screens — whether a telly, laptop, mobile phone, or tablet — have become as much a part of children’s lives as adults.
Scientists in Estonia looked at what effect screen time has on children’s developing brains, especially critical language skills.
They surveyed the parents of more than 400 youngsters about their screen use, their children’s screen use, and their children’s language skills.
The team found that parents who use screens a lot also have children who use screens a lot.
And children’s higher screen time was associated with poorer language skills, according to the findings published in the journal Frontiers in Developmental Psychology.
The researchers surveyed a representative sample of Estonian families, including 421 children aged between two-and-a-half and four years old.
The survey asked parents to estimate how long each member of the family would spend using different screen devices for different purposes on a typical weekend day.
It also asked how much of that time would be spent using a screen as a family, for example watching a film together.
The parents were asked to fill out a questionnaire evaluating their children’s language ability.
The research team sorted both children and adults into three screen use groups: high, low, and moderate.
They then analyzed the data to see if there was a link between parental screen use and children’s screen use.
The researchers found that parents and children generally belonged to the same groups: parents who used screens a lot had children who also used screens a lot.
Controlling for age, they looked at the language development of these children, and found that children who used screens less scored higher for both grammar and vocabulary.
No form of screen use had a positive effect on children’s language skills, according to the findings.
Originally published by Talker News
Understanding credit and debt is crucial for anyone looking to navigate the financial world successfully. Credit refers to the ability to borrow money or access goods or services with the agreement to pay later. Debt is the amount of money that you owe to lenders. Most people use credit to purchase things they can’t afford upfront, like a car or a house.
For example, many people take out a mortgage to buy a home, allowing them to live in the house while paying off the debt over time. Similarly, students often use loans to pay for their education, paying back the debt after graduation. Credit cards are another common tool, allowing people to make purchases now and pay later, often with interest if not paid off immediately.
@airbnbwork Intro to leveraging credit. Follow for more #fyp #business #entrepreneur #hustlerstiktok #businessowner #leveragingcredit #credit ♬ original sound – Airbnbwork
Despite the negative reputation that debt sometimes carries, when used correctly, its benefits can be immense. Properly managed credit can be a powerful tool for entrepreneurship.
For example, a budding entrepreneur might use a business loan to start or expand a business. This debt, if invested wisely, can lead to significant growth and profits, far outweighing the initial cost of the loan. By leveraging credit, individuals can seize opportunities that would otherwise be out of reach, like investing in real estate or starting a new venture.
There are countless examples of industries where credit and debt have been leveraged to multiply earnings and valuations. In the real estate industry, developers often use loans to finance property purchases and renovations, selling or renting out the improved properties for a profit. In the tech industry, startups frequently rely on venture debt to scale their operations quickly. Even large corporations, like Apple or Tesla, use credit to fund research, development, and expansion, leading to exponential growth and market dominance.
Beyond immediate financial gains, there are other important benefits to using credit wisely. Building a strong credit score and history can open doors to better interest rates, higher credit limits, and stronger relationships with financial institutions. These relationships can be invaluable when you need capital for larger projects in the future.
However, managing credit and debt requires meticulous attention. Falling behind on payments or overextending yourself can lead to severe consequences, such as damaged credit scores, increased interest rates, and even bankruptcy. The importance of staying on top of your financial obligations cannot be overstated.
There are numerous examples of individuals who have found success through the strategic use of debt. For instance, entrepreneur Elon Musk has used debt to fund the growth of companies like Tesla and SpaceX, leading them to become leaders in their respective industries.
While credit and debt come with risks, they also offer powerful opportunities for those who use them wisely. By understanding their potential and managing them carefully, you can unlock doors to financial success and long-term wealth.
Kamaal Morris is St. Paul, Minnesota-based entrepreneur. Follow his Instagram: @kamaalmorris.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
As fast food workers fight for a higher minimum wage, their managers and CEO’s are also fighting – to replace them. From automated avocado peeling to robo burrito bowls, the great entry-level worker replacement is well underway.
Host/Producer/Editor: Malachi Segers-Seker
The Lowdown gives you the latest in news, pop culture, and everything else your friends will be talking about tomorrow. Don’t get FOMO, get The Lowdown with Malachi, every Friday here at YR Media.
“Prometheus” brought us life, “Covenant” brought us family, and now director Fede Alvarez brings us his own twisted vision of the “Alien” franchise with his new film, “Alien: Romulus”. This two-hour long terror follows Rain (Cailee Spaeny) and her brother Andy (David Jonsson) as they and a few friends decide to steal from a derelict space station orbiting above their mining planet, unknowing of the terrors that lie above them in the form of the ubiquitous Xenomorph. While this is a wonderful starting point for anyone new to the series, it helps to see the original 1979 film “Alien” for some easter eggs.
Through sci-fi terrors and amazing action sequences that leave you on the edge of your seat, this film has cemented itself as one of the best films in the “Alien” franchise and science-fiction horror.
Spaeny and Jonsson are amazing as the brother and sister duo that help each other survive the trials and tribulations of the Romulus space station. Massive props go to Jonsson who plays an android who goes through a transformation early in the film, causing him to play a foil of himself. This massive switch cements him as a new actor we should all be on the lookout for and see his career with great interest.
Spaeny also plays Rain with precision, fear and determination, causing her to become an amazing scream queen and another addition to Alien’s heroines such as Ripley and Shaw.
Alvarez is no stranger to gory film with flicks such as “Evil Dead (2013)” and “Don’t Breathe”, but this film takes the gore of the series and turns it up to 11 with the last 20 minutes of the film being some of the most demented horror in science fiction. As said in the title though, the film is near perfect, with some lines of dialogue and even an appearance from a character that many did not expect, reeking of studio meddling and fan service for the sake of fan service.
Besides all that, the film is amazing and worth your time if you are brave enough to take a trip to Romulus station.
4.5 facehuggers out of 5.
Every other year, The HBCU Week Foundations hosts a college fair to help prepare high schools with the resources they need to enroll, scholarships to help lower student loan debt and spread awareness about HBCUs. The organization provides scholarship dollars for matriculation and sustains a pathway for employment from college to corporate America.
This year, the nonprofit will host the two-day fair Oct. 23-24 at Walt Disney World Resort for the second time, partnering with their initiative Disney on the Yard.
Disney on the Yard is a program that provides HBCU students and alumni with various opportunities throughout the year such as internships, mentorships and event events on HBCU campuses. The program has deepened engagement and relationships to HBCUs.
“It’s incredibly heartwarming to see the smiles and excitement on these students’ faces when they receive acceptance letters and scholarships,” said Avis Lewis, executive champion of Disney on the Yard. “This kind of joy fuels Disney’s Commitment to supporting this event and Disney on the Yard. We want to provide these students with the chance to attend college and pursue successful careers, and we view this as just the beginning of their journey.”
At the last college fair hosted by Foundation, there were more than 8,000 attendees and over $11 million in scholarships available. Ensuring that students have the opportunity not to acquire student loan debt is a big part of the organization.
“I am incredibly grateful to Walt Disney World Resort for its unwavering support in providing high school students with the opportunity to participate in one of the largest college fairs in the nation,” said Ashley Christopher, founder of HBCU Week Foundation. “Their commitment not only opens doors to HBCUs but also paves a path towards a debt-free education for these bright young minds. Together, we are shaping a future where dreams know no financial barriers.”
High schoolers from around the country are invited and encouraged to attend. Over 40 HBCUs will be in attendance, giving students the opportunity for on-the-spot admissions and plenty of four-year scholarships worth millions of dollars. The fair gives prospective students a peek at the large culture, legacy and history supplied by HBCUs while adding Disney’s magic.
For more information about the HBCU Week Foundation College Fair and for students to register for the college fair, visit www.HBCUWeek.org.
Ariyana Griffin is a graduate student from Morgan State University. She is a California native and also a graduate of Clark Atlanta University. Follow her on X: @Ariyanaaganee and Instagram: @ari.yana.g.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
Several issues spotlight this historic presidential election: economic policies, immigration, healthcare and voting rights. Voting rights have been viewed differently by both presidential candidates, former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris.
Harris proposed passing the John Robert Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act into federal law once sworn in. She wants to expand early voting, make registering to vote simpler and protect mail-in-ballot voting. This means that Harris’s campaign goals include getting Congress to pass voting rights protection laws that make it difficult for policymakers to restrict early voting and mail-in-ballot access.
Her plan for voting rights is to put efforts toward voter education and combat harmful legislation that challenges election laws. The main objective of her voting rights initiatives is to turn out voters, and in doing so, Americans’ votes are secured in making themselves heard in elections.
Trump’s alternative stance on voting rights has shifted from opposing absent voting methods to encouraging his supporters to utilize that specific method and early voting to help boost his voter turnout. His former stance demonstrates that he once held views similar to Harris’s on voting. Instead, his stance on voting rights has flip-flopped over the years and has been expressed by delegitimizing mail voting and early voting as leading to election fraud.
For instance, Trump proposed doing away with mail-in ballots after winning January’s Iowa caucus. But Trump’s advisors convinced him to loosen his stance on voting by showing the former president that his campaign could reach swing voters more broadly if they became more comfortable with early voting.
Young voters have turned out in record numbers in the 2020 and 2022 midterm elections. As a result of organizations and efforts to achieve youth voter turnout for this November, they are expected to participate again in voter turnout campaigns. In the upcoming election, there will be a question as to whether mail-in voting, early voting, and passing out snacks and water in long voting lines should be allowed.
This is why the presidential election will determine the future of voting rights.
Ashleigh Ewald (She/her/hers) is a Georgia-based journalist who is graduating early from Oglethorpe University in December. Follow her on IG: @ashleighewaldofficial.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
It is evident that gun violence has taken a physical and mental toll on lives and that no one is immune to its horrific consequences. In the United States, there were 48,000 deaths relating to gun violence in 2022, which makes up an average of one death in 11 minutes. Not even former President Donald Trump, who was injured by gunfire during a rally in Pennsylvania, is safe from gun violence.
The matter of gun violence and how it will be combatted is outlined by two presidential candidates, Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. His campaign stance on gun violence is centered on uplifting the Second Amendment by opposing measures that he believes would hinder the ownership of a firearm. His campaign opposes gun control laws that restrict the selling and use of different types of firearms.
To act upon gun violence being an issue in America, Trump wants to support mental health interventions while increasing security measures in the classrooms. His overall view on gun violence is to combat limited gun regulations and, instead, support law enforcement to enforce the laws more rigorously.
On the other hand, Harris offers a different approach to addressing gun violence in America. She supports laws to reduce gun violence, such as universal background checks, an assault weapons ban and restrictions placed on high-capacity magazine weapons. Harris had claimed that gun violence was a public health crisis throughout her campaign and advocated for background checks. She plans to get laws in place that address the root causes of gun violence and believes in comprehensive gun control reforms.
Overall, gun violence can no longer be ignored and is undoubtedly taking the national stage as a top issue among Gen Z voters. This presidential election can and will decide the future and next steps on where we go from here when trying to combat gun violence. The choice is in the voters’ hands, and with that alone, the candidates’ differing visions for addressing gun violence in America will be voted on Nov. 5.
Ashleigh Ewald (She/her/hers) is a Georgia-based journalist who is graduating early from Oglethorpe University in December. Follow her on IG: @ashleighewaldofficial.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
In the aftermath of the Apalachee High School shooting in Georgia on Sept. 4, two moms are taking action.
Candace Williams, 49, and Rebekah Rico, 42, have launched Moms for Metal Detectors – a movement asking for metal detectors at every school door in the state of Georgia.
“This is really close to home,” Williams, an attorney from Gainesville, Ga., and mom to a 15-year-old girl.
“Barrow County is one county over from Hall County.”
“When you see these incidents happen in different states, it doesn’t resonate as powerfully as it did when you have a neighboring county where this kid just walked into the school and opened fire with an assault rifle,” she said.
“It could happen anywhere.”
The shooting left her sleepless.
“I kept going through my mind, ‘How did this happen? How did this happen?’” she recalls.
“So, I was looking at different school systems and what they had in terms of their infrastructure for school safety, not only safety resource officers and security systems.
“Then I posted on Instagram, ‘Metal detectors save lives.’”
It was that post that caught Rico’s attention.
“I saw Candace’s post early in the morning — around 5:45 — while I was getting my kids ready for school, and I thought, ‘You said it. Why don’t we have metal detectors in our schools?’” Rico, a cookie company owner and mom to five children ages 19, 18, 17, 12 and 8, says.
From there, the two women started a conversation which became Moms for Metal Detectors.
What started as a call for metal detectors quickly grew into a broader dialogue about school safety.
Their plan is to assist in writing legislation that’s passed by the state of Georgia requiring the use of metal detectors in schools. Aside from metal detectors, the Williams and Rico want to introduce psychological testing to screen potentially dangerous students.
In just seven days social pages dedicated for the movement gained 2,000 followers on TikTok and 700 on Facebook.
Rico says: “I think we’ve realized that what started as sort of common-sense thinking — ‘Why don’t we have metal detectors?’ — has turned into something more complex.
“I was reaching out on social media to people all over the country asking, ‘Do you have these in your schools?’
“A lot of them said, ‘Yeah, we have them, I’m surprised y’all don’t.’ That spurred us to start debating the issue.”
Both women have since met with local school officials to learn more about existing security measures.
“We’ve met with officials from Gainesville City and Hall County, and they’re doing so many things that we weren’t even aware of,” Rico says.
“We sat down for two hours with Dr. Jeremy Williams from Gainesville City Schools and some of his board members and head of security.
“We learned so much about what they’ve already implemented, and I really do believe that they’re preventing something tragic from happening in our area.”
Still, Rico and Williams are pushing for more.
“We’re pressing on issues like more SROs (Student Resource Officers) at every school, armed guards, and mental health awareness,” Rico says.
“There’s a lot involved, and we don’t mean to oversimplify it by saying, ‘We want metal detectors,’ because we realize it’s a lot more complicated than that.”
Williams adds, “We’re asking ourselves: is there anything we could do, or that our schools could do, that would prevent the likelihood of someone walking in the front door with a weapon?
“It’s a complex issue, but that’s where we were landing on metal detectors.
“We use them in so many other places — courthouses, sporting events, concerts, even at UGA games — so why not at our schools?”
While they acknowledge the challenges, the two women remain focused on their goal: creating safer environments for students and staff.
“Our children go to school to do what they came to do — learn in a safe environment,” Williams explains.
“And our educators, who are now living in fear every day, need to feel safe too. We want to unify local schools and law enforcement to stop this evil from repeating itself.”
Although there is no data yet, many of the metro area schools across the country are known to have metal directors — but the smaller schools do not.
Earlier this month, two students and two teachers lost their lives in the attack at Apalachee High School. A 14-year-old student, Colt Gray, has been arrested and charged as an adult with felony murder.
His father, Colin Gray, faces charges of four counts of involuntary manslaughter, two counts of second-degree murder, and eight counts of child cruelty.
Originally published by Talker News
A graduate who has SEVEN jobs is “addicted to being busy” and loves her hectic lifestyle.
Kloe Woodroffe, 21, currently works as professional dance instructor, baker, influencer, barista, and babysitter, while she also does boat trip tours and works at Subway.
Kloe says she thrives on her busy schedule and has no plans to slow down.
She takes home around $2,364 a month from her various jobs, and often does some work on seven days a week.
Kloe, from Derby, said: “Dancing has always been my first love, and it’s where I feel most alive but I also just love having a packed schedule, I think it’s good to be busy!”
Kloe graduated from the Northern Ballet School in Manchester this July and her weekends are devoted to both performing and teaching dance.
When she’s not dancing, her time is divided between her new bakery business and various part-time jobs.
Kloe said: “Baking is a creative outlet for me, I love experimenting with new recipes and sharing them with others.”
Her mornings often begin with very early starts making cakes to order before heading to her shifts at Subway or a nearby cafe – called Boat Street Café.
If it’s the weekend, Kloe says she will be doing dance lessons or babysitting.
“I squeeze in baking before starting my shift. It’s a bit of a juggling act, but I enjoy it,” Kloe says.
Kloe’s latest adventure involves renovating her newly-purchased narrowboat, which she bought in May for $9,853 which she will soon move into from her parents narrowboat where she currently lives.
“Renovating the boat has been a huge project, it’s a lot of work, but seeing the progress is incredibly rewarding,” she said.
Her parents are both supportive and astonished by Kloe’s packed schedule.
“They both think it’s a bit crazy, but they’re proud of what I’m achieving,” Kloe said.
In addition to her professional commitments and renovation efforts, Kloe shares her life on TikTok and YouTube, where she documents everything from the boat renovations to her daily activities.
“Social media is a way for me to connect with others and share my passions,” she said.
“It’s exciting to see people engage with my content and follow my progress.”
Kloe’s schedule changes day to day, but she admits her days off are few and far between but that’s the way she likes it – and she also even finds time for occasional babysitting gigs.
“Today is actually my first day off in about 12 days,” she said.
“It feels strange not to have anything on the agenda, but it’s a welcome break.”
Kloe says part of the reason she is so busy is because she loves having a “full to-do list.”
“It keeps me motivated and gives me a sense of accomplishment,” she said.
Kloe aims to make her dance and bakery businesses full-time ventures while exploring opportunities in acting and presenting.
“I want to push myself into new areas and continue growing,” she said.
“I also hope to travel the world and share those experiences with my audience.”
Kloe also aspires to give back to her community by opening a soup kitchen or food bank in the future.
“Supporting others has always been important to me – I want to make a positive impact and help those in need,” she said.
“It’s all about balance and finding joy in what you do, I’m grateful for the opportunities I have am excited about what the future holds.”
Originally published by Talker News
If you’re a Swiftie you’re going to want to hear this. This past Tuesday, “The Eras Tour” singer, Taylor Swift, endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris’s campaign in a post saying, “Like many of you, I watched the debate tonight. If you haven’t already, now is a great time to do your research on the issues at hand and the stances these candidates take on the topics that matter to you the most.”
The artist stated that she will be casting her vote for Harris and Tim Walz this presidential election, “because she fights for the rights and causes I believe need a warrior to champion them.”
We all know what reaction that can gain from a fan base like Swift’s. The singer drove 405,999 followers to visit the vote.gov site following her statement. It seems like the majority of the U.S. who are eligible will be casting their votes this season. If you’re over the age of 18 and a U.S. citizen, you are automatically eligible to vote, so what’s stopping you from allowing your voice to be heard during such a pivotal time in American history?
Read more …
This guest post is in partnership with True Star Media.
The age where life, money and the future start to feel “real” is officially 27 years old, according to new research.
A recent study of 2,000 Americans split evenly by generation (500 Gen Z, 500 Millennials, 500 Gen X and 500 Baby Boomers) revealed that being an “adult” doesn’t automatically start the day you turn 18.
Today, a majority believe that the definition of “adulting” is simply paying your own bills (56%). Others say that being financially independent (45%) and putting responsibilities over their personal life or having fun (38%) are key markers of entering your adulthood era.
In fact, moving out of their parents’ or guardians’ house (46%) and getting their first career job or a job in their chosen field (28%) are two of the top events that made Americans feel like an adult.
Still, 11% of Gen Z don’t feel like an adult.
The survey, conducted by Talker Research on behalf of Life Happens, explored Americans’ highs and lows, especially when it comes to finances, as well as the older generations’ advice for young adults.
Results found Americans start to take their finances seriously around the age of 28, and across the board, the older generations wish they’d taken their finances more seriously in their 20s (76%).
In terms of getting a credit card, budgeting and opening a savings account, Millennials were ahead of the age 28 schedule and had done all three before that age, with both Gen X and Baby Boomers also opening savings accounts at an average age of 26.
Millennials came in at the nick of time and purchased life insurance at an average age of 28, though Gen X and Baby Boomers were both in their 30s (33 and 34, respectively).
Interestingly, Gen Z is well ahead of the curve in terms of paying their own bills, getting a credit card, learning how to budget and opening a savings account (all around the age of 22).
Yet still, more than half (53%) haven’t ever contributed to their 401(k) or retirement plan, and another 49% have yet to purchase life insurance.
The good news is that Gen Z is already taking much of the older generations’ financial advice: start saving early (64%), create a budget (46%) and start building credit as soon as you can (41%).
The bad news is that the next two biggest pieces of advice — contribute to your retirement fund (34%) and get life insurance while you’re young and healthy (18%) — are falling by the wayside.
Almost two in five Americans (39%) feel that they are not currently financially stable. And while Americans are hoping that they’ll be stable by the age of 46, 41% of those respondents don’t believe that they’ll ever achieve financial stability.
This was least true for Gen Z, as only 7% don’t believe that they’ll ever be financially stable, though that number increases exponentially with each generation: 30% of Millennials don’t believe they’ll ever be financially stable, along with 53% of Gen X and 66% of Baby Boomers.
At the end of the day, 42% of all respondents found that being an adult is harder than they expected it to be.
The survey also asked Gen Z what the top thing they want older generations to know about or listen to when it comes to finances. One respondent said, “the economy is at a point where having financial security feels impossible, and like it’s not worth attaining.”
Others said, “I’d emphasize the importance of understanding and adapting to the rapid changes in financial technology” and “buying a house is not as financially achievable at this time.”
Overall, the majority of Gen Z (81%) feel pressure to be more “ahead” financially than they currently are.
The survey also asked Americans a few hypothetical questions and found that finances are certainly top of mind. If they were given an additional $1,000, the majority (60%) would put it all in their savings account. Another 14% are equally likely to put that money into their 401(k) or to go on a nice vacation.
Still, Americans would rather spend $15 a month on life insurance (59%) than spend the same amount for a standard Netflix subscription (23%).
Originally published by Talker News
COVID-19 lockdowns prematurely aged teenagers’ brains by years — particularly for girls, reveals new research.
Restrictive rules imposed to try and stop the spread of the virus during the pandemic accelerated the brain development of teenage girls by an average of 4.2 years and 1.4 years in boys, according to the study.
Researchers believe girls suffered most because they felt particularly “isolated” from their friends during the pandemic.
The findings add to growing evidence that draconian lockdown measures – such as school closures – had a negative impact on the mental health of young people.
Scientists explained that adolescence is marked by dramatic changes in emotional, behavioral and social development.
It’s also a time when a sense of self-identity, self-confidence and self-control are developed.
However, the pandemic slashed social interactions for teenagers and led to anxiety, depression and stress – especially for girls.
The new research, published by the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), shows that the pandemic also resulted in “unusually accelerated” brain maturation in adolescents – with the effect more pronounced in teenage girls.
The cerebral cortex naturally thins with age, even in teens.
The research began in 2018 as a study of 160 youngsters aged between nine and 17, with the original objective of evaluating changes in brain structure during adolescence.
The participants were due to return in 2020, but the pandemic delayed the repeat tests until 2021.
By then, the researchers said that their original intent to study typical teen development was no longer viable.
Using the original 2018 data, the Washington researchers created a model of expected cortical thinning during the teenage years.
The team then re-examined the brains of the adolescents, more than 80% of whom returned for the second set of measurements.
They found that the teenagers’ brains showed a general effect of accelerated thinning across adolescence, but it was “much more pronounced” in girls.
The researchers said that the cortical thinning effects in females were seen all over the brain, in all lobes and both hemispheres.
But, in boys, the effects were only seen in the visual cortex.
Kuhl believes the greater impact on female brains as opposed to male brains could be due to differences in the importance of social interaction for girls compared to boys.
She says that teenage girls often rely more heavily on relationships with other girls, prioritizing the ability to gather, talk to each other and share feelings, while boys tend to gather for physical activity.
Originally published by Talker News
The iPhone 16 is being released for the first time with “Apple Intelligence,” giving users the ability to scan literally anything and have AI tell you what’s going on in your surroundings. It also features a turbocharged Siri.
Produced by Jason Sanford
Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump will hit the stage in Philadelphia Tuesday night for the first debate — and possibly only one — as we’re nearly two months away from the presidential election that polls show is a close one.
Debate Watch Guide – 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT
TV: ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox, Fox News, MSNBC, NBC, PBS, The CW and Univision
Streaming: Disney+, Hulu, Paramount+
A new lightweight device that wraps around one finger uses SWEAT to monitor health.
The state-of-the-art wearable provides vital information – such as glucose and vitamin levels – literally at our fingertips as easy as wearing a plaster, say scientists.
And they believe it could eventually revolutionize the treatment of diabetes.
American engineers developed the electronic finger wrap that monitors vital chemical levels – such as glucose, vitamins, and even drugs – present in the same fingertip sweat from which it derives its energy.
Project leader Professor Joseph Wang, of the University of California, San Diego, explained that the device, which wraps snugly around the finger, draws power from the fingertip’s sweat.
He said that fingertips, despite their small size, are among the body’s most prolific sweat producers, each packed with more than a thousand sweat glands.
The glands can produce up to 1,000 times more sweat than most other areas of the body, even during rest.
He says the design allows it to conform to the finger while being durable enough to withstand repeated bending, stretching and movement.
Originally published by Talker News
Investing in the stock market can be a smart way to build wealth, even if you’re under 18. To get started, you’ll need a Custodial Account, which is opened with a parent or guardian until you reach adulthood. E*Trade is a popular platform for beginners because it’s user-friendly and offers a variety of investment options. Historically, the price of living has always increased over an exponential period. With current inflation, learning how to grow your money now is more important than ever.
One effective investment strategy for beginners is to dollar cost average into indexes and blue-chip companies. Dollar cost averaging involves investing a fixed amount of money at regular intervals, regardless of the stock price. This reduces the impact of market volatility and lowers the average cost per share over time. Indexes, like the S&P 500, represent a broad market segment and provide diversification, while blue-chip companies are large, well-established firms with a history of stability and reliability. These are great because they offer lower risk compared to individual stocks.
For those who want to dive deeper, swing trading indexes and narrative-driven companies can be an advanced strategy. This involves holding stocks for a short period to profit from price swings. This approach requires much more market analysis and timing. While there is potential for higher returns in a shorter period, this method also comes with increased risk and the need for more active management and market knowledge.
A key concept in investing is the power of compound interest. When you earn interest on both your initial investment and the interest that accumulates, you’ll have the potential to significantly increase your rolling return. The earlier you start investing, the more you can benefit from the compounding effect. However, it’s important to understand the balance of risk and reward. Higher potential rewards usually come with higher risk, so it’s crucial to assess your risk tolerance and invest accordingly.
When funding your account, you’ll need to connect your bank account to your brokerage account. This allows you to transfer money, which typically takes a few business days to settle before you can invest it. Consistency is key in investing. Regular contributions and sticking to your strategy, even during market downturns, will no doubt lead to long-term success. This disciplined approach helps build a robust portfolio over time. Starting early, understanding the basics and staying consistent can set you on the path to financial success.
Kamaal Morris is St. Paul, Minnesota-based entrepreneur. Follow his Instagram: @kamaalmorris.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
This summer was a beautiful season for Chicago, from great beach days and unique opportunities like the NABJ annual career fair, to music festivals like Summer Smash, Lollapalooza, and of course From the ‘Go Fest. Although we’ll inevitably mourn the departure of Summertime Chi, there’s lots to look forward to, like shorter days, holidays, crisp weather, and all things pumpkin spice.
Here’s a list of events and activities you should either partake in or be on the lookout for this upcoming season:
*Nightmare on Clark Street**: Nightmare on Clark Street is an immersive haunted house experience that you don’t want to miss this coming fall (September 20th – November 3rd). Remember that you must be 21 or older.
*Jack’s Pumpkin Pop-up**: The 2-acre outdoor experience that is Jack’s Pumpkin Pop-up is truly one for the books. Jack’s will be back September 19th, so get your tickets now!
A “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” Pop-up*: Chicago is getting a Buffy The Vampire Slayer Experience, which starts on September 20th. Produced by Bucketlisters, this experience includes a haunted house, restaurant, and training ground at the two-story Whiskey Business.
*Six Flags Great America: Fright Fest is the best of both worlds, thrills (literally), with creatures, amusement rides, and chilly weather. Fright Fest is always a treat, if you haven’t ever been, check it out this September and October.
Read more …
This guest post is in partnership with True Star Media.
Migrants from Venezuela are coming to Aurora, Colorado and taking over apartment buildings! Or at least, that’s what the Fox News crowd wants you to believe. Unsurprisingly, the truth is more complicated.
Host/Producer/Editor: Malachi Segers-Seker
The Lowdown gives you the latest in news, pop culture, and everything else your friends will be talking about tomorrow. Don’t get FOMO, get The Lowdown with Malachi, every Friday here at YR Media.
Chicago Sky’s star rookie, Angel Reese, will be debuting her weekly podcast on YouTube and other podcast platforms on Thursdays. “Unapologetically Angel”, the name of the podcast, will be hosted by Angel and Maya Reese, who are no relation to each other.
The podcast is being produced by Playmaker, the same people behind Shaquille O’Neal’s podcast, “The Big Podcast”. Angel Reese has shown a lot of enthusiasm on social media about the podcast saying, “We can be spilling the tea from our voice, our narrative, our perspective, before the blogs.”
It seems she wants to give her and her guests a space to get ahead of the media because she went on to say, “Y’all not clocking no tea because we are gonna spill the tea on our real lives, period.”
Read more …
This guest post is in partnership with True Star Media.
Gen Z has become a force to be reckoned with when it comes to reshaping the outcome of American elections. The newest voting bloc Gen Z has broken a record on our youth voter turnout being higher than any other generation in the 2022 midterm elections. We are only getting started as there are less than 90 days until the 2024 presidential election. This election will drastically for better or worse change Gen Z’s most pressing issues such as education.
Both presidential candidates former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris offer differing visions for the American education system. Trump provides a version of education where the Department of Education is abolished. This means Trump’s vision for education is to join one of Project 2025’s proposals in getting rid of the department’s and increasing privatizing school choice programs.
This means that public money can be freely exercised to help fund private schools and even though Trump expressed that no child’s zip code should determine their success, his administration worked to gut away $5 billion in education programs to support federal voucher programs instead. He pledges to finish the job for his 2024 administration in privatizing education and focusing on providing opportunities to make higher education more affordable.
Harris’s vision, if she wins, is to increase funding for kindergarten to 12th grade and combat segregated school programs. This means Harris plans to also have universal preschool support and expand on the Biden Administration’s student loan forgiveness program to help communities afford higher education. Her presidential campaign priority for education is to invest more in historically Black colleges and universities.
A part of her stance on school curriculum is opposing book bans and instead, protecting the teachings of Black history and the “critical race theory.” However, Trump’s education stance is to refocus on the establishment of his administration’s efforts on “The 1776 Commission” which promotes “Patriotic Education.” This entails less focus on race in America and oppressive topics on segregation etc and focus on a nationalist curriculum.
These two presidential candidates’ visions for the American education system are different in ways that whoever wins the 2024 election will have a significant change in how we go about education.
Sixteen-year-old Ankita Jaikumar said she is worried what the next president’s education stance will be.
“As a junior in a Georgia high school, if this election is won by a candidate that has promised to defund the Department of Education, I’m not sure if we’ll even have a functioning educational system in four years,” Jaikumar said. “Even more than that, we as a nation have failed our students. How is it possible that an average fifth of our population by state is essentially illiterate? That, to me, is inexcusable and something that this upcoming election can only harm or improve.”
Education remains a top issue for Gen Z when dealing with educational affordability, school curriculum, and how students are impacted by it. In understanding the two presidential candidates’ stances on education, we can help individuals be aware and thus, cast an educated vote that is based on what aligns with them.
Ashleigh Ewald (She/her/hers) is a Georgia-based journalist who is graduating early from Oglethorpe University in December. Follow her on IG: @ashleighewaldofficial.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
As America gets ready for a politically tense election on Nov. 5, over 8 million youth now are eligible to vote in the election as compared to the 2022 midterms. Currently, the Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement notes that these 8 million youth are part of the almost 41 million Gen Z who can cast a ballot.
Across the country, many youth are working to get their peers informed about the voting process and registered to vote.
Julia Low, a 17-year-old rising senior at James Bowie High School in Austin, Texas, has registered 120 students in the Austin area by serving as the president and founder of the voter registration club in her high school.
“I got involved in voter registration after realizing that registration in Texas was only becoming more complex and was leading to fewer young individuals registering and voting,” Low said. Through her high school’s library and her relationships with other students, she has been able to help her peers with the registration process. She has also found social media and outreach to be useful as she posts on her personal account about voter registration to reach peers.
In her school, Low is only able to register voters who meet the criteria of being 17 and 10 months old. Most students she has registered plan to vote in the election.
Through her work, she has seen her peers embody different attitudes when it comes to voting. Yet, she believes that more people might now vote due to Vice President Kamala Harris running as the Democratic nominee. Low also works to coordinate transportation for community members to the polls.
Like Low, Chloe Lee is also working on voter registration efforts as a high school student. Lee is a 16-year-old rising senior at Scarsdale High School in Scarsdale, New York. She has worked with two nonprofit organizations, Dear Asian Youth and TurnUp. Her town usually utilizes the local schools for elections which Lee believes makes it more accessible. While she cannot vote during this election, she wants fellow New Yorkers and Americans to make sure they do.
“I believe that voting is a right and responsibility that is part of our democracy that allows all of us to take an active role in the political process and contribute to the status of our country. Voting is super important, and I can’t wait for the day that I can vote!” Lee said.
Olivia Wee, a 21-year-old rising senior at Claremont McKenna College in Claremont, California, has also worked on registering voters for the upcoming election. She currently serves as Vice President of Every Vote Counts’ National Student Board, Co-President of Every Vote Counts Claremont (5C chapter), and Co-Founder and Student Director of the Claremont Initiative for Voter Engagement Strategies (CIVES). Claremont McKenna College is one of the 5 colleges in the Claremont Consortium, so Wee’s work has touched other schools within the campus.
“Besides regular GOTV events at CMC, we are working with student organizations and governments at each of the 5 Claremont Colleges campuses to promote voting as part of campus culture. For the 2022 Midterm elections, we put together a 5C Pledge to Vote video with 5C student body presidents, sports teams, and student organizations. We will be bringing the 5C Pledge Initiative back this year and working to forge a 5C coalition of students and administrators dedicated to getting out the vote,” Wee said.
During the 2022 Midterm Elections, Wee helped more than 190 students with at least one part of the voting process through events and tabling focused on voting. In addition, Claremont McKenna College’s Dean of Students Office was involved in adding voter registration to first-year and transfer orientation last summer. Yet, Wee worries about the demographic of college voters who might need absentee ballots to cast a ballot.
“I have found that my club usually is needed more in assisting students with mail-in voting than registering to vote. Each state is different and the process requires voters to be super proactive. I have seen students want to vote, but unfortunately have missed their state-specific deadline to request their mail-in ballot,” Wee said.
Logan Tullai, a 21-year-old rising senior at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, is also part of his college’s Every Vote Counts chapter. He has worked on voting registration efforts throughout college at his college and the national level. He currently serves as the National President of Every Vote Counts’ National Student Board and is the Chair of Advocacy for Brown Votes.
He is grateful for the opportunity to have both Brown Votes and Brown Every Vote Counts on campus.
“This combination has proven useful, with Brown Votes being in a unique position to focus on institutionalizing voting access measures into the University fabric, while Brown Every Vote Counts has the flexibility to engage in legislative advocacy, community-oriented registration, and research,” Tullai said.
He sees Gen Z’s enthusiasm for the upcoming election. He hopes that this energy and the voter registration work he and his peers are involved in will result in Gen Z having higher turnout rates.
“On campus, we certainly host traditional voter registration tabling events. But at Brown, we’ve really tried to focus on institutional methods, which are far more effective at engaging students. For example, we have state-specific emails sent to every student on campus informing them of their local voter registration and absentee ballot request deadlines. We specifically send these with enough time for them to complete any necessary forms before the deadlines in their state,” Tullai said.
Ilana Drake is a journalist from New York City and attends school in Nashville. Follow her on X: @IlanaDrake_
Edited by Nykeya Woods
Last year saw about a 55% increase in sick days taken nationwide versus five years ago, according to two human resources services. And guess who took more time off? Young generations.
Gen Z is largely responsible for prioritizing their mental health and calling in sick or taking a sabbatical, according to Business Insider.
“There’s just a generational shift towards balancing work like, taking care of your whole self and those sorts of things. I think that we’ve heard over and over again that Gen Z and younger Millennials really prioritize these things. People are just, I think, being a little more protective of their health and enforcing some work-life boundaries, especially around their health,” said LIz Wilke of Gusto.
The COVID-19 pandemic was the catalyst for people becoming more health-conscious and limiting their exposure to largely-populated activities.
“A premium is now being placed culturally on caring for oneself and recognizing that sacrifice doesn’t pay off, which is very opposite to sort of a Boomer philosophy,” said Kenneth Mutos of HiBob.
Other factors for Gen Z taking more sick days are feeling more anxiety and stress at work.
As people finish higher education or just start fresh into adulthood, healthcare expenses remain and are a significant concern for Gen Z. The majority of Gen Z either remain dependent on a guardian’s insurance plan or are reliant on jobs with health insurance plans. Despite the healthcare parent’s coverage plans and jobs that provide health insurance, young people still face crippling medical debt.
The two presidential candidates – Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump – are campaigning on different visions for healthcare in America and their plans will influence young folks.
Trump’s campaign stance is focused on repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act (ACA) with a different approach by supposedly making it less expensive. Based on his website, he supports price transparency, prescription drug prices and providing lower healthcare premiums.
He aims to continue tax reductions to speed up the depletion of Medicare Part A Trust Fund and also decrease the growing Medicare spending. His stance on healthcare is to propose a great amount of budget cuts to other federal health benefit programs including the CDC to relax the Medicaid management rules. For example, Trump expressed that he would no longer support funding schools that consist of mandates for following COVID-19 safety rules and mask requirements.
On the opposite side, Harris’s stance is to protect the ACA and raise Medicare taxes on higher earners to close tax loopholes. This means that her focus is to expand Social Security and Medicare. Harris’s campaign stance is to continue advocating to eliminate medical debt from being reported on credit reports as she did back in June 2024 for 15 million Americans. She also wants to reinforce new rules for Medicare Advantage insurers through restrictions on marketing practices to help make healthcare more affordable.
The vice president also supports price transparency with no surprise pricing and supports the Inflation Reduction Act that empowers negotiations on prices for prescription drugs with pharmaceutical companies which is a part of uplifting Medicaid. These are some of the outlined healthcare plans Harris has for her presidential campaign.
With the 2024 election looming, healthcare remains a top issue for young people, and being able to distinguish the different visions that Trump and Harris have on this pressing issue can help make an informed decision for who one should vote for in regard to this historical election.
Ashleigh Ewald (she/her/hers) is a Georgia-based journalist who attends Oglethorpe University. Follow her on IG: @ashleighewaldofficial.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
Grambling State University recently made history by becoming the first HBCU and higher education institution in Louisiana to launch a digital library on campus.
The $16.6 million project, which began in 2017, offers students all the benefits of a traditional library while integrating high-tech features like 3-D printing labs, research centers, laser and etching machines, a Cricut maker, a soldering station, a hot wire cutter and plastic vending machines, among other cutting-edge tools.
The university envisions the digital library as a patent and trade resource center that will cater to the innovative spirit of the current generation, encouraging entrepreneurship and creative exploration on campus.
“Our students deserve these resources because they have the potential to change the world,” said Dean Adrienne Webber in a release. “At other institutions, students have developed products later purchased by major companies like Walmart. That can happen right here at Grambling State University because this library will equip students with the tools to make that possible,” Webber added.
This initiative represents a significant achievement for HBCUs, as Grambling sets a standard for other institutions to follow. It comes at a critical time when the desire to pursue a traditional college degree is declining. According to a recent study by Up and Up, Gen Z is less inclined to attend college than millennials were 20 years ago, opting instead for income-generating opportunities in fields like social media, gaming, and entrepreneurship.
In an era where digital transformation is vital, projects like this digital library help bridge the gap between traditional education and the demands of modern technological advancements. This positions HBCUs as key players in both academic and technological innovation, providing students with the skills they need to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
Keeping it gee, for generations like Gen Z and Gen Alpha, whose lives are deeply intertwined with technology and digital experiences, institutions that fail to evolve will miss out on a wealth of innovation. Grambling State’s digital library is a step forward in ensuring that HBCUs remain at the forefront of educational and technological progress.
Miranda Perez (she/her/hers) is a Jersey City, NJ-based journalist who covers the tech industry. Follow her on X and Instagram: @mimithegee.
Cheap new “smart” masks can monitor our breath for signs of illness.
The paper masks could also be used to monitor alcohol intake, say scientists.
A new study showed how state-of-the-art mask technology can be used to assess metabolic and respiratory conditions.
The new masks cost a little over $1 to produce, according to research published in the Science journal.
From watches to patches and other types of sensors, personalized wearable devices that monitor people’s health – from heart activity to inflammation levels – are on the rise.
Now, a new type of wearable device can be added to the list: a high-tech paper mask that monitors breath.
Professor Wei Gao, of the California Institute of Technology, and his team developed the prototype for a smart mask that can be used to monitor several medical conditions – including respiratory ailments such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and COVID-19 infections.
Unlike other smart masks being developed that monitor physical changes such as the temperature, humidity, or rate of breath, the new one – called EBCare – can analyze the chemicals in a person’s breath in real time.
Gao explained that “EBC” stands for “exhaled breath condensate.” For example, the mask could monitor asthma patients for levels of nitrite, a chemical that indicates airway inflammation.
Originally published by Talker News
College students have a lot on their minds as they head back to school. What’s the right major? Will they need to take out more student loans to cover costs? What will the job market look like when they graduate?
To dig into college students’ perspectives on the upcoming school year, Forbes Advisor conducted a survey of 1,000 college students in July 2024.
The results reveal the many concerns college students are shouldering during back-to-school season.
Seventy-eight percent of students choose in-person or hybrid classes over only online courses.
When surveyed about their fall classes, a plurality of college students reported taking only in-person classes, while more than a third plan to enroll in both online and in-person classes.
While 78% of students are taking at least some on-campus classes, 56% are taking at least some online classes.
More than half of students surveyed by Forbes Advisor said they plan to use scholarships, grants or financial aid to pay for college.
Nearly three in 10 students plan to take out student loans to cover costs, according to the survey.
The survey found that college students plan to spend an average of $209.50 on textbooks and supplies this semester, with 23% saying they plan to spend $300 or more.
When it comes to mental health, male college students are generally more satisfied with mental health support than their female counterparts.
Eighty-two percent of males surveyed were very or somewhat satisfied by how their college supported their mental health, compared to 69% of female respondents.
Interestingly, 42% of students are concerned about their health and safety on campus, with 15% reporting they are “very” concerned.
Declaring a major is an important college milestone and once students choose a major, they generally stick with it, though the results found that 36% have changed their major since they started college.
The top reason students selected their major was because it’s a personal passion or interest (43%).
In a distant second place was because they felt it would help their career prospects (17%), with an expected high salary and financial stability following close behind (13%).
And job anxiety is real—according to the poll, 80% of college students are concerned about landing a job after college, with just 20% saying they aren’t worried at all.
The top concerns include lack of work experience (24%), lack of job opportunities in their field (22%), competition with other graduates (22%), and uncertainty about the job market. (19%).
Originally published by Talker News
Is it just me, or has this year rushed by in a blur. This sensation of time slipping away can be attributed to various factors, including intensified daily routines and rapid life changes. However, a significant contributor to this phenomenon is the lasting impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our perception of time.
The COVID-19 pandemic drastically altered our daily lives and routines. With lockdowns, remote work, and social distancing becoming the norm, our days often blurred into one another. Psychology Today reported that Dr. David A. Yager, a professor of psychology, said, “The pandemic created a sense of temporal disorientation, where the usual markers of time—like work schedules, social events, and vacations—became irregular or nonexistent.” This disruption has led to a diminished ability to differentiate between days, weeks, and months. Therefore, that’s the prime reason why I hold the strong belief why this year went by so quickly.
Read more …
This guest post is in partnership with True Star Media.
College is the prime spot for a thriving social life. There are a million organizations to join to make friends, classes every day to connect with people, campus jobs to mingle at, and local fast food restaurants that specifically cater to menial college dollars, eager to be spent on a meal that can barely be afforded.
But then, you graduate. Soon, you’re reminiscing on the countless sleepovers, movie nights, parties, and dinner dates. Where did the time go?
Here are some suggestions to manage this transition:
Find new ways to relate to each other.
Send voice message updates if you can’t find time to catch up with each other. Make a picture album and share weekly updates about your life. Send each other letters. It’s daunting, but if you really care about the friendship, it won’t feel difficult.
Communicate your new standards with your friends.
Maybe you have a new work schedule, and you aren’t able to talk to your friends as frequently anymore. Maybe you are going through a tough time, and you need a little more support in this season of your life.
Don’t be afraid to place people where they deserve to be in your life.
If someone hasn’t shown up for you after you’ve communicated with them, it’s okay to demote their place in your life.
Make new friends.
Join a local run club, pick up hobbies, and reach out to people on social media. It requires taking a chance and putting yourself out there.
Read more …
This guest post is in partnership with True Star Media.
My mom and I have followed every news update on the election and spent weeks debating whether President Joe Biden would drop out of the race. We couldn’t imagine giving him or former President Donald Trump our votes. Hearing my phone ping, and seeing that Biden withdrew, felt like a breath of relief.
Current Vice President Kamala Harris entering the race has provided something that changed my view on voting in the upcoming election entirely: hope.
Harris has started to unite young Democrats across the country. Her track record shows support for issues that are important to Gen Z voters, like reproductive rights, gun safety and climate change.
But, I am still genuinely scared that Trump will be reelected. Trump’s destructive legacy in foreign and domestic policy, alongside his disregard for democratic and political norms concerns me.
I haven’t been surprised by how people discussed voting this year, especially how many people have considered not voting at all. But throwing away our votes doesn’t solve any problems, it just allows other’s voices to carry a disproportionate amount of weight.
The political climate in our country has had a suppressive, negative effect on both myself and many other young voters. But our voices are only powerless if we allow them to be. Putting our anger towards something productive is what’s going to make it effective and meaningful. We have to be willing to work towards change incrementally.
Young voters represent a diverse array of ideological perspectives that deserve to be reflected in office, and choosing to vote is the first step in that process. I want to protect, and have agency in our country’s democratic process and my own future. Now, I have hope that I can.
Phoebe Lefebvre (she/her), is a college student pursuing creative nonfiction writing.
Edited by Amber Ly and shaylyn martos
The Common Application has been updated for the 2024-2025 school year, so now is the time to get ahead on all things college-related.
As a high school senior, here are five things I am doing (which you can also do) to stay on top of your applications:
Narrow Down Your College List
Your college counselor probably recommends that you create a balanced list of eight to 12 colleges you will apply to. Balanced means that you have a variety of schools, from safeties (75%+ chance you will be accepted), to targets (25-75% chance you will be accepted), to reaches (less than 25% chance you will be accepted). Most college counselors will advise that you have three to four of each.
If you haven’t already, be sure to visit the schools on your list, as seeing them in person is often a crucial factor in making the decision of where you want to attend. If you cannot attend, speaking to alums of a school you are interested in, or attending a virtual information session are also good options.
Take the SAT and/or ACT
Though most colleges remain test optional for the 2024-2025 season, having a strong standardized test score can be a positive addition to your application. The last possible time you can take the SAT or ACT if you are applying for early decision to a college would be November, so you still have a few months to prepare.
Because only students that receive extremely high scores submit them now, don’t be discouraged if your scores seem to be on the lower end. However, it is important to make sure that your scores fall between the middle-50% of accepted students, or higher. In order to figure this out, just google it for the specific college or go to the college’s website.
Start Writing Your Personal Statement
You have 650 words and seven prompts to choose from to write your personal statement, which may seem daunting, but don’t worry. If none of the prompts speak to you, there is an option at the end where you can respond to a prompt of your own. This means that you can pretty much write about whatever you want, but remember that a good college essay shows growth and reflection.
To start off, brainstorm a few ideas. If you are stuck, this may help. Just remember that admissions officers want to learn about you and your personality, and things about you they won’t know from reading the rest of your application.
Secure Teacher Recommendations
While you probably secured a teacher recommendation sometime in the spring, if you haven’t, be sure to send a teacher you connect with an email asking. For those of you who have already asked two academic teachers for letters of recommendation, sending them an email reminding them about your recommendation or anything you did over the summer that might be helpful for them to know when writing your recommendation is a good idea.
When school starts, be sure to meet with your teachers in person and ask if they have any questions about you they need answered to write the best letter of recommendation possible.
Start Filling Out Common App Information
If you haven’t created a Common Application account, be sure to make one. You might want to open a new email specifically for the Common Application, so that your personal email does not become flooded with college emails.
Once you have made an account, you can start filling out the tabs such as your profile, family, testing, education, and activities. Most of these are basic information about yourself, such as your ethnicity, where you live, and how many siblings you have. The activities section is challenging because you only have 150 characters (characters, not words!) so you must be concise but also demonstrate the impact you had. This is a good guide for doing just that.
The college application season can be a stressful time, so make sure to take plenty of breaks, exercise, and meet with friends. If you ever feel overwhelmed or confused, talking to your guidance counselor or school psychologist may help you sort out your problems. Good luck, Class of 2025!
Shreya Prabhu is a student journalist from Greenwich, CT. She is passionate about bringing more youth voices into the journalism world. You can find her on Instagram @shreyaprabhuu.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
It’s that time of year again as we know it, back to school.
Here are five tips to help make your transition be as smooth as possible while preserving your mental health.
Set goals for yourself: If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Set reasonable goals for yourself for both academic and career. It is never too late to start and know that you can achieve anything you can set your mind to.
Have a regular sleeping schedule: Sleep is very important and paramount to any young academic. Always try to have a good sleep schedule and rest for eight hours every night. (In a candid way, I also need to heed this advice.)
Make/find a study playlist: Studying doesn’t have to be boring! Try to make yourself a playlist of your favorite songs/ find a playlist of music that can help you focus on studying. From my experience, instrumental music works well rather than music with lyrics so there can be no distractions. A popular study playlist is the Lo-Fi Hip Hop radio.
Do not compare yourself to others: Comparison is the thief of joy. Remember that we are all going through different paths through life and your path will take you to where you need to be. Trust the process and focus on your own lane.
Find a hobby to destress: While school is important, it is also imperative to have a fun, destressing hobby for you to have. This way, you can have fun while also working on your schoolwork. It also helps to disconnect from school and find something to rest your mind.
Zipporah Pruitt, (she/her) is an L.A. homegrown journalist, who covers entertainment and culture. Follow her on X and Instagram: @zippzine.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines Demure as “affectedly modest, reserved or serious: coy.” That was the past, now thanks to Chicago TikToker Jools Lebron (@joolieannie), a noted figure in the beauty sphere of the TikTok community with 1.9 million followers, the word has become a massive buzzword within Gen Z and Millenials.
The first video that launched Lebron’s “How to Be Demure” series was uploaded on Aug. 2 referring to her makeup and style for work as being “very demure and very mindful” to be respectful and modest in the workplace amassing 4.8 million views.
‘’Let’s not forget to be demure, divas!’’ Lebron urges viewers.
This phrase soon entered the app’s lexicon and traversed throughout social media with many Gen Z and Millennials echoing Lebron’s sentiments by showcasing how they are practicing being ‘’demure.’’ Lebron’s series has become a viral sensation with the videos reaching up to millions of views gaining crossover appeal as many fellow influencers, brands, celebrities, and even ourselves are flexing their demureness in various ways. Lebron has also obtained lots of sponsorship, brand deals and also is teasing a Netflix project and was on a segment of “Late Night with Jimmy Kimmel”, thus showcasing how the word has taken on a life of its own, with Demure considered as a “state of mind” or lifestyle.
Summer 2024, deemed ‘’Brat Summer’’ in response to British pop artist Charli XCX’s hit album, was the first massive buzzword that caught on due to the ubiquity of the album and upon the announcement of Vice President Kamala Harris’ bid for the presidency, Charli XCX posted, “kamala is BRAT” on X. Even as the definition of brat may be negative, this new generation has reclaimed the word and reinvented it to become more of a positive term, showing one’s wild side.
Demure on the other hand, is the antithesis of brat, showing feelings of modesty, classiness, and reservation. This creates an interesting dichotomy where now Gen Z must choose to either be demure or brat, be more coquette, soft, and sweet, compared to the freaky and wild “party girl” nature of brat. Even though it is the opposite of brat, it is also a reclamation and satirizes the stereotypical take on femininity that some people have.
Either way, even with these two rival camps, it shows how Gen Z can reclaim and redefine words for them to fit their needs and descriptions. This trend has also become so popular that Jools Lebron has said that due to the virality of the video, she can get the gender-affirming care she needs to become even more demure, even though she sadly couldn’t trademark the word.
Zipporah Pruitt, (she/her) is an L.A. homegrown journalist, who covers entertainment and culture. Follow her on X and Instagram: @zippzine.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
The highly anticipated game “Black Myth: Wukong” sold 10 million copies in three days. Based on the novel “Journey to the West,” this epic game was released on PC and PS5, with an XBOX version to come.
Produced by Jason Sanford
No, you don’t need that new kitchen gadget, a new tank top in all the colors, nor all those skin care products. Still, TikTok will influence you to buy everything. Once a platform for music and dancing, now sprawling with influencer’s ads fueling fast fashion and impulsive spending in mass.
In a Vogue Business article on the sustainability of fashion shopping hauls, “Experts say hauls have grown in popularity because Gen Z uses social media as a discovery tool, in the same way previous generations might use Google.” As a Gen Z shopper myself, I find this insight to be true. If I hear about a product I might be interested in buying, TikTok reviews for that product will be one of the main guides in my purchasing decisions.
A survey done by KPMG found that Gen Z in Asia-Pacific ranked social commerce (63%) and live streaming commerce (57%) as important to their shopping experience. For this generation that grew up with the internet and digital devices in their everyday lives, an influencer’s opinion is extremely valuable.
However, TikTok is a tricky site, since some influencers will be paid to feature a company’s product in a video or to even give a good review. Although content creators are supposed to disclose their ads, many of them will jump through hoops to hide that information in order to seem more authentic.
Influencers with armfuls of the same boring clothing is far from sustainable, but they’re damn fun to watch. Critics of these kinds of hauls say that they’re encouraging buying in excess, promoting reckless spending, and perpetuating a culture of throwaway fashion.
Fast-changing trends lead to fast production and even faster use, due to the cheap fabrics and lack of stress-testing. 2023 statistics from Earth.org state that some clothing items are worn only seven to ten times before being tossed. Bye-bye to repairing our clothes, and hello to vicious cycles of buying and disposing.
“Throwaway culture” doesn’t stop at our fashion choices either. Even the most “sustainable” items in our lives take resources to make and have a questionable afterlife.
@brennan.kai #stitch with @kaeli mae I have lots of thoughts on this topic… but the normalization of overconsumption genuinely messes with my head in the worst way. What are your thoughts? #m#minimalisms#sustainabilityz#zerowastel#lowwastep#plasticfrees#sustainablee#ecohomee#environmentalistf#foodwastem#minimalistf#foodwastetipf#foodwastesolutionf#foodwastepreventionc#compostc#cookingr#recipes#slowlivingslowlifestyle #deinfluencing #deinfluencer #overconsumption ♬ original sound – Brennan Kai
TikTok influencer and sustainability advocate, Brennan Kai spoke about the impact of “restocking videos” on not only the environment, but the way we think about success. “Our needs are met and yet we still feel like we don’t have enough,” Kai stated, “Because this idea of ‘making it’ in the United States really is having more than your neighbor, having more than you need.”
Now, a new TikTok trend is looking to move past this culture of excessive consumerism. It’s called “Underconsumption Core,” which consists of using what you have until it breaks or is completely used up. Discourse surrounding this trend notes that what is being called “underconsumption” is actually just normal consumption. Still, compared to the rampant advertising of overconsumption all over the Internet, the name is fitting.
@thedigifairy I guess the cores are back #underconsumptioncore #overconsumption #consumerism #sustainability #sustainablefashion #fashiontiktok #beautytok #fyp #foryoupage ♬ Pop beat BGM / long version(1283324) – nightbird_bgm
Even though “Underconsumption Core” is far from a groundbreaking idea (Think of the “minimalism” and “deinfluencing” trends prior), any trend that addresses the importance of individual consumption is a great step towards sustainable living.
We’ve been marketed the idea that we will never have enough stuff, but our individual actions can empower us to demand more from big corporations and governments. So before you think about buying into the latest trend, step back and engage in more mindful spending.
Knives Nguyen (they/he/she), is a journalist from the Bay Area who covers entertainment, culture and student life. You can connect with them on LinkedIn: @knivesnguyen.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
Does artificial intelligence deserve to be spoken to politely? Forty-eight percent of Americans think so and Gen Z are the nicest to robots.
And manners may count for something because four in 10 Americans (39%) think one day our past behavior towards AI, Alexa, Siri and all things robot will be taken into account somehow.
A survey examining the communication styles and approaches when using artificial technology, automated services and chatbots found nearly half adopt a polite manner and think it’s appropriate to say please and thank you.
Twenty-five percent of the 2,000 polled say they’re not polite but more functional when talking to a robot of some kind—they ask and expect answers but won’t add a please or thanks typically.
Conducted by Talker Research, the survey found just 7% described their approach to chatbots and automated encounters as sometimes ‘impolite’—admitting to swearing or being abrupt in manner.
Interestingly, younger generations are much more likely to be polite when interacting with AI– more than half of Gen Z say this is their default style (56%).
Politeness declines to 52 percent of millennials, 44% of Gen X and just 39% of boomers who say they’re polite in their own usage of AI.
When those who do use manners for AI and similar services were asked why they were most likely to say, “it’s just my way” (68%).
Politeness declines to 52 percent of millennials, 44% of Gen X and just 39% of boomers who say they’re polite in their own usage of AI.
When those who do use manners for AI and similar services were asked why they were most likely to say, “it’s just my way” (68%).
A compassionate 29% of self-described polite users say they feel everyone deserves to be treated with manners whether human or not.
When respondents were asked if they felt that AI deserved to be spoken to politely, 48% said it does.
And 27% take a different approach, agreeing with the statement: “It’s ok to be rude or shout at things like Alexa/AI, they have no feelings.”
Although men and women both similarly agree that AI deserves manners (49% and 47%), men are much more likely to feel it’s ok to be rude or swear at AI (34% men v 20% women).
Originally published by Talker News
Did Disney “Double Back” and create a reimagined version of Princess Tiana’s “Almost There” from the classic movie “Princess and The Frog” that was released in 2009? Former Disney channel icon and 24-year-old singer Coco Jones posted on Instagram that she was chosen to recreate the song.
“I’m doing my own version of ‘Almost There’ by Princess Tiana. I’m so excited to do this with Disney and make my own version of such a classic princess song. Tiana I love you. Disney, thank you for having me. Peace,” said Coco Jones.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Coco Jones (@cocojones)
In 2020, Disney announced there would be a sequel series to “Princess and the Frog” called “Tiana”, but here we are four years later and the only updates surrounding the classic is Tiana’s Palace which is a restaurant at Disneyland Park that opened in late 2023 and an amusement ride called Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at Magic Kingdom Park that was opened earlier this year.
After the singer performed the new single live, fans are taking their speculation to social media in hopes that she will play the role as Princess Tiana in the new sequel, but Disney has not confirmed.
Coco Jones remade “Almost There” for Disney. What do yall think that means? #princesstiana
— -Zoë.Cal¡forn¡a.- (@wayybitchin) August 15, 2024
a Coco Jones cantando Almost There pic.twitter.com/yyc94hRnUT
— Barbs (@minbaleine) August 15, 2024
Coco jones rendition of almost there from princess in the frog is soooo good she can literally play princess Tiana in a live action movie
— HardheadSofta$$ (@girlsloveyonce_) August 14, 2024
“‘Almost There” can now be streamed on Apple Music and YouTube.
Ayanna Williams is an Alabama-based journalist who covers all things entertainment, fashion and beauty. Follow her on Instagram at @yannanicolee.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
The third season of “Bel-Air,” the reimagined edition of the 90s classic “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” is half-way through and it’s been nonstop drama, plot twists and pivots. Will and Carlton take over Bel-Air with their fresh ideas?
School may be out but things are just heating up, this season is different from previous seasons due to it being solely set in summer.
We spoke with Jabari Banks about how he gets in the mindset to play Will, his creative freedom, mental health and support from fans this season.
“Bel-Air” continues to touch on relevant yet sensitive topics such as substance abuse, absent parents and navigating difficult changes. Banks explained that he taps into those emotions to play out the scenes by being authentic.
“It’s about being authentic and truthful to the story and taking these issues that we’re really talking about seriously, because these are real problems that people go through,” he said. “I just try to tap into either my own history with any of these issues or somebody that I know and think how I would help them in that situation. And so I think with that I just tap into the authenticity of the moment.”
We watch Will grow into his new life in Bel-Air and it even starts to feel like home for him. The fresh Philly kid that is hyper focused on basketball that walked through the mansion doors season one is not the same person we watch this season.
Banks describes the character development as “a beautiful thing.” This summer Will takes a break from basketball and focuses on entrepreneurship, a route he did not think much of before.
“I would say that Will is definitely getting way more acquainted to the Bel Air lifestyle … he’s still a fish out of water, but he’s okay with that now.” he said. “Will is not playing basketball this summer, and so he’s getting into his entrepreneurship bag which has been a fun role to play as well, because there’s a lot of young entrepreneurs out there. And I hope this season is inspiring to them.”
When it comes to prioritizing his mental health, Banks shared that he likes to be still for a moment and be present. He enjoys getting in touch with other passions as well as reading.
“Whenever I can find moments to reflect, whether it’s journaling or reading, it’s my go to,” he shared with YR Media. “Even as simple as sitting in the steam room, taking those moments to think about okay, what do I have to do today? What did I do yesterday that I could have done better?’.”
Originally when social media heard that “Bel-Air” would be a reboot of the classic, people were upset and felt that a redo was not needed. However due to the relevance and creativity of the show, it is able to show proper homage to the original while being able to stand alone. It does not follow the exact story lines or exact sequence of events allowing the episodes to still be new and fresh every release increasing the demand.
“The fans love the show, and it means the world to me. We wouldn’t be here without all of our fans, so it’s a big ups to them,” said Banks. “We went through a writers strike and actors strike in between season two and three. And so the fact that people stuck with us and waited and they let us know on social media.’”
Tune in to Peacock to catch new episodes. Three episodes dropped on Aug. 22, with two each scheduled for Aug. 29 and Sept. 5.
Ariyana Griffin is a graduate student from Morgan State University. She is a California native and also a graduate of Clark Atlanta University. Follow her on X: @Ariyanaaganee and Instagram: @ari.yana.g.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
This viral moment between Young Democrats of Georgia president Parker Short and Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk isn’t just a meeting of two very different political trends, but what happens when somebody living in a false world meets somebody living in the real one. Which is which might depend on who you’re voting for …
Host/Producer/Editor: Malachi Segers-Seker
The Lowdown gives you the latest in news, pop culture, and everything else your friends will be talking about tomorrow. Don’t get FOMO, get The Lowdown with Malachi, every Friday here at YR Media.
Now that the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago is over, get a refresher on key stories from the week.
DNC: Highlights fromKey Speeches
Young Voters Look to Build ‘Purple’ Power
What’s at Stake With Project 2025?
Gen Z Voter Registration Resources
3 Takeaways from Harvard Youth Poll
The Democratic National Convention may be over, but you can relive it through key points from several speakers who graced the stage throughout the week, including former First Lady Michelle Obama, media mogul Oprah Winfrey and Vice President and Presidential nominee Kamala Harris.
Vice President and Presidential Nominee Kamala Harris: “We are charting a new way forward. Forward to a future with a strong and growing middle class because we know a strong middle class has always been critical to America’s success and building that middle class will be a defining goal of my presidency. … As president, I will bring together labor and workers and small business owners and entrepreneurs and American companies to create jobs to grow our economy and to lower the cost of everyday needs like health care and housing and groceries. We will provide access to capital for small business owners and entrepreneurs. … And we will end America’s housing shortage and protect social security and medicare. … In this election, many other fundamental freedoms are at stake. The freedom to live safe from gun violence in our schools, communities, and places of worship. The freedom to love who you love openly and with pride. The freedom to breathe clean air and drink clean water, and live free from the pollution that fuels the climate crisis. … And the freedom that unlocks all the others, the freedom to vote.”
President Joe Biden: “Selecting Kamala was the very first decision I made when I became our nominee,and it was the best decision I made my whole career. She’s tough, she’s experienced and she has enormous integrity. Her story represents the best American story. And like many of our best presidents, she was also vice president.”
Former Sen. (New York) and Presidential Candidate Hilllary Clinton: “We refused to give up on America. We kept our eyes on the future. Well, my friends, the future is here. Together we put a lot of cracks in the highest, hardest glass ceiling. Tonight, so close to breaking through once and for all, I want to tell you what I see through all those cracks. I see freedom … the freedom to look our children in the eye and say you can go as far as your hard work and talent will take you — and mean it.”
Former First Lady Michelle Obama: “Harris understands that most of us will never be afforded the grace of failing forward. We will never benefit from the affirmative action of generational wealth. If we bankrupt a business or choke in a crisis, we don’t get a second, third or fourth chance. If things don’t go our way, we don’t have the luxury of whining or cheating others to get further ahead. We don’t get to change the rules so we always win. Who’s going to tell him that the job he’s currently seeking might just be one of those Black jobs?”
Media titan Oprah Winfrey: “Decency and respect are on the ballot in 2024. Common sense tells you that Kamala Harris and Tim Walz can give us decency and respect. … Let us choose the sweet promise of tomorrow, over the bitter return to yesterday. We won’t go back. We won’t be set back. Push back, believe back, kick back. We’re not going back.”
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (Massachusetts): She’ll take on Wall Street firms that buy up millions of houses and apartments, and then jack up the rent. She’ll take on drug companies that charge an arm and a leg for prescriptions. She’ll take on corporate monopolies that rip off consumers and billionaires who don’t pay taxes.”
Twelve minutes after gracing the stage Thursday in Chicago at the United Center, Vice President Kamala Harris accepted the Democratic nomination for President of the United States.
In her 39-minute speech, Harris thanked her “incredible” husband Doug Emhoff; President Joe Biden, who she said character is “inspiring;” Gov. Tim Walz, who is her running mate who she called “Coach;” and the many delegates and everyone else for their “humbling” support before diving into why the nation needs her as the 47th President.
Knowing that her mother is “looking down smiling,” the vice president said, “The path that led me here in recent weeks was no doubt unexpected. But I’m no stranger to unlikely journeys” as her father taught her to be “fearless.”
There are five words Harris has said consistently throughout her career, and she said they’ll ring true as president: “Kamala Harris, For the People.”
“Our nation with this election has a precious, fleeting opportunity to move past the bitterness, cynicism and divisive battles of the past … a chance to chart a new way forward. Not as members of any one party or faction, but as Americans. And let me say, I know there are people of various political views watching tonight and I want you to know, I promise to be a president for all Americans. You can always trust me to put country above party and self, to hold sacred America’s fundamental principles from the rule of law to free and fair elections to the peaceful transfer of power,” Harris said, adding, “I will be a president who unites us around our highest aspirations. A president who leads and listens … who is realistic, practical and has common sense. And always fights for the American people.”
Several speakers took the stage at the DNC to highlight how Project 2025, a key talking point throughout the election cycle, would take the country backward.
The controversial 922-page policy recommendations – created by many in former President Donald Trump’s administration, organized by The Heritage Foundation and supported by more than 100 groups – has been repeatedly referred to as “extreme” for the nation.
Trump tried to distance himself from it and claimed he didn’t know who was behind it during a rally in July: “They are extreme, seriously extreme. I don’t know anything about it. I don’t want to know anything about it.”
Democrats said Project 2025 is a playbook of what’s to come if Trump gets back in office, including attacks on climate change, diversity, education, health care, housing, immigration and reproductive rights.
“No matter where you live, so-called blue states or red states, if Donald Trump has his way, he’s going to push through their extreme agenda Project 1825. I mean, I’m sorry. I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I roll that back. I got that wrong. Project 1925. Oh, I’m sorry, I”m sorry, Project 2025. That poisonous agenda where every single state will be in a state of crisis,” said Sen. Cory Booker.
The President of EMILY’s List, Jessica Mackler, said it’s a “blueprint for banning abortion in all 50 states.”
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis agreed, pointing out specific pages that reference abortion bans and reproductive rights.
“Right here on page 562, it says that Donald Trump could use an obscure law from the 1800s to single-handedly ban abortion in all 50 states, even putting doctors in jail. Page 486 puts limits on contraception. Page 450 threatens access to IVF. On page 455, Project 2025 says that states have to report miscarriages to the Trump administration,” said Polis.
Here’s more that’s at stake with Project 2025
- Climate change
- The proposal suggests a cut in federal funds for investment and research in renewable energy.
- Diversity
- Terms such as “abortion,” “diversity, equity and inclusion,” “gender,” “reproductive rights” and “sexual orientation,” to name a few, would be removed from all federal rules, agency regulations, contracts, grants, regulations and pieces of legislation.
- Housing
- Reversal of Housing Supply Fund that removes barriers to affordable housing and provides low-income housing tax credits.
- Immigration
- Calls for the immediate deportation of unaccompanied kids, more funding for U.S.-Mexico border wall and high fees for asylum seekers, among other items.
Less than 80 days and counting until the November election and there’s still time for eligible first-time voters to register.
How can teens get in the mix?
The Civics Center has a downloadable voter registration kit that students can use at their high schools once you sign up for a workshop, according to TOGETHER!.
The eligible age to vote is 18, but in some states, you can register if you’re 16 or 17.
Here’s where you can register if you’re 16
- California
- Colorado
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Hawaii
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- New York
- North Carolina
- Oregon
- Rhode Island
- Utah
- Virginia
- Washington
More than half of Gen Z plan to exercise their right to vote in the Presidential election in November, according to a poll by Harvard Kennedy School’s Institute of Politics (IOP).
The national poll of slightly more than 2,000 18-to-29-year-olds also revealed that concerns about the economy remain one of the top issues for young voters, there’s a decline in confidence in public institutions and there’s wide support for a permanent ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas War.
IOP Director Setti Warren said, “Young people today have clear concerns about where our country is headed. From worries about the economy, foreign policy, immigration and climate, young people across the country are paying attention and are increasingly prepared to make their voices heard at the ballot box this November.”
Three key findings from the survey:
- Most Believe There’s a Crisis at the Southern Border
A majority (53%) believe that the United States has an immigration crisis at the Southern border while 16% disagree and 29% are undecided. When asked about the need for a border wall, 45% oppose construction of a border wall while 36% support it.
- Few Believe the Country is Going in the Right Direction
Nearly 60% said the country is “off on the wrong track” while 9% thinks it’s “headed in the right direction.” Of those surveyed, 32% are unsure.
- Less Than Half of College Students Prefer to Keep Their Political Views Private
More than 30% of college students don’t want the hassle of letting their political views known on campus for fear of censorship or negative repercussions.
As a child, I loved to read. But as a I got older, I got busier with work, extracurriculars and school — stopping me from reading on my own time.
I committed to reading more for the past year, but it wasn’t work out. I found holding a physical book too cumbersome. So I switched to reading PDFs on my phone. But I would always end up getting distracted by social media.
Recently, however, I stumbled across the idea of using an e-reader, which has helped me immensely. Now, reading has become essential in my weekly agenda.
In just one month, I’m already 11 volumes into “One Piece” and exploring other novels as well. Books allow me to process what is being shown to me at my own pace, and this makes me more motivated to return to them.
When I find a topic I’m interested in, I feel unsatisfied watching a video essay or listen to a podcast. Reading has provided me with more information than other forms of media. It helps me learn even more about my interests and experience stories in a more personal way.
Eli Borowsky (he/him), is a young journalist from Oakland, California.
Edited by Amber Ly
Teenage girls were worst affected mentally by pandemic lockdowns compared to other youngsters, according to new research.
The study is believed to be the first to assess whether personal memories predicted declines in the psychological well-being of eight- to 16-year-olds during the pandemic.
Participants were assessed three times during the pandemic. They were asked to write about their personal memory from the first lockdown and to assess their psychological well-being and depressive symptoms.
The “unprecedented” research shows that the mental health of adolescent females fared the worst, according to the findings published in the journal Child Development.
The American and Danish team also found that memories that included more factual information about COVID-19 and included more negative effects predicted more “robust” declines in mental well-being.
The team says their findings underscore how aspects of personal memories might help increase or reduce the negative consequences of the experience of the COVID-19 lockdowns from March 2020 to July 2021.
Originally published by Talker News
Welcome to the future of VR gaming. The Omni One lets you walk and be fully immersed in the video game you’re in. You can walk, kneel, crouch or jump without running into walls.
Here’s what you get for the $2,595 price tag.
Produced by Jason Sanford
The election to choose the next President of the United States is less than three months away and Gen Z is making its voice loudly heard.
Roughly 41 million Gen Z are eligible to vote this election cycle. Of that number, 30% identify as Democrats; 28% as independents; and 24% as Republican.
During a power breakfast Tuesday at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, young political leaders from several organizations — TOGETHER!, Voters of Tomorrow, The Lincoln Project and Blue Futures — co-hosted the “Youth Power Breakfast” at a coffee shop to energize the youth voting bloc.
Santiago Mayer, the executive director for Voters of Tomorrow, said too much is at stake for Gen Z.
Mayer said the former President Donald Trump has been “waging a war against Gen Z since he got in office. If we lose, we get deported,” said Mayer, among other issues that are paramount to Gen Z, including reproductive and LGBTQIA+ rights and gun violence reform.
Indianapolis City Councilor Nick Roberts, who is the youngest on the council, said his peers want to stay involved, “knock on doors” and keep other Gen Z motivated about this election and those thereafter.
“When Gen Z is united, we will not be defeated,” he said.
Roberts, 24, said “civic pride” was instilled in him and was motivated to start his political career at 16 after former President Donald Trump was elected.
Maryland Delegate Joe Vogel agreed with Mayer and Roberts, and stressed the stakes of this election are highest for young generations, and it’s up to Gen Z to lead the charge and keep its foot on the pedal.
“Every movement has been led by young people. Voting rights, land rights, gay rights, women’s rights … we cannot afford to lose,” said Vogel, adding, “Our generation has the most to lose and the most to gain.”
TOGETHER! co-founders said it’s time to “turn down the noise” from left and the right and for Gen Z to build purple power.
“We want to build civic discourse and conversations. We want to build the skills of diplomacy and we also want to allow Gen Z to step into political activity, through the lens of the causes that they care about,” said Kwame Jackson, co-founder of TOGETHER!.
Jason Palmer, the other half of the TOGETHER! founding team, said Gen Z should start getting involved on the high school level.
“There’s The Civics Center, an organization that gets high schoolers across the country registered to vote. Their site has a downloadable kit that students can use at their schools. In some states, high school seniors who are turning 18 by November’s election date may be able to register while they’re 17. Also in some states, you can register at 16,” said Palmer.
When asked about the issues they hear are most important to Gen Z, Palmer quickly said economic and housing stability comes up first in every conversation.
Three in four Gen Z are putting the blame on social media for having a negative impact on their mental health, according to a new study.
The poll of 2,000 Gen Z Americans who use social media found Instagram (20%), TikTok (20%) and Facebook (13%) have all had a negative impact on their wellbeing.
Many said the reasons they use social media are because they’re bored (66%), want to laugh (59%), want to see what’s happening in the world (49%) and to see what their friends are up to (44%).
However, this social media scrolling leaves nearly half of Gen Z (49%) feeling some kind of negative emotion like stress and anxiety (30%).
Commissioned by LG Electronics and conducted by Talker Research, the study found those who experience negative emotions report that it only takes them 38 minutes on social media before they start to feel bad.
Respondents attribute these feelings to consuming upsetting content (51%), feeling unproductive with how they spent their time (49%) and/or experiencing FOMO (36%).
The average person spends five and a half hours on social media apps per day, and 45% believe they spend more time on social media than their friends.
Results also found, not surprisingly, 62% of Gen Z wish they could “reset” their social media feeds and start over again.
Over half (53%) report feeling frustrated that content on their feed doesn’t match what they want to see.
Just as many (54%) believe they have either “some,” “little,” or “no control at all” over what they see on their social media feeds. In fact, only 16% believe they have total control over what they see.
While many said they associate platforms with negative emotions, the study also found 80% claimed they also associate social media with a positive impact on their mood.
Content reported to evoke positive emotions are comedy (65%), animals (48%), beauty (40%) and prank videos (34%). Meanwhile, content exhibiting physical violence (50%), politics (40%), and sexually explicit content (32%) tends to lead to negative emotions.
Two-thirds (65%) have turned a bad day into a good one because of what they’ve seen on social media. Adding to this, respondents were 70% more likely to use social media when they are in a good mood compared to a bad mood and 44% believe social media has a positive impact on their outlook on life.
Originally published by Talker News
2:30 p.m. CT
3 Things to Watch at #DNC2024
The Democratic National Convention will make history this week in Chicago by nominating Vice President Kamala Harris for President. The announcement will come roughly one month after President Joe Biden ended his re-election bid.
Here are a few things YR Media will highlight during the four-day convention.
Mobilizing the Youth Vote
Young political organization leaders will reveal the challenges and opportunities in mobilizing the youth vote. They will also discuss the vital role of youth engagement in the electoral process.
Youth Polling Numbers
A Harvard poll examines current trends in the youth vote.
Project 2025
A deep discussion and education about the 922-page policy recommendations that has been repeatedly referred to as problematic for the nation.
12:00 p.m. CT
Thousands demonstrate to have their voices heard during the Democratic National Convention which started in Chicago on Monday. | Getty Images
Scott Olson | Getty ImagesMyung J. Chun/Los Angeles Times | Getty ImagesBrandon Bell | Getty Images
A third of Americans consider themselves to be an “entrepreneur,” according to new research.
The survey revealed younger generations are slightly more likely to consider themselves entrepreneurs — 36% of Gen Z and 39% of Millennials.
That’s compared to 29% of Gen X respondents and just 25% of Baby Boomers.
Respondents were also asked how they would define “entrepreneur.” One respondent said, “Someone who is willing to lay it all on the line for their dream. They will be willing to risk it all.”
Another responded, “Someone who has drive and determination to put their business ideas into action and become successful.” A third simply said an entrepreneur is someone who’s “fearless.”
Not only were younger generations more likely to consider themselves “entrepreneurs” — but men were more likely to identify with the term than women (38% vs. 27%).
That’s despite a very similar number of men and women owning small businesses or having side hustles (36% vs. 34%) or wanting one in the future (44% vs. 46%).
Commissioned by Herbalife and conducted by Talker Research, the 2024 Entrepreneurial Index polled 10,000 respondents across 12 countries, including 2,000 in the U.S.
The survey, conducted ahead of World Entrepreneur Day, looked generationally at respondents from all countries, to see who was the most optimistic about potential entrepreneurial pursuits.
Results revealed younger generations are more positive: 69% of Gen Z and 63% of Millennials surveyed were optimistic about entrepreneurial endeavors, whether for themselves or in general.
That’s compared to 50% of Gen X respondents and only 35% of Baby Boomers who reported being confident, considering today’s economy.
But this optimism doesn’t mean people aren’t worried about the current state of the economy. Fifty-nine percent of respondents are currently worried, and that was consistent across generations.
And for those who are not interested in starting a small business or side hustle this year, worries about the state of the economy were the top reason why (25%).
That said, despite these worries, younger generations especially are still working toward their goals. Not only were younger respondents more positive about entrepreneurial pursuits, but they were also more likely to have a small business or an active side hustle.
Four in 10 Gen Z and 41% of Millennials have one or the other, compared to 31% of Gen X and 19% of Baby Boomers surveyed.
“Younger generations are embracing side hustles and starting small businesses due to a number of motivating factors including economic uncertainty, a desire for flexibility and a greater interest in pursuing a passion or hobby,” said Frank Lamberti, chief commercial officer for Herbalife. “Network marketing, in particular, can help meet these needs and offer low start-up costs reducing the stress and anxiety that can be associated with starting a business.”
For those with a small business or side hustle, the survey asked respondents what challenges they’re facing right now — and the ability to make money with inflation came out as No. 1 (32%).
That was followed by entrepreneurs struggling to retain customers (25%) and their business or side hustle requiring more hours than they can reasonably work to stay afloat (23%).
Respondents also said they’re not earning enough money from their business or side hustle (23%) and they’re having difficulty balancing growth and quality (19%).
And 63% of those with a small business or side hustle said they’ve put more time and effort into it this year than in previous years, to keep it going.
Those in the U.S. were also asked about the upcoming presidential election, and how that ties into their thoughts on the economy, small businesses and side hustles.
Seventy-four percent of respondents plan to vote in November’s election, and of those, 44% are worried that whoever wins the election will negatively impact the economy, causing small businesses to close.
“Staying informed and adaptable is key to navigating the shifting landscape effectively,” added Lamberti.
Originally published by Talker News
The Democratic National Convention starts Monday in Chicago and we know you may not be at home, or in front of a TV, to watch the main events throughout the week. Well, as long as you have your phone or laptop with you, you won’t miss out.
Schedule
Aug. 19, 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. CT/3:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. PT – President Joe Biden
Aug. 20, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. CT/4 p.m. to 8 p.m. PT – Former President Barack Obama
Aug. 21, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. CT/4 p.m. to 8 p.m. PT – MN Gov./VP Nominee Tim Walz
Aug. 22, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. CT/4 p.m. to 8 p.m. PT – Vice President/Presidential Nominee Kamala Harris
The DNC will make history by having the four-day convention vertical live-streamed across Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.
If you’re watching from your laptop or desktop, you can catch the official live stream at the DNC website: DemConvention.com.
Other ways to watch
- DemConvention.com/watch
- x.com/demconvention
- Facebook.com/demconvention
- Twitch.tv/demconvention
- Amazon Prime Video
TV Device Apps:(search for “Democratic National Convention” or “2024 DNC”)
- AppleTV
- RokuTV
- FireTV
One of the most popular current memes, or challenges — or whatever you want to call it — is to “rawdog” an entire plane ride, as in no phone, no walking about and not even drinking water. Experts are saying this could lead to increased amounts of discipline — or maybe it was “increased chances of death” they said.
Host/Producer/Editor: Malachi Segers-Seker
The Lowdown gives you the latest in news, pop culture, and everything else your friends will be talking about tomorrow. Don’t get FOMO, get The Lowdown with Malachi, every Friday here at YR Media.
Before the 2024 Democratic National Convention gets underway next week in Chicago (Aug. 19-22), get familiar with some key election stories from YR Media this year.
For This Election, My Vote Count
Presidential Election Nominees Compete for Gen Z Votes
VP Kamala Harris’ Opportunity to Make History for a Third Time
Vice President Picks Showdown: Tim Walz vs. JD Vance!
Will Deepfake AI ContentInfluence the 2024 Election?
The long-awaited finale of “Love Island USA” Season Six aired on Peacock on Sunday, July 21, revealing the winners of this thrilling season. Over the course of six weeks in a picturesque Fiji villa, singles formed connections and navigated the twists and turns introduced by new “bombshells.” Four couples reached the Season Six finale: Nicole Jacky and Kendall Washington, JaNa Craig and Kenny Rodriguez, Leah Kateb and Miguel Harichi, and Serena Page and Kordell Beckham. This season, culminating in Serena and Kordell capturing the hearts of viewers with their authentic relationship, decided to share the $100,000 prize.
Produced by Shaylyn Martos
Edited by Liz Tril
In the last five years, Gen Z has come of voting age and they tend to be disillusioned with traditional political structures and parties, and are skeptical of mainstream politics. About eight million Gen Z are eligible to vote this year and of that number, 47% are BIPOC. YR Media’s “Control Z: #Vote2024” series examines the impact the young generation will have this election season and how more Gen Z candidates are looking to have a seat at the table.
Growing up, Election Day felt like an enjoyable outing with my family. Since I was a little kid, I’ve always accompanied my parents to the polls. But now that it’s finally my turn to join them, I must admit, I’m a little nervous.
I turn 18 soon. And as an American with the right to vote, I believe it’s my responsibility to use my new privilege to help better this country.
When it comes to elections, every vote counts. Selecting candidates are big decisions. The last thing I want to do is regret my choices or feel like I’ve made a mistake. And I’m old enough to experience how elections can impact people’s futures.
Despite my nerves, I’m doing everything in my power to feel confident at the booth. I plan to research thoroughly by reviewing various voter guides. I’m already familiarizing myself with candidates and policies on the ballot as much as possible — to ensure I can make an informed decision.
LaVie Saad (she/her), is a rising freshman at Stanford University.
Edited by Amber Ly
This spray-on running shoe made by a robot is already breaking records, being one of the lightest shoes on the market and fitting perfectly every time.
Produced by Jason Sanford
Gen Z high schoolers are settling on first-round career picks, with cushy tech jobs becoming less interesting. Some of the digitally native generation is turning away from eyeing careers at their favorite big tech companies like Amazon or Google and instead are tuning into healthcare routes.
An Interest Survey by the National Society of High School Scholars, an academic society with over two million members, reported that Gen Z who have yet to enter the workforce prioritize stability, job location and company reputation as the three biggest determining factors when job hunting.
Tech companies in recent years have shifted away from the stable image Gen Z youth is looking for. Post COVID-19 and the return to work shift, funding in the tech space got tight, leading to over 100,000 layoffs in 2023. In 2024, the horizon isn’t looking too bright, considering that over 60,000 tech jobs have been cut as of August.
Beyond layoffs, tech jobs tend to offer remote or hybrid work, rather than requiring employees in the office. Considering that location is a big factor for Gen Z youth, remote work might not cut it.
While this thought process may not be expected of Gen Z, it makes a lot of sense if you zoom out and consider that average teens spend over eight hours a day online. From social media to digital worlds like Minecraft, Gen Z spends tons of time engaging online and might just want a taste of the in-person world as they eye career opportunities.
When it comes to Gen Z’s increased healthcare career interest, it is safe to say that a generation who spent years of their early education online during a global pandemic – is likely to care about preventing something similar from happening again.
Keeping it gee, it is nearly impossible for tech jobs to be rejected completely in today’s digital era. I forecast that this wave of healthcare interest will simply expand Gen Z’s reach in the workforce, creating more space for young perspectives in fields that may not expect a surge of Zoomer applicants.
Miranda Perez (she/her/hers) is a Jersey City, NJ-based journalist who covers the tech industry. Follow her on X and Instagram: @mimithegee.
TikTok videos glamourizing eating disorders and extremely thin images make women feel worse about their bodies, warns a new study.
Less than 10 minutes of consuming content on the video sharing site can have an “immediate” impact on young women’s body image satisfaction, say Australian scientists.
They found that women who spend a lot of time on TikTok — especially those seeing lots of pro-anorexia content — feel worse about their appearance.
Their results, published in the journal PLOS One, suggest that high TikTok exposure could harm mental health, reduce body image satisfaction and increase the risk of eating disorders.
Study co-author Dr. Rachel Hogg, of Charles Sturt University in New South Wales, Australia said: “Since its launch, the short-form video app TikTok has had more than two billion downloads.
“The app’s algorithm curates content on a ‘For You’ page based on a user’s interactions with previous videos, and content which glamourizes disordered eating behavior and extremely thin body image ideals can therefore quickly fill a user’s feed.”
To understand how TikTok content might affect women’s body image, Dr Hogg and her colleagues surveyed 273 women between the ages of 18 and 28.
They asked how much they used TikTok, and screened them for symptoms of eating disorders as well as body image, their attitudes toward beauty standards, and risk for orthorexia—a set of restricted diets and eating patterns focused on ridding oneself of “impure” or “unhealthy” foods.
Half the participants then watched a compilation of disordered eating content from TikTok – including young women starving themselves or providing weight loss tips alongside juice cleanse and workout videos – while the other half viewed neutral content with nature, cooking and animal themes.
Both groups reported a decrease in body image satisfaction after watching the videos, but those exposed to pro-anorexia content had the biggest decrease – and also showed an increase in internalization of beauty standards.
Dr. Hogg said that women who used TikTok more than two hours per day reported more disordered eating behaviors, but the findings were not significant.
“While the study did not address how exposure to pro-anorexia content might affect people over time, the results suggest that weight-loss focused TikTok content might negatively affect viewers’ body image and beauty standards.”
The researchers recommend better over pro-anorexia content on TikTok.
Dr. Hogg added: “Our study showed that less than 10 minutes of exposure to implicit and explicit pro-anorexia TikTok content had immediate negative consequences for body image states and internalization of appearance ideals, suggesting psychological harm can occur for young female TikTok users even when explicit pro-anorexia content is not sought out and when TikTok use is of a short duration.”
Originally published by Talker News
The culture is changing in Chicago – for the better. The Youth Leader Activation Summit recently occurred on the West Side of Chicago. It featured youth speakers, interactive activities, and an opportunity to network with like-minded peers. Intended for Chicago’s youth ages 14-19, the summit empowered participants to identify community problems, take actions to solve them, and ultimately impact their communities in a positive way.
The atmosphere in the room was invigorating and ignited a fire for change, and, most importantly, hope that the future is in good hands. The renowned Q&A panel about how to solve community issues featured inspiring youth: Makayla Acevedo, a representative for Southside Together Organizing for Power (STOP); Davonte Dudley, a representative of Root2Fruit, an Austin community organization; Lee Nah, a Healing Arts Chicago Fellow, and Devine Valdez, a CPS Local School Council representative. Together, these powerful youth highlighted their missions behind their work, which encouraged the audience to be agents of change in their own respective communities.
“There’s a lack of collaboration, and in our communities, everyone fends for themselves,” Dudley stated. “If we all had a community mindset, we would be able to help each other a lot more.” His words ring true indeed, and youth such as himself will continue to make a change in their respective neighborhoods, working to create a better Chicago.
Read more …
This guest post is in partnership with True Star Media.
In my experience, romance movies are rarely easy to watch. Many of them have the power to shatter hearts countless times within the span of two hours, leaving no mercy from the gut-wrenching endings.
However, I have no regrets after watching the newly released “It Ends With Us” movie, based on the novel by Colleen Hoover.
Colleen Hoover is a #1 New York Times bestselling author of 24 novels and novellas, ranging from contemporary romance to psychological thrillers. In 2016, Hoover released the “It Ends With Us” novel, which has become, arguably, her most powerful written work.
In Hoover’s 376-page book Lily Bloom is on a journey to be a florist while navigating a family loss and opening her heart to love. Though this journey is not so straightforward, Bloom’s path has several obstacles, such as facing domestic violence and reuniting with a special childhood friend.
Ever since the storyline landed in the hands of passionate readers, the novel has become Hoover’s top-selling book and currently earned the spot as No. 1 on the New York TimeS paperback list. Throughout the years, the novel has gained immense traction on TikTok and sold millions of copies.
It’s almost 2am and I just finished It ends with us. I am not ok, sobbing and thinking. What an amazing book! This was the first book that I have read in a long time that was just for me and not for school. Colleen your words
. To say I’m excited for this movie! @colleenhoover
— Abigail Plata (@AbigailPlata11) February 15, 2022
It is safe to say fans were ecstatic when it was announced that “It Ends With Us” is set to be adapted for the big screen. Starring Blake Lively, the novel transforms into a captivating film telling the bittersweet story of Lily Bloom. The movie does an outstanding job of synchronizing the magnitude of the novel, with minimal shifts in detail.
Given how emotionally intense romance films can be, this one is for the books (literally). “It Ends With Us” gorgeously teaches the lesson of letting go even when the unknown can be terrifying. After all, the outcome of courageousness can be more beautiful than ever imagined.
“It Ends With Us” is out now exclusively in theaters – bringing a box of tissues is not such a bad idea.
Kyana Early (she/her) is a journalist from the San Francisco Bay Area who covers entertainment and culture.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
Get the lowdown on the two leading Vice President candidate picks! Tim Walz, Vice President Kamala Harris’ choice, a “Minnesota Nice” governor with a history as a teacher and National Guard sergeant. Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump’s pick, JD Vance, the 39-year-old author of “Hillbilly Elegy“, Marine veteran and U.S. Senator of Ohio has sparked controversy with his political shift, conservative stances and viral meme moments.
Dive into the run for the Vice President chair of these two candidates.
Produced by Malachi Segers
Edited by Liz Tril
Make no mistake, we have plenty of racial tension here in America, but things are so bad in England right now. Over 400 people have been arrested and at least six countries just announced travel advisories warning their citizens not to go there. And, they make fun of us for having Trump!
Host/Producer/Editor: Malachi Segers-Seker
The Lowdown gives you the latest in news, pop culture, and everything else your friends will be talking about tomorrow. Don’t get FOMO, get The Lowdown with Malachi, every Friday here at YR Media.
As a rising college freshman, I can now say that I have officially survived the college application process. It’s been a grueling past few years. But now that I finally know what school I’m attending this fall, I feel qualified to give prospective college applicants some advice.
So here are my top 10 tips for high schoolers considering higher education.
1. Have a course plan for all four years
Colleges like to see students take rigorous classes that challenge them academically and emotionally. It helps to map out your high school schedules early on to ensure that you know about each opportunity your school offers and which are wise to take advantage of. This method also ensures a schedule that makes sense, since you’ll already know what classes you want to take each year.
2. Take classes related to your intended major
While there is nothing wrong with branching out and trying new things, it’s never a good idea to take classes just because they are Advanced Placement level. Make sure to take the toughest classes available for your intended major and focus your energy on those courses. While it’s still important to challenge yourself in other fields, prioritizing your academic path can give you the foundation you need in the future.
3. Participate in activities that you enjoy, but try to relate them to your major
Again, relating what you do in high school to your major can be key for admission success. Be sure to take advantage of extracurriculars that relate to what you want to study in college. This shouldn’t stop you from trying out for a sports team or taking a fun art class, but participating in activities related to what you plan to study demonstrates genuine passion to colleges.
4. Challenge yourself, but don’t be afraid to ask for help
High school isn’t exactly easy. And there’s nothing wrong with asking for help from teachers, tutors or other resources. Even so, the challenges you face academically throughout high school will help prep you for college life and show universities your readiness for a harder curriculum. Also be sure to reach out to activity directors or organizers if you want to do certain extracurriculars like shadowing or internships. And don’t be shy! Worst case scenario, you hear no, which isn’t so bad.
5.Remember the unique experiences you’ve had throughout high school
While you shouldn’t worry about writing your essays until the summer before senior year, you never know when a unique experience will come in handy for your supplementals. So, keep in mind the journeys you embark on throughout high school. And remember the details! After all, detail is always welcome in college essays.
6. Befriend people with similar goals and aspirations
There are all kinds of people in high school, but it’s always a good idea to surround yourself with people with similar goals as you. They don’t necessarily have to have the same dream school as you. But people who are academically motivated can definitely help support you before, during and after college app season.
7. Have fun in high school, but stay focused
You only get four years in high school, and it is important to enjoy them. However, it is also important to prioritize your studies, especially if you are reaching for a top university. Applying to college is more competitive than ever. (No pressure there)! And because of this, students must remember to aim for good grades and test scores. So when decision time roles around, there’s a little stress as possible.
8. Do your best to avoid excessive stress
Speaking of stress, try not to worry about your college admissions results too much after you’ve already submitted. I definitely made this mistake. Worrying and worrying will not impact the results of your admissions in the slightest. Instead, remain motivated and focus on your goals. After years of hard work, it’s time to sit back and relax.
9. Don’t obsess over one college
Like I said earlier, the college admissions process is extremely competitive. Because of this, top colleges must reject even the most qualified students because there is simply not enough room for every good applicant. Obsessing over one “dream school” is a poor idea, especially if that school is known to be very selective. Instead, consider lots of options with varying acceptance rates. Because then, where you end up doesn’t matter since all of your choices are great ones!
10. Be authentic in your essays and interviews
I used to hate this saying in terms of college apps because I didn’t think it was helpful, but I now realize that this is the best advice you can get. Colleges want to be impressed, but they don’t want applicants who are clearly just trying to impress them. Admissions officers want to see students who are extremely passionate about what they want to study and who are determined to make a difference in the world — no matter how big or small.
So, when writing your essays, be yourself! Ditch the fancy language and resume dumping and instead speak from your heart. Why are you applying to your colleges? Why did you select a certain major? Why do you love your extracurriculars? Make sure your readers learn about the real you — not a college applicant with superficial ideas or goals.
LaVie Saad (she/her), is a rising freshman at Stanford University.
Edited by Amber Ly
Younger Americans think relaxing on vacation is overrated, according to new research.
Is Gen Z committed to cars more than any other generation? A new poll has revealed a trend about just how serious the nation’s newest set of consumers are about vehicles.
A survey of 2,000 Americans who travel (evenly split by generation) looked at how people of different ages vacation and found both Gen X (51%) and baby boomers (57%) prioritize relaxation when traveling; whereas, Gen Z (54%) and millennials (45%) are more interested in making memories.
In fact, 29% of those who don’t prioritize relaxation when they’re away find it to be a waste of time — especially millennials (30%).
Conducted by Talker Research for Apple Vacations, the survey found that these preferences may change in the future, as 59% shared their vacation priorities have shifted as they got older.
A quarter of millennials reported that sightseeing is a thing of the past and Gen Z is no longer prioritizing learning new things while traveling (28%).
Respondents from different generations recalled the average age they were when their vacation preferences changed. Gen Z preferences shift at age 18, while Millennials see it at 27, Gen X at 38 and Baby Boomers at 54.
Something that won’t change is Americans’ love for traveling, with one in four sharing that traveling is a high priority for them these days (28%).
Although Millennials are most focused on traveling right now (38%), Gen Z (35%) is most likely to surpass the average number of trips taken annually.
Looking at the differences in how they enjoy this time away, results showed that Baby Boomers (74%) prefer domestic travel, while Gen Z (14%) is the most likely to enjoy international travel.
Family-friendly (33%) and tropical (27%) destinations are favored across the generations, but Gen Z (25%) and Millennials (24%) also share a strong love for theme parks.
Aside from their top picks, Gen X (21%) and Baby Boomers (24%) are also drawn to small towns.
Before their trip, Gen Z is especially keen on creating a vacation plan (60%) and Baby Boomers are the likeliest to go with the flow (40%).
Planners find comfort in mapping their day (56%) and say it helps them make the most of their time (54%).
Gen Z embraces the safety they feel when planning things out (46%), while baby boomers who prefer to plan ahead also enjoy the feeling of checking off things they want to do (50%).
When travel planning, Millennials are most likely to use a travel agent (18%), while Gen Z leans heavily on social media for planning (55%) and inspiration (66%).
Originally published by Talker News
United States Senators proposed a NO FAKES act aimed to protect against fraud, abuse and the manipulation of digital and creative assets, potentially providing Gen Z with significant advantages in the AI era.
If passed, this legislation could be particularly beneficial for some young content creators and online influencers who see their images and likenesses used without consent.
The NO FAKES Act would hold individuals or companies liable for damages if found guilty of producing, hosting, or sharing a deep fake (AI-generated image) of an individual performing in an audiovisual or sound recording that was not previously approved by the individual.
The Senate’s recent consideration of the NO FAKES Act also targets the creation of sexually explicit deepfakes is a crucial step in this direction. It would empower victims of non-consensual AI-generated content to seek damages from the perpetrators, providing a legal framework to combat such violations.
This move follows troubling incidents involving AI-generated explicit images of students and public figures like Taylor Swift, showcasing the urgent need for robust protections.
In an age where AI can replicate and manipulate content, Gen Z creators could feel more secure knowing that their original work can be safeguarded if the NO FAKES Act is passed.
This protection would be crucial for those constantly producing digital art, music, videos, and other forms of creative expression, as it would help prevent unauthorized use and potential exploitation of their intellectual property.
Moreover, the act could be especially advantageous for celebrities and macro-influencers. These individuals often face the risk of their images and likenesses being used inappropriately or maliciously online. The new legislation would ensure that these creators could take legal action against those who misuse their digital presence, thus maintaining control over their personal brand and reputation.
Keeping it gee, the proposed bill and ongoing efforts by tech companies like Microsoft mark a significant step towards potentially protecting Gen Z creators and online influencers. By regulating AI and deepfakes, the U.S. government can aim to foster a safer digital environment where young innovators can thrive without fear of exploitation or fraud. If passed, this legislation could greatly enhance the security and integrity of digital assets, benefiting the next generation of creators.
Miranda Perez (she/her/hers) is a Jersey City, NJ-based journalist who covers the tech industry. Follow her on X and Instagram: @mimithegee.
A third of parents eat their kids’ lunchbox rejects for dinner, according to a recent poll.
The survey of 2,000 parents with school-aged children took an in-depth look at the American child’s palate, nutrition and how parents get creative to keep their kids fed.
According to parents, although more than one in five (17%) said their child’s lunch is much more gourmet than they had as a kid, parents estimate that 21% of their child’s lunch comes home uneaten at the end of the day, on average.
And when they’re not eating the leftovers themselves (29%), parents said they’ll offer leftover lunch as an afterschool snack (25%) or put it back in the fridge or pantry (22%). Although 41% admit throwing leftovers away.
Commissioned by NatureSweet and conducted by Talker Research, the survey took a close look at how school lunches have changed over the years.
There’s been quite an evolution according to parents with 43% saying today’s school lunches are healthier than theirs ever were, while over a quarter (28%) said there’s more variety.
Although the classic sandwich (61%), chips (56%) and juice (52%) combo is the most popular lunch for kids these days.
When asked about their kid’s least favorite lunch foods, parents listed snap peas (40%) and green beans (36%), along with tuna salad (36%) and hard-boiled eggs (32%).
But when it comes to kids’ food preferences, parents cited quick foods (50%), fresh foods (38%), foods kids can pack themselves (31%) and non-messy foods (30%) as the biggest factors for what kids like in their lunch.
And parents most prioritize nutrients (54%), taste (45%) and cost (33%) when grocery shopping for their kids.
Originally published by Talker News
The game began with loud cheers in a mostly full stadium in a majority Moroccan crowd. When any American touched the ball a cacophony of whistles and boos would erupt from the stands. It was clear that the United States was up against a heavy opponent.
Morocco dominated with every touch of the ball as the Americans struggled to keep it or bring it up towards the goal. There was an admirable elegance to the way Morocco played, both offensively and defensively. It wasn’t long until the U.S. faltered as Nathan Harriel made contact with Soufiane Rahimi, leading to a penalty that he later scored.
The second half brought even more problems for the U.S. as a rejuvenated Morocco pounced on any chance the Americans gave them. An almost lost U.S. side couldn’t keep up with the sharper opponent as they scored three more goals, with the fourth being a questionable penalty.
After a disastrous summer of soccer for the U.S., this loss adds to an already large pile of negativity for the program. Despite decent showings against Guinea and New Zealand, they failed to even score a goal against competition better than them.
It is important to acknowledge the achievement of the USMNT making it to the Olympics in 16 years, 2008, and the first time they made it to the knockouts of the tournament since 2000. The disappointment comes from a different place though, and it is best said by World Cup veteran Walker Zimmerman: “I think guys need to, every time they put on the jersey, I don’t care how talented you are, you want to play with pride. I think we have the characters to do it, but we don’t always do it.”
The Japanese national team is known for its strengths of perfecting tactics and skills across the board, making them the toughest team the USWNT has faced in this tournament. With an incredibly defensive setup and structure, Japan truly respected the USWNT’s talent as the two teams battled endlessly for the first half.
As the game continued, both teams had their moments to shine, striking fear in every fan’s heart. Even if the U.S. did marginally better in the stats, Japan truly threatened them in a way no other team has yet.
With the game still in a deadlock after 90 minutes, it continued into extra time with two halves of 15 minutes. At this time Japan, while still incredibly defensive, was forced to move forward more to attempt to win the game, giving the USWNt more room to score. Miraculously, in the 107th minute, Trinity Rodman curled the ball into the top left corner for the gorgeous game-winner.
The USWNT will once again face Germany in the semi-finals after their 4-1 win in the group stages. Despite their previous win, the U.S. must not underestimate Germany, ranked above the USWNT, especially one with a vengeance. The USWNT will face them on Tuesday.
Ayah Al-Masyabi, (she/her) is from Aurora, Colorado, and is an artist, writer and journalist who covers culture and sports. Follow her on Instagram @ayahalmart or YouTube @AyahSoccer.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
Gaining support from the younger demographic is considered a key factor in winning the presidential election. Both Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump stand strong in this pursuit.
That's where the future lies, in the youth of today
— Lodonanato (@Lodonanato) July 23, 2023
A poll taken in March by the Harvard Kennedy School’s Institute of Politics revealed substantial information about the young demographic (the 18 to 29) involved in the political process. According to the results, Biden had an 8% upper hand in gaining support from Americans under 30 years of age.
In June, these statistics may have shifted. A three-day event held in Detroit in support of Trump took place called “The People’s Convention,” hosted by Turning Point Action. The focus of this event was to express Trump’s campaign, engage a large amount of young voters and attract strong support for his mission.
Within the past month, with booming fanfare following Biden’s announcement to step down, it is with speculation that Harris’ presidential campaign is also appealing to young demographics. People of color are especially moved by her representation in the political field.
It is observed that 83% of voter registration increase is credited to the 18 to 34. As initiatives in support of each campaign continue to roll out, the outcome of the presidential election seems to dwindle to the interests of young voters.
“Young Americans are more ready than ever to engage with these institutions to push for the change we want to see in the world,” stated Anil Cacodcar, Student Chair of the Harvard Public Opinion Project.
Kyana Early (she/her) is a journalist from the San Francisco Bay Area who covers entertainment and culture.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
Contrary to popular belief, only half of recent high-school graduates are planning to attend a four-year college or university, according to new research.
A survey of 1,000 recent public high school graduates (ages 18 and 19) and 1,000 parents of public high school students found that just 22% felt “very prepared” for life after graduation.
And parents agree: less than half of parents surveyed (43%) believe their child is ready for the “real world” after graduating high school.
Results found one in two students are taking a, perhaps, less traditional route. About a quarter (24%) plan to immediately enter the job force after high school, while a fifth (21%) are planning for a two-year college or university, like a community college.
Others are looking to go to a trade school or get a certificate (9%), take a gap year (7%) or join the military (4%).
Still, public schools predominantly teach the test and college prep, without focusing enough on careers and life skills. Conducted by Talker Research on behalf of Learn4Life for Personalized Learning Month in August, the survey looked at graduates’ post-high school plans and how they’d design their high school experience if given the chance.
When asked what they wished their high school focused more on, 36% said they would have liked to learn about post-high school life — beyond going to college or university. And with so many opting for less traditional next steps, 37% vied for more exposure to job skills and 20% desired more application of classroom material, outside of testing.
This was in addition to learning about real-world skills (49%), mental health support (41%) and life skills like conflict resolution or stress relievers (41%).
Not only would recent grads like more education focused on “real-world skills,” but they’d also appreciate courses on financial literacy (40%) to be incorporated into their high school education.
That’s as well as mental health courses (36%), passions and interests beyond the lesson plans (29%) — and they want their school to do a better job understanding each student’s individual needs (25%).
The desire for real-world exposure is also echoed by what recent graduates feel schools should spend less time focusing on; standardized testing (30%) and overall scores (28%).
“Traditional public high schools are built to prepare students for a traditional four-year college/university — but we’re seeing a shift in what students would like, and what they plan to pursue post-high school,” said Shellie Hanes, Learn4Life Superintendent of Schools. “It’s important that schools adjust, changing their methods and their lesson plans to focus on individual students and what their post-high school plans might be.”
Originally published by Talker News
The wait has finally ended!!! After over a decade of silence from DreamWorks pictures regarding the Shrek series, it is confirmed that the newest film in the franchise will be released on July 1, 2026, with a Twitter/X video confirming the news.
This is massive news to Gen-Z as Shrek has become a massive force of nature within both the meme circles and as an innocent story that we grew up with. The tale of an unlikely hero teaming up with a Donkey to save a princess was very subversive for its time, especially as the series was first created out of spite against the previous CEO of the Walt Disney Company at the time, Michael Eisner, while also winning the inaugural Academy Award for Best Animated Film.
The sequel to the first film, “Shrek 2,” was a massive success and is revered in the hearts of many in Gen-Z as a modern classic, especially due to the introduction of Antonio Banderas’s character Puss in Boots, who had his own two spin-off films and even a Netflix original television show. The third and fourth films were not as good according to critic reviews but were still a fun time in the theater and expanded on the mythos.
The better part of the news comes with the fact that the original voice actors of the series, Mike Myers as Shrek, Cameron Diaz as Fiona, and Eddie Murphy as Donkey, will be reprising their roles as the famous ogres and animals that we all have grown to love.
While there is still a long wait, many are excited to relive their childhood with this film as this has been a long time in the making. With a timeless soundtrack and many Shrek raves being extremely popular, Gen-Z will come out in droves to see the adorable ogre once again in 2026.
We got the Shrek 5 announcement before GTA 6
pic.twitter.com/oEkuWP6xHG
— JBL Quantum (@JBLQuantum) July 10, 2024
Are we back? pic.twitter.com/O9rf20Td66
— Zero (@zerowontmiss) July 9, 2024
Zipporah Pruitt, (she/her) is an L.A. homegrown journalist, who covers entertainment and culture. Follow her on X and Instagram: @zippzine.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
This year, renowned hyper-pop sensation, creator of “Boom Clap,” and co-writer of songs such as Icona Pop’s “I Love It,” Charli XCX, released her newest album, “Brat.” Be it the right place at the right time, or the world finally catching up with Charli, the album was a massive success. Many millennials and Gen Z love the songs about carefree dancing with catchy hooks.
Culturally though, “Brat” has taken Gen Z by storm with its abrasive lime green aesthetic and arial font, the cover once called ugly has now become iconic. The cover has become eponymous with authenticity as many people have adopted the aesthetic for pictures, memes, and clothing/accessories. Songs like “Apple” have become underground hits with dances created on TikTok and YouTube shorts with even Charli recreating it while on tour with Troye Sivan. Nothing though, could have prepared Brat summer for that week in July.
To set the scene, it has been a couple of weeks since former president Donald Trump was fired upon in a foiled assassination attempt, creating a mass fervor with his base and many people feeling defeatist about the fate of the election. Then on Sunday, July, 21, President Joe Biden dropped out of the race and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris. People soon began to see Harris’s memes gain steam, once Charli posted three simple words — Kamala IS brat. It was time and now we may see another person be memed into the White House. Fancams have been created using music from “Brat,” mainly with Harris’s coconut tree speech. Finally, Kamala HQ, the official campaign page for Harris’s campaign has adopted the “Brat” aesthetic. While some naysayers are saying that Kamala is killing the meme, Brat summer is still continuing with Charli saying that we have more coming soon. The album has also been shortlisted for a Mercury Award in the UK.
Brat is a collection of everything, insecurities, dreams, authenticity, fun, and letting inhibitions free for the promise of a better tomorrow. Whether we want it or not, this summer is the summer of brat, regardless of people who want to say anything different.
Zipporah Pruitt, (she/her) is an L.A. homegrown journalist, who covers entertainment and culture. Follow her on X and Instagram: @zippzine.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
“SpongeBob SquarePants” is a show that needs no introduction, but I will give one anyway. It is one of, if not the biggest cartoon of the Gen Z demographic. Premiering in 1999 on Nickelodeon, the show has become the biggest money maker for not just Nickelodeon, and the parent company Viacom.
The series has spawned spinoffs, films, video games, and tons of memes, especially from many of the early episodes that we as Gen Z have grown up with. But with that, comes the question about who SpongeBob is and what he represents. This came to a head at the May Motor City Comic Con in Detroit, when a young man asked SpongeBob voice actor Tom Kenny if the titular porous yellow character had autism. Tom Kenny responded by saying that yes, SpongeBob is on the spectrum and that “That’s his superpower the way your superpower is.”
This in turn has caused discourse among the autism community at large, with some people, especially on the r/autism subreddit on Reddit saying that the comment is very condescending to them. While others on the comments of the Twitter/X post reacted extremely positively to the revelation.
Tom Kenny responds to claim if SpongeBob is autistic:
“Yes, of course he is! That’s his superpower the way your superpower is.” pic.twitter.com/dkAWkw2bRR
— ToonHive (@ToonHive) July 23, 2024
In my opinion, I am very glad that SpongeBob is on the spectrum. While the representation is cartoony, it creates this sense of whimsy that I feel is extremely lost in these dark days.
I applaud Mr. Kenny for this answer and the fact that he delivered it. Some may complain about being talked down to, but at the end of the day, he inspired a kid to be himself and let him know that his hero was like him. While Patrick Star is my favorite character in the show, I now have a newfound respect and appreciation for SpongeBob as I can see a piece of myself in him.
Guillermo Guzman (he/him/they) is a Texas-based nerd who loves talking about video games, autism, and entertainment. Follow him on Instagram: @boofy_booferson and X: @Dimpy_Tenders.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
Well… for better or worse, Ice Spice is back. Released on July 26, her new album “Y2K!” is a 23-minute-long lesson in patience and tolerance in toilet humor and one flow. This album has many such beautiful song names as “Phat Butt,” “BB Belt,” and the (in)famous “Think U The $^*! (Fart).” I hate to say it was a self-fulfilling prophecy, but I mean… the name of the album was written on a trash can on the cover of the album. Many people are also trashing the album online.
y2k was a boring album. no growth in lyrics. also why was it even called y2k when it didn’t even give that? and it was the same basic drill music she always do. 2/10 pic.twitter.com/UFEit7xtJ9
— ria (@riaaxoo) July 26, 2024
“name one good song on ice spice’s Y2K album release” pic.twitter.com/CwXRXQb0JW
— ermm (@kuchiwps) July 26, 2024
In my previous review of Megan Thee Stallion’s album “Megan,” I said that while the album is good, it can get repetitive, but that it was saved thanks to songs that created a difference between party Megan and what Megan is feeling inside. For “Y2K!,” Ms. Spice has instead used the album as just a collection of many songs to twerk to with no substance, and the same flow that she uses in every song. There is no variety to the music, no change, just a dull thud of bass slamming your eardrums constantly with no change.
There is nothing more to say here. Even with features by Travis Scott and Gunna, the album feels staler than week-old deli ham. My only advice to Ice Spice is to try to spice up her music by having different beats and rapping about things other than just twerking and partying. I understand that is what is popular, but for an album, it cannot hold. Thankfully, the 23 minutes I spent listening to it front to back were short and due to myself still being alive, I now know the adage of what doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger.
2 hams out of 5.
Zipporah Pruitt, (she/her) is an L.A. homegrown journalist, who covers entertainment and culture. Follow her on X and Instagram: @zippzine.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
After a mess of rights issues, studio politics, and the mouse allowing an R rating, Deadpool has returned to the silver screen. This time though, he is not alone as he brought in Hugh Jackman as Wolverine.
Can these two find harmony in their discord and save their respective universes from destruction? Find out in Marvel Studios: “Deadpool and Wolverine.”
Now the answer many are asking is… is it good or does Disney have another massive flop on their hands? The answer: this film is uncanny and amazing in the best way possible.
This movie is what “Doctor Strange and The Multiverse of Madness” wanted to be — an amazing, bloody, and hilarious romp through a land forgotten by time, and cameos galore that I will not spoil here. Just like the previous Deadpool movies, the jokes are rapid-fire, and meta, and while some may fall flat, many can cause the theater to explode in an uproar of hilarity with fun needle drops that add to the grandness of the adventure. This is Marvel at its finest and one of the biggest crowd-pleasing films of this summer if not the whole year.
Ryan Renolds kills it again as the titular character of Deadpool, grappling with a midlife crisis and trying to find his place in the world until he gets a knock at the door from the Time Variance Authority (TVA), the shadowy interuniversal organization first introduced in the “Loki” TV show. Hugh Jackman also shines as a failed Wolverine, in the vein of a foul-mouthed alcoholic ready to kill.
The R rating here is a hard one as blood, gore, and bad words fill the theater, keep the kids at home for this one, but know that you are going in for a great time. This film is the shot in the arm that the MCU needed.
4.5 bullets out of 5.
Zipporah Pruitt, (she/her) is an L.A. homegrown journalist, who covers entertainment and culture. Follow her on X and Instagram: @zippzine.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
U.S. Men’s Olympic Team Loses 3-0 to Home Team France
In one of the toughest groups with New Zealand, Guinea, and the host, the 1984 gold winner of this tournament, France, the U.S. men were expected to face adversity. Despite the final score, in the first half, the U.S. played well. While managing to stop and endure French attacks, the U.S. front line created good chances, two of which landed on the goalpost.
Later into the second half, French overage veteran Alexandre Lacazette bangs in the game’s first goal, changing how the Americans must play. Forced into playing a more offensive style, the U.S. leaves more spaces open for the French to take advantage of. Later in the 69th and 85th minutes, Michael Olise and Loïc Badé get past U.S. goalkeeper Patrick Schulte.
A major problem with the U.S. attacks is the fact both of our offensive wingers, Paxton Aaronson and Kevin Paredes, are on the opposite sides they normally play on, which impaired their ability to finish and give balls to Duncan McGuire. Unlike their French competitors, there is also no clear leader or veteran to push the team in the right direction.
USWNT Beat Zambia with a 3-0 Dominate Performace
The USWNT started the game rocky — struggling to keep the ball or pass it accurately — however, after a couple of minutes, the team began to connect more easily and began to dominate. With a strong U.S. defensive unit, Zambia managed to get past Noami Girma only a few times in the first half. Offensively is where the USWNT shone the most, with beautiful build-ups from the midfield, run by Lindsey Horan, into the opposition’s box, resulting in three goals by Trinity Rodman and a brace by Malory Swanson.
The way the USWNT played was a far cry from how they played in the previous World Cup. Comparing their hesitant and goalless structure to how they now play under Emma Hayes, a structured yet fluid offensive style is like night and day.
The second half was less exciting, with the many substitutions to give the U.S. stars a chance to recover for the next game. Despite Zambai’s red card, their front line starring NWSL favorite Barbra Banda began to push the U.S. until the last minute.
Ayah Al-Masyabi, (she/her) is from Aurora, Colorado, and is an artist, writer, and journalist who covers culture and sports. Follow her on Instagram @ayahalmart or YouTube @AyahSoccer.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
I wasn’t excited to write an article this week and tried to find the best excuse to tell my editor that there would be no article for this column. With so much to say but not desiring to say anything at all, it was apparent there was a clear attack on some of the only things I have in this world at this place and time: my voice and freedom.
Usually, slight references to my beliefs are written in the articles published for this column, with a desire to be neutral and inclusive of all people, but I am a Christian. As a Bible-believing and following one, my convictions fall one way, and care for people is at the core of my beliefs. However, the actual application of these convictions and what they should look like in our society have always been something that I have wrestled with.
I find myself in the middle and observe American politics clearly in conflict with different things I hold dear to my heart; there is always a pull to hide and do nothing. I tuned into a Bible study this week, where exactly what I’ve been feeling for years was called out: compassion fatigue.
I’m saddened by the recent events that transpired this month. The unjustified murder of Sonya Massey, the assassination attempt of a former U.S. president and current presidential candidate, the injustices and horrific acts happening in the U.S. and outside our borders, and so much more.
Nothing new is being said, and this year feels written like 2020, just in a different font. With divisiveness and a lack of humanity, I’m susceptible to believing the lie I don’t offer much value.
The older I get, the more I understand laws are necessary and significantly affect our world. There’s so much to say, but my thoughts on navigating this election season include sharing my opinions only with family and friends.
I’m being led to rely on something I strongly believe in and that’s prayer, while understanding the politicians running to impact this country outside of the presidency. I am working on reading their policies and being intentional with my vote while monitoring what I consume, which is the best approach. There are people in the Christian faith, outside of the faith, and in their respective political parties who invoke fear and hurt more than they think they are helping.
I want to be a vessel of love. I want to champion all people groups because every tribe and nation is essential. I believe there is a need for a greater solution than politics, and that’s salvation. I’ve dedicated my life to pushing that message, but I still will use my right and responsibility to use my voice through my vote. I believe there are needs to be met and change and improvement will happen in this country, and it’s my responsibility to be part of it.
Tracy Noze is a Seattle-based journalist.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
While media pundits keep talking about the “Black vote,” a key demographic was seemingly–for once–overlooked among all the chatter. It’s…white dudes?
Host/Producer/Editor: Malachi Segers-Seker
The Lowdown gives you the latest in news, pop culture, and everything else your friends will be talking about tomorrow. Don’t get FOMO, get The Lowdown with Malachi, every Friday here at YR Media.
Growing up, my last name was always the butt of a joke. Its “complex” pronunciation was never brought to my attention until every first day of school when my teachers would conduct roll calls struggling with each syllable.
For years, I almost felt a little ashamed when everyone around me hesitated or avoided saying my last name. So I settled on letting people off the hook by abbreviating it — hoping that’d be the end of my embarrassment.
Whenever I would share these experiences at school, my parents would encourage me to own my last name. And thinking back on it, I thank my parents for constantly reminding me how beautiful and important our culture is — even though I didn’t believe it at the time. They always speak highly of where we come from and of our family members who are still there.
Fast forward, I’m older now. Instead of immature humorous remarks, I get follow-up questions about the origins and people begging for proper pronunciation of my name — all with a genuine, curious tone. And it’s exciting to tell people how notable my name is. I’ve been told that to be a Wanguhu means to represent. My family says that our name derives from a lineage of head chiefs in a town called Eldoret and embodies power when it’s heard in Kenya.
If I could tell younger me how much people appreciate Africa now, I wouldn’t believe it. I’m incredibly proud to be Kenyan at a time when African culture is taking over the media. Its influence on American celebrities today is groundbreaking. And I’m just happy to see the evolution continue.
Sydney Wanguhu (she/her) is originally from the San Francisco Bay Area and is now an LA-based journalist who covers entertainment and culture. Follow her on Instagram and Spotify: @sydneyy._.
Edited by Amber Ly
U.S. Men’s Olympic Team Beat New Zealand 4-1 as Hope of Qualification Grows
After a completely deflating loss against France, the U.S. Men’s Olympic National Team faced New Zealand needing a win to better their chances of making it out of the group. Being given a penalty and Djordje Mihailovic scoring it in the eighth minute of the game, the U.S. earned control over the game against a lesser opponent.
The U.S.A.’s dynamic attack and many decent chances led them to a 3-0 lead in the first thirty minutes with goals from Walker Zimmerman and Gianluca Busio. Not long after the start of the second half, Paxton Aaronson, USMNT star Brendan Aaronson’s little brother, kicks the ball straight into the net.
The U.S. thoroughly dominated the rest of the game despite letting New Zealand score in the seventy-eighth minute. Showing a similar promise from the France game, the U.S. finally delivered on it. Fans hope the team can show its talent again against Guinea, where the team must win by at least two goals to guarantee qualification without relying on other teams’ results.
USWNT Makes Dangerous Statement in 4-1 Win Against Germany
When women’s soccer heavyweights like the USWNT and Germany compete, fans know they are in for an exciting ride. The game began toe-to-toe with the main battle being in the midfield as the ball was kicked from one side to the next. It wasn’t too long until both teams scored; Sophia Smith for the U.S. and Giulia Gwinn for Germany.
However, as soon as Mallary Swanson scored the second goal for the U.S. in the twenty-sixth minute, the game changed as the U.S. became the dominant team. The USWNT embodied Emma Hayes’s dynamic and offensive style to the T, creating an enormously dangerous team that U.S. fans haven’t seen in a while.
Before the end of the first half, Sophia Smith bagged another goal, making it the fifth goal from a Coloradan out of the six goals scored so far. The second half was just as electric as the first, as Germany desperately worked to make another goal. Nearing the end of the game, newly subbed Lynn Williams managed to score the game’s last goal.
Ayah Al-Masyabi, (she/her) is from Aurora, Colorado, and is an artist, writer and journalist who covers culture and sports. Follow her on Instagram @ayahalmart or YouTube @AyahSoccer.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
Over the weekend at San Diego Comic-Con during the Marvel Studios’ panel, it was announced that “Avengers 5”, once formerly known as “Avengers: The Kang Dynasty”, has now been retitled officially as “Avengers Doomsday”. This caused speculation about who would portray the new villain, Doctor Doom. That speculation lasted about five minutes when it was then revealed that Robert Downey Jr., who previously played Tony Stark and spearheaded the Infinity saga, would be returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe to play the most notorious villain on the pages of Marvel comics.
We here have thoughts on this, and that main thought is to hear Marvel out. Currently, the MCU is at a low point with the most recent film, “Deadpool and Wolverine” being a great return to form and a massive hit, but one that still can’t wipe the stains from films such as “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” and “Thor: Love and Thunder” from the record, which disappointed critics and audiences alike. Some films as well had lots of preconceived notions with many films such as “Eternals”, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” and “The Marvels”, being hit with waves of homophobia, racism, and sexist vitriol. Especially “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” due to it being the first film to feature Kang the Conqueror, the original villain of the Multiverse saga, played by Jonathan Majors. This whole plan was thrown into a tailspin once Majors was arrested and charged with domestic abuse, causing him to be fired from Marvel Studios.
With this casting of RDJ as Doom, it appears that Disney has hit the panic button by completely pivoting away from Kang while also returning a familiar face to the MCU to gain more people in the cinemas. This has caused many people online to have polarized opinions with some being excited, and others being nervous or otherwise pessimistic. Some also believe that this could have been based on a comic saga known as “The Infamous Iron Man”, but others are confused due to Kevin Feige on the panel saying that he will be playing Victor Von Doom.
At this point, not much is known except that RDJ will return as a new character, and that the Russo Brothers and Stephen McFeely will return to direct and write respectively. While this is a massive change from what many were expecting, we hope to see a great story come out of this as the clock ticks down to doomsday.
Guillermo Guzman (he/him/they) is a Texas-based nerd who loves talking about video games, autism, and entertainment. Follow him on Instagram: @boofy_booferson and X: @Dimpy_Tenders.
Zipporah Pruitt, (she/her) is an L.A. homegrown journalist, who covers entertainment and culture. Follow her on X and Instagram: @zippzine.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
At only 14 years and one day old, McKenna Whitham became the youngest soccer player to play for a top-tier professional soccer league in the United States on July 28.
@emily.evans05 I have very mixed opinions on this – what do you guys think?
♬ original sound – Em
Earlier in the week, Whitham became the youngest player to be signed to a club in NWSL at 13 and was also the youngest athlete to sign a deal with Nike. Whitham was subbed on in the 80th minute for NJ/NY Gotham against Washington Spirit in her debut in the NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup in a 1-0 win.
Making history at 14-years-old
The youngest ever NWSL signing steps onto the pitch for her pro debut – congratulations Mak Whitham! pic.twitter.com/wKdf1ATQrh
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) July 28, 2024
In an interview with ESPN after signing with Gotham, Whitham said, “I’m not going to be cocky about it. I’m going to stay humble, and I’m still going to keep developing. My goal is to be a top player in the NWSL, and I know that Gotham will help me become that player.”
She topped the recent American soccer phenomenon Cavan Sullivan’s record when he became the then-youngest player to play in May, debuting for the Philadelphia Union at 14 and 293 days old. The youth movement within American soccer is working.
Gotham’s head coach, Juan Carlos Amorós, claimed that substituting Whitham into the game had nothing to do with creating a record. In the post-game press conference, he explained that “the team needed her at that point and that’s when she came on. Whenever it was, it was going to be a special moment for her that she was going to remember forever.”
#soccer #football #woso #womenssoccer #nwsl #gothamfc #mckennawhitham ♬ original sound – AttackingThird
In 2021, then-15-year-old Olivia Moultrie sued the NWSL for the right to play despite the league’s age restrictions. Without the lawsuit, Whitham would have never been able to create this momentous record. Moultrie debuted for the Portland Thorns and many others like Jaedyn Shaw, Gisele Thompson, and Chloe Ricketts under 18 followed.
Ayah Al-Masyabi, (she/her) is from Aurora, Colorado, and is an artist, writer and journalist who covers culture and sports. Follow her on Instagram @ayahalmart or YouTube @AyahSoccer.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
“Twilight” star Taylor Lautner and his wife, Tay Lautner, launched The Squeeze podcast in 2023 to speak on health topics, such as body positivity, grief, therapy and medical diagnoses. The podcast is part of The Lemons Foundation’s initiative to support individuals struggling with mental health.
“When life gives you lemons, what do you do with them? Over here at The Squeeze, we talk about it! “It” being our mental health and well being,” they stated in the podcast overview.
The Lemons Foundation was founded in 2022 after Tay Lautner personally experienced mental health struggles amid the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused her to leave behind her job as a registered nurse. From this experience, the Lautners have set themselves on a mission to raise mental health awareness while providing accessible supportive resources to the public.
The Squeeze gets real and personal, shedding light on firsthand experiences and featuring special guest appearances of various professions to share their stories. Thus far, the podcast has collaborated with guest stars such as Jordan Chiles, gymnastic Olympian, Nia Sioux, a former dancer from the reality show “Dance Moms” and Daniella Monet, a former actress on Nickelodeon’s “Victorious”.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by The Squeeze (@thesqueeze)
In June, The Squeeze debuted an episode with Nia Sioux expressing her passion for mental health awareness. Throughout the episode, Sioux reflects upon mental health struggles she experienced since a young age being in the public scene starring on “Dance Moms”, such as body image and overall negativity.
On July 10, the podcast released an episode featuring former actress Daniella Monet. Monet speaks about her experiences in the acting industry, specifically concerning starring as “Trina” in the beloved Nickelodeon show, “Victorious”. Monet sheds light on gut health and the importance of prioritizing happiness.
The Squeeze is a powerful voice in the podcast industry, and its impact is set to grow and reach greater heights with time. The podcast is currently available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Kyana Early (she/her) is a journalist from the San Francisco Bay Area who covers entertainment and culture.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
I’ve traveled to eight countries so far in my life: Italy, Spain, Portugal, France, Greece, England, the Philippines and Mexico. And my experiences visiting all these places has made a huge impact on how I view the world.
When I was 8, I traveled to Sicily, where my dad’s family is from. While I was there, I learned a lot about Italian culture. Every night, the whole family came together to make dinner — everyone helped out in some way. I’d help wash vegetables for the pasta sauce, and the adults would chat and drink while cooking together. It was interesting to see how tightly knit my family in Italy was.
Traveling to a wide range of countries made me see how different, yet similar people can be. Despite cultural differences between a variety of countries, many prioritize the importance of community.
That trip was such a monumental period in my life. I went home with a sense of pride in my culture. I was given a taste of cultural understanding leaving me with a desire to discover more about where I’m from.
Nina Tan Pernice (she/her), is a high school student from Oakland, California.
Edited by Amber Ly and shaylyn martos
In a bid to modernize educational institutions and streamline operations, an increasing number of schools are adopting biometric technology. From fingerprint scanners to facial recognition systems, these innovations promise to revolutionize daily administrative tasks and bolster security measures. In fact, a research study done by Dr. Anne Marie Dunphy said there are more than two million students use biometrics every day in their schools, across 48 states in the U.S.
Just recently, schools in Colorado began adopting biometrics for safety, administrative use, and even for the use of school lunch distribution. However, their implementation has sparked debates over privacy concerns and ethical implications.
The use of biometrics in educational settings is gaining traction. Schools are adopting systems that use biometric technology, specifically to increase their security. “High-tech solutions such as facial and weapons recognition technology — which is powered by artificial intelligence — can be an alluring solution for school boards and superintendents looking to reassure parents that their school campuses are safe” said Kenneth Trump, the president of National School Safety and Security Services, a consulting firm.
Furthermore, biometric technology offers schools a means to automate routine tasks that have traditionally been labor-intensive and prone to errors. Attendance tracking, for instance, is being transformed with the introduction of fingerprint or facial recognition systems.
On the other hand using biometric technology in schools can pose a significant threat to the privacy of students and staff. Surveillance technology can also undermine a positive school climate and relationships with parents. According to the Public Interest Privacy Center there’s research showing that when students feel constantly watched by surveillance systems, it erodes students’ and parents’ trust in schools.
One student, Hayley Scheffel*, a junior Notre Dame High School in Bridge Point, West Virginia said she feels apprehensive.
“I know my school uses a lot of facial recognition technology in the building and sometimes it makes me nervous that I am always being watched,” Scheffel said.
Furthermore, biometric technology is not always reliable. The technology has a spotty track record when it comes to accurately identifying many groups of people: including women, people of color, non-binary and transgender people, and children. In fact, Research by the Cognitive Science Committee exposes error rates in biometric technology across demographic groups, with the poorest accuracy found in subjects who are female, black, or hispanic. In conclusion, schools must be careful when using biometric technology, and must be aware of the risks that come with using it.
Leah Mordehai (she/her) is from San Francisco and is a youth journalist.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
*Name has been changed for privacy reasons.
36-Year Old Sonya Massey, after doing a 911 call to receive some assurance after having heard noises near her home for a possible intruder, bodycam footage shows the passive-aggressive attitude and lack of professionalism from former deputy Sean Grayson. Grayson was convicted with two DUI’s in the past, and was discharged from the Army for “serious misconduct”. As Sonya Massey was asking for help from the responding officers and calling her family, Grayson decided to escalate things to a major critical moment, all Sonya did was say “I’m Sorry”. Instead of receiving help from the authorities who are supposed to protect civilians, her life was cut-off in an instant by Grayson’s firearm.
Produced by Malachi Segers
Edited by Liz Tril
When my peers in college speak of New York City, they often resort to what I call the “tourist traps.” There are spots, like Times Square on 42nd Street, which out-of-towners are known for visiting when they spend a few days here.
Times Square | Getty ImagesBut as a native New Yorker, I’m here to fill you in on the best (and secret) spots that are cheaper and more accessible.
Say hello to Central Park
During the pandemic, because of virtual school, I would often spend my afternoons in the park taking a walk with friends or sitting on the grass to catch up. The park spans from 59th Street to 110th Street, and there is even ice skating, a carousel, and a castle hidden within the greenery. There are many fields to have a picnic in when the weather is nice, and the park can feel like a great escape from the hustle of NYC life.
Play pickleball for $5
I recently learned about CityPickle, which is located at Wollman Rink in Central Park.They offer community play for $5 per hour and provide a paddle for free. Community play is offered for two hours each day. However, because slots open a week in advance, I’ve noticed that it can be competitive to get a spot.
Take a free fitness class on the Hudson
I actually recently only learned about Healthy on the Hudson, a program that provides
free fitness classes on various piers on the Hudson. The month of July offers yoga, conditioning, and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) workouts.
This is a great deal compared to SoulCycle which charges $135 for a 5-class package for students. These classes are a great way to interact with others who might be local to New York, too.
Take advantage of free concerts and entertainment events
Last summer, I attended the NY Philharmonic Concert in Central Park with my fellow interns. We sat on a picnic blanket in the middle of Central Park and enjoyed some snacks from Trader Joes while listening to the free concert. While my public elementary school allowed us to see the Philharmonic at Lincoln Center, I was grateful to hear the music while in Central Park.
There are other free opportunities, including Summer on the Hudson, which offers many events which are both athletic and more leisurely. I walked by a viewing of The Outsiders and found out that movies are screened for the months of July and August. I also was blown away by the opportunity to hear music in the park at numerous events, such as an event once a month titled Friday Freshen Up Musical Hour with different artists. Additionally, Lincoln Center’s Summer for the City offers free or choose-what-you-pay events for those in the city. The silent disco always seems to be a popular choice!
Visit museums
I’m the type of person who tries to visit museums in different cities, so I become excited about the opportunity to see new exhibits and visit new museums. There are many free or pay-what-you-want museums, including the American Museum of Natural History, Metropolitan Museum of Art, P.S. 1 MoMA, and The Cloisters.
Stop by a zoo
Even though I’m not a kid anymore, I can’t help but include this opportunity to see some of the best zoos in the country. My kindergarten class was able to take a field trip to the Bronx Zoo, and we did the same in middle school for science class. Some of the best opportunities my friends and I have enjoyed are the opportunities to see trainers with animals during feedings (sea lions and penguins), the butterfly garden, and seeing over 640 species at the Zoo.
If you’re in Central Park, you should check out the Zoo on the East Side of the Park! My mom and I visited during COVID-19, and it was a great escape from city life. While I grew up going to this Zoo, I still love the Tisch Children’s Zoo because of the opportunity to feed animals!
Ilana Drake is a journalist from New York City and attends school in Nashville. Follow her on X: @IlanaDrake_.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
Gen Z is crushing moving season, according to a recent poll.
The survey of 2,000 Americans who have moved in the last five years found that not only are they on top of their finances, more than half of Gen Z respondents (57%) reported they actually enjoy the process of moving. Meanwhile, only 22% of Baby Boomers share that sentiment.
As the summer moving season heats up, digital insurance company, Lemonade, commissioned the survey through Talker Research to investigate how Americans approach moving — how they prepare, feelings on the overall process and the generational split on it all.
According to results, Gen Z stands out as the most meticulous planners, with 60% creating a moving budget compared to only 55% of Millennials, 46% of Gen X and 38% of Baby Boomers who prepared financially.
The research also found that of all generations, Gen Z even set aside the most money for their most recent move. Gen Z focused their budget on getting their new space ready with things like furniture and home updates ($1,703.50 on average), while Baby Boomers focused on the physical components, like moving trucks and supplies ($1,633.60 on average).
But despite their careful planning, four in five exceeded their moving budgets. For those, average overspending totaled $1,057.20.
And for the average respondent, it took five months to financially recover from their most recent move.
Still, nearly half (47%) said they would overpay if it meant they would have a disaster-free move, with Millennial respondents being the most willing to overpay (51%), compared to Baby Boomers who were least willing to overpay (37%).
According to those surveyed, the most unexpectedly expensive parts of moving were renting a moving truck (30%), purchasing packing materials (22%) and putting some belongings temporarily in storage (18%).
But for those who forgot a few things, the most common things to fall through the cracks were forgetting to update their address or forward their mail, with Gen Z forgetting this the most (31%) and Baby Boomers forgetting this the least (18%).
Along with that, 19% of Gen Z forgot to update their home or renters insurance compared to only 3% of Baby Boomers.
To make the whole ordeal more enjoyable, respondents said movers should be fully prepared throughout the day (39%), invite friends to help out (35%), create a fun playlist (32%) and treat everyone to dinner at the end of the day (32%).
In fact, Gen Z prioritized a fun playlist (40%) as the top option for making the day more enjoyable, compared to only 16% of Baby Boomers, a generation that prioritized being fully prepared (45%).
Originally published by Talker News
The end is coming by way of a crane kick to the face. After taking down Terry Silver and seemingly defeating Cobra Kai, the karate prodigies of Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) and Daniel Larusso (Ralph Macchio) have set aside their differences in order to get their team to the mythical tournament known as the Sekai Taikai. This is “Cobra Kai VI.”
For the first five episodes, with the Sekai Taikai looming, Daniel and Johnny must unite their dojo under one name, fix the issues plaguing the teens, and bring forth a badass collaboration to show the world that Miyagi-Do Karate is the best in the world. But with a secret looming that could change the perception of Miyagi-san, hard choices and truths emerge.
In the Season 5 review, this show knows what it is. It is not trying to be prestige TV like “Succession” or anything else, it is a big cheesy slice of karate pizza served hot and ready for the masses. With top notch action and choreography, this season deals with the themes of balance, the bonds of sisterhood and brotherhood, and heart. A stand out actor in this show is Peyton List as Tory, who has blossomed as a powerhouse actor in this show with her constant heel-face turns, as well as the character of Robby, played by Tanner Buchanan, who shows amazing fight choreography and heart.
This season is both longer and shorter as we have 15 episodes, but will be divided over three five-episode chunks throughout with Part 2 coming Nov. 15, and Part 3 coming next year. While the wait is long, from what we have so far, it is worth it.
5 black belts out of 5.
Guillermo Guzman (he/him/they) is a Texas-based nerd who loves talking about video games, autism, and entertainment. Follow him on Instagram: @boofy_booferson and X: @Dimpy_Tenders.
Zipporah Pruitt, (she/her) is an L.A. homegrown journalist, who covers entertainment and culture. Follow her on X and Instagram: @zippzine.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
According to the 2022 NCIC Missing Person and Unidentified Person Statistics, more than 97,000 Black women across all ages were reported missing. Many of these cases don’t get the same publicity and media coverage as those with other races making it hard for people to know about them nationally.
Lifetime has curated a movie series highlighting various disparities, stereotypes and views that all work against Black women being found in a suitable time, and showcases the horrors that can happen when there is a race against the clock.
“Abducted at an HBCU: A Black Girl Missing Movie” is the second movie in the series and stars Naturi Naughton and is executively produced by Garcelle Beauvais.
Naughton plays a college counselor (Ellen) who helps new transfer student Shannon (Tanyell Quian) navigate the HBCU campus. While living off campus, shy Shannon is struggling with her new life and does not have family support.
While she tries to fit in by joining clubs, she feels left out due to imposter syndrome. Her fellow classmates come from high income/class backgrounds in comparison to hers. In addition, she spends her free time looking for work to pay the hefty HBCU tuition ticket. Looking to make friends and putting herself out there, Shannon unknowingly trusts the wrong guy and becomes a sex trafficking victim.This allows her to go under the radar of many people on campus, including her professors.
But Ellen notices when Shannon is missing, she informs faculty, the campus police department and staff. Authorities shrug off Ellen’s concerns and believe Shannon may have dropped out, did not want to be there or just did not care about her education. Ellen, frustrated, knows all those options are wrong and she plans to find out what happened to Shannon. She sees herself in Shannon and knows what it is like to not be seen.
Relentless Ellen finds Shannon just in time before she was sold and uncovers a sex-trafficking ring. In this fictional tale, Shannon was fortunate. Think about how many girls, in real life, do not have someone in their life to look for them, file missing person reports and not give up on searching for them.
This movie highlights the importance of advocating for others rather than nothing, but also how important it is to let somebody know where you are going. Rather it be giving a friend your location or just telling someone when you are on the way to meet up with someone new.
Viewers took to X to share their thoughts on the film as well as the lessons the movie taught.
That’s why you never leave your drink unattended and you don’t fool with people showing up to a campus who don’t go there. They don’t mean you no good as Big Mama used to say #AbductedatanHBCU pic.twitter.com/ggdHTzjCBP
— Sheila Taylor Clark (@SoShaydee) July 21, 2024
Shannon is a straight A student and her professors are not concerned of her absence! #AbductedAtAnHBCU pic.twitter.com/EnajoabQiu
— Senior Mama (@mama_senior) July 21, 2024
Shannon is a straight A student and her professors are not concerned of her absence! #AbductedAtAnHBCU pic.twitter.com/EnajoabQiu
— Senior Mama (@mama_senior) July 21, 2024
I’m GRATEFUL someone is looking for her because these folks at the school ain’t looking for NOBODY!#AbductedatanHBCU pic.twitter.com/sBLXbaAAYf
— CutieWithACane
(@CutieWithACane) July 21, 2024
Ariyana Griffin is a graduate student from Morgan State University. She is a California native and also a graduate of Clark Atlanta University. Follow her on X: @Ariyanaaganee and Instagram: @ari.yana.g.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
Throughout Megan Thee Stallion’s career, she has expressed her pure adoration for anime and Japanese culture. In April 2020, the stallion herself was invited by Tim Lyu to interview for the popular anime streaming service Crunchyroll, where she explains the birth of her anime obsession. Which stemmed from watching the Adult Swim channel and seeing “Inuyasha” when it first came out. Megan constantly mentions her love for the anime “My Hero Academia,” specifically characters like Kohei Horikoshi and how she relates to the protagonist– Midoriya Izuku.
In her recent album titled MEGAN, which dropped on June 28, not only was the hottie fan base drawn in, but the anime community has been eating songs like “Otaku Hot Girl” up for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The artist got a voice actor – Kaiji Tang, who voiced Satoru Gojo from the popular anime Jujitsu Kaisen to introduce the song, where he mentioned his love for women like Grammy winner Megan The Stallion.
Fans from all over seem to be loving the album, specifically the trending song Mamushi featuring Japanese rapper and singer Yuki Chiba. Where she repeats, “I get money, I’m a star, star, star” in both English and Japanese. The song has gained coverage from fans all over the world. All of them are participating in the trending TikTok dance, which has been popularized for weeks due to Megan joining in and different TikTokers who’ve all shared their version of the dance. Incorporating different hand gestures and movements that have been seen in several different anime.
Read more …
This guest post is in partnership with True Star Media.
Sure, you may have had “Former President Attempted Assassination” and “Sitting President Drops Out of Race” on your 2024 Bingo cards. But we bet you didn’t have “Vice President Bases Presidential Campaign on Hyperpop Album by the Person Who Wrote ‘I Love It’ by Icona Pop Because Memes.”
Host/Producer/Editor: Malachi Segers-Seker
The Lowdown gives you the latest in news, pop culture, and everything else your friends will be talking about tomorrow. Don’t get FOMO, get The Lowdown with Malachi, every Friday here at YR Media.
Before you dive into what’s happening today, take a look at what may have fallen off your radar earlier this week.
San FranciscoEnforces Law for Homeless Sweep
Do You Have a ‘Get Rich’ Plan?
How One Line of Faulty Code Shut Down Worldwide Business and Travel
Boring Phone, Fun Life
Are You Losing or Winning Aura Points?
Videos of people switching to a flip phone to limit the time spent on touchscreen devices have started to surface.There has been more consciousness that the amount of time spent on screens isn’t healthy for us. After watching “One Year Off Social Media As a College Student,” created by Christofu on YouTube, I became sold on the idea as he made the same switch. Going into my first year of college this fall, and gaining insight into a way to unravel the effects of screen time, inspired me to undertake my flip phone journey.
It started with a Google doc covering my plan’s bases, asking myself what phone I would get, how would I listen to music and how would I get around new places?
The solutions to those questions seemed worthy when I thought about the countless hours wasted on a screen that I could start to gain control over with more menial sacrifices.
As said by Christofu, “You don’t realize how much time you’re losing when you’re scrolling on social media … getting rid of that has made me realize that I have a lot more time for things that I previously thought I had no time for.”
As he had done, I also had spent too much time on social media at the expense of spending that same time on hobbies and I too wanted to make that switch.
I’ve seen an onslaught of videos of people making the same switch to improve their health and completely changing the habits they’ve relied on, which isn’t easy to do all at once. It’s important to make lifestyle changes at one’s own pace. This person started her social media detox by being smartphone-free once a week.
@yourbaeray Switching up my Sundays with the #Nokia2660Flip from Nokia
#AD #SoPink #NokiaANZ #flipphone #digitaldetox #mindfulness #mentalhealthawareness ♬ Jazz Bossa Nova – TOKYO Lonesome Blue
At the start of my switch, the plan is to leave a smartphone in my dorm and bring a flip phone out to ensure that I’m giving classes and outside activities my undivided attention and being as present as I can be. This step allows me to not completely shut myself off from the tools that my phone can provide and helps me gradually detox from it at the same time at my own pace.
In reducing my screen time, I hope to see an increase in my attention span, more productivity, and be more present to experience the college experience to my fullest.
Siah Brawley (she/her) is a rising freshman at UC Santa Cruz studying psychology.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
The housing crisis in the Bay Area is a major concern for many residents. In particular, homelessness on the streets of San Francisco has long been on the road to improvement. Despite initiatives, the homeless population is increasing and those who refuse refuge still prevail on the city’s streets.
San Francisco Mayor London Breed plans to clear the city of homeless encampments.
“Effective August, we are going to be very aggressive and assertive in moving encampments, which may even include criminal penalties,” Breed stated.
Mayor London Breed addresses the Supreme Court’s Decision on ‘Grants Pass’ today. She’s says it will allow the city of San Francisco to be more aggressive on clearing homeless encampments. pic.twitter.com/kceLrMmsEv
— Sergio Quintana (@svqjournalist) June 28, 2024
In an effort to acknowledge and adequately fund homeless services, the federal government requires cities to partake in a Point-In-Time Count every two years. It is a survey for people experiencing homelessness, in emergency shelters, transitional housing, abandoned properties, cars and the streets.
The most recent Point-In-Time Count took place in January 2024, which uncovered the latest numbers on the homeless population in San Francisco. It increased by 7%, from 7,754 to 8,323, since 2022.
While 48% are living in shelters, a percentage desires to remain living on the streets. In November 2023, 117 of 350 of those offered shelter accepted it. This poses a threat to public health safety as unhoused homelessness is more vulnerable to chronic health issues and can often be linked to crime and pollution.
A recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling enables the clearing of homeless encampments in cities. The 6-3 decision of City of Grants Pass v. Johnson allows cities nationwide to ban sleeping and camping in public spaces. According to the federal government, homelessness in the United States is at an all-time high since the first recorded data in 2007.
As initiatives materialize and remain in place to alleviate the housing crisis and address the issue of homelessness, there is hope that public health safety can be improved both nationwide and globally.
Kyana Early (she/her) is a journalist from the San Francisco Bay Area who covers entertainment and culture.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
Harvard is teaming up with Clark Atlanta University in an initiative to help prepare future HBCU presidents to step up to the plate, not only in HBCUs but as potential leaders in government, business and higher education.
Produced by Ariyana Griffin
Have you done something today that made you proud or confident in yourself? You may have earned a few hundred aura points. How about something you feel embarrassed for doing? You probably have lost some aura points.
A new TikTok trend has emerged that can dictate how “cool” you are based on an ‘aura points’ system. The trend derives from the idea that each action or event that happens in one’s life can determine their impression of themselves, as well as other people’s impressions of them.
“Aura points, a way to calculate your rizz. (That’s what the kids call charisma, and if you didn’t know that, you just lost 100 aura points), stated Alaina Demopoulos, a daily features writer for the Guardian.
@shadesnotes What’s your take on aura points?
#tiktoktrend #aurapoints #shadesapp #trending #fyp #aura #trends #relationships #greenscreen ♬ original sound – shades notes
An aura is defined as the type of atmosphere, a unique energy, quality or character, surrounding a given source. This can spiritually be represented by colors that can emit certain energies that make up a person, place or thing.
Throughout the last few weeks, the term has been used across social media platforms, including TikTok, X and various news headlines. According to the Wall Street Journal, the term has gained enough traction to be used by shoe brands and political parties.
The ‘aura points’ system is a lighthearted trend booming in the media that reflects personal perception and social validation. If interested, a quiz is available on BuzzFeed to put your aura to the test.
Kyana Early (she/her) is a journalist from the San Francisco Bay Area who covers entertainment and culture.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
Vice President Kamala Harris is in her president-brat era, per the launch of Kamala HQ, the rapid response social platform for Harris’ 2024 campaign.
The Gen Z-coded launch of KHQ pays homage to Millennial singer Charli XCX’s latest album ‘Brat’ which encourages listeners to face the complex emotions of womanhood and to do so unapologetically by having a #bratsummer lifestyle.
From the use of leveraging pop star endorsement from Charli XCX to honing in on signature Gen Z branding elements such as MySpace-esq fonts and the use of memes -– KHQ is speaking a digital language that allows Harris to stand out as a candidate.
The brand extension is key to appealing to Gen Z, a generation that houses 41 million eligible voters in 2024.
As Gen Z excitement is brewing, additional support is being emphasized around Kamala’s identity intersections of being Carribiean-Black, Indian woman and an HBCU grad, which ultimately hits a multitude of marks for a generation that values diversity.
KHQ’s embrace of trending moments and Gen Z marketing psychology is allowing Harris to reach Zoomers in a way I fear the Biden-Harris campaign was not.
Just a few weeks before Biden stepped down from candidacy, his team was pushing “Zero Marlakey” water cans, branded as a secret sauce to keep him sharp at debates.
The use of a vintage phrase like “no malarkey” has been coined as a slogan for Biden since he ran back in 2020. The origins of the phrase can be traced back to its most popular era in the 1980s, around the time when Biden first entered the Senate.
While Gen Z loves a vintage moment, the production of these water cans felt forced to me and many younger Zoomers who may have had no idea what malarkey is.
What was likely meant to be a campaign gag product doubled down on Biden’s age being a topic of concern after his debate performance further questioned his cognitive ability.
Harris is a much younger candidate at 59 years of age in comparison to Biden, allowing her and her team to reach early-age voters
Keeping it gee, while the overuse of Gen Z trends or slang can become a cringe-worthy moment, Kamala’s initial approach is skewing well with Zoomers. With a little over 100 days left until the election, she might be able to sprint to the finish line with a good amount of Gen Zers cheering her on — as long as the authenticity and comedic energy remain.
Miranda Perez (she/her/hers) is a Jersey City, NJ-based journalist who covers the tech industry. Follow her on X and Instagram: @mimithegee.
Edited by NaTyshca Pickett
Millions of people have experienced issues related to the Microsoft tech shutdown including airline delays, business shutdowns and even issues at police stations and hospitals. Here’s a look at exactly what happened.
Produced by Jason Sanford
In the last five years, Gen Z has come of voting age and they tend to be disillusioned with traditional political structures and parties, and are skeptical of mainstream politics. About eight million Gen Z are eligible to vote this year and of that number, 47% are BIPOC. YR Media’s “Control Z: #Vote2024” series examines the impact the young generation will have this election season and how more Gen Z candidates are looking to have a seat at the table.
This summer has been a whirlwind, from an off-putting presidential debate in June to a failed assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump earlier this month.
Election season has never been calm, and this one promises to stir one of the biggest storms yet. The most recent announcement from President Joe Biden stating his withdrawal from the 2024 race and endorsement for Vice President Kamala Harris reinvigorates what was becoming an somber election. Up until Sunday, some members of Congress and the Senate had been calling on Biden to step down.
Slightly more than 100 days until the election, the quest for the Democratic nomination and millions more voters is now on. The odds are rapidly turning in Harris’ favor, which means the search for the right running mate is on. Governors from California, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Illinois are among potential names being floated. It’s crucial that the vice president match her starpower, but also add a face and region that less progressive voters can relate to as well.
Like many Gen Z, Biden’s decision to step down did not shock me but more so put me in a state of confusion. What happens now? Could Harris really win against Trump?
On one hand, I am energized, reveling in the historic momentum comparable to Shirley Chisholm’s bid for President in 1972. Yet, another side of me can’t help but feel hesitant. The entire country witnessed the war on Presidential nominee Hilary Clinton’s character, qualifications, and integrity in 2016 — a battle where most of the weaponry was directed at her being a woman. How will a woman who is Black and South Asian fare with the additional layers of race?
Well, in the span of 24 hours, there had been an avalanche of support for Harris. One of the largest groups being Black women themselves, A Zoom call on Sunday evening amassed more than 40,000 Black women from across the nation coordinated under #WinWithBlackWomen and generated $1.5 million dollars in just three hours. By Monday afternoon, grassroots supporters set a record raising $81 million in donations.
With key Democratic endorsements from Former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Congressional and State Leaders, securing the nomination of the Democratic party looks even more likely by the hour. Could Vice President Kamala Harris, a Black and South Asian woman, become the 47th President of the United States?
The question everyone should ask themselves in this historic moment is “why not?”
It’s no secret that the race and gender of the candidate largely influences the success of their campaign. Becoming such a national figure inevitably means having control over the identity of our country, which inadvertently means your own identity is under tight scrutiny 24/7. “Misogynoir,” Moya Bailey’s term referring to the disdain and ingrained prejudice against Black women, accurately explains the root of most of Harris’ backlash.
While her time as a California prosecutor drew criticism in the past, most of the contempt revolving around the vice president is simply because of her race and gender. It’s important to acknowledge that bias in our own thought processes and conversations. Just because we haven’t seen a Black woman become President, does not mean it’s impossible.
U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, who represents New York, shared the importance of getting on board quickly: “Now more than ever, it is crucial that our party and country swiftly unite to defeat Donald Trump and the threat to American democracy.”
Already, Harris’ timely bid for President has coalesced the fragmented Democratic Party. She not only has a fresh opportunity to rebrand herself, but to either build on Biden’s rhetoric or create her own moving forward. No longer second-in-command, her campaign is uniquely positioned in a way where she can finally showcase her authentic voice and policy expertise. Her stance on most contemporary issues already mirror the ones of younger voters.
I assume she will use this platform to further emphasize her administration’s outspoken support for women’s reproductive rights and gun violence prevention — two issues that would be on the chopping block if left to Republican nominee and former President Donald Trump and his running mate J.D. Vance.
I’m also hoping that her campaign will shed a new light on who Kamala Harris is — despite breaking the glass ceiling in nearly all of her former legal positions — her infectious laughter and line on coconut trees has overshadowed most of her achievements causing too many people to no longer take her seriously.
While time will only tell if the country is ready for a female president, one thing is clear: Kamala Harris has a viable path to presidency. Whether she makes it to the finish line is up to us.
Young voters are essential to the outcome of this presidency. Voters of color, especially the Black vote, is key in this election. Democracy and its very future is on the ballot this election. Regardless of your personal opinions or vendettas towards Kamala Harris — not voting would be a detriment to your own family, community and country. Choosing not to vote or voting for an independent is, in all honesty, a vote for Trump and his dystopian agenda.
For years, we’ve studied the pivotal elections and presidents that shaped our history — and now we have the tools to write it ourselves. If you are tired of yesterday’s wrongdoings and desire a different tomorrow, then vote.
Information on Voter Registration can be found here: Voting 101 – When We All Vote
Cherie Animashaun is a sophomore at Cornell University studying Public Policy. You can follow her on Instagram @ her.risingg.
Edited by NaTyshca Pickett
As the nation’s shock wears off in the wake of President Joe Biden’s announcement to not seek re-election, maybe not so surprisingly, Vice President Kamala Harris garnered her first endorsement from Biden. Shortly thereafter, the endorsements kept coming from Democrats.
Tonight, I am proud to have earned the support needed to become our party’s nominee.
Over the next few months, I'll be traveling across the country talking to Americans about everything on the line. I fully intend to unite our party and our nation, and defeat Donald Trump. pic.twitter.com/Bsq3N6pMAi
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) July 23, 2024
As the country awaits word of her official nomination at the upcoming Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Harris’ appearance at the ESSENCE Festival of Culture in New Orleans earlier this month was brought to the forefront.
MUST WATCH: VP Kamala Harris hammers home the stakes of the election at the Essence Festival in front of a packed house.
— MeidasTouch (@MeidasTouch) July 7, 2024
She spoke fervently of the high stakes of the November election and the work the Biden administration has done to erase student loan debt and prioritize Black maternal health the last three years.
Harris made history in 2020 as the first female, and first Black and South Asian person to hold the office of Vice President. In November 2021, she made history again, although the transfer of power to the President was short — 85 minutes — while President Joe Biden underwent a colonoscopy.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
One in three Americans has an idea they think could one day make them wealthy, according to new research.
From writing the next big novel to a hot stock tip or never-before-seen product, the survey saw 33% say they feel they have a tantalizing idea they think could make waves in the market.
And if that doesn’t come to fruition, there’s always hope–one in five of those polled (19%) have a feeling in their bones that they’ll one day win big on the lottery or Powerball.
The survey, conducted by Talker Research in partnership with Wealth of Geeks saw many (17%) of those with a wealth-generating idea say they have an idea that involves inheritance or using family money.
Men were significantly more likely to feel confident that their idea was going to make them wealthy one day (39% vs. 26% of women).
Forty percent of those currently holding onto a wealth-driving idea want to start a business or service, while 27% have a stock tip they feel has the potential to bring them fortune.
Does “Shark Tank” await? A quarter (26%) of those with a big idea think they’ve thought of a game-changing product that’s not been done before.
From energy-creating mushrooms to a new type of burger or fresh ideas using AI to blow away the competition, many Americans are quietly working away on their big hope for later-day success.
A new type of ceiling fan, ideas for a new social media platform or plans to launch an irresistible food truck were also among the broad concepts Americans said they were hatching plans for.
Many are also putting hope in their creative endeavors by working on the next great American novel or developing the music they one day hope to share with the world.
But while many harbor an optimism that their finances could take a turn for the better, not all of us have faith that fortune will come our way.
Just 10% of those polled describe themselves as ‘very lucky’ when it comes to money with 21% ‘somewhat lucky.’
Forty-three percent felt their financial luck didn’t go either way and sadly 26% felt unlucky with money (12% very unlucky).
That might be why 39% say they’ll need some sort of luck or financial windfall in order to be comfortable later in life and 10% are relying on inheritance to feel the same way.
Originally published by Talker News
The announcement everyone was waiting for has arrived. Joe Biden is officially dropping out of the 2024 presidential election.
In a statement released by Biden, the President stated his intentions to withdraw as the Democratic nominee of the presidential race. “It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President. And while it has been my intention to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term.”
This comes after weeks of pressure from both the public and within the Democratic party for Biden to step down, accelerated from Biden’s Covid diagnosis and after the attempted assassination of Donald Trump. Fearing the increased confidence Trump and his followers gained after the attempt on his life, it seems the Dems finally convinced Biden to step down, and for a new nominee to take his place.
Shortly after his announcement, Biden gave his official endorsement for the next Democratic presidential candidate. “Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year. Democrats — it’s time to come together and beat Trump.”
Read more …
This guest post is in partnership with True Star Media.
Get your knives out and your hands ready, because the third season of “The Bear” is on deck. This Emmy award-winning and 16-time Emmy-nominated show has taken the hearts and stomachs of Gen Z by force with its witty dialogue, fast pace and delicious dishes. This season begins with dealing after the opening of Carmy’s restaurant, “The Bear”, where he effectively broke every relationship he had after being locked in the walk-in freezer.
The actors here are all perfect. Everyone is amazing with standouts being Ayo Edebiri as Sydney, the sous chef of “The Bear” trying to hold everyone together, Jeremy Allen White as Carmen (or Carmy), the head chef, who is fighting an internal struggle between his legacy and what he truly wants in his life, and Ebon Moss Bachrach as Richie, the hilarious and side-splitting loud mouth cousin who loves Carmy, but equally loves to make his life hell.
While the show is very basic with its plot, the story of a man and his goal to create a famous restaurant, writer and director Christopher Storer has very creative ways to frame and film each episode. The first episode of this season shows a nonlinear timeline, showing the difference between Carmy’s past and his present in dealing with the shattered relationships. What is amazing about this was the minimal dialogue in the episode where you can see every visual serve a purpose and use the dialogue as more of a garnish rather than the main course.
The second episode though, was the complete opposite where it felt like a stage play with the whole episode taking place in a solitary kitchen with characters moving in and out of the set and having the rapid-fire dialogue that this show is known for.
This is a season dealing with stagnation, not just the stagnation of the plot, but also the stagnation of the protagonist Carmy, he has everything he wanted but still feels empty. While the season may feel like filler at some points, it is important to state that perhaps that is what the show wants you to feel, stagnant like Carmy, having it all yet feeling empty.
Finally, one of the stand-out episodes is “Napkins,” which is directed by Ayo Edebiri, which deals with the struggles of finding a job after being let go from one after so long
5 out of 5 Beef Sandwiches. Do not watch this show on an empty stomach.
Zipporah Pruitt, (she/her) is an L.A. homegrown journalist, who covers entertainment and culture. Follow her on X and Instagram: @zippzine.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
At this point we can assume with any major tragedy that if there’s anybody besides “regular white dudes” involved, DEI or some kind of “wokeism” will be blamed. Ah, just like the Founding Fathers intended!
Host/Producer/Editor: Malachi Segers-Seker
The Lowdown gives you the latest in news, pop culture, and everything else your friends will be talking about tomorrow. Don’t get FOMO, get The Lowdown with Malachi, every Friday here at YR Media.
When I think back to the year 2020, I have mixed emotions. Between enduring the unknown outcomes of the COVID-19 Pandemic, and watching the rest of the world react to the fault lines of American police brutality and our political climate. I like to remember it as a year of recognizing youth leadership. When Gen Z started rising to the occasion and demanding change, people listened. All it took was passion and strength in numbers from the community.
This is exactly how Tiana Day found her calling.
In the summer of 2020, the San Ramon native took a leap of faith leading thousands of Black Lives Matter protesters on the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco California at 17. Four years latest, Tiana Day has established herself as an activist, organizer, international speaker, and founder of Youth Advocates for Change, a 501c3 nonprofit organization that recently relocated to Culver City, Los Angeles. The organization’s priority is to amplify youth voices through intersectional social justice issues and creative arts, as a way to connect and inspire the youth.
After settling into her new space, YR Media sat and talked with her about how the intersectionality of arts and activism functions in her nonprofit.
YR Media: Congratulations on your new office! Why did you choose LA as the new home for YA4C? How’s the Bay to LA transition?
Tiana Day: Thank you so much! The Bay Area feels more communal, like a tribe. I came to LA and I didn’t have that [anymore]. I faced imposter syndrome and a lot of it was me doubting myself. But at the end of the day, my organization works with art and activism and Los Angeles is the art capital of the world. So if you can make an impact [here] you can impact the world.
YR: Why is bridging the gap between art and activism an important way to connect with the youth?
TD: Looking back at my inner child I was so creative, but I think society has forgotten that art is a storytelling mechanism that reaches all people. I learned about black history through film, photos, and my grandparents telling me their stories of being a Black Panther. [Storytelling] is how we continue to educate generations and prep for the future so history doesn’t repeat itself and when I come up with these workshops for the students, I think of little me. I have ADHD and learning is difficult [sometimes]. So I tailored my content to be engaged with, not just the discipline to remember.
YR: So then what concepts are you implementing in these workshops?
TD: We start by going over critical consciousness research. I break it up into three parts; reflection of lived experiences, finding motivation through reflection, and then taking action. It pushes students into their passion, as long as it intersects with art and social justice. The next step is to brainstorm ideas to practice bridging that gap in their own communities, funded by us anywhere from $100 to $1,000 in micro-grants.
A student may be passionate about climate change and film and wants to make a film about how climate change has disproportionately affected black and brown communities or maybe disproportionately affected farmers, which talks about food insecurity and poverty. I really try to preach to students about the intersections of activism that make us think more than just ourselves.
YR: And why is it important that your organization is strictly youth-led?
TD: When things are co-created with the youth, people feel a sense of belonging and ownership over the project. In YA4C everyone is under the age of 25. According to a policy report by the All-State Foundation and the Center for Expanding Leadership Opportunities, which I co-authored, we’re redefining youth as ages 5 to 25. So I start with middle schoolers to build their confidence, then high schoolers, and college students, supporting them through [their] transition. And the cool thing is it’s like a big sister/big brother model. We’re not going to tell mom kind of thing because just a bunch of kids who are passionate about making a change in the world and we flow [well] as we create because we care.
YR: How do you handle generational conflict, especially when older generations may not take youth activism as seriously as they should?
TD: There’s a happy medium between working with older and younger generations, everyone is a teacher and a student. [Older generations] just want to make sure that you don’t make the same mistakes that they do. But we live in a different time and that’s when discernment comes in so you have to be able to [listen] to your intuition [and think] is this person just yapping so much to control my actions or is it said out of love?
This story was produced byYR Media and is part of a collaborative project “Our Future” that includes content from young journalists fromBoyle Heights Beat,Coachella Unincorporated,The Contra Cosa Pulse,The kNOw,Tower of Youth,Voices of Monterey Bay, and YR Media.
Sydney Wanguhu, (she/her) is from The Bay Area and is an L.A.-based journalist who covers entertainment and culture. Follow her on Instagram & Spotify: @sydneyy._.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
Before you dive into what’s happening today, take a look at what may have fallen off your radar earlier this week.
L.A. Students Vocalize Disdain for Cellphone Ban
Gen Z DJ Celebrates 40 Years of House Music
Gen Z, Millennials Skip Formal Time Off Amid Travel Anxiety
Could Gen Z Embrace Alternative Homes?
Do Your Text MessagesReally Need an Emoji???
This year’s HBCU Classic allowed baseball student-athletes to participate in the MLB All-Star Week. Bands, sororities and fraternities were part of the production as well to highlight HBCU culture. Catch a glimpse of all the festivities here.
Produced by Ariyana Griffin
With the significant change in living arrangements becoming the norm, does van life and mobile living appeal to Gen Z?
Gen Z faces low wages, high interest rates and political instability. Even a bachelor’s degree doesn’t guarantee security anymore. These are all symptoms of late-stage capitalism. Young people can’t afford homes. So what does a generation that has dreams and goals do when they want to live affordably and pursue their desires? They stop looking at traditional homes.
Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania reported on Gen Z’s ability to afford housing. In recent years, there has been a notable increase in the proportion of young adults residing with their parents, a pattern reminiscent of the Great Depression nearly a century ago. This trend prompted Susan Wachter, a real estate and finance professor at the Wharton School, to delve into the underlying factors influencing this significant change in living arrangements among Gen Z and Millennials.
The study, authored in collaboration with Arthur Acolin from the University of Washington and Desen Lin from California State University, Fullerton, tracked the rise of those living at home between 2000 and 2021. The causes? Declining housing affordability, elevated unemployment rates and delays in marriage and child-rearing.
Recent census data underscores the scale of this phenomenon, with nearly half of individuals aged 18 to 29 currently residing with their parents, marking the highest level since the Great Depression era (1929 -1941). Following the post-World War II economic surge, the proportion of young adults living with their parents plummeted to a low of 27% in 1960. However, since then, this figure has steadily climbed, reaching 40% in 2000, 47% in 2019, and 49% in 2021.
A recent Instagram post from the New York Times lists the cost of renting and buying homes in various U.S. cities over the next decade for Gen Z. Based on this post, Gen Z is expected to spend over $200,000 over eight years on rent alone in various cities such as Los Angeles, New York, Boston and other major cities. These numbers nearly double the cost of buying homes in several Bay Area cities.
With all of these statistics, it’s clear that even renting a home has become a challenge for young people. The housing market favors high earners in densely populated parts of the country. The middle of nowhere is what Gen Z could probably afford and that isn’t ideal for people who need jobs or education.
What are the options besides renting an apartment or buying a home? There are a few notable ways to live affordably with a decent quality of life.
Van life has become a popular consideration for young folks. In an age where remote work is common and money is tight, the best option for solo youngsters is to consider life on four wheels. The idea of nomadic living has been a talking point for years now, with USA Today reporting on Millennials living in vans back in 2019. Sentiments of saving money and pursuing passion projects were credited to not having high rent costs as a result of living on the road.
Jennelle Eliana is a Gen Z content creator who showed her van life to over 2.3 million subscribers. After living on the road for two years, Eliana was able to buy a home. Based on a report from Classic Vans, the cost of purchasing a home on wheels can range from $10,000 up to $200,000 depending on factors such as age, brand and equipment of the van. The report highlighted the challenges and benefits of van life. The hurdles include having to park vans overnight and potentially paying for safer parking, maintaining the mechanical parts of the vehicle and costs of insurance. With these things in mind, it still ends up being exponentially more affordable than a traditional home.
This isn’t the only option for people. Anyone with access to Amazon can quite literally buy a prefab home for $20,000. These are pre-built homes that are simply unboxed and assembled using modular pieces. Newsweek reported on a viral TikTok user who purchased an Amazon house. While these structures would require land and potential permits, this option remains affordable for a generation that feels inclined to live with their parents at home. An Amazon house can offer a semblance of privacy and independent living without all roadblocks such as loan approvals or moving costs.
Even though these options are not practical or commonly considered as legitimate housing, it’s a way for people to do something that many have been unable to do in this current economic state: save money.
Some don’t like the idea of moving out right now. Twenty-one-year-old college graduate Ramzi Shaban thinks living on the road might not be a great long-run solution to the current housing crisis.
“It’s hard for our generation to establish identity. A mobile home or camper van might make you stress over where you belong,” the San Jose State graduate said. “It’s obviously hard to live alone. I think our generation is confined to living with parents or roommates in order to save money.”
Gen Z could reasonably achieve the goal that other generations have been able to achieve — having some disposable income after every paycheck and not worrying about the high cost of living — despite the inflation and housing crisis.
This story was produced byYR Media and is part of a collaborative project “Our Future” that includes content from young journalists fromBoyle Heights Beat,Coachella Unincorporated,The Contra Cosa Pulse,The kNOw,Tower of Youth,Voices of Monterey Bay, and YR Media.
Noumaan Faiz, (he/him) is a journalist and entertainer from Corona, CA who covers culture and entertainment.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
Texas is poised to have a state curriculum that would include teachings on the Bible for public elementary school students across the state.
From lessons about the Gospel of Matthew centering on the crucifixion of Jesus to portrayals of Christ’s Last Supper, the new plan would infuse Biblical content into the instruction for daily reading and language arts classes. As a result, students would make connections and draw parallels between religious topics and other humanities in their classrooms. However, the new instructional material raises the question of double standards between religious and historical content and what students are allowed to learn based on biases from educational leaders.
This proposal comes after a greater push for Christianity to be involved in everyday life by conservatives across Texas. In 2023, the Texas Senate even approved a bill that requires the Ten Commandments to be posted in all public school classrooms, an objective that was recently picked up by states like Louisiana and Oklahoma. This legislation would also allow unlicensed religious chaplains to serve as school counselors. The increasing number of theological content in public schools demonstrates the blurring lines separating the church and the state that continues to harm students across the Lone Star state, especially those who follow already marginalized religions.
Hana Dawood, a high school junior attending Coronado High School in El Paso Texas, said the new bill could create more issues for students.“It could lead to children being isolated based on their religion, or even feeling ashamed that they do not hold the same beliefs as the teacher presents,” the 16-year-old said. “Students may feel underrepresented in a society that should be aiming to make all kids feel valued in the education system.”
Other students also feel that when this content is pushed onto students in public classrooms that don’t align with any specific belief system, it becomes unethical. Seventeen-year-old Jonathan Flores, a high school rising senior from San Antonio, said another option could be to offer the new curriculum as an elective.
“I think that’s something that a private school can do, but not a public school because you choose to go there. If it’s like a class you could choose to put your kid in. Something like that, but not a mandatory thing,” Flores said.
Texas is also a state that has committed itself to keeping politics out of education, even through drastic measures that limit free speech. In 2021, Governor Greg Abbott signed an anti-CRT ban that directly restricts how educators can teach America’s racist history to K-12 students. The bill restraints open and honest conversations that acknowledge the country’s roots of white supremacy and raise less educated students. Texas officials have also limited students’ speech by establishing book bans and censoring high school newspapers. Students across Texas feel that this legislation damages their awareness of the world around them.
“Both Critical Race Theory and African American Studies are important for teenagers, such as myself, to have an understanding of. African American history is vital in explaining various aspects of the modern world, and it is vile to conceal certain parts of history for the sake of political ideals,” said Dawood.
This legislation has clarified the divergences in Texas classrooms and the priorities of educational leaders because of the lack of content from other world religions within the new material. The double standards have made it so that students are forced to only hear one perspective. A view that often perpetuates the problematic Westernized view that is also seen everywhere in mainstream media. This commentary on the world emphasizes the white-male perspective and often fosters incorrect stereotypes and discriminatory beliefs about people from the Global South and lower socioeconomic backgrounds. Students across Texas fear that with new legislation pushing certain ideologies; their education hangs in the balance.
“If you want to form an opinion about a topic. You want to be as informed as you can about that
topic” said Flores. “School opens resources about different things. I think it’s very important that we learn our history. Every part of it, the bad and the good.”
If the goal of the proposed content is to contextualize religious events from a historical lens, wouldn’t it be consistent to include teachings from all belief systems without influencing students to any specific ideology? Wouldn’t it also be necessary to first correctly and holistically teach about historical events and injustices? Without substantial changes in legislation for Texas classrooms, students across the state are left with a curriculum that perpetuates biases rather than prioritizing their education and cognizance.
Marium Zahra (she/her) is a 16-year-old journalist from El Paso, Texas covering education, politics and culture.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
Katy Perry has returned with her new album “143” and new comeback single “Woman’s World”. This is her attempt to return to pop stardom, what Perry received was a near-universal panning of what she deemed as a women’s empowerment anthem.
To Gen Z, Katy Perry was cemented in our childhoods as one of our first pop icons who dominated the charts in her prime during the late 2000s and early 2010s. After her successful debut album, 2008’s ‘’One of the Boys’’ and the provocative hit ‘’I Kissed A Girl’,’ she followed up in 2010 with her record-breaking album ‘’Teenage Dream” spawning many hits with the single of the same name ‘’Teenage Dream’,’ ‘’California Gurls’,’ and the Fourth of July-tinged inspirational anthem ‘’Firework’’, to name a few.
Everything about this new era reeks of desperation and an emotional need to return to the glory days. From behind the scenes, Perry returned with her previous producer, Dr. Luke, who is a controversial figure in music due to his alleged sexual abuse of fellow pop star Kesha, with him and 5 other people being writers on the song (Dr. Luke, Aaron Joseph, Rocco did it again!, Vaughn Oliver), with only Perry and Chloe Angelides being the sole women in the writer’s room and the producers being all men (Aaron Joseph, Dr. Luke, Vaughn Oliver, Rocco did it again!). Then the lyrics where she pushes woman empowerment, but in the cliche and passe “girlboss” feminism style.
On July 11, Perry released the music video which Charlotte Rutherford, a woman, directed. The video features Perry as a sexualized version of Rosie the Riveter working with a group of other construction girls before going off the rails and showing Perry as a robot hybrid with metallic legs and sticking a gas pump in her buttock.
A few days later, she released a video on her social media, with the caption ‘’YOU CAN DO ANYTHING! EVEN SATIRE!’’ where she tried to explain that the whole video was “sarcastic” and “very slapstick and very on the nose.” You can’t release a bad product that is a “reset of [Katy Perry’s idea of] feminine divine,” and expect everyone to understand that it is a joke. Perry pretends that she is controlling the narrative and anticipates the criticisms, but while doing so ignores the main critiques of the era such as working with Dr. Luke and a cameo by Trisha Paytas who has a history of transphobia.
Perry has been in the pop game since the late 2000s and now it feels like she is pressured to keep up with the younger artists while also creating a riskless pastiche of herself. The issue here is that just like when a snake is cornered, Perry is attempting every trick in the book to get back in the public’s good graces while she is being overshadowed by newer artists who champion diversity, LGBTQ+, and femininity on the same level, or even better than her such as Charli XCX and Chappell Roan. Fellow veteran artists Beyoncè and Lady Gaga have constantly evolved and experimented with different sounds while Perry has stayed stagnant.
What hurts is that Katy does have the sauce and fire inside of her, but she needs to surround herself with better talent that is not controversial and put her activism where her mouth is by putting women in the writer and producer seats. I do not wish for her to fail, I only want her to get better.
Zipporah Pruitt, (she/her) is an L.A. homegrown journalist, who covers entertainment and culture. Follow her on X and Instagram: @zippzine.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
Women already go through enough on our monthly cycles, so we should be able to safely enjoy period products, right? WRONG. On July 3, a study published by Environmental International was released highlighting toxic chemicals in the products.
The research analyzed 30 tampons across 14 tampon brands, and found that there were measurable concentrations of these various metals:
- Arsenic
- Barium
- Calcium
- Cadmium
- Cobalt
- Chromium
- Copper
- Iron
- Manganese
- Mercury
- Nickel
- Lead
- Selenium
- Strontium
- Vanadium
- Zinc
Where Do We Go From Here?
Although a relatively easy option, the potential long-term health effects of tampons are unappealing, simply put. Good thing, they aren’t our only option. There are various tampon alternatives, including reusable cloth pads, menstrual cups, menstrual discs, and period underwear.
Read more …
This guest post is in partnership with True Star Media.
The college application process is finally over for me. Throughout my high school career, I packed my schedule with activities and tough classes in hopes of impressing admissions. While I don’t regret much, there are a few things I wish I did differently.
Since 8th grade, most of my concerns were college-related. After long days of school and extracurricular activities, I always started my homework immediately. From internships to tutoring to Advanced Placement classes, I worked myself to the bone to achieve my goal: acceptance into a top college.
I’m glad I put in the work, but I do wish I took care of my health more. Maybe if I prioritized myself a little more, I wouldn’t have developed a poor snacking habit that ruined my skin sophomore year. I might’ve also avoided terrible sleep deprivation and a very poor immune system, which both lasted three years.
And most of all, I wish I didn’t stress so much after college apps were submitted. Extra worries didn’t impact my decisions in the slightest; if only I realized that in January.
This fall, I’m starting my first year at Stanford. I still plan to work just as hard as I did in high school in college, but I hope to take better care of myself. I’ll not only be more mindful of what I put on my plate, but I’ll also remember to listen to what my body needs.
LaVie Saad (she/her), is a rising freshman at Stanford University.
Edited by Amber Ly
As peak travel season arrives, a growing trend among younger workers — dubbed “quiet vacationing”— sees many slipping away for a day or two without the usual out-of-office auto-replies. According to Fast Company, more than half of Gen Z and millennials engaged in this practice around the Fourth of July.
A significant factor driving this trend is anxiety surrounding traditional vacations. A survey by language-learning app Babbel, titled “The Rise of Travel Anxiety and How It’s Affecting American Travelers,” revealed that 69% of Gen Z travelers have canceled or changed their plans due to anxiety and lack of preparedness.
Several factors contribute to this anxiety. The report highlights that 40% of Gen Z travelers finalize their plans within a week of departure, leading to stress over language barriers (32%) and insufficient savings (30%). Additionally, 72% reported relationship tensions during trips, citing issues like getting lost, missing flights, or encountering trouble with authorities.
Social media exerts significant pressure on these travelers. With 40% of Gen Z and 75% of millennials taking travel cues from influencers, the desire to create perfect vacation content can lead to stress. The survey found that 41% of Gen Z and 49% of millennials felt this pressure, sometimes causing them to cancel trips.
Further, 24% of all respondents cited anxiety about not being in ideal physical shape for vacation photos. This fear of not meeting social media standards discourages some from traveling altogether.
Economic factors also play a role in the rise of quiet vacationing. Gen Z faces a precarious economy, recent layoffs, and a challenging housing market. Consequently, 38% of Gen Z respondents feel the need to stay connected to work even while on vacation, avoiding formal time-off requests.
Social media pressure, relationship stress, and economic concerns explain why many younger workers prefer quiet vacations. As travel anxiety continues to shape their behavior, the trend of quietly slipping away for short breaks is likely to grow.
Noumaan Faiz, (he/him) is a journalist and entertainer from Corona, CA who covers culture and entertainment.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
It seems like the Drake and Kendrick Lamar saga continues after a game developer made a “Not Like Us” game based on Lamar’s track. If you want to swat at owls with a baseball bat, then this game might be for you.
Produced by Jason Sanford
In a stunning NBA trade, Klay Thompson has parted ways with the Golden State Warriors after 13 memorable seasons. Despite the Warriors offering a two-year, $48 million extension, Thompson opted for the Mavericks, enticed by the longer deal he felt he deserved as a reward for his loyalty and contributions to the team.
Produced by Malachi Segers
Edited by Liz Tril
Four in 10 Americans believe a text feels naked without an emoji, according to new research.
The survey of 2,000 Americans (aged 21+) revealed 41% of respondents believe a message needs to include an emoji to be complete.
Younger respondents were most likely to agree with this statement: 70% of Gen Z said emoji needed to be included within a message, compared to 46% of Gen X.
But messages shouldn’t consist solely of emoji, as 32% of respondents said it’s a “conversation killer.”
Conducted by Talker Research ahead of World Emoji Day on July 17, the survey revealed 58% of respondents believe emoji improve how we talk to each other.
This is in line with a shift in the cultural lexicon, wherein emoji now are now used to represent emotions people have trouble expressing in words. With that, brands are experimenting with how they can use emoji to communicate, incorporating them into campaigns to ensure they’re “speaking” this new form of language.
In recognition of the growing role that emoji have in our shared language, Smirnoff has created their own version of the “woman dancing” emoji (
) and have worked to bring it to life.
Smirnoff’s latest campaign has the “emoji,” named Spicy Tam, coming off screens and into the real world, donning her iconic red dress and signature pose.
While people might not be able to bring their favorite emoji to life anytime soon, results found they do want even more from their emoji experience.
With the upcoming release of Apple’s iOS 18, which will allow users to create custom emojis using the “Genmoji” feature, respondents were asked if they’d be interested in creating their own emojis.
Thirty-eight percent of those surveyed would like to invent an emoji — and they were asked to share what these new emoji would look like.
Notable responses include a “little witch” emoji, a skull with heart eyes emoji and an upside-down emoji with a cowboy hat — while someone else said they’d appreciate “various cocktail emojis.”
The survey revealed that 58% of emoji users prefer happy emoji, such as smiling or laughing faces, while 15% gravitate toward sweeter emoji such as hearts or kisses.
Some respondents (4%) lean toward adding some flavor into their chats by choosing more spicy emoji such as the smirking face or the dancing woman.
Originally published by Talker News
The future of AI can now sit on your face.
Backed by Meta and produced by Ray-Ban, the Meta Smart Glasses mark a new precedent for the AI space.
In 2023, Meta released smart eyewear that can capture photos, videos and share up to 30 minutes of live streaming through an attached camera. The camera which has AI built-in allows the wearer to ask Meta questions that AI can answer. Additional features include audio and microphone systems to play music.
While Meta was the first to market with the technology, competitors are brewing. Just last month, Solos, a smart glasses company whose product features AI audio benefits, announced it would by the end of the year launch a version of their product with a detachable camera feature.
Solos glasses currently offer AI translation and act as a phone’s smart assistant to play some music or call someone on command.
Its soon-to-come camera feature will be backed by OpenAI’s new GPT-40 model, which will allow the camera to recognize objects and answer questions about them, similar to the Meta Ray-Bans.
The key differentiation in the product concept so far is Solos’ ability to provide consumers with a detachable camera feature which, according to a report by The Verge, is in place to provide stylistic flexibility in addition to safety protocols for when wearers are in settings that do not allow cameras.
The rise and popularity of AI wearables will likely take time to pick up speed as the normalization of any new technology does.
Gen Z who love to digitally document their lives will likely enjoy the product as it offers a hands-free way to capture content. Influencers who have promoted the Meta Ray-Bans for example have cited that using the product helps them remain more present in the moment, as their eyewear can capture the content they need, instead of using their phones.
The ability to be present of course is subjective. I imagine that in the wrong hands, AI wearable glasses from any brand might serve to cause distractions from real life as wearers can utilize them at any time they choose to avoid being invested in an IRL moment.
Keeping it gee, young Zoomers and Gen Alpha, who have grown accustomed to high-tech entertainment like AR gaming goggles may be the easiest to adopt this technology as they are more familiar with that crossover in life. Seniors, however, might have some hesitation as the technology reads too close to the beginning of many dystopian novels.
Miranda Perez (she/her/hers) is a Jersey City, NJ-based journalist who covers the tech industry. Follow her on X and Instagram: @mimithegee.
Edited by NaTyshca Pickett
The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) recently voted to ban cell phones during the school day, citing concerns about distractions and students’ mental health. However, high school students across the county are unhappy with the decision, according to Los Angeles Magazine.
“Either a student is going to want to learn or they’re not, and that’s their choice,” said Milena Tarverdyan, a student from Burbank’s district. “I don’t think a phone is going to interfere with that.”
LAUSD is not the first district to implement such a ban, but it is the largest in the nation. Other schools across the U.S. are also debating the pros and cons of allowing phones on campus. Last July, Florida passed a law requiring all public schools to ban cell phone use during class and block social media on district Wi-Fi. Orange County public schools, just south of L.A., already prohibit phone use throughout the entire school day, including lunchtime and passing periods.
Some L.A. students feel the ban is overly restrictive, despite similar policies being popular elsewhere. High school students in a summer journalism program at USC argue that the board did not consider students’ interests and that the ban is not the solution to distracted teens.
Adrian Ramirez, a student at Francisco Bravo Senior High Medical Magnet in Boyle Heights, called the ban a “power play.” He was unaware of the ban until it had already passed, despite his mother working for LAUSD.
“On a student level, it feels like a very unilateral decision,” Ramirez said. “We had no say in it whatsoever. Obviously, because we’re the ‘problem,’ they wouldn’t ask us our opinion on it, but that feels wrong because you’re taking away our property.”
On the same day the LAUSD resolution passed, Governor Gavin Newsom pledged to restrict smartphone use in schools statewide, citing concerns for children’s mental health. He referenced legislation he signed in 2019 that encouraged schools to limit students’ phone usage.
“Kids no longer have the opportunity to just be kids,” said LAUSD Board Member Nick Melvoin, who authored the resolution. “I hope this resolution helps students focus in class and interact more with each other.”
The ban will take effect in January 2025, and the resolution calls for the district to update its smartphone and social media policies within 120 days.
In a 2022 study, 61% of nearly 11,000 parents surveyed supported banning cell phones from classrooms. However, some parents and others worry about children’s safety without phones for emergencies or to record abuse.
“One of my teachers in high school was arrested for molesting students. If there were cameras to record the evidence, it would have been stopped sooner,” one user commented on social media. “Kids need to focus on learning, but they should also be able to protect themselves from predators and bullies.”
L.A. students also expressed concerns about their safety without phones. Several mentioned using their phones during school for emergency communication with their parents.
“There were three lockdowns last year, including one with someone on campus with a gun,” said Lizzie Vargas, a student at Downtown Magnets High School. “Not having your phone in those situations is scary.”
The board did not provide specific details on how the ban will be enforced. Some students doubt the feasibility of a phone-free campus.
“There’s no real way to enforce it,” said William Kim, a student at Larchmont Charter School. “How would you just ban phones? It seems impossible.”
Despite student pushback, Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho emphasized the need to address the impact of phones and social media on students.
“It’s time to develop a legal strategy, including potential litigation against social media companies, whose algorithms create unhealthy addictions with harmful consequences for our youth,” Carvalho said. “Phones, coupled with social media, are harmful to young people.”
L.A. students suggested alternatives to a total phone ban. One proposed digital literacy classes. Maya Wong, a student at North High School in the Torrance district, recommended appointing student representatives to the school board. Vargas argued that the district should focus on larger issues, noting that her teachers had to choose between cleaning classrooms or keeping the bathrooms open.
“LAUSD lacks student representation,” said student Isabella Rascon. “When it comes to the cell phone issue, just ask us, and we’ll give you our input.”
Noumaan Faiz, (he/him) is a journalist and entertainer from Corona, CA who covers culture and entertainment.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
A new survey has found that the perfect summer must include 14 days with loved ones, eight sunrises watched and 11 dips in the water.
That’s according to a survey of 2,000 U.S. adults, which revealed that summer isn’t summer without a few key experiences.
Spending time with family and friends (44%), having outdoor BBQs (43%) as well as longer days (42%), warmer weather (37%) and swimming (31%) are some of the most loved aspects.
In fact, almost three-quarters (74%) even believe that there are certain factors that can make or break an entire summer season.
Too much heat during the dog days of summer (63%), being sick (61%) or getting injured (49%) ranked as the top three ways to break the season.
On the flip side, summer can be made by spending time with loved ones (65%), getting away from home (55%) and simply being near water (49%).
Conducted by Talker Research on behalf of Boatsetter, an app for boat rentals, charters and on-the-water experiences, the survey explored the concept of the perfect summer and uncovered a by-the-numbers breakdown.
It seems as though these factors are already falling into place as Americans plan to spend two whole weeks with their friends and family this summer.
In fact, almost half (49%) spend the most time with their loved ones during the summer months, compared to the rest of the year.
This summer, Americans are soaking in every moment of sun and plan to watch eight different sunrises and 11 sunsets. They’re also basking in the sun between those two markers and plan to endure one sunburn and go through an average of two bottles of sunscreen.
Americans plan to get in the water 11 times this summer, often in a pool (64%), the ocean (36%) or a lake (29%).
They’re also getting in the water an average of seven days by way of boating (27%), tubing (27%), or kayaking (8%).
Fishing (32%), sunset cruises (25%) and dock-and-dining (17%) were also found to be some of the most popular on-the-water activities this summer.
Originally published by Talker News
Gen Z, the generation grappling with financial pressures exacerbated by economic uncertainty, is forging paths toward financial independence and entrepreneurial ventures at unprecedented rates. With half of Gen Z living paycheck-to-paycheck, according to Forbes, traditional milestones like homeownership and marriage are often deferred as financial stability remains elusive.
Due to this many people in Gen Z have turned to alternative career paths. Much of the generation believes entrepreneurship and becoming an “influencer” will bring more financial independence, than standard 9-to-5 jobs. These are a few ways New York City-based Matt Marino, a 27-year-old teacher, believes his generation faces “exponentially greater” financial hardships than previous ones.
“I think maybe for (older generations), they focused more on … having a job where you can have good money, support yourself, support your family, and even have more leftover or plan for the future for retirement. Making money is a little different now for me and my generation, we have to find new and creative ways to become financially independent,” said Marino.
Because of this, CNBC reports that 50% of Gen Z aspire to become entrepreneurs or start their businesses, a stark contrast to previous generations’ pursuit of stable jobs and traditional education paths. This includes Alexis Barber, an influencer, founder, and Wharton MBA student living in New York City. She documents life, and how she is building her own wellness company, Too Collective on social media platforms such as TikTok, Youtube and Instagram.
The digital age has democratized knowledge, empowering Gen Z with resources that were previously inaccessible. Instead of spending hours searching through books or long news articles, one 60-second TikTok can direct you to the best career opportunities in a certain specialty. ZenBusiness revealed that 69% of Gen Z entrepreneurs learn about business through self-directed research and tutorials on social media.
“Much of the career advice on TikTok echoes the tips shared in podcasts, YouTube videos, and LinkedIn thought pieces. It’s just the aesthetics and format that are different — and more appealing — to Gen Z,” according to CNBC reporter Morgan Smith.
Social media, once a leisure activity, has transformed into a lucrative career path for many Gen Zers. With 84% viewing “creator” as an accessible job and 78% considering entrepreneurship feasible, the rise of content creation as a profession is reshaping industries. Sarah Lee graduated from Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) in 2021 with a degree in business management, and has now become a TikTok influencer, she said.
“For some reason, my first four videos with my parents blew up and got millions of views, and then all of a sudden I had this platform,” Lee said. I was able to leave my previous job [for] something I really enjoy. I have a passion for social media,” Lee said.
Despite economic challenges, Gen Z’s entrepreneurial zeal is driving innovation and reshaping the workplace. They are turning social media into a viable career path. Carrie Kerpen the co-founder and CEO of Likeable Media, wrote, “As a CEO of a full-service social media agency, I believe strongly that there are key areas within social media upon which you may build a career. These areas will survive the emergence and dissipation of networks, tools, and philosophies. So, if you’re a recent 20-something, know a recent 20-something, or even just have an interest in making a career change — I’d look at these areas to withstand the test of time.”
Leah Mordehai (she/her) is from San Francisco and is a youth journalist.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
Nonstop house music for 14 hours? What could be better???
For house music lovers worldwide, July is that one time each year you come together, specifically to Chicago, to enjoy a genre that’s celebrating its 40th year.
The Chosen Few DJs — Mike Dunn, Andre Hatchett, Tony Hatchett, Terry Hunter, Alan King, Jesse Saunders and Wayne Williams — have held the Chosen Few DJs Picnic and Festival for more than 30 years. The attendance was small in the early years and has grown to more than 50,000.
Each year, Chicago-born celebrities make their way home to enjoy the full day of music and fellowship. This year, actress LisaRaye McCoy and comedian and actor Deon Cole graced the stage on Saturday to dance along to the music. And for most who don’t know, Cole is also an emerging DJ. He started doing house music sets on Instagram Live during the COVID-19 pandemic.
A post shared by Kathy Chaney (@kathy_chaney)
The love for house music in Chicago dates back to the 1970s at The Warehouse and the world-renowned DJ Frankie Knuckles. Knuckles, affectionately known as the “Godfather of House Music,” would spin his mixes nonstop and wow legions of house heads, from teens to adults.
Over the last 15 years, house heads, as die-hard fans are affectionately called, brought their kids. Those kids, who were now mostly young Millennials and Gen Z, have a deeper appreciation for the music as it was played more than often in their households. And over the last five years, young DJs — including DJ Ameer, Babydoll and J Star — have added house music to their sets.
Chosen Few DJ Mike Dunn (right) talks DJ Ameer (center) on stage during the Chosen Few Picnic and Festival in Chicago, July 13, 2024. | Kaija Billingslea for YR Media DJ Ameer and J Star were invited by the Chosen Few DJs to play at picnic’s pre-parties this year.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by J.Star (@jstarmusicofficial)
My "nephews" playing my song!!! The next generation of house music DJs…DJ Ameer and J Star!!!
Chosen Few Festival kickoff party is
— Danielle Sanders (@daniesanders20) July 13, 2024
Kaija Billingslea (she/her) is a Chicago-based journalist who attends an HBCU in Mississippi.
Edited by Kathy Chaney
Ameer Brooks, known as DJ Ameer, started DJing at 7 as a hobby.
The 23-year-old from the East Coast is self-taught and got started scratching records when he received his first DJ controller for Christmas.
“I started doing different parties and in 8th grade, I started doing it more publicly since I was about 14,” said the New Jersey native. “I do mostly house music [genre] and then I started to do hip-hip. But once I got into house, I couldn’t stop.
His house music sets grabbed the attention of several world-renowned DJs, including the Chosen Few DJs in Chicago. He was invited as a guest DJ a few years ago for their annual Chosen Few Picnic activities that’s usually during the Fourth of July weekend, and also during Thanksgiving in 2017.
This year, for the 40th anniversary of House Music, DJ Ameer was asked again to come to Chicago and share his craft and love for house music during a Chosen Few Picnic weekend pre-party.
My "nephews" playing my song!!! The next generation of house music DJs…DJ Ameer and J Star!!!
Chosen Few Festival kickoff party is
— Danielle Sanders (@daniesanders20) July 13, 2024
“I sleep and breathe house music. It feeds my soul. I’ve had the opportunity to play all types of music and house was the only one where afterwards, I felt something. I always feel something playing it, you know,” he said.
Brooks’ parents are huge house music fans so his affinity for the genre runs deep. He basically was born a house head.
When asked what it is about the house music that speaks to him, he said it’s the overall theme that exudes from the music when played.
“The music has a message of love. You know, it’s not violent music. I think it’s something that puts me at peace and it’s about acceptance and freedom,’ he said.
While he’s had the chance to DJ for a Chosen Few event for the second time, this year will be his first time attending the picnic on Saturday.
“It’s humbling to be in that position because a lot of people would kill to be in the position and I definitely want to make sure that I don’t take it for granted,” said Brooks.
Two hits that are a must-have for each set he plays:
- “The Love I Gave” by David Morales
- “How He Works” by Louie Vega
Kaija Billingslea (she/her) is a Chicago-based journalist who attends an HBCU in Mississippi.
Edited by Kathy Chaney
If you thought our era of edited and filtered selfies was over, we have some bad news: Soon things will be so bad, you’ll need an AI version of yourself just to “compete” on social media, which just might be the point of this whole farce.
Host/Producer/Editor: Malachi Segers-Seker
The Lowdown gives you the latest in news, pop culture, and everything else your friends will be talking about tomorrow. Don’t get FOMO, get The Lowdown with Malachi, every Friday here at YR Media.
Before you dive into what’s happening today, take a look at what may have fallen off your radar earlier this week.
Morehouse’s NewAI Teaching Assistants Launch In Fall
Ryan Garcia’s Career In JeopardyAfter Shocking Racist Rant: Is This the End?
Is Gen Z a Generation of ‘Saps’?
Korean Dramas: A Guide For Beginners
Will.i.am’s New Tech Platform Is An AI-Centric Radio App
Morehouse College announced a new initiative of AI teaching assistants in the classroom. The AI assistant can handle assessments and even office hours. Is this the future of college learning?
Produced by Ariyana Griffin
Straws, cups or take-out food containers may come to mind when you think of single-use plastic products (SUPs) — used once, or for a short time, before being thrown away. However, single-use plastics reign supreme in the world of medicine. single-use tubes, syringes, catheters, lancets, bandages, gloves and gowns surround Gen Z doctors and hospital patients.
The research field also uses medical plastic for single-use items like vials and sample bags.
Proponents of single-use plastic in the healthcare system, outline their many benefits especially coming out of a pandemic. A study done on Medical Plastics reports that single-use plastics offer immense health benefits in terms of maintaining a sterile environment and thus become part of our daily lives, especially during the pandemic.
Unfortunately, the use of plastic in the medical sector creates large amounts of waste. The Washington Post reported one patient being hospitalized resulted in nearly 34 pounds of waste every day. Of that waste, up to 25% is plastic. In the United States, only around 5% of plastic waste is recycled. Given how quickly this plastic crisis is creating considerable effects, recycling is not growing fast enough to mitigate it.
UCSF medical student Talia Sole said she sees plastic everywhere, “especially at school.” “While I do think single-use plastic has an important purpose, I think we can find alternatives to it. We are no longer in a pandemic where everything is possibly contaminated, which is why I believe it is the perfect time to begin research in this field. Growing up as part of Gen Z, I have always had this fear of the doom and gloom we face as a society from climate change, and as a medical student, I want to do my part to prevent that.”
Furthermore, youth are being affected by the use of plastic in hospitals. Plastics have already been found in breast milk, infant blood, and brains, causing cancer and brain damage. Plastic is known to affect the brains and bodies of young children especially. In this way, plastic is plaguing our youth and future generations.
Thankfully, some youth are trying to protect themselves and their future. Ben Moony leads the Environmental Justice Club at Washington High School in San Francisco. “Caring for our environment is essential to me because we will have to live on this planet forever. Fear for us and the next generation is what inspired me to create the Environmental Justice Club at my school. I think single-use plastics play an important role in environmental pollution, we need to find solutions on how to reduce waste,” Moony said.
Similarly to Moody, many Millennials and Gen Z fear for their future and are trying to tackle the issue of single-use plastic to limit pollution. Innovation in the medical center is working on keeping youth safe from diseases and mitigating our footprint on the environment. Caramels and Ransford Healthcare reported that the number of patents related to medical plastic alternatives was nearly 2,000 in 2021, compared to 605 in 2015. Gen Z and Millennials have tried to take the issue into their own hands.
The effects of this surge in innovation have materialized as companies such as MedSupply have released an array of biodegradable and compostable hospital materials, including patient gowns, gloves, and bedpans. Many of these changes and innovations have come from the minds of Gen Z and Millennials.
Charlie Pound*, a high school senior at Lincoln High School in San Francisco plans to study Biomedical Engineering in college. “My goal as someone who plans to pursue a career in medicine and medical engineering is to start weaning our medical industry off the use of single-use plastic,” Pound said. “Whenever I go to a hospital, I always see so much plastic. It’s sad. Our medical industry is so reliant on a material that harms the environment, especially when there are so many alternatives.”
Others with similar ambitions as Pound have already made significant progress. Turning away from plastic in the medical sector, and using reusable alternatives has proven to be safe, eco-friendly, and even save hospitals money. Disposable plastic gowns that can be laundered and reused 75 to 100 times were found to reduce waste by 84 percent and cut greenhouse gas emissions by 66%. These gowns were also found to be clinically superior to disposable ones because they were less likely to break and tear, which increased protection for medical professionals.
With such ravaging successes, many hospitals are making the switch. UCLA Health uses 2.6 million disposable isolation gowns every year, generating more than 230 tons of landfill waste. By switching to reusable ones, it dramatically reduced waste and saved an estimated $450,000 annually.
In the future, plastic pollution is predicted to wipe out several marine and mammal species. Reducing our waste is crucial for youth, as they will be the generation dealing with the horrible effects of climate change and plastic pollution. We need young minds like Ben and Charlie to continue finding innovative solutions to the single-use plastic crisis.
*Name has been changed for privacy reasons.
Leah Mordehai (she/her) is from San Francisco and is a local youth journalist.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
Ryan Garcia, the boxing sensation known for his knockout punches and massive following, just crossed a line that has the entire world buzzing! Despite his incredible career and controversies, including a suspension and ties with polarizing figures, THIS latest scandal might just be the knockout blow to his reputation. In a shocking rant, Garcia didn’t just drop the N-word – he claimed allegiance to the KKK and made horrifyingly racist remarks.
Produced by Malachi Segers
Edited by Liz Tril
Imagine that you are a background investigator. Your job is to comb through the backgrounds of several candidates in order to find ones that fit the needs of the organization you’re working for.
Your research will include the verification of an applicant’s employment history and potentially phone calls with former employers. You might touch base with organizations that candidates have volunteered for or are affiliated with. You’ll examine their education journey, including their performance in high school, college or in any other institutional setting. Depending on the nature of the role you’re hiring for, you might look even deeper. You’ll run a candidate’s finger prints to see if they’ve ever been arrested or charged for a crime. You’ll interview friends, family members, neighbors, past girlfriends or boyfriends and several references provided to you by the candidate and uncovered during your inquiries.
As a candidate inevitably subjected to this level of scrutiny, how does the background check process make you feel? Some might feel nervous, haunted by mistakes and strained relationships that they wanted to leave in the past. Others might feel concerned about their lack of experiences and how they can set themselves apart from other candidates considering their skimpy work history. No matter how you feel about the prospect of a background check, everyone has something that they can learn from going through the above exercise and figuring out ways to articulate what they bring to the table.
Think about your past through the lens of a background investigator and how they might perceive it. It can be instructive on steering one’s career aspirations forward in the following ways.
Be able to articulate your challenges and what you’ve learned
Whether you’ve been fired, resigned from a position that didn’t fit you or have struggled to find a job, you need to understand how to talk about the challenges you’ve faced and lessons that you’ve taken from them. That ability shows potential employers that you’re a resilient and clear-thinking professional that can make smart decisions, own up to mistakes and appropriately rectify issues if needed. Being able to signal this to organizations you want to work for will place you at the top of the hiring list.
Surround yourself with advocates
The people you surround yourself with will have an immense impact on the job opportunities you obtain. Not only can they give insight into your work ethic but your character and traits that aren’t always reflected in a resume. Knowing that your relationships will be under the microscope during a background investigation, make sure that you form meaningful connections wherever you go. Treat everyone with respect and dignity. Always tell the truth and be honest. Own up to your mistakes and be open to feedback. The people who experience you will take notice and be happy to advocate for you when the time comes.
Choose the right experiences
Your past isn’t always predictive of your future. You can still choose the kind of work and life experiences that can shape you into the person you want to be and the employee that organizations want to hire. If you haven’t been engaged in team meetings in the past, be intentional about starting now. Share an idea or ask a question. If you received a poor performance review at your last organization, do what you can do to prevent it from happening at your current one. Understand what the feedback was about, communicate consistently with your supervisors and create a plan for addressing areas of improvement.
Noah Johnson is a Chicago-based journalist.
Edited by NaTyshca Pickett
Nashville’s very own The New Respects ain’t goin’ nowhere anytime soon — and their latest single “YBA” has only emphasized that truth.
The band, consisting of three 90s kids — siblings Darius Fitzgerald and Zandy Mowry, along with their cousin Jasmine Mullen — told a specific story of belonging on their 2018 debut album “Before The Sun Goes Down.”
Starting a band is a way of life for Nashville locals enamored by the city’s stimulating art atmosphere, and this is a piece of The New Respects’ legacy. The group formed in high school initially with four members — the trio plus Mowry’s sister Lexi Hill — and made music beyond their grade school days through a college dropout era before they were signed to a label. Now independent, they are composing their narrative.
The New Respects have a repertoire of grooves about light, hope and joy (“Hands Up,” “Freedom,” “Something To Believe In”). However, “YBA” is a direct emergence of the band’s commitment to “write songs only they can write,” giving them the unparalleled opportunity to center the assortment of experiences they own as Black people. It was this essential shift that would become most important in their storytelling.
“YBA” paints a gorgeous portrait of a specific culture — the culture of The New Respects — over a three-minute sonic canvas, welcoming listeners into the notion of Black pride that resides at the root of Black joy. The song is a refreshing force capable of channeling the diversity of the young Black American diaspora.
“Young is a subjective term in the context of eternity,” Mowry said. “We’re calling ourselves young Black Americans age-wise, but it’s really an affirmation. We’re all young at heart, we all have this joy, we all look young since Black don’t crack, but more importantly, there is this resilience Black people carry that keeps us young.”
Mullen kicked off the “YBA” production process by recording the song’s hook via voice memo and sending it to her bandmates, who were immediately compelled to begin writing a love letter to their inner child, relatives, and for Mowry, to her one-year-old son.
“We felt like we were outside of the stereotypical Black experience story,” Fitzgerald said. “Sonically, I was trying to reach the kids who grew up liking rock and stuff outside of what people label as ‘Black music,’ even though we know all music is Black music.
As the single took shape with stacked vocals and bouncy percussion elements, the trio focused on infusing triumph into the song and speaks directly to, as Mullen put it, “not just the people we love, but the person we are” via plots of encouragement and excellence.
“It would be easy to make it sound like a fight song, but I didn’t want it to feel like a fight song,” Fitzgerald said. “I wanted it to encapsulate the joy and levity we have with each other and within our community.”
Stripped of poetic prose and likened to James Brown’s 1968 “I’m Black and I’m Proud,” “YBA” was intended to be comfortably put into the mouths of young Black Americans.
“What we say and sing are the things we align to,” Mullen said. “The song has made me think about how the words I put in my mouth are really important and it’s been a beautiful thing to sing over my own self.”
Last month, The New Respects released the acoustic version of the single “so the words would really sink in,” as Mullen remarked on Instagram. They recognize the rawness that oozes out of acoustic renditions, and were particularly mindful of listeners’ different musical interests in offering varying textures to engage with the essence of “YBA.”
With the double release of “YBA,” the band allows the song to breathe. Exchanging pumped-up energy for a morning tea brew breeze, the acoustic version is like a warm hug — especially when each member vocally slow dances across the record with intimacy — making it personal to the listener.
“We believe in what we’re saying so much that we’re willing to give people different opportunities to encounter the message,” Mowry said.
“YBA” reminds young Black Americans to embrace their culture and history by any means necessary. It also marks a special chapter for The New Respects as they continue exploring this theme within their craft.
“Our music has always been for everybody, but now we’re doing something we’ve never done before as a band in talking to a specific group of people,” Fitzgerald said. “‘YBA’ is currently where we are, but we’re tightening up our net to communicate with people in telling the story of how we got here,” Fitzgerald said.
Trinity Alicia (she/her/hers) is a Boston-based journalist. Follow her on X: @trinityaliciaa.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
Grammy-award-winning artist and tech innovator will.i.am is launching a new platform, RAIDIO.FYI, which combines the powers of radio and AI, letting you pause songs and get information about the artist and current events. The platform has also created FYI.Ai, which can produce song lyrics, stories, marketing material and other written content for artists.
Produced by Jason Sanford
AI-driven behavior change can transform how people can obtain a good bill of health, according to OpenAI co-founder Sam Altman and Arianna Huffington, founder and CEO of Thrive Global.
The tech duo penned an op-ed in TIME to introduce the launch of Thrive AI Health, a hyper-personalized AI health coach that will be available as a mobile app.
With the application, Altman, who led the ChatGPT launch and Huffington, who has roots as the founder of HuffPost — are envisioning a world where hyper-personalized AI health coaches can help consumers make healthier habits to contribute to their personal health goals.
The technology in Thrive AI Health, will also operate within the Thrive Global platform, which currently helps consumers connect their well-being directly in their daily workflow. Thrive Global has coined tech-fueled reminders that help its customers engage in ‘microsteps’ on a path to better health, such as encouraging no-screen time during meals, and suggesting water first thing in the morning.
According to Atlman and Huffington, Thrive AI Health will help track user’s individual data points and health goals to then offer suggestions that can help improve sleep, reduce the intake of sugar and ultra-processed foods and get more movement in the day to lower stress and increase connection.
“AI could help us be in a stronger position to make better choices that nourish our mental health. It could also use our health information to make recommendations based on what motivates and inspires us,” the duo wrote in TIME.
Considering that the tech world already rolled out AI-fueled teachers and health chat bots, it comes to me as no surprise that the leaders in the space are taking it a step further here.
Gen Z as a digitally native generation has thrived on the creation of healthcare applications. In fact, 94% of Gen Z users want to improve their health through apps that offer added convenience such as virtual doctor visits and coupons for prescription medicine.
While AI-driven health tools like Thrive AI Health offer promising benefits, it’s crucial to acknowledge Gen Z’s inherent skepticism regarding data privacy and usage. This generation is likely to embrace these AI health tools, but they will do so cautiously, with a critical eye on how their personal data is managed and protected.
Keeping it gee, as Thrive AI Health rolls out, the transparency and ethical handling of user data will be paramount in gaining and maintaining the trust of Gen Z users. In this way, the platform will have the potential to significantly enhance personal health management for Gen Z amongst other generational demographics that are interested in the high-tech aspect of health — but are wary of tech getting too personal.
Miranda Perez (she/her/hers) is a Jersey City, NJ-based journalist who covers the tech industry. Follow her on X and Instagram: @mimithegee.
Edited by NaTyshca Pickett
Gru and the gang have returned, and he got busy!
In the latest installment of the “Despicable Me” franchise, retired supervillain Gru (Steve Carell), now working for the Anti Villains League (AVL), must go into witness protection to save his family and those he holds dear from cockroach villain Maxime Le Mal (Will Ferrell).
This film is an excellent way to blow off some steam and watch something fun and breezy so that one can laugh at the excellent slapstick that the minions have perfected in their decade-plus conquest of the silver screen. This film’s specialty was turning the minions into “megaminions” by giving them powers such as rocky skin, stretchy appendages, laser vision, and more. Gru’s story is also full of drama, as he must navigate being a father to not only the three triplets he has adopted but also to his biological son, Gru Jr. Maxime Le Mal escaped, and now, the family must go into hiding, where hijinks ensue and many shenanigans are made. While both A and B plots are full of comedic moments, it is the minions who overshadow the comedy that Gru and the family bring to the table.
While all the actors bring their A-game, kudos have to be given to the unsung hero of the “Despicable Me” franchise, Pierre Coffin. This man not only directed the previous three films but is also the voice of all the minions. Coffin has even redubbed the lines to appeal to different countries of the world.
The film may have some scenes that may go in circles, the movie keeps a breezy pace and has some laugh-out-loud moments. Kids of all ages, including kids at heart, will love this film.
3.5 minions out of 5.
Zipporah Pruitt, (she/her) is an L.A. homegrown journalist, who covers entertainment and culture. Follow her on X and Instagram: @zippzapps.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
Taking a break from Instagram was like stepping into a parallel universe for me. For 10 whole days, I bid farewell to the endless scroll, the dopamine hits from likes, and the instant gratification that had become a part of my daily routine. It was a challenge, akin to kicking a smoking habit or breaking any addiction that lures you back with its quick fixes and fleeting pleasures.
My decision to go cold turkey on Instagram stemmed from a growing concern about my screen time. Hours would slip away unnoticed as I mindlessly scrolled through feeds, seeking that temporary high of validation or the thrill of seeing perfectly curated lives. I wanted to see how long I could resist the urge, how I would cope without the constant triggers that kept me hooked.
Initially, my goal was to last over a month, but reality hit sooner than expected. Despite falling short of my target, those 10 days taught me invaluable lessons. One of the most eye-opening realizations was how much teenagers care about their online image.
I found myself overthinking about what others might think if I took a break. It’s funny how we all strive to portray perfection, fearing judgment even when taking a step back could be the healthiest choice. Moreover, I had tied my identity too closely to my Instagram profile. It was as if my worth was measured by the number of likes or the glamour of my posts.
Read more …
This guest post is in partnership with True Star Media.
If you had one day with no smartphones and no screens, do you know how you would fill up your time?
A report from Backlinko revealed that in the United States, the average screen time per day is seven hours and three minutes, with nearly half (41%) of American teens (13 to 18) reporting more than eight hours per day.
I consider myself one of millions of teens who spend excessive amounts of time in front of a screen. From school to work, day to night, computers and phones make up the air we breathe. For many, the need to be available 24/7 at the buzz of a phone can be extremely draining.
One TikToker, Eloise Davies (@eloiseldavies), asked, “Is there a mental condition for people that find it really overwhelming to answer messages?” She elaborates, “I’m thinking, ‘I’m gonna message them back,’ but they’re gonna message me back, and when does it end?”
In a video response, New York Times Bestselling author Jason K. Pargin expressed that “the way you’re being asked to live right now is objectively insane.” He said, “The entire time this species has existed, no one was ever asked to be on call 24 hours a day to everyone who knew them.”
@jasonkpargin #stitch with @eloise
♬ original sound – Jason Pargin, author
Similar to Eloise, many people have conflicting emotions around the duality of being connected. Each notification represents a person we care about, which makes it hard to unplug. r/NoSurf is one of the largest communities on Reddit. This forum holds people trying to stop wasting time on the Internet. The harms of excessive screen time are too well-documented to just be ignored.
If you’re one of the many people trying to spend less time online, here are a few tips to get started:
Identify what you can replace your screen time for
Goal-setting can be a great way to get started on taking your life back. Maybe there’s a book you’ve been wanting to read or a language you’ve been meaning to learn. If you use screen time as a way to relax after working all day, find another activity that is equally as relaxing. Focus on a few reliable activities you can do whenever you feel like reaching for your phone.
Try a dopamine detox
Modern games and social media apps are constantly fighting to hotwire your brain and hijack your attention with never-ending stimuli. If you find yourself compelled towards a behavior you don’t enjoy and that is not productive to what you should rather be doing, you may want to look into doing a dopamine detox. A dopamine detox, lasting anywhere between a few hours to 90 days, requires restricting addictive activities so you can break out of the cycles that are harming you.
Stay active throughout the day
According to an NPR article, “Sitting too much has been linked with numerous health concerns including heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and early death.” To offset our new sedentary lives sitting and lying down, we need to incorporate movement at regular intervals daily. The gold standard? One 2023 study said five minutes of walking every half hour.
Remember to be patient and kind to yourself
Small wins day to day are much better than making a dramatic change overnight. To dial in on your self-improvement and work towards getting your life back, slow and steady wins the race. It will be boring. At times, it will feel very lonely, but the result is getting back your freedom and autonomy, an invaluable reward.
Knives Nguyen (they/he/she), is a journalist from the Bay Area who covers entertainment, culture and student life. You can connect with them on LinkedIn: @knivesnguyen.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
K-dramas have become more popular over the years. There are so many films to choose from, that one could become overwhelmed. If you’re looking for teen angst, zombies or romance, look no further.
Here’s a list for beginners who plan to watch, but need to know where to begin.
“Business Proposal”
“Business Proposal” is the first show I recommend to my friends when they want to begin watching romantic Korean dramas. Released in 2022, the South Korean-based drama is still one of the most popular shows on Netflix. The show follows the trope with the supposed “poor” girl (she owns a Samsung) meeting a rich guy who is also her CEO (wild). What makes people like this show so much are the female characters — with different personalities and extremely likable. This 12-episode show is blended into perfection and is ideal for a binge.
“All Of Us Are Dead”
Think about all the zombie movies and shows in America. Now think about how horrendous it must be, like 10 times worse, in school during a zombie apocalypse. Well, that happened to the students of Hysoan High School because a student decided to bite the school nurse’s finger. This show deserves the praise. This show does the zombie genre with excellence and probably better than most media creating stories about the undead. Netflix outdid themselves with this one and all of it covered within a 12-episode series. Also, what I liked about this show is how realistic it is regarding what actual high school students would do if a zombie apocalypse were to happen.
“Ready, Set, Love”
This show is the “Hunger Games” but without the killings of innocent people. The show is a dystopian romance set in a world where 99% of births are women. Hence, the government gathers men “for their protection” and raises them on a “farm,” which is depicted as a place of luxury, not an actual farm, but yet again they are raised to be cattle and reproduce. Here’s the kicker though, the government has a reality TV show set up to decide who marries these men and have a competition for the women-dominated world. They are set to compete for the attention and love of these men. This six-episode series gives off more of a campy vibe with a side of a thoughtfully described dystopia world.
“My Demon”
Whenever I hear someone talking about this show my ears automatically turn up because this show is one of the best. Just like “Business Proposal”, this show had me screaming at my pillow and twirling my hair for mostly the entire time. The limited series is about a contract marriage between a 200-year-old (the age gap) demon who develops an unexpected love for a human. What makes this show different from the romantic plots is the writing. Honestly, the screenwriters went beyond what this show was made to be. An interesting storyline is when demon Gu-won (spoiler alert) loses his powers and becomes a somewhat normal man. It’s one of the best romantic K-dramas I’ve ever watched and that’s coming out to someone who gets bored easily with the storyline but this was beyond my expectations and I will be binge-watching it again soon.
“The Glory”
Many may have probably heard about the bullying that happens in South Korea and how some kids take their own lives. “The Glory” sheds light on how horrible the problem with bullying is in South Korea. In this 16-episode thriller, the protagonist Dong-eun plots each of her bully’s downfall. Dong-eun was abused in high school. This show takes a revengeful gaze and I found it satisfying to watch those who did something so bad suffer.
Ana G. Valdes, (she/her) is an Oakland-based journalist who covers culture and entertainment, films and TV shows.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
A parenting expert says modern moms and dads are raising a generation of “saps” – by choosing the “easy way out” and “placating” kids with screens.
Katie Jackson Park, 43, believes parents today have “lost their backbone” and need to return to core values – such as setting boundaries – and help kids learn life skills.
She advocates for families to spend “conscious time” together, rather than reaching for technology which she says should be used “as currency”.
Katie believes kids should be “bored” sometimes and by not being taught the right way to behave says they’ll struggle to regulate emotions or “navigate the world” as they get older.
She and her husband, Paul, 54, a radio consultant, raise a blended family of seven kids.
She honed her parenting skills while raising her biological children – sons Mox, 17, and Magnus, 14, and daughter, Zali, 13.
She’s also helped to raise her stepson Henry, eight, and Paul’s other children – Tommy, Georgia, and Grace, who are now in their 20s.’
Katie, a radio producer, from Sydney, Australia, said: “Modern parents choose what they think is the easy way out and placate children with screens.
“But we’re going to have a generation of kids who are absolute saps because of this.
“It’s driven by guilt – because families need two parents to work these days to afford the cost of living, so we’re all really busy and overstretched.
“But kids aren’t being taught the right way to behave, how to regulate emotions, or how to navigate the world.
“Sometimes you have to be bored and look out the car window and see what’s around you.
“I see families out to dinner – parents on iPhone and kids, even toddlers, on iPads, it’s really sad.
“Parents are too afraid to take away the tech – they say kids will hate them, but you’re not there to be liked you’re there to parent and that means setting boundaries.
“I don’t believe technology is evil – parents should use it as currency.”
Katie took parenting advice from a book called ‘Love Baby’ – as well as Jo Frost also known as Supernanny.
Katie said: “Jo Frost is brilliant – we need someone like her to come and shake it up again.
“Modern parents have lost their backbone and they reach for tech rather than finding creative solutions to problems or spending time as a family.
“Parenting is really hard – ultimately doing a good job means giving them the skills to leave you, and that’s heartbreaking.
“But you’ll save yourself and them from huge dramas in their 20s if you put in the hard work when they are young.”
Originally published by Talker News
Nearly half of Gen Z (43%) admit to turning off a movie after encountering a sex scene — more than any other generation.
That’s according to a spicy new survey of 2,000 Americans, conducted by Talker Research, which found that 33% of all those polled have stopped watching a movie during a sex scene.
Millennials were the least likely generation to let a sex scene get in the way of finishing the movie (26%).
Younger Americans and their tolerance of nudity and sex scenes in films have been a hot topic of discussion lately, and a recent study by The Economist found that nudity and sex scenes have dipped by nearly 40% since the year 2000.
But that’s not stopping every show from pushing the boundary. HBO’s House of the Dragon recently featured a full-frontal male nudity scene in its latest episode.
Over one in four of those polled (27%) believe that sex scenes and nudity have “no place” in movies and TV now. Baby Boomers were found to be the most likely to feel this way (35%).
Forty-three percent of those polled believe that sex scenes are either always or mostly unnecessary and don’t add enjoyment or story enhancement — Gen Z was the most likely generation to agree with this sentiment.
Barely one in ten think sex scenes always add to the story or enhance the viewing experience.
From a gender standpoint, the results showed that women are nearly twice as likely to shut off a movie if a sex scene comes on than men (42% and 23% respectively).
Women are also less likely than men to believe that sex scenes still have a place in modern film (51% to 63%).
Originally published by Talker News
One of America’s most important policies that is sure to affect almost everybody’s life sure has been going under the radar! Until recently that is. And we can partly thank…The BET Awards?
Host/Producer/Editor: Malachi Segers-Seker
The Lowdown gives you the latest in news, pop culture, and everything else your friends will be talking about tomorrow. Don’t get FOMO, get The Lowdown with Malachi, every Friday here at YR Media.
Despite jokes and memes coming out of the “Black jobs” comment from last week’s presidential debate, unfortunately, many of us, including myself, are minorities in our industries and workplaces and don’t have the luxury of being around others like us.
Transitioning into working full-time, I’ve had to maneuver through the corporate world as a Black woman and minority. It’s been no easy feat, and the stories are endless.
As the only Black person in a lot of the rooms I’m in, I usually stand out. I’m constantly feeling like the automatic representation of my race and feeling the need to dispel all stereotypes.
For example, a former manager of mine constantly commented on my hair. Naturally, as most Black women do, I continually switched between straight hair, protective styles, and my natural hair. I would hear, “Oh, you changed your hair again.” I would brush it off, but after a while, it became annoying. I informed this manager that I like to change my hair around and that I would prefer it if I don’t always get a comment on it.
Then, I had the experience of being called the only other Black woman in a meeting’s name in a meeting that I led weekly. I ignored it and had a meltdown afterward because there was so much I could’ve said but didn’t.
I can’t forget moments when I was being interrupted and spoken over or ignored in the office or a professional social setting but did not act bothered by it so as not to appear overly sensitive.
I constantly pick my battles and determine what is worth speaking up about. Amidst the challenges, I’ve communicated better with mentors and other Black professional women. I need a space to express myself and get guidance for progress. Conversations with my current manager have helped me better educate people and demand more respect, especially when being played.
I’ve accepted that I am only one person and not a representative for every Black woman or minority in the workplace, and that has been freeing. Being a minority in the workplace is about finding and owning your voice, educating those around you, and pushing for change based on the battles you choose to fight.
Tracy Noze is a Seattle-based journalist.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
Before you dive into what’s happening today, take a look at what may have fallen off your radar earlier this week.
Researchers Attempt to Put Artificial Skin on Robot Faces
Getting Over My Phone Addiction
Mental Health and Gaming
It’s Official, We’re Entering Our ‘Bridgerton’ Era
California Students Required to Take Financial Literacy Courses
In 8th grade, I was told I’d have a two-week break from school. Suddenly, I had more free time than ever before.
When my two-week break turned into two years, my phone was suddenly much more central to how I socialized and entertained myself. I spent all day either online, talking to friends or doom-scrolling. Soon, hobbies were something of the past. Reading a book had nothing on the dopamine rush of a screen.
As the years went by and I started to be aware of the blur that was my day-to-day life, I came across a YouTube video titled “How To End Your Phone Addiction.” The creator spoke about how taking in too much dopamine can affect a person’s attention span, and that stepping away from the fast-paced nature of social media helped him slow down.
Watching how detoxing from his phone helped him made me want my hobbies back. Sometimes the hardest part of working on something is admitting that there is a problem to begin with.
Lately, I’ve been practicing delayed gratification. I’ll set my phone aside and force myself to complete assignments first. Once everything is done, I’ll reward myself with using my phone afterward. Now, I feel like I’m in a much better place with my phone and have more control over my time.
In the future, I want my relationship with my phone to be strictly practical. I plan to someday detach from social media entirely — only using my devices to keep in touch with family and friends. I’m not throwing away my smartphone just yet. But I’m gonna try to keep my usage to a minimum and switch to using a flip phone as much as possible.
The less time I spend on my phone, the more I’ve rediscovered what I enjoy doing offline. Things like writing, reading and drawing now have just as much appeal as before. After all, the whole world isn’t in our devices.
Siah Brawley (she/her) is a rising freshman at UC Santa Cruz studying psychology.
Edited by Amber Ly
Catching the San Diego waves on her surfboard gave Kehlani the inspiration she needed to come out with this new album.
“CRASH” comes after a 2-year transformative break that Kehlani says put her in a grounded and fueled place to deliver amazing music. During their time away, Kehlani has been immersing themselves in a myriad of different “side quests.” Among them, pole dancing, hitting the gym, and overall living her best life.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Kehlani (@kehlani)
Speaking on her acquired hobbies, she shared some inspiring words on her Instagram story: “‘Limitless’ is a state of being. You are not defined by one singular thing you do. May you never be confined … May you always alchemize that tug of a heartstring. Do ANYTHING. Not to be great at it, but to truly live.”
Taking a turn from her last album, the sentimental “blue water road,” Kehlani delivered a 13-track project filled with eclectic 80s-style synths and bass you can feel in your chest. In an interview with Apple Music, the artist shared that amidst global tragedy after global tragedy, they wanted to focus on art that would make people feel good. Of course, any Kehlani album isn’t complete without her light, sweet honey vocals, making this project a true experiment in R&B music.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Kehlani (@kehlani)
“After Hours,” the album’s lead single, has been making waves online long before the release of “CRASH.” This was their biggest single release yet, achieving four million streams in her first week. Sampling the club anthem, “Move Ya Body” by Nina Sky, “After Hours” has been a favorite among TikTok dancers.
@_itsjordie Someone requested this last week and I am feeling it so damn hard
@Kehlani DC: @DariusHickman #kehlani #afterhours #danceinpublic #dance ♬ After Hours – Kehlani
“CRASH” is available now via Atlantic.
Knives Nguyen (they/he/she), is a journalist from the Bay Area who covers entertainment, culture and student life. You can connect with them on LinkedIn: @knivesnguyen.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
T.I. & Tiny’s daughter, Heiress, and 5-year-old social media star VanVan performed their single “Be You” at the 2024 BET Awards. And there was no shortage of HBCU love! Here are some HBCU nods you may have missed in their adorable performance.
Produced by Ariyana Griffin
Welcome to Hot Girl Summer everyone! Renowned Grammy-winning rapper Megan Thee Stallion, amid her Hot Girl Summer tour, has released her newest album, “Megan.” This self-titled piece of art is ready to get everyone rattling and coiling around each other. This will make you twerk and cry, with Megan’s amazing rap skills on full display as she shows her raw sexuality and emotions.
The album begins with “Hiss,” the song that became Megan’s first solo #1 on Billboard and solidified her as a force to be reckoned with on Twitter with her “Megan’s Law” bar and shots fired at fellow rapper, Nicki Minaj. The album has somewhat of a snake concept, with standouts being “BOA, “Cobra,” “Rattle, and Hiss. In the song “Broke His Heart,” Megan confirms her bisexuality, while also being a spicy bedroom jam that can be played in the club as well. The main standout songs are “Otaku Hot Girl,” and “Mamushi” which show Megan’s anime fan influence with “Otaku Hot Girl” being a grand tribute to her favorite anime and showing that she is an unwavering fan of the medium. The song also has an opening line from Jujutsu Kaisen dub actor Adam McArthur, reprising his role as protagonist Yuji Itadori. “Mamushi” on the other hand shows Megan’s versatility in both English and Japanese as she raps with fellow Japanese rapper Yuki Chiba.
I admire Megan for being bold in expressing her sexuality and for her still being on top. But I felt the album’s stronger parts are the ones where she expresses her emotional journey, as well as firing back at the vitriol she has received during and after the Tory Lanez court case. These stand-out songs are “Moody Girl” and “Cobra,” which show Megan rapping about her mental state and puts her in a more vulnerable position rather than rapping about money or material objects.
If you want to shake that rattling tail, this is the album for you, be prepared for a good time, just bear with the repetition that sometimes happens with the album, but if you can look past this, this is one of thee Stallion’s finest works and a package that bites you at the neck.
8 out of 10 slithering boas.
Zipporah Pruitt, (she/her) is an L.A. homegrown journalist, who covers entertainment and culture. Follow her on X and Instagram: @zippzapps.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
With the summer season quickly approaching and people fitting vacations into their schedules, a TikTok trend called the “Blue Mind Theory” has emerged. The “Blue Mind Theory,” supports being around natural elements, especially bodies of water, to calm and relax the mind.
The “Blue Mind Theory” is widely supported by psychologists and stems from marine biologist Dr. Wallace J. Nichols’ book, “Blue Mind,” released in 2014. The book suggests that indulging in the restorative benefits of being in or near bodies of water can boost mental health and creativity.
“According to Blue Mind science, since humans are mostly made of water, our brains see it and think, “I’m in the right place,” claims Natalie Hamingson, a news writer for Red Bull.
Did you know there's some science behind the calmness you feel near bodies of water?
Here's what to know about the Blue Mind Theory: https://t.co/uHkrdfez4F#BlueMind #BlueMindTheory #MentalHealth pic.twitter.com/2aHov5qcQB
— BCBSM (@BCBSM) March 17, 2024
In May 2023, the “Blue Mind Theory,” started to gain traction on TikTok with content creator Ronja Edsmo’s post. From there, over a thousand commenters and hundreds of creators used the hashtag #bluemindtheory embracing the benefits of being around the beautiful waters, promoting happy feelings and safety while reducing stress and anxiety.
Nichols’ legacy as a marine biologist is brought to light amid his recent passing on June 10, 2024. The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation issued a statement on June 19 to credit Nichols’ exceptional work and accomplishments. The statement highlights the importance of caring for our planet’s waters, emphasizing that while the Earth’s vast water nurtures our well-being, it is equally crucial for us to protect and preserve them.
“As J shared in a Foundation in a recent blog, ‘When we take care of our sanctuaries, they can take care of us.’ J’s legacy will live on in those that embrace this view of ocean connection and conservation,” stated President and CEO Joel R. Johnson.
The “Blue Mind Theory” and Nichols’ legacy teach us to pause on stressful days, thus prioritizing health. This helps us focus on nature and notice the world, learning all it has to offer.
@rach5s ♬ Sweet Disposition FeelingBlew – Feelingblew
Kyana Early (she/her) is a journalist from the San Francisco Bay Area who covers entertainment and culture.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
It’s no secret that a lot of guys play COD with their friends, or Elden Ring, or Fortnite. Gaming is something that a lot of guys play in their free time during breaks of relaxation, but it can also be a huge cause of stress.
As a guy, I’ve had a lot of those moments myself. I’m a huge fan of Terraria, but some of those bosses, like The Empress of Light, have made me come close to smashing my keyboard. Even though it’s just pixels on a screen, they can cause a lot of rage and frustration.
Here are some tips on how to reduce frustration without quitting gaming entirely.
Take breathers. It’s okay to take a break after a tough match or bossfight. Walking away from your console or computer, drinking some water, and stepping outside to inhale a breath of fresh air are all great for filling you with new energy.
Change up strategies. If you’re stuck on a boss, the reason you’ve been defeated for the 500th time might be because you’re trying the same technique over and over again.
Let yourself relax. This might seem obvious, but after a tough game, I can feel that I’ve been tensing up my back and shoulder muscles like crazy. Try sinking into your chair, and letting go of some of that frustration.
Read more …
This guest post is in partnership with True Star Media.
The University of Tokyo attempts to humanize robots by putting realistic-looking artificial skin on the robot’s face. It can scar, burn and self-heal like actual skin. Too far or not far enough?
Produced by Jason Sanford
Morehouse College is trailblazing their position in deep tech with the introduction of 3D, AI teachers assistants.
Led by Dr.Muhsinah Morris, a senior assistant professor in education and metaversity director at Morehouse who led the charge on the HBCU becoming the world’s first Metaversity has helped launch artificial intelligence-based teachers assistants to further personalize each student’s individual education journey.
With the help of AI teachers assistants, professors will receive an extra hand that is available 24/7 to support managing assessments, scheduling office hours and providing 3D demonstrations of lessons. AI TAs at Morehouse also have the capability to be conversational with students in a variety of languages.
Morehouse’s embrace of the metaverse has instilled hope in me as an HBCU alumna who works at the intersection of tech and higher education.
Unfortunately, 82% of the nation’s 100+ HBCUs are located in broadband deserts, which are regions that lack fast and reliable internet access.
This issue in addition to the fact that a large majority of HBCUs are underfunded, without access to resources in deep tech has led to a large digital divide between HBCUs and PWIs.
Due to the lack of AI readiness in the community’s color, the advancement of AI technology is estimated to widen the racial economic gap in the U.S. by a staggering $43 billion, per McKinsey and Company.
If the digital divide between HBCUs and PWIs persists, these historic institutions run the risk of becoming dated to potential applicants and students that have now spent a majority of their life using technology ahead of entering college.
Nevertheless, the potential for AI teacher assistants to revolutionize education at HBCUs remains immense. These technologies can increase efficiency in administrative tasks and provide students with a modern, tech-savvy education that prepares them for the future workforce.
To bridge the gap, it is crucial for policymakers, tech companies, and educational institutions to collaborate and invest in the digital infrastructure of HBCUs. By doing so, they can ensure that all students, regardless of their background, have equal access to the transformative power of AI in education.
Keeping it gee, while challenges remain, the normalization of AI teacher assistants at HBCUs like Morehouse College could pave the way for a more equitable and technologically advanced educational landscape. The future of HBCUs lies in their ability to adapt and innovate, ensuring they continue to be beacons of excellence and opportunity for generations to come.
Miranda Perez (she/her/hers) is a Jersey City, NJ-based journalist who covers the tech industry. Follow her on X and Instagram: @mimithegee.
Edited by NaTyshca Pickett
Exam submissions generated by artificial intelligence went almost entirely undetected by markers at a leading university.
And, on average, fake answers generated by AI earned higher grades than those achieved by real students.
Researchers say their worrying findings, published in the journal PLOS One, suggest that experienced exam markers may “struggle” to spot AI-generated answers – and should act as a “wakeup call” to education chiefs.
In recent years, machine learning tools such as ChatGPT have become more advanced and widespread, leading to concerns about students using them to cheat by submitting AI-generated work as their own.
Such concerns are heightened by the fact that many universities and schools switched from supervised in-person exams to unsupervised take-home exams during the Covid pandemic, with many now continuing such models.
Tools for detecting AI-generated written text have so far not proven very successful.
To better understand the issues, a Reading University research team generated answers that were 100% written by the AI chatbot GPT-4 and submitted on behalf of 33 fake students to the examinations system of the University’s School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences.
The exam markers were unaware of the study.
The research team found that 94% of their AI submissions went undetected.
On average, the fake answers earned higher grades than real students’ answers.
In 83.4% of cases, the AI submissions received higher grades than a randomly selected group of the same number of submissions from real students.
The results suggest the possibility that students could not only get away with using AI to cheat, but they could also achieve better grades than achieved by their colleagues who do not cheat.
The research team says that a number of real students may have gotten away with AI-generated submissions in the course of the study.
Updated advice has already been issued to university staff and students as a result of the findings of the largest and most robust study of its kind to date.
Originally published by Talker News
For many people, financial literacy has become a crucial aspect of adulthood. Not having been taught the most important parts of living life as a working adult has caused many adults to advocate for financial literacy to be a required part of the public school experience. ABC 10 reported that this is finally becoming a reality for the future of young students.
California high school students will soon need to take a financial literacy course to graduate. Governor Gavin Newsom is expected to sign AB 2927, which mandates a semester-long personal finance education course to be offered by the 2027-28 school year and required for graduation starting with the class of 2030-31.
@studyforyoubestie #greenscreen Mandatory financial literacy classes to graduate high school
thoughts? #financialliteracy #highschool #college #graduation #collegeapps #latimes ##california#ucla ♬ original sound – Study For You Bestie | Melody
Once this legislation is passed, proponents of the California Personal Finance Education Act initiative for the November 2024 ballot will withdraw their measure.
A survey by EverFi during the 2020-2021 school year found low levels of financial understanding among high school juniors and seniors nationwide. The survey revealed that only 27% felt ready to estimate their monthly payments after college, 46% felt prepared to complete the FAFSA, 32% felt capable of understanding loan offers and repayment information, and 47% understood how to read a paycheck and determine net pay.
Senate President pro-Tempore Mike McGuire emphasized the long-term benefits of financial literacy, citing improved credit scores, reduced default rates, increased likelihood of maintaining emergency savings and having a retirement account. “Financial literacy is a critical tool that pays dividends for a lifetime,” he said.
Assemblymember Kevin McCarty, who introduced the legislation, expressed his gratitude for the collaborative effort in bringing the bill to law. “After years of championing financial literacy for California students and authoring legislation to make personal finance a required high school course, I’m thrilled that our AB 2927 is on the Governor’s desk and will be signed into law,” McCarty said. He thanked Next Gen Personal Finance, Governor Newsom, Speaker Rivas, and Senate President pro Tempore McGuire for their leadership in making this happen.
This new requirement aims to help students make informed financial decisions throughout their adult lives, addressing the significant need for financial education in high schools.
Noumaan Faiz, (he/him) is a journalist and entertainer from Corona, CA who covers culture and entertainment.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
In December 2023, the showcase of the 2024 Bridgerton Wedding Collection took place as a collaboration between Allure Bridals and the Netflix franchise from Shondaland to design wedding gowns inspired by the “Bridgerton” series and its spinoff “Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story.” Bridgerton-inspired trends and collaborations would continue throughout the year motivated by the newly released third season.
The series has won many over and has roused a lot of creativity — from royalty-inspired wedding themes to rich scented candles. Amid the hype surrounding the new Season 3, fans took to TikTok to share “Bridgerton”-inspired picnics and birthday celebrations. All the while, wedding decorators post their work per their clients’ requests for a ‘Bridgerton’-inspired theme.
@thea1ydiaries #bridgerton #party #girly #birthday ♬ Bridgerton – The Harmony Group
Not only have fans been inspired to host celebrations and wear clothing in theme with “Bridgerton,” but also indulged in home decorations. Companies, such as Michaels and HomeGoods, foster this home decorating trend by dedicating aisles to the ‘Bridgerton’ theme for consumers.
Other companies, including Bath & Body Works, have gone so far as creating “Bridgerton”-inspired self-care essentials. Last March the self-care retail chain announced its collaboration with Shondaland Netflix to release scented candles, hand soap, body mists, hand sanitizers, and room fragrances.
The uproar of trends inspired by ‘Bridgerton’ is a reflection of fans’ endearment for the show. Entertaining fans and influencing trends worldwide, ‘Bridgerton’ stands its ground as the trendsetter of the season, and perhaps many more to come.
I love fun party themes. I need one of my friends to throw a Bridgerton themed party, please and thanks
— Francisca (@franciscarockey) June 4, 2022
Kyana Early (she/her) is a journalist from the San Francisco Bay Area who covers entertainment and culture.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
From faulty hormone shots taken in locker rooms to pissing from freeway overpasses — Brazilian filmmaker Lillah Halla thrilled audiences at the Oakland LGBTQ+ Frameline Festival with her fearless directorial debut, “Levante (Power Alley)”.
“Power Alley” is a suspense-filled drama that tackles one of today’s most divisive issues. The movie follows 17-year-old Sofia, who is faced with an unwanted pregnancy the night before her championship volleyball game. Taking place in São Paulo, where abortion is criminalized, Sofia seeks illegal termination — aided by her kind father and ferocious possé of queer friends, teammates, and lovers.
With her future as a star athlete on the line, Sofia knows for certain that she can’t have this baby. As she searches for a solution, Sofia becomes a target of far-right conservatives who are determined to stop her at any cost. “Power Alley” transforms into a real-life horror when Christian zealots in her community begin to torment and stalk her.
The bond Sofia shares with her teammates shines a much-needed light on an otherwise bleak situation. It’s fierce, and it’s unlikely that there is a length they wouldn’t go to for one another. They are a generally fluid bunch — be that regarding sexuality, gender expression, or the forms in which they love each other — a stark contrast to the traditional, herd-mentality of the village that frequently oppresses them.
Through exploration of the complexities of queer, feminine friendship as well as familial trials, “Power Alley” reminds us that joy is a political tool, and arguably one of the most valuable. In the face of legislative oppression, all we have is each other.
As threats to reproductive rights remain a global issue, “Power Alley” exemplifies the true nature of an anti-choice society — termination procedures go on regardless, just under more dangerous circumstances.
“Power Alley” was part of Frameline48, the world’s largest and longest-running LGBTQIA+ film festival in San Francisco and Oakland.
Piper Stuip (she/her), is a student at Oakland School for the Arts focusing on creative writing.
Edited by Nykeya Woods and shaylyn martos
As we end this eventful month, we celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community and Black Music Month. Some of the most influential pop culture trends, fashion and music pioneers derive from a creative community that identifies as both. And to appreciate the next-generation artists who are changing the game, here are several Black and Queer musicians you need in your rotation.
Amaare
Ghanaian-American musician Amaare is known for her airy falsetto tone and fusing genres to create upbeat dance tracks. Her signature mix of afro-beats and pop music was prominent on her latest hit album, “Fountain Baby”
Destin Conrad
R&B isn’t dead, and Destin Conrad can sing to prove it. The 23-year-old has an unforgettable sultry voice and knows how to make a catchy hook, but you might also recognize him as having an attractive sense of humor. The singer gained popularity for making comedic short videos when “Vine” was at its peak.
Blood Orange
Fluidity and its finest. Devyn Hynes, also known as Blood Orange, has been able to ebb and flow his musical work and sexuality. His lyricism is centered around vulnerability, aiming to connect the modern indie pop fans.
UMI
American singer/songwriter Umi has a love for making music that heals the soul. Finding self-love and coming to terms with her identity, through the genre of Neo-soul is just as comforting as it sounds.
Serpentwithfeet
Visuals to the song, “four ethers,” shows detail oriented Serpentwirhfeet is. The layers to unpack throughout the Maryland singer’s discography are worth it.
Kaytranda
The king of summertime house music is a must-have on your playlist! The Canadian producer and DJ have worked with some of your favorite artists from Victoria Monét, Childish Gambino, Kali Uchis, and many more.
SkaiWater
People like Skaiwater are a breath of fresh air. The non-binary rapper expressed how melodies were the hardest part of self-producing in their interview with Our Generation Music even though that’s how his sound became viral on TikTok. Before the British musicians dropped their debut album “#Gigi,” features with Lil Uzi Vert and Lil Nas X were already secured!
Sydney Wanguhu, (she/her) is from The Bay Area and is an L.A.-based journalist who covers entertainment and culture. Follow her on Instagram & Spotify: @sydneyy._.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
The Supreme Court of the State of Oklahoma has denied the case of two 1921 Tulsa Massacre survivors as the judge in charge of the case has stated that a historical event does “not provide a person with unlimited rights to seek compensation.”
Produced by Malachi Segers
Edited by Liz Tril
Megan Thee Stallion faced unexpected challenges with her upcoming album, “MEGAN,” due to an issue with an anime sample. The 18-track album, set to release on Friday, was nearly finished when a production company issued a demand on Tuesday: remove all character names from the sampled record or forfeit the soundbite.
Here is what Rap-Up reported on the newly developed hurdle for the Texas artist:
During an Instagram Live session before her Dallas concert on Wednesday, Megan shared her frustrations. “I’m not talking bad because I’m very grateful. Y’all know how I told y’all I got an anime sample on my album? This has probably been the hardest song to try to have on my album, but like I said, I’m not complaining ’cause I’m grateful,” she said.
Megan didn’t reveal the anime series used in the sample but mentioned that using character names or cosplaying them in music videos was forbidden. “Last night, we get an email. They said, ‘Actually, I need you to take out the names of the characters that’s in the show.’ That’s the whole song. That makes the song make sense,” she explained.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Megan Thee Stallion (@theestallion)
Despite the setback, the 29-year-old star remains determined to keep the sample. “I really wanted this sample. I really wanted to do it, so I’m doing everything I [can] to keep it,” she added. “But change the names? Change the names the day before the album [is supposed to come] out? That was nuts.”
The album “MEGAN” features collaborations with Kyle Richh, UGK, Victoria Monét, and GloRilla, with whom Megan worked on “Wanna Be.” The LP will also include pre-release singles “Cobra,” “HISS,” and “BOA.” Following its release, Megan is set to open at the 2024 BET Awards on June 30.
Her “Hot Girl Summer Tour” will continue in Atlanta on July 2 at the State Farm Arena, followed by a performance at the PNC Music Pavilion in Charlotte, North Carolina on July 3.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Megan Thee Stallion (@theestallion)
Noumaan Faiz, (he/him) is a journalist and entertainer from Corona, CA who covers culture and entertainment.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
We don’t know who needs to hear this but feeding people in need is not a cop calling worthy offense! Try telling that to this Karen, though, who thinks she can just secondhand arrest Black people at-will.
Host/Producer/Editor: Malachi Segers-Seker
The Lowdown gives you the latest in news, pop culture, and everything else your friends will be talking about tomorrow. Don’t get FOMO, get The Lowdown with Malachi, every Friday here at YR Media.
Quincy Wilson, a 16-year-old student from Bullis School near Washington D.C., placed sixth with a time of 44.94 in the 400-meter final at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials on Monday. Hall secured the top spot with a time of 44.17, while Michael Norman (44.41) and Chris Bailey (44.42) also earned spots on the team heading to Paris. NBC News reported on the track athlete’s chances of qualifying for the Olympics.
Although Wilson didn’t make the team as an individual runner and thus couldn’t become the youngest male ever to do so, he still has a chance to be part of the U.S. 4×400 relay team.
Wilson’s performance was remarkable, especially after he set and then broke the world record for under-18 runners, a record that had stood for 42 years. “I’ve never been this happy in my life when it comes to track,” Wilson said after running a 44.59 in the semifinals. “I’ve been working for this moment. That record I broke two days ago, that’s 42 years of nobody being able to break it. I broke it twice in two days. It means a lot to me because it shows the hard work is paying off.”
Just 19 days after finishing his sophomore year of high school, Wilson competed against some of the world’s fastest runners. Vernon Norwood, at 32, is twice Wilson’s age, and Michael Norman, 26, finished fifth in the Tokyo Games.
Today, my main focus was getting to the 300 fast, just being able… pic.twitter.com/6WRYAvihzm
— CITIUS MAG (@CitiusMag) June 15, 2024
Norman praised Wilson’s performances as “spectacular.” He said, “A 16-year-old is out here competing like a true competitor. He’s not letting the moment get too big. He’s living in the moment and competing. It’s great to see young talents like him elevate, push us to run faster, and take us out of our comfort zones. He has a bright future as long as he stays grounded and focused.”
Wilson, standing 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighing 140 pounds, faced a challenging semifinal. At the final turn, he was in fifth place with significant ground to make up. Wilson said that his race plan went out the window at that point, and he had to dig deep. “Stay calm,” he told himself. “I didn’t get out the way that I wanted to, but like my coach said, the race starts at 300. Coming up from fifth to third means a lot. If you look at me, I’m not as strong, so it’s 100% heart inside.”
Quincy Wilson still in high spirits after finishing 6th at the U.S. Olympic Trials 400m final. Could get the call for the 4x400m relay pool. pic.twitter.com/Qh2Nwsm2B1
— Chris Chavez (@ChrisChavez) June 25, 2024
Noumaan Faiz, (he/him) is a journalist and entertainer from Corona, CA who covers culture and entertainment.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
I remember when the first movie of the “Inside Out” movie series launched. I excitedly walked into the theater to watch the movie on the big screen, with a large popcorn and ICEE in hand. Little did I know it would tap into my emotions on an extraordinary level because of all the important lessons it taught its audiences about life, the people around them, and above all, themselves. I was thrilled to learn Pixar made a sequel — “Inside Out 2.”
“Inside Out,” released in 2015, is a movie about a girl named Riley whose life is centered on her emotions. Starting in Riley’s early life, her five emotions: joy, sadness, anger, fear, and disgust, interact with each other to make up Riley’s actions and shape her overall personality. Nine years later, “Inside Out 2” walks through the changes Riley experiences as she enters her teenage years with new emotions — anxiety, ennui, embarrassment, and envy.
Without a doubt, the 90-minute movie takes its audiences on an emotional rollercoaster with a mix of humor and heartfelt moments. The outstanding visuals only contribute to beautifying the journey of life through Riley’s storyline. While Riley changes as she grows older, audiences have an opportunity to empathize with her character and perhaps connect shared experiences people of all age groups can relate to.
The beloved Pixar movie may be described by a simple definition, a cartoon or animation. However, Pixar is well known for its talent to blend creativity with entertainment, all while sending valuable messages through its vast pool of movies. The ‘Inside Out’ movie series is no exception, and audiences are bound to come across messages that entail valuable life lessons. If you can, I recommend finding out on the big screen while “Inside Out 2” is out now in theaters.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by IMAX (@imax)
Kyana Early (she/her) is a journalist from the San Francisco Bay Area who covers entertainment and culture.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
Before you dive into what’s happening today, take a look at what may have fallen off your radar earlier this week.
Review: ‘Star Wars: The Acolyte’
Boxing Match Reveals Cancer Diagnosis for Teen
Gen Z’s Bringing Parents to Job Interviews???
Chloe Bailey Ditches Vegan Diet After 11 Years
Alabama HBCU To Launch Flight School On Campus
Tuskegee University received over $6 million in funding to bring flight school to their campus, with multiple paths focusing on aerospace science. The new program’s goals center around filling industry needs and diversifying the aerospace industry.
Produced by Ariyana Griffin
A long long time ago, in a galaxy far far away, there was a timeline. This timeline was separated into three distinct areas, the age of republic, the age of rebellion, and the age of resistance. But then, the great mouse deity … you know the rest. Anyway, welcome to “Star Wars: The Acolyte,” the first live-action show that Disney has created within the pre-prequel side of the timeline, “The High Republic.” This zone, used mainly for comics, books, and a Disney Junior animated series now has a big boy show to call its own, but how does it hold up against titans like “The Mandalorian” and “Andor”?
To be objective, it is pretty good! One can tell that the level of craftsmanship is top-notch in the set design, special effects, and action sequences, which the first one feels like it was based on old-school kung-fu films. The acting is top-notch, with actress Amandla Stenberg playing dual roles as twin sisters Mae and Osha. These siblings were separated after a tragedy but were soon brought together again by the force as enemies. Massive props also have to be given to Lee Jung-Jae as Jedi master Sol, a man with many secrets and gravitas, but a kind heart to help out whatever way he can.
Now to talk about the Wookiee in the room, the blatant racism and vitriol directed towards the show. Is the show perfect? No, there are some pacing issues, especially in the first episode, and some stilted dialogue, but to be fair, stilted dialogue is Star Wars’s bread and butter. What won’t be stood for is racism which this show has been assaulted on all fronts by toxic trolls who say otherwise. The issue here is the same as in recent times, if you don’t believe the show is perfect, you are a racist. If you think the show is great, you are a shill for Disney. There is no middle ground, there is no center. It seems that criticisms are either nit-picks or pure mask-off racism and there are no honest opinions anymore. The real victims of this are sadly other creatives who may not get their chances to make their own Star Wars story due to Disney perhaps backtracking on inclusivity due to this loud backlash, a massive example of this is the benching of the character of Rose Tico in “Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker.”
“The Acolyte” is a good show, and it’s best to walk in not thinking about the screaming fanboys.
4 lightsabers out of 5.
Zipporah Pruitt, (she/her) is an L.A. homegrown journalist, who covers entertainment and culture. Follow her on X and Instagram: @zippzapps.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
As you begin to grow and evolve throughout the years, not everyone can come with you.
I’ve always thought of this as an interesting topic, but as you mature you’ll begin to witness it more than ever. Friendship is supposed to be sacred, this is without a question. Everyone has their own category in people’s lives which range from outsiders, acquaintances, friends, best friends, families, soul mates, and more. However, I’ve always loved that a singular friend can be a combination of so many loved qualities and make a positive impact in your life. Of course there’s a positive to having friends, but the difference is quantity vs. quality.
Is there really any easy way to deal with losing friends?
I wouldn’t say it comes easy because those relationships are just as important as anything romantic – which can also feel like a breakup in its own sense. But, sometimes friendships run their course or additional contributing factors may have led to its demise. However, everything really boils down to perspective and maturity when dealing with these types of experiences.
Read more …
This guest post is in partnership with True Star Media.
The poll of 2,000 U.S. adults who use social media found that 68% have shopped through their social media feeds, and the average person would willingly spend a maximum of $262 on any single item they come across.
Respondents were found to use Facebook (85%), Instagram (49%) and TikTok (38%) on a regular basis. However, 75% admitted a ban on TikTok would have “little to no” impact on how they shop.
Social media users said they like using platforms for shopping because it makes the experience easier or more convenient (33%), they’re already on social media often enough (32%), and because they can see exactly how products are used or how they perform (30%).
People also said they prefer social media shopping because they see better deals offered on social media (26%), it’s more fun and exciting (22%) and it’s easier to search than a physical store (20%).
Commissioned by UserTesting and conducted by Talker Research, the survey found 72% of social media purchases are unplanned and spontaneous — people were buying everything from clothing (52%) to gifts (33%), shoes and accessories (33%), beauty products (30%) and even electronics (28%).
Close to two-thirds (62%) were generally satisfied with the products they’ve bought through social media, compared to traditional online retailers. Similarly, 68% described their average experience as positive.
Nearly half (47%) said they’d likely purchase something seen on social media if they see others using it, and one in five respondents have experienced a fear of missing out (FOMO) from seeing others use advertised items.
Although 46% of respondents reported purchasing items through social media that did not match their advertisements, nearly three-quarters indicated they would continue to use the same platforms for future shopping.
TOP 7 REASONS TO USE SOCIAL MEDIA FOR SHOPPING
- It’s easier/more convenient – 33%
- I’m on social media often – 32%
- I can see how the product is used/how it performs – 30%
- Better deals are offered on social media – 25%
- It’s more fun/exciting – 22%
- It’s easier to search for items through social media than physical stores – 20%
- Better gift ideas are on social media – 20%
Originally published by Talker News
Chloe Bailey recently revealed on TikTok that she has broken her vegan diet of over a decade and started eating chicken. The 25-year-old singer admitted during a studio livestream that after 11 years of not consuming any animal products, she has noticed benefits and has not experienced any harmful effects since changing her diet. This revelation comes nearly a year after she and her sister Halle accidentally ate meat due to a hotel error, which led to an emotional response.
Here is what Daily Mail UK reported on the big lifestyle change for the Atlanta superstar:
Bailey, known for her role in “Swarm” and as the “Body Do” hitmaker, shared with her fans that she had been contemplating this change and finally decided to try chicken. She clarified that she still avoids dairy and other meats due to allergies but feels good overall. The first time she reintroduced meat, she experienced minor stomach cramps, but since then, she has felt fine and even noticed her body becoming more toned. She attributes this to consuming fewer carbs to feel full.
During her livestream, Bailey responded to a fan’s comment about why she and her sister are often considered “corny,” humorously admitting she doesn’t know. She also joked about anticipating being caught eating chicken eventually, so she chose to reveal it herself.
This dietary change is significant given that Chloe and Halle have both been open about their veganism throughout their careers. Less than a year ago, Bailey shared a story on TikTok about accidentally eating meat for the first time in a decade. She recalled ordering room service for a Beyond burger, specifying it should be vegan. However, she quickly realized something was off when she took a bite and found it didn’t feel right. Bailey described her reaction, saying she started “losing [her] s***” while Halle laughed at her.
Despite this incident, Bailey has now consciously decided to include chicken in her diet and feels positive about the change. She emphasized that she still avoids egg whites and dairy, maintaining a mostly plant-based diet but experimenting with chicken for the added benefits she’s noticed.
Noumaan Faiz, (he/him) is a journalist and entertainer from Corona, CA who covers culture and entertainment.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
A teen whose leg spontaneously snapped during a boxing match was diagnosed with a rare bone cancer – and had his leg amputated.
Ollie Hercombe, 16, began boxing as soon as he could walk and grew up going to the gym to train three times a week.
In early 2022 he began suffering occasional discomfort in his right shin and a lump formed, which was put down to shin splints.
The teen just ignored the soreness and continued going for five-mile runs and daily gym sessions.
But on March 18, while sparring in the boxing gym, Ollie stepped back – and his right shin SNAPPED.
He was rushed to hospital and put into a leg cast – and an x-ray showed his leg snapped because he had a cancerous leg tumor.
The options were a long, painful and risky operation to extract the cancer from his leg with a long recovery process, or an above-knee amputation.
The sports fanatic was desperate to get back on his feet – and decided an amputation would give him the best chance.
The amputation went ahead on May 13 in a three-hour surgery, and now Ollie is raising £70k for a high-tech bionic limb so he can get back in the ring.
Ollie, from Smith’s Wood, Solihull, West Midlands, said: “The pain after the leg broke was horrible.
“They gave me the options and I wanted to decide what was best for me to continue sport afterwards.
“Since the amputation I’ve had some dark days and nights – but I think I’ve handled it as well as I could.
“I know 100 percent that I’ve made the right decision.”
Mom Kerry Bolton, 45, a personal trainer, said: “He has been an active child from a very young age.
“He went on a five mile run the day before his leg broke.
“Ollie knew straight away if he had the amputation, he would be able to continue with boxing as well as there being less chance of the cancer reoccurring.”
Ollie was sparring in Acocks Green Boxing Gym on March 18.
Despite no physical contact being made against his leg, when he stepped back on it, his right shin snapped out of the blue.
Doctors knew straight away that it broke too easily to just have been an impact break – and feared the worst.
He was rushed to Heartlands Hospital, Birmingham, and a scan revealed ‘pitting’ – weakness in the shin bone, which had caused the break.
A biopsy was taken and the lad was put in a full leg cast.
Kerry said: “He had suffered with what we thought was shin splints.
“Over time now and again he would say his leg was a bit sore after a run or gym session, but that was all.”
He went back to school using a wheelchair, until doctors called the family to let them know the results of a biopsy.
It revealed he had a rare bone cancer, adamantinoma, which had been slowly weakening the bone over years.
The cancer was not treatable by chemotherapy, radiotherapy or immunotherapy, leaving doctors with two options.
They revealed they could extract the cancer and reconstruct the leg – a 14-hour surgery with the risk of the cancer returning as well as Ollie needing to wear a leg brace for 18 months.
The alternative was an above-knee amputation at Royal Orthopedic Hospital, Birmingham – which Ollie felt would get him back in the ring again far sooner.
He said: “At the point of them explaining the decisions, I already had my mind set on amputation.
“And as soon as I knew the cancer had a chance of coming back if I kept the leg, I knew the leg had to go.”
On May 13, he went under the knife, having been assured his amputated limb would be donated to science to be used for further research into the condition.
Following the surgery Ollie struggled with the pain – and was “screaming, begging, hyperventilating”.
He said: “I had panic attacks – I thought I was going to die.”
But over time he began to heal – and now he is looking towards how he can get back in the ring and boxing again.
Ollie’s research has led to him setting his heart on a state-of-the-art bionic limb made by Ottobock.
The Genium X3 would allow him to do sports, including his beloved boxing, and would be able to adapt to his movement.
The family are trying to raise £70k to get him his very own leg – but they’re only half way to the goal.
Ollie – who will sit his GCSEs later in the year when he’s recovered – said: “It would mean the world to me to have this leg, I could do whatever everyone else can and more.
“I want to run marathons and I want to do all this stuff to raise money, it’s inspired me.
“Losing my leg gave me a new gasp of wind, and I want to prove I can do whatever everyone else can do.
“I want to show people that losing a leg isn’t the end of the world.”
Originally published by Talker News
The same warning labels that we see on cigarettes and alcoholic beverages could soon be coming to your favorite social platforms.
U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has called on congress to mandate social platforms to alert parents of the risks young people face online.
In an opinion piece in The New York Times, Murthy acknowledged that social media has been proven unsafe for adolescents and action must be taken – and he’s not exaggerating either.
Nearly half of all Gen Z (42%) report battles with depression and feelings of hopelessness, which is almost twice as high as older generations over 25.
When understanding these staggering numbers, it is also important to contextualize that Gen Z is 27% more likely to report mental health concerns than older generations – and 37% more likely to seek treatment.
Despite the progressive efforts of some Gen Z, social media is indeed a double-edged sword when it comes to both healing and harming mental health.
Over consumption on social media can be a huge factor in enabling feelings of hopelessness as young people are doom scrolling online for long periods each day. On the other hand, some Gen Z find comfort and community online which can aid mental health efforts.
When it comes to preventative measures, I couldn’t agree more with Murthy. The reality of it is, children and teens today are struggling to fight against the broader, negative impact technology has on us.
Our parents, many of whom grew up without ever imagining this type of technology, typically cannot provide much help on the matter either – unless they just happen to be working in these fields.
While social media platform founders may not have anticipated that their online spaces could be harmful, the statistics speak for themselves. As more data comes out further proving harmful effects – it is the responsibility of our government, tech founders, parents/caretakers and the overall community to ensure that we work to amend this.
A warning label along the lines of what X and Instagram have done to flag fake news would be a perfectly simple solution and first step to introducing this warning mandate. This would allow the user to make the end choice on proceeding with the platform.
Keeping it gee, I’m in favor of mandates and full transparency from social platforms. A lot can be done to better manage the harmful impacts of social media, especially for generations to come. I look forward to seeing how our government takes this call on.
Miranda Perez (she/her/hers) is a Jersey City, NJ-based journalist who covers the tech industry. Follow her on X and Instagram: @mimithegee.
Edited by NaTyshca Pickett
Watch as this Twitch streamer beats a video game with mind control. It works by decoding electrical signals in her brain that are pre-programmed to do certain in video games. Watch and see exactly how this amazing technology works.
Produced by Jason Sanford
Watch as this Twitch streamer beats a video game with mind control. It works by decoding electrical signals in her brain that are pre-programmed to do certain in video games. Watch and see exactly how this amazing technology works.
Produced by Jason Sanford
It’s not unusual for young people to ask for guidance from their parents regarding big decisions, but Gen Z seeking employment are quite literally bringing their parents with them to job interviews.
According to WGN News, some Gen Z job seekers involve their parents in the job interview. Based on a survey from Resume Templates, 26% of Gen Z respondents enlist their parents’ help during interviews. Of these, 31% have a parent accompany them to in-person interviews, and 29% include their parents in virtual interviews.
For those attending in-person interviews, 37% reported having a parent come into the office with them, and 26% said a parent was physically present in the interview room. In virtual interviews, 71% of respondents said their parent was off-camera, while 29% admitted their parent was visible on-screen.
Interestingly, when parents were visible during virtual interviews, most spoke directly to the hiring manager. This level of parental involvement raises questions about its appropriateness in the professional context.
Executive resume writer Andrew Stoner shared his insights on the trend with Resume Templates.
“It’s understandable, parents wanting to ensure that their child does well in an interview or that an employer is reputable. Conversely, it’s hard to see where a parent being directly involved in an interview is appropriate. It does not signal confidence to a hiring company on behalf of the child.” Stoner recommended a “help at a distance” approach, where parents provide support and advice during the recruiting process without being directly involved in the interviews.
The survey highlights a significant shift in the traditional job interview dynamic, with a substantial number of Gen Z candidates seeking parental support. While this may reflect parental concern for their children’s success and well-being, it poses a challenge in terms of the perceived confidence and independence of the job applicants. The involvement of parents in interviews can potentially undermine the employer’s perception of the candidate’s self-reliance and capability.
Overall, the findings suggest a need for a balanced approach where parents support their children from a distance, allowing them to navigate the job interview process independently, thereby fostering their confidence and professionalism.
Noumaan Faiz, (he/him) is a journalist and entertainer from Corona, CA who covers culture and entertainment.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
Many people remember what they were doing on school nights when they were in the fourth grade. It may have been homework or potentially holding off the homework, but one student stands out for working on something else.
Each morning, Jacob Heitmann begins his day by having breakfast before heading to the family’s computer in the basement to check if there are any orders for his 3D printing business. If there are, he reviews the design requested, with his favorite being a rainbow plastic skull, and sets his 3D printer to work. Despite most prints taking at least two hours to complete, the machine operates while Heitmann attends his fourth-grade classes, managing his time efficiently, as the 10-year-old from Indiana explains, according to CNBC.
Since January, he has generated over $1,700 in revenue by selling 3D printed toys to his classmates through his website and on his Etsy shop, according to documents scrutinized by CNBC Make It. Many of his creations are priced below $20, and he dedicates approximately three hours daily to his side hustle.
“I’ve always wanted to sell stuff to people,” he shared. “It’s fun, setting up a listing and deciding how much to charge for it … It makes me feel like a big business guy.”
Heitmann successfully persuaded his parents to purchase his first 3D printer, a $300 “Ender” model from Creality, for his birthday last July. Despite its limitation of printing one color at a time, He convinced them by touting it as cutting-edge technology that could change lives, he recalls with a laugh.
Armed with his printer, he immersed himself in YouTube tutorials, enrolled in lessons on Outschool.com, and appealed to his parents for a second device — a Bambu Lab P1S multi-color printer, currently valued at $949.
Santa Claus granted his wish for the new printer as a Christmas gift, as confirmed by Heitmann’s father, Chris.
Heitmann’s entrepreneurial journey began early. At nine years old, he approached his grandfather — who owns a printing promotion company — to collaborate on producing T-shirts and sweatshirts featuring the logo of his YouTube channel, initially started under his father’s name for Roblox and Minecraft content.
Although he established a website to market the apparel, he admits he didn’t invest sufficient effort into that venture. He sold a maximum of 20 units before replacing the listings with his 3D-printed designs. He officially launched his Etsy shop, under his mother’s name, in February, after being advised by teachers, alongside his friends who also own 3D printers, to refrain from soliciting sales in class.
In April, Heitmann was commissioned by a family friend to create 12 11-inch replicas of the Chase Tower in Chicago for a retirement party. Initially pricing each piece at $20, heeding his father’s advice, he revised the rate to $45 to cover labor costs, considering that each model required nine hours to print.
At the new price, he accrued $540 in revenue — funds earmarked for college savings or the acquisition of another 3D printer, he revealed.
However, amidst the successes, Heitmann is grappling with the challenges of expanding his side hustle. Since the retirement party, he has received six orders for more Chicago skyline replicas from attendees. These custom requests are pending, though there might be delays as his schedule is occupied with academic assignments and sports commitments. Additionally, his parents require him to activate vacation mode on his Etsy store whenever they travel, further complicating his availability.
“He hasn’t had time to accommodate requests for other buildings,” remarked Chris, Heitmann’s father. “Between school, training for his future spot in the MLB, and his 8 p.m. bedtime, he just doesn’t have the time.”
Noumaan Faiz, (he/him) is a journalist and entertainer from Corona, CA who covers culture and entertainment.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
The Biden administration recently announced two new executive actions to further efforts to expand and stabilize immigration processes for mixed-status families, as well as some undocumented college graduates.
One of the policies allows undocumented spouses and children of United States citizens to apply for a permanent residency and obtain a green card without having to leave the country. Prior to this measure, those who entered the U.S. without authorization and stayed for over a year would be forced to return to their country of origin for a period of 10 years.
But with the executive action, undocumented spouses and children of U.S. citizens can more easily waiver this 10-year-bar by offering parole — which will protect immigrants from deportation, as well as grant work authorization.
The other measure will ease the process for some undocumented U.S. college graduates to receive work visas. In order to qualify, they need to have obtained a degree from an accredited American college and have been offered a job from a U.S. employer in a field related to their degree.
This is one of the biggest efforts made for undocumented immigrants since 12 years ago, when President Barack Obama established the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. DACA allowed for some undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as children, also known as Dreamers, to apply for work permits and driver’s licenses.
This announcement follows a sweep of hardline, asylum restriction policies — including a substantial increase in deployment of militant personnel and technological surveillance at Southern entry points, as well as crackdown on human smuggling networks and so on.
Despite his initial plans to undo the damage caused by the Trump administration, President Biden’s attitude to immigration throughout his presidency has aligned quite closely with his predecessor. And having these new progressive measures announced alongside the crackdowns at the borders feels like a response to the increasing criticism the president is receiving from both the left and the right.
Piper Stuip (she/her), is a student at Oakland School for the Arts focusing on creative writing.
Edited by Amber Ly
Thursday marked the official start of the summer, also known as Summer Solstice. The word solstice is a Latin word, “sol” meaning sun, and “stitium” meaning still. It’s the longest day and shortest night of the year because it has the longest period of sunlight hours in the northern hemisphere.
During the Summer Solstice, people celebrate through many different festivals, rituals, and spiritual traditions, as the solstice is seen as a time of spiritual awakenings and peak solar energy.
Here are some of the most common ways people in Chicago celebrate the beginning of one of the best times in the city – Summertime Chi:
- Beach Days
- Farmer’s Markets and Gardens
- Thrifting and Vintage Shopping
- Biking and Hiking
From this day forward, make the most of the heat, and welcome summer, because she’s here to stay until September!
Read more …
This guest post is in partnership with True Star Media.
Before you dive into what’s happening today, take a look at what may have fallen off your radar earlier this week.
Gen Z’s Saving More Than Other Generationsto Feel Financially Prepared
The Gee Code:Keith Lee’s Link to Gen Z’s Impact on Tech
Are TikTok Influencers Spreading Fake News About Sunscreen?
Reginae Carter Talks New Projects and Finding Love on BLK
Charlotte Bachelor: Mapping Out the Motor City, Life with Autism
Recent viral TikTok trends have led people to question if sunscreen helps or hurts. Experts have clapped back.
Produced by Malachi Segers
Edited by Liz Tril
At my house, in between our busy schedules, dinners made by my dad are where we all come together.
My dad came to America in the mid-90s. He settled here in the Bay Area and started taking up chef jobs. Now, he’s worked in the industry for over 25 years.
The kitchen teaches discipline — and while this can manifest in a militant atmosphere — it also teaches diligence and comradery. These principles are the true, beating heart of any kitchen. Working in a restaurant fosters appreciation for not just the food itself, but the whole production.
If there’s one thing my dad has taught me, it’s taking care. Because my dad cooks like he does all things — gentle, controlled. He’s taught me the difference between doing things quickly, and doing them right.
In two years, I’ll be off at college. Sometimes, I worry that when I go off to live on my own, I’ll forget what’s important. But as I grow up, I try to carry this diligence into every aspect of my life.
Piper Stuip (she/her), is a high school sophomore at Oakland School for the Arts focusing on creative writing.
Edited by shaylyn martos
A new season of BET+’s hit reality show, “College Hill: Celebrity Edition”, started Thursday and this time they’re at Xavier University, a historically Black university in New Orleans.
The celebrity angle is a reboot of BET’s hit reality show “College Hill” from the early 2000s. There was also “College Hill: Interns” which followed various HBCU students during a summer internship in Chicago.
This season’s cast: Tamar Braxton, Claudia Jordan, Karlous Miller, Saucy Santanna, Angela White (Blac Chyna) and Nick Young.
Don't miss the Season 3 PREMIERE of #CollegeHillCelebrityEdition! Our cast is so
! I promise you… once you TUNE IN, you will be GLUED IN! @tamarbraxtonher #saucysantana #blacchyna @karlousm @claudiajordan @nickswagypyoung Coming to @betplus on June 20th! pic.twitter.com/07UAv8oq2A
— Tracey Edmonds (@Traceyeedmonds) June 19, 2024
With two episodes released, fans are ready to see how their favorite celebrities and influencers will fare in this special school experience.
I'm so happy for Angela and her transformation. However episode 2 I'm annoyed with her. I'll elaborate later. I'll let y'all catch up. #CollegeHillCelebrityEdition
— Linda (@mzcaramelbunni) June 20, 2024
I think we all here for Santana
(@jnicolee__) June 20, 2024
This season is gon be a doozie #CollegeHillCelebrityEdition
— Linda (@mzcaramelbunni) June 20, 2024
Rihanna has continued to evolve her Fenty businesses, creating niche products that are needed in the beauty and fashion industry. The Bad Gyal is known for breaking barriers and setting trends, and she recently added a new business under her belt, Fenty Hair.
The “Rude Boy” singer held a private launch party in Los Angeles and rocked her short blonde curls.
When it comes to hair Rihanna has given us many iconic looks such as her legendary bantu knots, faux locs, the short stylish pixie cut, and the vibrant red hair era to just name a few. Her hair is always a topic of conversation and has sparked many trends throughout the years, making it easy to see where the haircare line comes into play.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by badgalriri (@badgalriri)
Repairing the hair is at the core of every product in the inaugural collection. The brand has five key ingredients to help repair and replenish hair strands for any type of hair, which include Barbados gooseberry, upcycled jackfruit extract, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, and green tea extract. These vital ingredients are called the “Replenicore-5.” The collection comprises nine items, including a Fenty edge brush.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by FENTY HAIR (@fentyhair)
Each product has a unique and catchy name to match the product like The Rich One Moisture Repair Shampoo, The Comeback Kid Instant Damage Repair Treatment, The Homecurl Curl-Defining Cream, and The Controlling Type Hair-Thickening Edge Control Gel. The prices range from $18-$36.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by FENTY HAIR (@fentyhair)
Upon entry to the immersive experience, viewers are met with a hallway showcasing her previous magazine covers. They are instantly met with photo opportunities, free samples, an opportunity to purchase the products early as well as a chance to have a stylist style their hair with Fenty Hair. There were also opportunities to learn about the science behind the products at the center of it all.
I have no doubt that #FentyHair will be a success for Rihanna because with each venture she embarks upon she brings authenticity, vulnerability and most importantly, RELATABILITY — there’s power in that. Rihanna has never positioned herself above the problems her products solve. pic.twitter.com/B0J2mEi3zO
— KYRA (@_Kyra) June 12, 2024
Social media has hot takes on the hair care line, split between being excited to try and feeling fatigued from celebrities starting natural hair care lines when they are known for extensions.
I’m ngl I wanted Fenty Hair to be hair extensions instead of products. She would’ve shook the whole beauty industry. We really don’t need anymore products
— 𝒦. (@EARTHTOKIBRIA) June 11, 2024
Personal opinion: Rihanna is known for being authentic and that shines through her products. I do not doubt that that will be the case for this new business venture. I am excited to see if this will expand to other hair care necessities because overall Fenty Hair is vague and can go in many directions such as wigs, extensions, and dyes which are what some fans are looking for.
Ariyana Griffin is a graduate student from Morgan State University. She is a California native and also a graduate of Clark Atlanta University. Follow her on X: @Ariyanaaganee and Instagram: @ari.yana.g.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
More than half of American men say they just grin and bear it when they don’t feel well.
That’s according to a survey of 2,000 men which found that many feel uncomfortable discussing their health due to privacy concerns (61%), embarrassment (39%) or fear of feeling less “manly” (17%).
The study conducted by Talker Research on behalf of Rugiet Health also found that men are least comfortable discussing obesity (10%) and depression (10%). It also found that more than six in 10 men said they will feel either insecure in themselves (63%) or lonely (61%) at least occasionally.
Originally published by Talker News
So often as a result of the heavy patriarchal influence in society, people tend to forget the fact that everybody deals with mental health. One would believe that because of the many beneficial factors that come with being a man in a world that is structured to benefit them, that men are actively being advocated for.
But what we as a people fail to consider, is how our men of today are impacted by the same patriarchal structure that deems it socially wrong to vocalize or express their raw emotions. Feelings are human, and yet a restrictive label has been added to certain emotions in order to achieve greatness in the eyes of longstanding cultural traditions.
Here are some ways that you can insure the well-being of important male figures in your life:
Offer A Safe Space
A healthy environment is so essential to being comfortable enough to discuss mental health. Make sure the people in your life are aware that resources are available, whether that’s you, or a medical professional.
Schedule Check-Ins
To know that someone in your life is actively thinking about you is comforting for anyone. Simply checking in on a loved one can help open up a safe environment for expressing how one feels without judgment.
Practice Clear Communication
Be more intentful with wording by utilizing things like “I” statements in conversations, therefore making it easier when identifying difficult emotions that are often neglected.
Further Educate Yourself on the Issue
Knowing the history behind the problem is often helpful, providing more clear insight and a broader understanding.
Show Empathy
Even though we might not all be able to relate to the issues others experience, being empathetic and just listening can provide enough support and show consolation.
Read more …
This guest post is in partnership with True Star Media.
Sony has been making significant strides with AI technology recently, a trend highlighted by Neil Druckmann’s controversial comments. While generative AI holds potential for game development, the practical applications often clash with the executive vision of reducing reliance on voice actors and writers under the guise of “reactivity.” PC Gamer reported on this growing sentiment.
Amidst the Druckmann debate, another perspective emerged from Asad Qizilbash, head of PlayStation productions and products, who shared his thoughts on AI in a Sony website interview. Qizilbash suggested that AI will revolutionize gaming through personalization and emotional engagement. He said, “In the future, I see games becoming more personalized due to technological advances and AI.” He envisions these advancements enhancing the emotional depth of games by making characters more expressive and fostering more evocative storytelling, shifting the focus from graphics to immersive narratives.
Qizilbash’s statements imply that pre-2024 games were primarily about graphics and superficial achievements, ignoring the profound emotional impact games have had for years. This narrative overlooks countless examples of games that have deeply moved players without the aid of advanced AI. For instance, Supergiant’s “Bastion” presents players with a poignant choice between revenge and mercy. In its climax, the protagonist, the Kid, can save Zulf, an enemy who betrayed him or left him to die. Choosing to save Zulf results in a silent but powerful moment of selflessness, conveying deep meaning without any dialogue or AI intervention.
Qizilbash also asserted that AI will create more personalized and meaningful experiences, especially for Gen Z and Gen Alpha, who crave personalization in all aspects of life. He suggested that AI could allow NPCs in games to interact with players based on their actions, enhancing immersion. However, this perspective undervalues the existing capacity of developers to create compelling narratives and personalized experiences without AI. Games like “Baldur’s Gate 3” have already demonstrated the ability to deliver richly immersive experiences.
The notion that new technologies are needed to create emotionally resonant stories is misleading based on what many video game fans feel. Developers have been crafting impactful narratives for decades, with early examples like “Missile Command” capturing the anxiety of the Cold War era with simple graphics and sounds.
Qizilbash’s comments might seem dismissive of the storytelling prowess already demonstrated in the gaming industry. Some young folks believe that both Gen Z and Gen Alpha are capable of appreciating a well-told story without the need for AI-driven personalization or excessive machine-generated content. Ultimately, while AI has its uses, it’s not essential for delivering meaningful narratives in games in the view of most gamers.
Noumaan Faiz, (he/him) is a journalist and entertainer based in Corona, CA who covers culture and entertainment.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
With the help of TikTok’s favorite food critic: Keith Lee and tech giant Microsoft, emerging Black-owned restaurants are set to embed AI tools into their businesses.
Through the partnership, Microsoft will help restaurants “future proof” their businesses with their AI-powered tool Copilot. Copilot launched last year and is embedded in original Microsoft 365 applications such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams to increase employee creativity, unlock productivity and uplevel skills within the applications.
The collaboration between Zillenial icon Lee and Microsoft emphasizes Gen Z’s impact on tech.
Lee’s online video content focuses on reviewing small Black-owned restaurants, in a fashion so appealing that it drives in strong cash support from his upwards of 16 million followers on TikTok.
After getting a positive review, “The Keith Lee” effect can kick in, where restaurant-owners have reported receiving an increase in order rates from 5 per day to 200 per day after getting Lee’s digital stamp of approval.
In a report by AfroTech, Lee emphasized that he wants to give Black-owned businesses the tools they need to thrive and make an impact on their community.
“AI isn’t something I knew loads about, but that’s exactly why I wanted to partner with Microsoft as I understand the power AI can have on small businesses, from streamlining processes, making things more efficient and saving businesses time,” Lee told Afrotech. “I see the people behind these restaurants. I don’t just see a business.”
While new data is limited, it is reported 9% of businesses in the U.S. were Black-owned in 2022. As of this year, 60% of all new restaurants are expected to close in year one – regardless of racial ownership. Needless to say, it is HARD out here for those hoping to scale their emerging eateries.
Without much exposure to the tech industry, it’s likely that restaurant owners, just as many brick and mortar owners may not access all of the latest programming to scale their businesses – and avoid closure.
Recent studies by Harvard, however, show that, when tech platforms do identify and work alongside Black-owned businesses, demand rises.
Keeping it gee, Microsoft is taking a well-rounded approach here, by doing community work that also encourages people to utilize their programming at a time when AI-based competitors could never be more bountiful.
Miranda Perez (she/her/hers) is a Jersey City, NJ-based journalist who covers the tech industry. Follow her on X and Instagram: @mimithegee.
Edited by NaTyshca Pickett
Actress, former reality TV star and daughter of renowned rapper Lil Wayne, Reginae Carter, has not given up on finding love. She recently partnered with BLK, the largest and #1 online site for Black singles, to chronicle her dating journey.
The dating app was created to help Black women and men find meaningful connections that have the opportunity and potential to blossom into something more.
For years, the influencer has been an open book with her fans and supporters regarding her personal life and career, especially her relationships. Taking the next step to share her journey publicly with BLK was a no-brainer.
“I’ve always been open and transparent with my followers, especially since I started YouTube. And I feel like everybody’s always in my dating life anyways,” said Carter. “Why not go on an app where it’s my people? I can relate to them and I can also put the word out where somebody else can find love.”
She has started documenting her journey where she shared she is still optimistic regardless of past experiences.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Reginae Carter (@itsreginaecarter)
“I’m looking for just fun. I’m 25 years old, I want to have fun, I want to travel. I’m not trying to be sitting laying there having kids right now. I’m trying to turn up and love, and get to know each other. Also, probably make money together. I want to be on some boss stuff.”
She shared a few non-negotiables — someone who does not have a relationship with God and who is still immature. Although she is young, she knows what she is looking for and even has advice for men who are trying to pursue a woman in this day and age.
“Be cool. Compliment her, but not compliment her too much, don’t OD it. Don’t gaslight the situation. Also, be honest. One thing I feel like I love about a man is that if he’s just honest,” she said.
Carter also said that guys need to bring courting back. “I don’t understand what’s going on in 2024 because the guys just don’t think that they have to court anymore,” she said. But, it is not all about the flashy things, a small gesture can go a long way such as flowers or even checking to see if she is hungry.
Carter wanted to be an advocate for finding love in this generation, which is why she took the BLK route while also sharing it publicly. She expressed that she is always online and on social media and our generation already dates online rather than through DMs or apps, so she wanted to give it a shot.
“I heard about BLK, and I felt like it’s my people, and I could also be myself. And there are some cute people on there. So I was like, oh yeah, let me figure it out,” she said.
With the public eye on her and her love life, she wants people to know that she is figuring it out as she goes just like everyone else.
“I want people to know that I am still learning how to love, and I’m also learning how to love in front of the world. So I want people to know that I am taking my time. I’m learning as I go, and just give me grace,” said Carter.
,” a reality show following the lives of the mother-daughter duo.
A video has also been released for Truth, a Mike Hart song she is featured on.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Reginae Carter (@itsreginaecarter)
Ariyana Griffin is a graduate student at Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland. She is a California native and a graduate of Clark Atlanta University. Follow her on X: @Ariyanaaganee and Instagram: @ari.yana.g.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
In recent years, there has been more awareness of autism among the general public due to making their voices heard through social media.
Charlotte Bachelor, 23, shared her perspective on being a Black woman who was diagnosed with autism last year. As a result, her journey to seek a diagnosis, and personal and professional achievements, led to her becoming a disability justice and autism advocate.
Bachelor founded the Detroit Accessibility Project, a nonprofit that provides accessibility information to tourists and entertainment attractions.
“I was in a community publishing class and originally my project was going to be something else, but I got this idea because there are a lot of great things to do in Detroit for people who love museums, concerts, and live entertainment,” the Detroit native said.
After receiving a $10,000 grant, Bachelor created a website in Fall 2022. The site lists nearly 70 venues that allow service animals, elevators, wheelchairs, and sensory-friendly areas for some of the most visited areas. While she is currently focused on Detroit accessibility, she hopes to extend it statewide. Bachelor also started a Black autistic writer’s group.
“I kind of started working on social media in 2023 and that’s actually how I got linked up with Visit Detroit. They had a marketing manager, who was a Michigan State University alumni,” she said. Visit Detroit, an organization that promotes The Motor City, then hired her as an accessibility consultant.
“I decided to start a Black autistic writers group because writing has always brought me a lot of comfort, and I use it as a tool to educate and empower,’’ Bachelor said.
In 2022 while studying in Oaxaca, Mexico, she had to make adjustments due to the culture shock. She experienced an ‘’autistic meltdown’’ due to someone racially harassing her and other Black and brown students during the trip. After returning home, she was advised by her psychiatrist that she had bipolar disorder. Bachelor, proactive in advocating for her mental health, refused to accept that diagnosis and sought a new psychiatrist. She was then referred to an outside clinic, where she was waitlisted, for an autism diagnosis. It took almost a year to get tested.
The diagnosis helped her better advocate for herself, her relationships, and her partnerships. She wanted to find a community of other Black autistic people.
Bachelor attended an all-Black private school from preschool to fifth grade, until transitioning to a public school for junior high, she was placed in a larger and predominantly white school where she first endured racial prejudice. Bachelor then attended high school, describing it as “rough with a lot of racial tension,’’ where Bachelor was subjected to racist harassment and assault.
She prevailed and graduated from Michigan State University last May, receiving her Bachelor of Arts in Professional and Public Writing, with a minor in African American and African Studies. At MSU, she found a small tight-knit Black community and became involved in student advocacy for those on the spectrum and other disabilities.
She spoke at a virtual conference in April, ‘’Autism in Black,’’ tied to an organization with a website and podcast of the same name, founded by Maria David Pierre, a late-diagnosed autistic who is also a mother of autistic children. Pierre is a licensed therapist and mental health professional.
The conference offered Bachelor a chance to connect to a larger community. She met other Black people, especially Black women who have been fighting for the same things for the last 15 or 20 years. In addition, she was excited to be a presenter on authentic media representation and tell her story through social media.
She wants people to understand that autism is a spectrum — different among many people and that the label is not one size fits all. Every autistic person is not a savant-like “The Good Doctor”.
”I think the idea of a spectrum goes over some neurotypicals’ heads,” said Bachelor. She described the spectrum as being either very talkative on some days or very introspective on other days.
Bachelor had some parting words for young Black people with Autism. “It gets better, it doesn’t get better all at once, that you will still be frustrated, you will be angry, you will have meltdowns, but you will find where you are meant to be.”
To join her group, Black Autistic Writers, they meet every Thursday from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. ET on Google Meet.
Zipporah Pruitt, (she/her) is an L.A. homegrown journalist, who covers entertainment and culture. Follow her on X and Instagram: @zippzapps.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
What would it take to feel financially prepared? New research has found the average American feels prepared for the worst once they have $5,078 saved up.
The poll of 2,000 employed Americans split evenly by generation (500 Gen Z, 500 millennials, 500 Gen X and 500 Baby Boomers) found Gen Z needs at least $4,286 in their bank account at any given time to feel prepared.
Meanwhile, Baby Boomers would like to have almost $6,500 ($6,490.70) and Gen X would feel most secure with closer to $5,000 ($4,910.10).
Conducted by Talker Research on behalf of Chime, results found 63% believe they could afford to cover an unexpected, $500 expense — although 30% of them admit it would put a strain on their finances.
Another 17% could not currently afford that type of expense, but believe they could eventually find some way to afford it.
In order to chip away at that cost, 32% of respondents would dip into their savings, while 28% would phone family and friends.
A quarter (26%) said they would pay off unexpected expenses by temporarily holding off on other expenses, such as groceries or less important bills.
Nearly three in four (72%) spend most of their paycheck on paying bills, and 69% said that’s the first thing they do when they get paid.
Twenty-nine percent of respondents said the first emotion they have when they receive their paychecks is “excitement.” However, that is usually followed by feelings of stress (19%), preparedness (19%) and overwhelm (19%).
Leading up to payday, 39% admitted they’re more likely to avoid social events in order to save funds for when they really need it. This is likely a result of trying to combat the feeling of “pay paralysis” that 59% experience — a wave of anxiety or fear due to low funds between pay cycles.
“The survey also found that the average American starts to feel stressed about their money just seven days after receiving their paycheck,” said Madhu Muthukumar, Chief Product Officer at Chime. “It’s clear that rising costs are impacting Americans’ well-being and people need simple, helpful and powerful tools to manage their budget, especially between paychecks.”
Results also found the average American is taking steps to build their savings — setting aside 16% of their paycheck. Gen Z was found to take the most care, saving nearly a quarter (23%) of their paycheck.
Millennials, meanwhile, said they’re able to set aside 17% of their paycheck for their savings. Gen Xers are saving 12% and baby boomers are saving 11%.
Though 40% admit that their mental health is being negatively impacted by their current financial situation, 72% agreed that maintaining financial wellness positively impacts their mental health the same way that meditation or mindfulness does.
“Set clear financial goals that prioritize your needs and spending. Open communication about your financial boundaries can lead to better understanding and support in your inner circles,” said Dasha Kennedy, Personal Finance Advocate for Chime. “And practice open communication — talking about your financial boundaries can lead to better understanding and support from your inner circles.
“That means it is okay to say ‘no’ to events or purchases that don’t fit your budget. Take the lead in suggesting group activities by using free or low-cost activities to stay connected without going over your budget.”
Originally published by Talker News
It is important to talk about ways to be an ally to peers diagnosed with autism. Neurotypical people are those who do not have autism or other neurologically atypical patterns of thought or behavior, as defined by Oxford Languages. Neurodivergent people are those who have autism or other mental differences.
There has been a recent focus, for better or worse, on the representation of autism, but it has been largely coming from the viewpoint of neurotypical people, causing limited and or problematic depictions of autism in the media. Autistic people have been going to social media to make their voices heard and thanks to that, two autistic individuals have decided to go on the record to say how neurotypical people and neurodivergent people can become better allies.
Cal State University, Northridge journalism student Red Rosenberg, 28, has autism and a sizable following on TikTok. They discuss topics of autism representation and the pandering that many neurotypicals try to do in the media. Here is what Rosenberg recommends:
Fix the media and make it more inclusive but not insulting. For example, ABC’s “The Good Doctor” presents as a feel-good show about a man who “overcame” his autism diagnosis and became a successful surgeon. This is a U.S. adaptation of a Korean drama that was twisted here in America and became very controversial among the autistic community. There are episodes where the protagonist, Shawn Murphy (Freddie Highmore), is racist, transphobic, and even ableist to many patients like a less charismatic version of “House M.D.” Even with consultant Melissa Reiner, who does have experience dealing with people who have autism, the show was still lacking in authentic representation.
Support autism organizations run by autistic people. The biggest outreach company for autism is Autism Speaks, which has its hands in many different areas all over America with many doctors, celebrities, and other organizations backing them up. Sadly, this company is run by people who believe that Autism is a disease that needs to be cured, as they have run advertisements such as the infamous “I am Autism” ad, directed by Academy Award-winning director Alfonso Cuarón of “Children of Men” and “Gravity” fame. The advertisement calls autism, not a difference, but a disease that needs to be changed and that can ruin and destroy marriages, peace, and other dearly held beliefs. Many autistic peers recommend the ASAN, or Autistic Self Advocacy Network, an outreach network run by people with autism, for people with autism due to the board members being all people on the spectrum.
Stop using functioning labels due to them being ableist. Back when autism was becoming a hot topic, many people used two labels to differentiate between the different types of autism. These labels were “low functioning” and “high functioning.” Through the years though, these labels have become known as ableists due to them effectively putting people in boxes and just defining them to a single label. Another label that people used for high functioning was Asperger’s Syndrome, but that is ableist as well due to the history of Asperger’s Syndrome being used by the Nazis during the second world war to say which disabled people could work in the camps and which should be exterminated.
Stop calling autistic meltdowns “tantrums.” When people with autism are overwhelmed and overstimulated, many say, regardless of age, that they are having a tantrum. This is wholly incorrect and needs to stop due to these being sensory overloads that are unregulated except by external stimuli. According to Red, “Tantrums imply choice, that we are choosing to do this. Trust me, I do not choose to have a meltdown.”
Stop shaming autistic adults for acting autistic. When people with autism speak about their special interests, stim, or even use special equipment, some people who do not understand try to insult them. “I would talk about my special interests or whatever, and I’d be told to stop doing that because it’s “not appropriate” or “you’re too old for that,” Red said when speaking on this topic.
Listen to autistic people and center autistic perspectives. In many circles, the autistic perspective is lost to many others, causing them to be drowned out and ignored. According to Pedro Morataya, a 26-year-old CSULA master’s student in hydrology with autism, “Educate yourself on these types of people when being around them because you never know… Also, spreading acceptance too where they can feel comfortable and not be in a bad setting.”
Hopefully, with these tips, we can become better allies to our autistic friends and coworkers to help them feel welcome and appreciated.
Zipporah Pruitt, (she/her) is an L.A. homegrown journalist, who covers entertainment and culture. Follow her on X and Instagram: @zippzapps.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
Did you know that slavery remained legal even after the establishment of Juneteenth? All up until the 13th amendment had been ratified by enough states to become law through the U.S. on December 6, 1865. On June 19, 1865, the birth of Juneteenth took place.
U.S. General Gordon Granger informed enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, that they were free. This announcement occurred two and a half years after Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation back on January 1, 1863.
So how can you celebrate Juneteenth as a Chicagoan?
Chicago’s DuSable All-day Event: One of Chicago’s favorite museums is the DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center. Named after the early founder of Chicago – Jean Baptiste Point Du Sable – museum will be honoring Juneteenth by hosting a day-long event on June 19, from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
The Creative Circle: The Creative Circle is the place where artists and creators collaborate and inspire others through sharing their creativity. On June 19, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., they’ll be hosting an event for Chicago creatives to network and display their work.
White Sox Game: On Juneteenth at 7:10 p.m, the White Sox will be playing against the Houston Astros. Tickets start at $5, so grab your buckets, fill them with cheese, and enjoy the summer game!
Read more …
This guest post is in partnership with True Star Media.
Social media is an integral part of many people’s lives, but can it put pressure on the way individuals present themselves to the world?
A new Forbes Health and Talker Research survey of 2,000 U.S.-based social media users reveals that it can, with 45% of respondents saying social media harms their confidence in their smile, particularly among Gen Z.
Key findings from the survey include:
- 53% of people compare their smiles to others on social media, and this figure is significantly higher among Gen Z (72%)
- 45% said that social media harms their confidence in their smile, with women feeling this confidence loss more than men, 53% to 35%, respectively
- Over half of those polled (56%) try to hide their smile in a variety of situations, with 34% hiding their teeth in photos
- 15% of people have edited the appearance of their teeth in a photo before posting it to social media
Fifty-three percent of survey respondents said they compare their smiles to others on social media, but this figure differs greatly when broken down by generation, with Gen Z coming in at 72% and millennials at 66%. The numbers fall for Gen X (48%) and baby boomers (36%).
This vast difference in survey responses between older and younger generations may be attributed to the fact that younger people simply spend far more time on image-focused social media platforms like Instagram, Snapchat and Tiktok.
In fact, according to recent data from the Pew Research Center, adults ages 18 to 29 (the age range of the oldest members of Gen Z) are about 20% more likely to use Instagram than millennials and about twice as likely as millennials to use Snapchat and TikTok.
Meanwhile, older generations are far less likely to use image-centric social media platforms, with only about 35% of people ages 50 to 64 and 15% of people older than 65 using Instagram, with the numbers plummeting to 13% and 4% for Snapchat, respectively.
Originally published by Talker News
So this is far from our first rodeo with white people saying the N-word, “hard R” or otherwise, but despite the usual controversy and job firing, this TikToker is doubling down and even speaking of a “new career in conservative media.” Um, good luck with that!
Host/Producer/Editor: Malachi Segers-Seker
The Lowdown gives you the latest in news, pop culture, and everything else your friends will be talking about tomorrow. Don’t get FOMO, get The Lowdown with Malachi, every Friday here at YR Media.
Before you dive into what’s happening today, take a look at what may have fallen off your radar earlier this week.
Captivating, Flawlessly Executed: ‘Bridgerton’ Season 3, Part 2
The Gee Code: Will Gamification of Mental Health Apps Attract Gen Z?
Workplace Wellness: Repairing Burned Bridges
How Marching Bands Helped To Shape HBCU Culture
Social Media’s Negative (and Positive) Impacts on Youth
Author Sam Forster faced backlash over his announcement of “Seven Shoulders: Taxonomizing Racism in Modern America” after implying he disguised himself as a Black man. Critics questioned his approach, while Forster defended his controversial project. The book, with a low rating, is now out on Amazon.
Produced by Malachi Segers
Edited by Liz Tril
Marching bands are the heart of HBCUs, and there’s no way we can celebrate Black Music Month without highlighting their massive impact on campus culture.
Produced by Ariyana Griffin
As fashion trends quickly and consistently roll out, companies have partaken in mass-producing fast fashion. Manufacturing cheaply-made clothing is a method used by many companies, such as Shein and Boohoo, to keep up with current trends, sell clothes for low prices and maximize profits. However, as awareness spreads of fast fashion’s impact on the environment, an increasing amount of people are influenced to stop supporting this concept and companies that give into it.
Fast fashion has been of major concern, particularly to Gen Z who have supported sustainability efforts. Due to fast fashion, companies manufacture more than they can sell and consumers constantly renew clothing pieces to follow trends. Consequently, this cycle leads to social and environmental impacts, such as poor working conditions and a heavy carbon footprint. Such impacts have resulted in increased efforts, such as thrifting and supporting eco-friendly clothing brands, to combat the negative effects of fast fashion on communities around the world.
Used textiles from the Global North are having a devastating impact in poor countries, enabled by the Second Hand Clothing trade and fast fashion. Thanks to fearless campaigners @Chemitei_ the Youth Council Chairperson at Clean Up Kenya who continues to highlight this issue pic.twitter.com/vuq1U1a6IS
— Clean Up Kenya (@CLEANUPKENYADAY) March 22, 2024
In addition, companies are being called to action and facing decreasing consumer demand. For example, according to The Independent, fast fashion company Boohoo is experiencing a slump as sales lower by nearly a fifth. Furthermore, other companies such as Shein, H&M, and Zara are being called to action to take initiative, prioritizing health and sustainability as their consumer demand, partnerships and overall outlook are at stake.
Another reason to not buy from fast fashion companies – let's add this to the already extensive list of why you shouldn't support companies like Shein https://t.co/rifWtupyxX
— MAXIMILIAN KILWORTH (@MaxKilworth) July 19, 2023
Looks like I’m turning away from fast fashion brands since they’ve shown how they really feel about us
— kia commodore (@ikeeyah_) May 29, 2020
Kyana Early (she/her) is a journalist from the San Francisco Bay Area who covers entertainment and culture.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
EpisodesSubscribeHoller/Follow
Season 11 of Adult ISH is coming to a close, and we wanted to observe Pride by revisiting an all-time favorite episode that centers around the LGBTQ+ community and how you choose to express yourself.
When we produced our “Drag Me” episode last June, there were more than 270 anti-LGBTQ+ bills being considered by state legislatures. 2023 ended with state lawmakers considering a total of 510 anti-LGBTQ+ bills. While more than 200 were defeated, 84 laws passed. And so far this year, 500-plus anti-LGBTQ+ bills have already been put forward.
Adult ISH hosts Nyge Turner and Dominique “Dom” French are joined by former Adult ISH Senior Producer Georgia Wright as they talk with Bay Area drag queens Panda Dulce and Poison Oakland about their unique journeys into the joyful world of drag and how performers are fighting back against those trying to silence them.
Adult ISH is produced by YR Media and brought to you by PRX’s Radiotopia. Be sure to follow all our socials @YRAdultISH!
Show your support for Adult ISH with a five-star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, or by making a donation at: YRMedia.org/Donate. THANK YOU!
Episode TranscriptNYGE: Welcome to Adult ISH – produced by Y-R Media – and brought to you by Radiotopia from PRX.
I’m Nyge Turner.
Today, we’re marking the end of Season 11!
Our theme “Standing Up” this season has taken us in a lot of directions. Political movements and cultural change take so many forms.
On a personal level, standing up for who you are and your identity is a big part of that. And since it’s Pride month, we wanted to revisit an all-time favorite episode for us and our audiences that centers around that idea.
When we produced our “Drag Me” episode about this time last year, there were more than 270 anti-LGBTQ+ bills being considered by state legislatures. In total, 2023 ended with more than 500 bills introduced by lawmakers and 84 became laws, according to the American Civil Liberties Union.
And so far this year, the ACLU is reporting about the same number of anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been put forward already across the U.S.
So, our conversations with Bay Area drag queens Panda Dulce and Poison Oakland are just as relevant this Pride as they were last June. The queen-activists talked with Dom, our former Senior producer Georgia Wright and me to share their unique journeys into the joyful world of drag and how performers are fighting back against those trying to silence them.
Heads-up that this episode includes the discussion of some tough topics, including homophobia and transphobia. Please take care as you listen.
DOM: If you haven’t heard, some states are now creating legislation to make drag illegal.
NYGE: In Tennessee, quote, “adult cabaret performances” are now prohibited from happening within 1000 feet of a public park, school, or religious establishment. They specifically use the phrase “male or female impersonators” in the law, so it’s pretty clear who they’re targeting.
DOM: This bill comes alongside some heinous, anti-trans and anti-LGBTQ laws that states are introducing as well. To me, this just shows how anything outside of this cis-hetero norm is targeted and othered. And how some people seem to have a gross misunderstanding of gender expression versus gender identity.
NYGE: School the children, Dom.
DOM: Aight. Gender expression is who you present to the world. What you wear, how you style your hair, the presence or absence of makeup. And, gender identity is who you are on the inside.
NYGE: Facts.
DOM: Still, in the face of all of this legislation, drag performers are doing their thing, more bravely than ever. They’re fighting for the rights of their fellow artists, embracing queerness, expressing themselves creatively, and they’re having a whole bunch of fun doing it. And, we want to celebrate them.
NYGE: I had the chance to sit down with Kyle Casey Chu, a.k.a. Panda Dulce, to discuss what drag means to her. Panda is a fourth-generation San Franciscan, a Sundance Award-winning writer, and a performer with Drag Story Hour, where queens in drag read picture books to kids.
DOM: I want to note that in the summer of 2022, a group of far-right extremists from the Proud Boys hate group stormed one of these drag story hour events hosted by Panda at a public library. Panda didn’t speak to us directly about this event because it was a traumatic experience. But, you can read more about it in a piece she wrote for Vogue called, “What a Terrifying Clash with Extremists Taught Me About Pride.”
NYGE: Dom was out the day of this interview, so senior producer Georgia Wright stepped in as co-host.
DOM: Let’s get into it.
GEORGIA: So, I’m going to start with a big question, but very open to interpretation, which is how do you personally define drag?
PANDA: Oh, wow. That is a really big question. And honestly, I think about drag in the same way that a lot of people in past generations may have thought about punk rock, in that, instead of it being a container or a genre in itself, it’s kind of, by definition, genre-defying and expansive. And so, it reminds me of that bell hooks quote, which is like, ‘queer, as in, fundamentally at odds with everything around you.’ And, I think that’s kind of a really apt way to describe drag. It’s any sort of expression or way of presenting yourself that is fundamentally at odds with the structures around you or puts us in dialog, or argumentation, or conversation with those constructs. And, it can look any way you want it to, and that’s why it’s so beautiful and expansive.
GEORGIA: I love that, bringing in the bell hooks right off the bat.
[laughter]
NYGE: Can you tell us a little bit about your journey into drag? Like, when did you first encounter it, and when did you first consider doing it yourself?
PANDA: So, I think I, I did it as a freshman in high school on a whim, and it was for a one act play that my friend wrote. And, he made me dress up as a caterpillar, and I just had one line, but he kind of just did like the slapdash sort of eyeliner job on me, like, two minutes before going on stage. And, there was something about just defying the expectations of what I would look like when I went out on stage. And like, this was the early aughts, so a very different context. Right? And, having that sort of shock value was a little thrilling. And so, afterwards, I kind of experimented a little more. When my best friend and I in high school would cut each other’s bangs – very chaotic – and like, I would put on her clothes and we’d walk down The Castro, which is like a historically queer neighborhood in San Francisco. I just remember catching the eye of a florist, who was hosing off his sidewalk, and he said, “Goodnight.” And, I said, “Goodnight,” in my usual baritone. And he was like, “Oh.” And, it was kind of this, like, shotgun moment where he was like – I see you. I see what you’re doing. And, it’s almost like we had this conspiratorial understanding that there was trickery and magic afoot. And so, I think, ever since that, I just couldn’t stay away from it. Yeah.
GEORGIA: Okay. So. In addition to your work as a drag performer, which is already an illustrious career, you’re also a writer and a filmmaker. Can you tell us a little bit about some of your most meaningful projects?
PANDA: So, I would say that film and writing are kind of my first loves. And I also think that, that and drag is inherently connected because that’s all about storytelling and that’s all about greeting the audience with what they think they know and then kind of subverting it or making them think a little deeper about things that we take for granted every day. And so, one of my first film projects was a web series called Chosen Fam, and it follows an all-queer and -trans people of color indie rock band in San Francisco. And it’s kind of honoring the way that I was raised in the San Francisco punk scene, and I kind of came of age and gender there, um, playing saxophone in a hardcore band and often dressing in drag while doing so.
But, in terms of now, I’m working on a short film called After What Happened at the Library. I think what this gets at is there was so much focus on what happened when the Proud Boys stormed my event last June and so much kind of salacious sensationalization of being a victim, a public victim in this way. And like, how did it destroy me in this way? Like in the moment. But I think trauma is a very complex thing and it’s not confined to the vacuum of just like that experience. It echoes and it reverberates in the weeks and days and months after. And, this is about, kind of, experience with media and, like, retelling your story. But besides that, I’m also authoring a middle grade novel called The Queen Bees of Tybee County with HarperCollins. And so that’s focusing on a bi-gender Chinese-American basketball player who discovers drag through pageant culture in the South.
GEORGIA: Oh, my gosh, that’s so exciting.
PANDA: I’m really excited. It’s, it’s the year of Panda, I guess.
NYGE: Right. So, you’re a performer with Drag Story Hour. Can you tell us about how you came to be a part of that group and what it does?
PANDA: Drag Story Hour, formerly known as Drag Queen Story Hour, is a youth literary program that brings drag performers to public libraries, bookstores, schools, afterschool programs to read fabulous books to kids. And it started in 2015, I believe the organization with Michelle Tea, who is a renowned queer writer and mother. And the entire program just, like, spread like a wildfire.
GEORGIA: I’ll take this moment to segway into the library incident, as you said, which we don’t have to get into the details of, you’ve already written about it extensively, but when I, when I was reading your piece in Vogue about that incident, something that really struck me was how the queer community rallied around you after this traumatic event. How did that experience of, you know, the queer community showing up for you in particular change you? And, you know, how are you feeling as we’re going into Pride month of this year?
PANDA: Totally. You know, I’m somebody – I’m a bigender person of color, I’m femme, I’m a little chubby. These are all things that have been and can be maligned by queer communities,and I want to be transparent about that. It’s not necessarily an acceptance utopia that it’s often marketed as by Citibank or whatever.
So, when the pride floats roll around, I don’t necessarily always feel that warm giddiness that a lot of people kind of idealize about Pride. And after the incident happened, I realized that – that warm giddiness wasn’t the aim, or wasn’t what I should be feeling. It’s more so, like, the quiet mutual aid and the check-ins and people sitting with me and watching Drag Race with me without talking because I just wasn’t in a place to do that. Or organizing meal trains, coming and giving me a massage and, like, cooking me home-cooked meals, sending me, like, witchy crystals that I can’t pronounce. All of these acts of care just added up to so much more than any, like, large throbbing crowd of circuit goers ever could. And it was life saving, full stop. That outpouring of support just, it was a beautiful thing.
NYGE: I’m curious, with all of that in mind, as a creator of media yourself. What role do you think media has to play in the fight against fascism?
PANDA: Media is literally everything. And so, bringing this back to youth, I think as queer people, as people of color, as anyone who is underrepresented and knows what it’s like to grow up with a representation desert, and trying to latch on your sense of self to side characters with scarcely a line in a movie or who are maligned and one-dimensionalized – it’s a certain kind of devastation. And, I think, in creating media representations that accurately reflect the worlds we inhabit and the people we know and love is revolutionary and necessary medicine.
GEORGIA: Hypothetically, say you knew someone who had performed in drag once, loved it, then a pandemic hit and they’ve never performed in drag again. But, they feel in their bones that it’s like, something they want to come back to. What would you say to them about sticking a toe back in the waters, or maybe even to somebody who’s listening who’s, like, interested in exploring this for the first time? Do you have any sort of methods of exploration?
PANDA: I’d be like, “Come back, girl, Come back. Come!” [laughter] So, one of the things about drag, too, is that it’s so much work, it’s like a lot of work to get into face, and put on your corset, and your padding, and you’re hot under your wig, and it’s itchy, and all the stuff – like drag, categorically, can be whatever you want it to be. Because of the highly social mediated world we live in, there’s a lot of, like, Instagram perfectionism that comes into the art form. There’s a lot of queens who I feel, like, are incentivized to just max out their credit cards so they can buy the fiercest looks and outfits. And I think that’s kind of taking us further away from what drag is, which is just like playful silliness and feeling your own oats.
GEORGIA: I love that. Again, it’s sort of, it’s pushing back against this, like, more corporate version. Like, the most punk, the most drag thing to do is to, like, expand to everyone who has never been able to access certain spaces because of financial barriers in the past. And, I love this idea of like just, you know, drag can be in the little things and play from there. That spontaneity and that, you know, it’s sort of like a, a spirit of, of creativity is what I’m hearing,
Correct me if I’m wrong.
PANDA: No, no, no. I think you nailed it on the head. And so when we go to a drag show, like, there’s some people who are like, Oh, your eyebrows are unblocked. Oh, like, this looks bad. Oh, this looks bad – and it’s just like, girl, like, revel in it. Like, have fun. Don’t come for me like that, just enjoy yourself! And this poorly put on production of Titanic that I’m barely not even pulling off. [laughter] Like, just laugh with me.
GEORGIA: I’ll be there in the, in the front row as the ship is going down.
[laughter]
PANDA: Oh, you’re coming down with me. I’m bringing everyone down with me.
NYGE: As the ship is going down!
[laughter]
NYGE: Is there anything else that you want to add, too, that we didn’t get a chance to touch on?
PANDA: I know it’s a really harrowing time right now. It feels like the entire world is pouncing on us and doesn’t want us to exist. And, I also think that that is a vocal minority and that they have more skeletons in their closet and this is more a demonstration of classic projection of their own insecurities, anxieties, and shortcomings than it is, or ever will be, a reflection of us. They needed a boogeyman and they wanted to personify it in a drag queen, which is like the fiercest figure you could pick in the queer trans community. So, good luck with that. As overwhelming and isolating as it might feel to rid of this avalanche and onslaught of negative news, like, know that there is also, like, multitudes and multitudes of people who believe in your right to exist and fundamentally thrive, present company included. And our fight is age-old, and it will continue. And, come to the after party because we want to see you there.
GEORGIA: Yes. Mic drop.
NYGE: Thank you so much for coming on this show. You did amazing. Yeah.
PANDA: This was really fun.
NYGE: If you want to see more of Panda’s work, you can follow her on Instagram @pandadulce.
[YR MUSIC BREAK]DOM: What was that conversation like for you, Nyge?
NYGE: Panda is such a bright light. She still, with everything that she faces, just wants to spread joy and love and create a safe space for everyone. I really feel for her though on everything that she’s gone through, but I really just hold a ton of admiration for their positive perspective and message that she’s continuing.
DOM: It warms my queer little heart to share this show with a cishet man who has so much love and admiration for the queer experience. I know that should be the norm, but it isn’t – yet.
NYGE: Yeah, yet is key in that statement.
DOM: So Panda gave us just one juicy, delicious perspective on the current landscape of drag. But we were hungry for more.
NYGE: That’s why we sat down with YR Media alum, KQED multimedia journalist, and multi-hyphenate talent and drag performer Emiliano Villa, also known as Poison Oakland.
DOM: Before we jump into that interview, I want to share some of the audio from the personal pieces that Emiliano made with YR Media when they were working here. Let’s take a listen.
(Music)
EMILIANO: In elementary school, I was a shy, girly boy. I preferred arts and crafts with the girls to soccer with the boys. At home, I played alone with my sister’s dolls. When my mom wasn’t home, I’d hide in her room and blast Britney Spears. I’d doll up in her flowered hats and high heels and put on a show. I was always happiest in my own little pop dream, jumping on the bed and spinning in circles to the music. I was raised in a strict Mexican family, so I was careful not to flail my wrists or speak too softly for fear of being told to speak up and act like a man.
I dreamed of being a performer, but I believed my glittery fantasies were wrong. I kept my passions hidden in the closet, held back by my lack of confidence and internalized homophobia.
When I was 15, I discovered the TV show RuPaul’s Drag Race and a firework went off in me. I was drawn in by the queens’ personalities – so confident, so free, living out their high-heeled truths. Many of them grew up like me. They were weird kids who imitated pop divas. I saw that my dress up games could turn into art. But, you don’t wake up a full fledged drag queen! It takes practice, patience and energy. When I’m not at work, I’m planning looks, practicing makeup, or learning dance routines.
My family’s reaction has been better than I expected. My sisters love my outfits. My mom is supportive. She thinks I look like her when I’m in drag. My dad and I haven’t had a conversation about it yet.
When I get ready to go out, I draw on feminine features and push away self-doubt. I think about the little boy who was scared to be girly. I never thought I’d be dancing in a nightclub, unapologetically being myself. But I am. And I love every second of it. These famous TV drag queens helped me find the confidence to let my inner queen out. Her name is Poison Oakland, and she’s still me, but fiercer.
NYGE: And now, without further ado, let’s meet the one, the only, Poison Oakland.
EMILIANO: Hi everyone. My name is Emiliano Villa and I am a multidisciplinary artist. I am a journalist by background, a writer, producer, and also a performer all over the Bay Area and wherever they’ll have me.
DOM: Love it. I bet they have you everywhere.
EMILIANO: That’s the goal.
DOM: How do you personally define drag?
EMILIANO: Oh, I personally define drag as being whatever you want it to be. There is a quote by the great astrophysicist RuPaul, [laughter] who said, “We’re all born naked and the rest is drag.” And so I think that is the best way to explain it. I’ll give it to RuPaul. So I think drag is whatever you make it out to be. It’s the suit you put on in the morning. It’s the costume that you put out, put on when you’re going out for, you know, a fun night. I think the way that most people know it as, is the fun performance aspect where people turn into otherworldly characters. There’s glamor, there’s makeup, there’s hair, there’s all of that, you know, visual stuff. But, I think ultimately it is whatever you want it to be and however you want to present, because there’s so many different styles of drag performance that we can’t possibly put it into a box. So it’s about breaking those boxes and just being yourself.
NYGE: When did you first encounter drag and then how did it make you feel when you first encountered it?
EMILIANO: I say that I first encountered drag when I was like a preteen. I was very Internet savvy, so I was on Twitter and Tumblr and was, like, absorbing a lot of pop culture through these social media channels. And that’s how I was exposed to drag for the first time. I got to see these people, these performers who were so lively, like they were just, like, so outwardly themselves, and just like engaging in like, this, like, culture that is so rich and it was all brand new to me. So the way they talked and the way that they acted and the way that they looked was brand new and intriguing. So I just wanted to find out more. And so then I dived in the rabbit hole.
DOM: At the time. Were you like, “Yeah, this is going to be a thing for me?” Or did that develop over a period?
EMILIANO: It definitely took time to develop. When I first discovered it, I actually was kind of uncomfortable by it, not in like, not to the fault of any of these people, but because of my own inner insecurities, to be honest. So when I encountered these personalities, I saw myself reflected in them a lot. But because they were things that I wasn’t entirely comfortable with within myself, it like, made me do a, like a, double take. Like, is this who I am? Or, is this like what I’m scared of? Which I’d say is, like, pretty average for being a young adult and not seeing any representation of yourself out there. And it ultimately helped me become more confident and secure in who I am and how I want to present and the sort of things and values that I represent. And so I was able to connect to them finally and find a place in that community.
DOM: That’s really beautiful.
NYGE: How do you feel like the world of drag is changing as time goes on?
EMILIANO: I feel like there is just so much room for talent and for people to just, like, find exactly what it is that they want. The story that we hear from older queer people is that it used to be really hard to do drag and to be a performer because you couldn’t find clothes in stores that fit you. You couldn’t find shoes. You had to go to the second hand stores. You couldn’t find good quality makeup in your shades. You would have to, you know, just use whatever you could find or, you know, hit up a drugstore, or whatever it is that you could find for yourself. But I think now we live in an era where there are a lot of queens that can go on Amazon and buy all their outfits and then go to Ulta, Sephora and pick up the perfect makeup and put together, like, the perfect look. And so I think the ease and access is completely game changing. So there’s that.
NYGE: What advice do you have for folks who might want to try drag for the first time?
EMILIANO: Go for it. Do it. Do it and mess up and find out more about yourself by just doing. It’s, like, a never ending project, sort of. At least that’s how I look at it. Like, if you want to start drag and you look at it as, like, an end all be all, you have to look perfect, that you have to look like this one thing in your head, then you’re already like, letting yourself down. You’re already like, having the wrong mindset. I think it all has to be about finding joy in, like, the learning curve and finding a place for yourself is what is most important. It’s just it’s all about, like, the process and finding yourself and what works for you.
DOM: Can you give some practical advice for anyone who is wanting to do drag but is not quite sure how the ins and outs work? Like, you start, you look at yourself in the mirror, you say “Go for it,” which is – I’m literally going to play a clip of you saying “go for it” any time I have queer doubt from here on in – but then what happens?
EMILIANO: Personally, the way that I started doing drag and the inspiration for my drag persona came from the — all of the inspirations that I had as a little kid. So all of the things that brought me joy as a child were exactly what I wanted to channel into my drag. And so, in my case, I grew up wanting to be a supermodel pop star, and so that is exactly what became of my persona. I channeled all of those things that were all existing within me my whole life. And I turned them into something physical in the outside world, a persona of myself. But, it was me all along. So what is it that exists within you that needs to come out? What is it that you’ve always wanted to, to let out, or to be, or to show the world of yourself? And so that could be anything for anyone. Maybe they want it to be like a scary, you know, horror movie monster. And that’s totally valid, that’s totally cool. I’m sure there’s, like, so many places for them to let that out and other people who would love to see it. There’s so many different ways to create this joyful persona that is also yourself.
NYGE: If you want to see more from Poison Oakland, you can check them out on Insta @Poison.Oakland and follow the party that they host @Bimbos.tv.
DOM: Drag is just so joyous, literally for everybody. Let the colorful queens read their stories to the chirren. Let the snatched queens just stomp the runways all day long and let the comedy queens roast the ever loving crap out of you because, one, it’s a good frickin’ time. And two, it’s the right thing to do. Drag, like so many other things that are fun, is deeply and fundamentally important to the people who create it.
NYGE: I personally am seriously taken aback by the love and grace shown by both Panda and Poison. So much hate, injustice and discrimination has been thrown at drag performers these past couple of years, and their response is simply more love. That might sound like a simple solution or response, but anyone who’s had rights taken away from them or even just been scared for their life for just existing will recognize that anger, even hatred, can come from that pain.
DOM: Preach.
NYGE: But our guests have made the choice to peacefully continue creating safe and inclusive spaces for everyone and to promote, and lean into, the joy in the face of all of that. That really takes some fantasy, superhuman, fairy tale strength.
DOM: So basically what you’re saying is that drag performers are superheroes.
NYGE: Exactly.
DOM: I can get on board with that! Happy Pride Month, everybody!
NYGE: Adult ISH is produced by YR Media, a national network of young artists and journalists creating content for this generation.
THANK you SO much for coming along for the ride with us for Season 11.
Our show is produced by Fredia Lucas, Dominique French, and by me: your boy, Nyge Turner. Special thanks to Georgia Wright who helped produce the original version of this special Pride episode in 2023.
Our engineer is James Riley, and our audio engineering fellow is Christian Romo. With special help from Christian Escobar!
YR’s director of podcasting is Sam Choo.
YR’s senior director of podcasting and partnerships is Rebecca Martin.
Our interns are Menelik Ransom and Jalen Black.
Original music for this episode created by these young musicians at YR:
Christian Romo, Anders Knutstad, Noah Holt, Jacob Armenta,
Chaz Whitley, Michael Diaz, Sean Luciano Galarza, and
David Lawrence.
Music direction by Oliver “Kuya” Rodriguez and Maya Drexler.
Creative direction by Pedro Vega Jr.
Designs by Jess Smolinski, Marjerrie Masicat, and Brigido Bautista.
Project management by Eli Arbreton.
Special thanks to Kathy Chaney and Kyra Kyles.
And if you haven’t reviewed our show on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, please be sure to do so. Five stars is much-appreciated.
You can follow us on all the socials at @YRAdultISH. And on that note, we’ll see y’all next season.
Part Two of “Bridgerton,” Season Three, is here, and it’s even more captivating and drama-filled, making the season perfectlyexecuted. With Penelope Featherington still at the center, the Regency-era high society continues to bring surprise and satisfaction.
In Part One, the aftermath of Season Two, Penelope is rejected by her long-time crush, Colin, and her best friend, Eloise, finds out she is Lady Whistledown. Penelope decides to take control of her future, showing resilience, which leads to her accepting Colin’s help in finding a husband. Part one showed the slow-burn romance between Penelope and Colin, leading to the now most-talked-about carriage scene. Part One also examined Eloise and Cressida’s surprising and unlikely friendship, among other romances and trials.
The season’s second part begins with exciting news: Kate and Anthony Bridgerton are expecting a baby, which is a heartwarming and joyous revelation, and the exciting news of Penelope and Colin’s engagement. There is continued pressure for Will and Alice to navigate The Ton and sacrifice to fit into this new society, leading to the ball being thrown by them, attended by the Queen, and a perfect place for the scandalous revelation of Lady Whistledown’s identity.
Evident in Part One is Cressida’s challenges with being in season and not delivering on marriage. As another woman confident in controlling her fate, she pretends to be Lady Whistledown and blackmails Penelope after hearing her admission. Cressida’s admission doesn’t sit well with The Ton and brings more shame to her family. However, she’s sticking with it, causing Penelope to want to admit she is the real Lady Whistledown.
Throughout Season Three, the relationships within The Ton are delved deeper and provide connection points to why certain relationships are the way they are. With all the built-up suspense, the season ends with Colin discovering Penelope’s identity as Lady Whistledown. This cliffhanger is jaw-dropping yet anticipated, leaving us wanting more.
Part Two continues the season’s dynamic storytelling and character development. Stakes are higher, and so is the drama. Penelope and Colin’s new romance is a continued highlight, and the plot points are great at keeping an engaged audience, and the orchestral covers are always unmatched.
With every season, this series gets better. Romance, scandal, and jaw-dropping moments make it another binge-worthy hit and invoke the desire to know what’s next for the series.
Tracy Noze is a Seattle-based journalist.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
Growing up, my dad always lectured me about the importance of one’s reputation.
I can still hear his burly voice: “All you have is your word and your rep.” Sadly, I didn’t quite understand the weight of that wisdom until I went against it.
There were times in the early part of my professional career — as I married, struggled with finances and prepared for parenthood — when I didn’t handle situations as well as I could have. That’s especially the case as it pertains to staying in touch with publications that I freelanced for. There were times when I didn’t give proper notice about my availability to complete freelance assignments. There were also times when I didn’t give any notice at all. That not only burned professional bridges but harmed great relationships with interesting people. It’s one of my greatest professional regrets.
However, I believe I’ve come out of that timeframe with a clearer head and a greater appreciation for my father’s advice. These are some key things I learned as a result of it, and lessons I hope to impart to young freelancers.
Communicate, communicate, communicate
Unexpected things happen in life. Loved ones die, babies are born, move to different states, get sick, get lucky and get into car accidents. These are the kinds of events that can put freelance activities on the backburner and rightly so. However, no matter what might keep you from your typical assignment output, it’s best to communicate that to the places you work for. Maybe something can be arranged that will allow you to work for them again — or maybe not. Either way, it’s best that you handle the situation by communicating, so that if you must permanently stop your freelancing duties, you’ll be leaving with your integrity and a strong reputation.
Maintain the relationship
Even if you must put a pause on your freelancing activities, that doesn’t mean you need to relinquish the relationships you’ve formed. Every once in a while, check in with your former workmates to see how they are doing. Keep tabs on their work and ask them questions about it. Meet for coffee or a walk downtown. Let the people you worked with know that you genuinely valued the time you spent together.
Do better next time
If you do go on to make the mistake I made, don’t beat yourself up over it for too long. Acknowledge the harm you did, take steps to apologize and move on. Everyone deserves a second chance and most people have done regrettable things. Be proud to be one of the few who can admit and pay those learnings forward to future generations.
Noah Johnson is a Chicago-based journalist.
Edited by NaTyshca Pickett
While social media has been under fire for its negative effects on youth, a new report shows that this relationship is more complicated than it seems.
With the rapid expansion of technology, and more specifically, our personal smart devices, our lives have followed suit to make room for that growth. Our phones have become a constant companion. For better or for worse, popular social media apps — a hub for connection and creativity, as well as hate speech and negativity — have become crucial for the social lives of youth.
The importance of connection through social media is heightened when considering youth from diverse communities. A report from Common Sense Media and Hopelab revealed that nearly three-fourths of LGBTQ+ youth surveyed (74%) said social media platforms were especially valuable for combating feelings of loneliness.
Black young people also place value on different aspects of social media compared to their peers. Interviews show that Black youth stressed the importance of social media to find resources for college, career, and scholarship opportunities that they don’t always have access to.
Additionally, youth of color credit social media for providing mental health support when they face stigma with regard to mental health issues, especially within their families or among older members of their communities.
At the same time, youth who are from communities of color, the LGBTQ+ community, and those who already have symptoms of moderate to severe depression face the most impact from the negative aspects of social media. These youth are more likely to see or hear things on social media that make them feel bad about their body or appearance, and often end up feeling like other people’s lives are better than their own.
So how do these young adults and teens manage their social media experiences? Contrary to the image of young people as passive consumers of online content, they are actually doing the opposite. Young people will constructively curate their feeds to see more of what they like, and less of what they don’t, ultimately making their social media feed their own.
TikTok user, Sammy K. (@skzzolno), echoes the importance of making your feed your own. To her, the difference between having a negative relationship with social media versus a positive one is all about following creators who “inspire” you, instead of watching content that makes you feel bad about yourself.
@skzzolno Replying to @Dave this is what has helped me personally & some of the thoughts i have when sharing my life online
#socialmedaia #relationshipwithsocialmedia #socialmediadetox ♬ original sound – sammy k
Conversations around social media and approaches to making the Internet safer for everybody need to include the perspectives of youth from diverse communities. Amy Green, Head of Research at Hopelab said, “If we truly want to improve the well-being of young people, we need to listen to their experiences and ensure that we do not inadvertently remove access to crucial positive benefits, particularly among Black, Latinx, and LGBTQ+ young people.”
Knives Nguyen (they/he/she), is a journalist from the Bay Area who covers entertainment, culture and student life. You can connect with them on LinkedIn: @knivesnguyen.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
Here is a compilation of tips for maintaining, improving and better understanding your mental health.
It’s Okay To Ask For Help
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with feeling off and asking for help to get back to yourself. Life happens to everyone and things take place that we can’t control all the time. Do yourself a favor and reach out to a trusted loved one or a profession in your times of need.
Celebrate The Tiny Victories, Too
Many people set massive goals but forget about the baby steps that it takes to reach. Celebrate the small wins happening in your life just as much as the big ones.
Learn More About Your Own Mental Health
Whether this be through asking a medical professional or doing your own personal research, learning more about your mental health is a great way of sustaining positive mental health and regulating it when it isn’t in a great place.
Prioritize Self-care
Self-care doesn’t just mean slapping on a face mask and taking a bubble bath. Doing things such as establishing an exercise regimen, getting sufficient sleep each night and taking breaks when necessary are all forms of self care.
Give Yourself Grace
Even when you mess up, give yourself grace. None of us are perfect and this is the first time we’re living this life. We’re going to make mistakes and have slip-ups along the way.
If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis such as thoughts of suicide, call 988, the Suicide & Crisis Hotline. To speak with the NAMI Teen & Youth Adult Helpline, call 1-800-950-6264 or text “HelpLine” to 62640.
Read more …
This guest post is in partnership with True Star Media.
More than two-thirds of Americans share their parents’ approach to wellness, new research suggests.
A survey of 2,000 U.S. adults revealed that when they were growing up, their parents used traditional approaches (39%), more so than alternative ones (13%).
These remedies weren’t just decided overnight, as most respondents (55%) say their parents got their approach to wellness from their own parents.
Sixty-one percent believe that their family set a good example of health and wellness when they were growing up.
Today, 52% tend to prefer a mix of both traditional, like taking medicine or going to the doctor, and alternative remedies, like eating certain foods, respondents were much more divided when asked to choose one over the other.
Three in five (63%) are likely to opt for traditional approaches such as getting plenty of sleep (63%) or over-the-counter medications (56%). Others increase their vitamin C intake (49%) and take supplements (35%).
On the other hand, 37% tend to prefer alternative remedies such as honey (62%) or lemon (62%).
Conducted by OnePoll on behalf of KAL Vitamins, the survey aimed to uncover how Americans approach their health.
Interestingly, almost one in five (16%) think modern medicine is untrustworthy.
This may be why the average respondent will ensure nearly four days (3.7) of symptoms before going to the doctor.
However, those who prefer traditional approaches will suffer for only two days (2.3) before taking over-the-counter medications, whereas those who prefer non-traditional remedies will wait three whole days.
But that doesn’t mean Americans aren’t taking matters into their own hands. Growing up, proactive approaches like drinking water (54%), eating healthy foods (48%), going to their doctor for physicals and wellness exams (45%) and taking vitamins and supplements (42%) were top of mind.
In fact, 52% say they take a proactive approach to their health today rather than a reactive one (20%).
Originally published by Talker News
IKEA is opening a new store on the gaming platform Roblox, and you can actually get paid to work there. Get all the details, plus news for PS5 fans.
Produced by Jason Sanford
Almost half of Gen Z battle with depression and feelings of hopelessness.
To help the generation access mental health care resources and reach their primary care providers quicker, 21-year-old Nigerian co-founders Joshua Obasohan and Neto Nwogbo launched Loop Health.
The telehealth platform has raised over $120,000 in funding and is now raising a seed round in Summer 2024, per AfroTech.
Loop Health, operates FDA-approved face-scanning technology that stands out for its use of gamification to engage users. The app performs a 40-60 second face scan to measure vital statistics like heart rate, blood pressure, and stress index without needing an internet connection. This technology uses computer vision to analyze light refracted off the user’s face, enabling it to provide accurate health metrics.
These metrics can then be used to help the consumer understand where they are at biometrically and how to report it to their doctors.
Gamification plays a crucial role in keeping college students engaged with Loop Health. By incorporating game-like elements, the app encourages daily use, which is of high appeal to the younger spectrum of Gen Z.
An estimated 90% are gamers, meaning Loop Health may be right on trend with how to reach its intended users of college students. As a digital first generation, Gen Z is no stranger to utilizing tech to further understand one another.
Implementing a gaming element takes the telehealth aspect for Loop one step further by offering a sense of comfort and palatability to consumers who may not be so eager to talk about their mental health concerns or other tough topics.
As a program coordinator for an accelerator program that leads early-stage startups emerging from HBCUs, I’ve seen the gamification aspect presented in many forms including financial literacy and in ed tech applications.
It seems as though there is a desire for a youthful presentation of enjoyment that can help Gen Z process complex topics.
Keeping it gee, Gen Z founders building for their generation is the energy we need to continue to see. Doing so allows room for a diverse range of technology to be built and to better serve those in need.
Miranda Perez (she/her/hers) is a Jersey City, NJ-based journalist who covers the tech industry. Follow her on X and Instagram: @mimithegee.
Edited by NaTyshca Pickett
A career coach has revealed the six ways you can use artificial intelligence to get your dream job.
Melissa Stone is an HR professional with over 20 years of experience.
With the rise of AI, people are using the tool every day and Stone has revealed how you can use it to get ahead in your career.
Stone said that using AI will allow you to put yourself in the position of the interviewer as it can suggest the questions and answers they are most likely to ask.
Recently, Stone told one of her clients – who had been searching for a new role for two years – to follow her six-step process and she secured her dream job.
- So first, open up your resume. Copy it in full.
- Next go to ChatGPT (chat.openai.com) and write “This is my resume”
Then paste your resume directly below. - Next, open the job ad for the role your applying to or interviewing for. Copy all the information and duties that appear in the description.
- Go back into the text box of ChatGPTand write “This is a job I am applying to”
Then paste the details of the job ad below. - Next, ask ChatGPT to:
“Provide me with interview questions I could be asked based on that job ad” ChatGPT will then bring up a load of interview questions you could be likely asked on the day. - Finally, go back to ChatGPT and write:
“Based on my resume and the interview questions you have identified, provide me with answers I could give to showcase my strengths in each of these questions”
Originally published by Talker News
Internet addiction rewires teenagers’ brains, suggests new research.
Signaling between different areas of the brain related to controlling attention and understanding our own emotions was altered in youngsters addicted to being online, say scientists.
Their findings, published in the journal PLOS Mental Health, indicate that internet addiction is associated with disrupted signaling in the regions of the brain involved in multiple neural networks.
Study co-author Max Chang said: “These networks play an important role in controlling our attention, in association with intellectual ability, working memory, physical coordination, and emotional processing – all of which in turn have an impact on mental health.”
Chang, an associate researcher at University College London (UCL), added: “Internet use has been skyrocketing, with adolescents spending more and more of their waking hours online.
“With this has come an increase in adolescent internet addiction.
“Given that adolescent brains are more capable of changing than those of adults, understanding the effects of internet addiction on the brain and behavior is vital for society as a whole.”
Originally published by Talker News
One day while walking down Shattuck Avenue, I came across an assortment of CDs, tapes and zines in a cardboard box labeled “FREE.” Only after a few minutes of rummaging through did I think to look up at the building I was in front of. A sidewalk sign reading “Long Haul Infoshop” and a shelf of 25-cent books greeted me. That was the first time I had entered the place, and I quickly transitioned into volunteering — it’s the highlight of my week.
The Long Haul Infoshop is an anarchist resource center and community space in Berkeley, California, and one that is near and dear to my heart. Community spaces like these are the legacy of Berkeley’s rich history of activism and counterculture movements. For decades, it has provided a space for discourse, community and solidarity.
It was founded in 1979 by Alan Haber, the first president of Students for a Democratic Society. Throughout its history, the Long Haul has served as a hub for local organizing, offering support for various causes and providing a physical space for the community in whatever capacity it needs.
Places like the Long Haul are vital in Berkeley’s activist landscape, serving as political engagement and grassroots organizing spaces. Unlike traditional institutions, this space prioritizes principles of mutual aid, direct action and collective decision-making.
Last weekend, I attended a work party there, which consisted of cleaning, organizing and chatting with new people. I spoke with J, a long-time patron of the Long Haul, about what the space meant to them.
“It’s just a spot full of really good people. Every time I’m here I meet a new strange and awesome person,” said J.
We exchanged stories of the characters we had met there and talked about the tasks we were up to today for the work party. They were stuffing envelopes of the new Slingshot paper for mailing out.
“I haven’t been able to come by as much lately, but I am so glad I did today. It’s always real special seeing all sorts of people working to clean up the Long Haul,” they said. “This place has always helped me out when I need it, so of course I’m going to come by and help when I can.”
The hub comprises of the Infoshop itself and the many organizations working out of the space, such as the Needle Exchange Emergency Distribution (N.E.E.D) and Food Not Bombs. These organizations distribute harm-reduction supplies and food to community members at no cost. The Slingshot Collective is another project that calls the Long Haul home. They are a free and independent radical newspaper.
The infoshop acts as an information distribution center. The library contains a zine-making loft and a gathering room for meetings, study groups or simply hanging out. There are books, zines, buttons and hand-printed T-shirts for sale, but many of the items are free of charge. You can spend hours pouring over about 15 thousand loosely organized zines in its archive. In my time browsing the shelves, I’ve found some of the most compelling literature I’ve read and struck up conversations with some of the most interesting people I’ve met.
Upon its inception, the space was used for organizing for S.D.S. Today, it is a community hub used for activist causes such as the fight for People’s Park. Organizers made posters for the park with the Risograph machine in the community print room. Hand-printed People’s Park shirts can be purchased at the Infoshop, with proceeds going to support People’s Park and those who used to live there. The Long Haul is a hub for collaboration that helps amplify the collective impact of local organizations and strengthens solidarity networks.
Food Not Bombs is a mutual aid collective that feeds people at no cost; they hold food distributions every Tuesday and Thursday at the Long Haul. N.E.E.D provides Long Haul with harm reduction supplies such as clean needles and Narcan for distribution. Having organizations like these makes the space a safe and supportive environment for community members whose needs are often neglected.
The Long Haul hosts a diverse array of events and activities, ranging from skill-sharing workshops and DIY art projects to study groups on anarchist theory and history. The Leap Day of Action captures the ethos of the space. Described as “Not a traditional protest nor another frivolous distraction while the world goes to hell around us.” It is a call to use our extra day — leap day — for good. The event involves music, a roving street party, and the dispersing of seed bombs of native plants. The flyer for the event stated: “Life is too short and the world is too beautiful to waste more time muddling through tedious jobs, polluted air, and endless wars.”
The space is by the community and for the community, and there are many ways to get involved. You could attend a regular event, such as the writing workshops or study groups, or reach out to host an event or volunteer. It also isn’t the only space of this variety. The Slingshot Collective publishes a pocket-sized calendar and planner every year, complete with pieces from local artists, resource lists and multiple pages of radical contacts around the world — wherever you are, you can find spaces of a similar nature where you can connect and engage with your community.
Like many alternative spaces, the Long Haul has faced challenges from the city and law enforcement. In 2008, the infoshop was raided at gunpoint by UC Berkeley Police, plainclothes FBI agents and the Alameda County sheriff. The Electronic Frontier Foundation and American Civil Liberties Union successfully sued UC Berkeley Police on behalf of Long Haul, as they should have been protected under the Privacy Protection Act.
The Northern California Land Trust, the landlord of the building, has announced its plans to demolish the building in 2025 or 2026. The Long Haul has been offered a “comparable space” in the newly developed building, but the offer has few details and is non-binding — so the future is uncertain for the space.
For me, the Long Haul is a place of hope. Both hope for the world’s future, as people are doing work to support their community there, and hope for my own future. As a young person, the space shows me the importance of investing in the types of community I want to have throughout my life. As I grow older, I don’t have to lose my imagination, passion or hope. The Long Haul Infoshop stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of activism in Berkeley — offering us a space for imagination, collective action and radical joy.
Isha Smith (they/them) is a student writer and photographer living in Oakland, California.
Edited by shaylyn martos
Nashville, Tennessee has been making musical history for over a century. Its legacy is very alive and certainly well in its youth, where students across Nashville, also called “Music City” regularly write, perform, and produce music.
Sophia Shi, a junior in high school in the city, is living the Music City dream. Though she doesn’t perform country music, which is what Nashville is primarily famous for, she perfectly embodies the teen music scene. She writes music, performs in venues (she told YR she is performing in five different shows in May), and has even released a 6 song EP called, “Where They Fall, I Follow.”
Nashville’s streets drip with music, with its main tourist street of Broadway (which holds its famous Honky Tonks) constantly playing live music from artists across genres. The National Museum of African American Music is also located on this thoroughfare.
Shi told YR Media how important Nashville’s influence has been. “Being in a city where music is so celebrated and everyone around you is so invested in it has encouraged me to put more time and effort in,” she said. Though she grew up in a family that didn’t put a big emphasis on music, Nashville’s influence helped Shi to indulge her passion for singing. She elaborated on that, saying she loves singing in general but especially performing.
“Being up on stage, you just lose yourself, and you think oh, this is amazing I want to do this forever,” she said. “I get to play and listen to really talented people, and collaborate with them. I’ve been writing music on my own, but I started writing with other people. Playing in a band is so much fun. You get to see the music you write become something else. It’s a really rewarding experience.”
Though music is undoubtedly a positive experience, it certainly comes with challenges, especially self-validation. “The hardest parts are feeling like your music is worthy of being shared with other people,” Shi said. “I definitely struggle a lot with finding confidence in my abilities. It’s hard to tell myself it’s something I should be doing.”
Nashville has musicians and tourists coming to the music capital in droves. Though its hot temperatures are consistent with its southern location, it (and its tourism industry) has grown exponentially in size and its tourism industry. Between 2022 and 2023, Nashville grew by some 30,000 people. That’s 82 people moving to the Southern city each day. Some people move for the weather, the nightlife, or the jobs. Others move for the music.
“There’s so much variety in Nashville with the bands you see. There’s obviously a lot of country, but the people I hang around and the media I consume have had a big impact on me,” Shi said. “Being here has exposed me to a lot more people that’s affected my music a lot.”
This variety in music is what has exposed so many other young people and created a love for music within Nashville’s youth. Years fly by along Nashville’s music scene, and many things change, but music is not one of them. Nashville’s history of music is rich, but it’s not just its history — it’s its present. Nashville was and is a city of music, and that manifests in its teenage musicians.
Finally, she told other young musicians to never be discouraged by what they feel the quality of their music is. She said that, even compared to what she was doing a year ago, her musical skills had grown exponentially. “It’s amazing how much you grow when you do the things you love,” Shi said. “I wouldn’t be where I am today without the terrible songs I wrote when I was 13.”
Stream Sophia Shi’s “Overalls” is out now on all platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music.
Emmie Wolf-Dubin (she/her) is a high school student in Nashville who covers anything from entertainment to politics. Follow her on Instagram: @redheadwd07.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
So after that Willy Wonka “Experience” from a few months ago came, scared some well-meaning families, and left, people keep having the “bright idea” of reviving it, this time with a possibly John Stamos starring musical?
Host/Producer/Editor: Malachi Segers-Seker
The Lowdown gives you the latest in news, pop culture, and everything else your friends will be talking about tomorrow. Don’t get FOMO, get The Lowdown with Malachi, every Friday here at YR Media.
Former United States president Donald Trump was convicted of 34 felony counts on May 30. He is the first former president found guilty of a crime.
To think we are in a place where former government leaders can be convicted of felony crimes and still want to represent the country and its people is absolutely mind-blowing. With election season approaching, this presents a call to action amongst Gen Z to ignite real change.
The question of accountability for our leaders is amplified more than it did in the past three years. We’re in a place where people in high offices or desiring to be in office are being unmasked, and exceptional attention to detail is needed to make the right decisions on who we want to be the voice of this country.
In the past, for some, it was easy to ignore and pretend politics did not affect them, but whether seen or not, we’re all affected by politics in one way or another.
Gen Z is holding companies and political leaders accountable for their stances. College students and their boldness in protests regarding the war in Gaza, and people around the world speaking out against the inequalities of people groups, climate change, and more. Now more than ever, people are being championed to use their voices to vote, speak against wrongs, and empower real change.
There is hope for more and that change and better will come. Gen Z should feel empowered to endorse that hope by exercising their power to vote while still having freedom and liberty, staying educated, and relying on faith to inspire others to believe for more.
Being in your 20s makes it more apparent to see the need to keep your voter registration updated, understand what is at stake for your future and the people around you, and ultimately support your community.
Tracy Noze is a Seattle-based journalist.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
Happy Pride Month! This month’s playlist celebrates LGBTQIA+ identifying musicians and the OG pride anthems you know and love. All these songs are confidence boosters, invoke nostalgia, and most importantly, make you want to get up and dance!
Here’s a sneak peak …
“IT GIRL”- Alyiah’s Interlude
TikTok sensation turned popstar, Aliyah’s Interlude, broke the internet when she entered her music era with her single “It Girl.” The 21-year-old shouts herself out in the song’s intro for sticking to the “Aaliyah-core” lifestyle, an aesthetic she coined for her unique style and carefree mindset.
“360”- Charli XCX
Charli XCX never fails to put a catchy hook together. The hyper-pop track sets the tone of her new album “Brat.” She keeps the tune short and sweet, describing the life of an international model, which is fitting as she gathers everyone’s favorite muses for the visuals.
“Alter Ego”- Doechii ft. JT
Doechi is letting us know it’s her season with the summer anthem “Alter Ego.” She samples the iconic 1993 house hit song, “Show Me Some Love” by Robin S, that we all know and love, but adds flare to the bridge, slowing it down with her vocals.
Sydney Wanguhu, (she/her) is from The Bay Area and is an L.A.-based journalist who covers entertainment and culture. Follow her on Instagram & Spotify: @sydneyy._.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
Before you dive into what’s happening today, take a look at what may have fallen off your radar earlier this week.
My Freshman Year at UC Berkeley
Gen Z Redefines Retirement Plans
Adult ISH: Xicanx Arts: Printmaking and Political Statements
Dr. DJ TillmanRaises the Bar for Chicago Teens
Curing Loneliness With Travel Tours
Let’s explore some of Chicago’s outdoor hidden gems, that can also count as your next date with your special someone.
Mario’s Italian Lemonade: If you’re anything like me, getting a sweet treat for a date is a personal favorite. Located in Little Italy, Mario’s, the 70-year-old Italian Ice shop is now open!
Free Movies in Millennium Park: Who wants to be cooped up in a cold movie theater during the summertime? From Chicago’s rooftop cinema to dine-in movies, the city has a plethora of options to choose from when discussion of outdoor films takes place, including Millennium Park features. Millennium Park’s free movies and their official summer return. Starting July 16 through Aug. 20, every Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.
Lincoln Park Green City Farmers Market: On Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., Lincoln Park hosts its Green City Farmers Market. Help support local and sustainable farmers, by purchasing fresh goods and produce.
Read more …
This guest post is in partnership with True Star Media.
A new survey has found the average parent has to come up with four new activities daily to keep their children entertained.
The poll of 2,000 U.S. parents found four in 10 parents always or often struggle to find ideas to keep their kids entertained.
And while most parents believe their children have active imaginations, the average kid gets bored in just 33 minutes and 47% of children quickly become bored with what they’re doing.
A third (35%) of parents said they feel stressed about finding new ideas for their kids as a result.
Commissioned by Elmer’s and conducted by OnePoll, the study revealed 81% of parents have found their children are always looking for something to do when they come home from school or daycare.
Parents shared that, outside of the classroom, their kids are more likely to watch TV (80%) than to play with toys (67%). Many also said their kids like to play with siblings and friends after class (62%) or play with playsets (35%).
Over half (58%) are concerned about the amount of time their kids spend in front of a screen. The average kid reportedly spends 13 hours in front of a screen per week.
Other kids were found to prefer more hands-on play: 64% of parents said their children like to draw and color after school, alongside doing arts and crafts (46%) or sensory play (36%).
Four in five parents (81%) said their children prefer hands-on activities away from the screen.
Parents reported their kids felt happier when crafting than when having screen time (71%, compared to 55%). They were also found to be more satisfied (57%, compared to 50%) and less bored (6%, compared to 15%).
Originally published by Talker News
EpisodesSubscribeHoller/FollowHow have Xicanx artists in California used political posters as a medium for social change over the decades?
In this episode of Adult ISH, Gilda Posada, associate curator at the Oakland Museum of California, talks with YR Media contributor Christian Romo to discuss “Calli: The Art of Xicanx Peoples,” an exhibit capturing the history of art activism, identity, and intersectionality through political posters.
Adult ISH is produced by YR Media and brought to you by PRX’s Radiotopia. Be sure to follow all our socials @YRAdultISH!
Show your support for Adult ISH with a five-star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, or by making a donation at: YRMedia.org/Donate. THANK YOU!
EPISODE TRANSCRIPTNYGE: Welcome to Adult ISH – produced by YR Media – and brought to you by Radiotopia from PRX.
I’m Nyge Turner.
And today, we’re honoring the legacy of Xicanx artists. Specifically, California printmakers who worked to uplift community consciousness and institute social change in turbulent eras like the 60s.
GILDA: Artists were making prints for the Xicano movement, but the Xicano movement wasn’t singular. You have to remember that at the time, the Civil Rights Movement also included the Red Power Movement and included the Black Power Movement. And every one of these movements was connected. They were connecting to a third world solidarity and politic and consciousness.
NYGE: That was Gilda Posada, Associate Curator at the Oakland Museum of California and Xicanx printmaker.
She worked on a new exhibit of political posters that captures the history of art activism, identity, and intersectionality. It’s called “Calli: The Art of Xicanx Peoples,” and it opens June 14th.
Gilda joined Christian Romo at our YR Media studios to give us a preview of the show.
CHRISTIAN: So this exhibit is unique in how it’s spotlighting prints and posters that may have had a former life of being on a street pole or at a storefront. So I wanted to ask, how did these posters find their way to this museum exhibition?
GILDA: To understand how the posters ended up in the museum, you have to first understand the impact and importance of Xicano printmaking within communities in terms of organization, organizing, and activism, especially within the Bay area. These posters were created for the people, about the people, and with the people with the intention of community consciousness and also politicizing and creating social change. We’re talking about the Mission District, East Oakland, Fruitvale – wherever our peoples were located. And the poster was really used as a form to disseminate political thought, consciousness, but also educate people in terms of what was going on around them, social justice, social issues and just things people were organizing around. You have to remember that at the time, higher education wasn’t necessarily accessible to most Xicano-Latino communities.
CHRISTIAN: Right.
GILDA: And, it didn’t mean that we didn’t want to be in those spaces, but rather we had been institutionally excluded from those spaces. So Xicano artists during the Civil Rights Movement, the Bay Area included, began creating primarily posters and murals as a way to bring that knowledge to their community. But [they] also revitalized some of that knowledge that hadn’t necessarily been valued by Western culture and society and institutions like museums.
CHRISTIAN: So, can you tell us about the person who collected these prints, Margaret Terrazas Santos?
GILDA: Margie Terrazas Santos was an innovator, a person who wore many hats. They were a social worker, and they were also a professor at Saint Mary’s College. They collected posters based on their activism and involvement across the Bay Area, and working with Xicano art centers such as Galaria de la Raza in the Mission District and Mission Gráfica, or the Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts, as it’s called today in San Francisco as well. And she really believed in the power of these posters, and she wanted to preserve them, archive them, in order to uphold the legacies of what she saw Xicano artists and peoples creating, because she saw the value. Right? In and their beauty, in terms of what they were offering. So over the years, she collected posters working at different Xicano art centers, asking artists for posters, pulling them from poles. Right?
CHRISTIAN: Right.
GILDA: Taking them from rallies. She just collected posters wherever she could. And, eventually these collections, it became a large collection. And, her family approached the Oakland Museum to continue to archive these posters. Right? To continue to preserve them for research, to make it accessible to community. Because, without them, we wouldn’t have these stories. Right?
CHRISTIAN: Yeah.
GILDA: We would be so to say, erased or continued to be erased within art history and even within Western institutions.
CHRISTIAN: Yeah.
GILDA: So this exhibition is really about honoring and upholding everything that those artists created very early on in the Civil Rights Movement, but also the continued legacy that people have built upon based on that Xicano movement.
CHRISTIAN: Ordinarily, when you go into a museum, you know, you’d expect art pieces to look like sculptures or, or artifacts from different cultures. And it seems like there’s a Eurocentric standard of what belongs in a museum. Why do you think it’s important to preserve Margie’s collection outside of the archival purpose?
GILDA: You’re right. Museums and Western art history does prioritize painting – one, as the highest medium – and then sculpture and different traditional Western art mediums. And I think, that is part of why this collection is so intriguing, but also why it’s so valuable in that there is a vast number of them. There is a vast number of issues. There are a vast number of artists and also community members and organizations and fundraising events. There is so much history embedded within one sheet of paper. Right?
CHRISTIAN: Mmm. Yeah.
GILDA: And the poster – unlike a painting or even a, you know, a mural, so to say – it’s not site-specific, meaning it doesn’t just live in one place. You don’t have to go to that wall. You don’t have to go to that museum to see that one painting. The poster exists in multiples. So, I can make a hundred posters of the same design. I can make a thousand posters of the same design. And that was part of why Xicano artists decided to use printmaking, because they understood that these posters needed to go into different spaces. Right? It needed to go to the community clinic. It needed to be up on the pole next to the supermarket. It needed to be in the window at the dry cleaners. It needed to be in the elementary school classroom, in the college classroom, in the protests. You hand them out in the thousands. Xicano artists understood this. Right? They understood that they had to use this method of printmaking for organizing. And that is the beauty of this collection, that it tells a large story of Xicano people. Right? It’s not a singular artist that gets the praise. Rather, it’s a community effort that gets the praise.
CHRISTIAN: Yeah. I feel like that’s something that I always commended whenever I read the background to this exhibit, how it was never focused on – yeah, how you said – one artist. And so I really, I really enjoy how the Xicanx perspective isn’t just the one – a one perspective. It’s, it’s a multitude of facets and, and issues. Great answer. I love that. And so, that ties into my next question. What can people from other cultures learn from these works, especially in the Bay Area?
GILDA: It is a collection primarily of Xicanx artists. Artists were making prints for the Xicano movement, but the Xicano movement wasn’t singular. You have to remember that at the time, the Civil Rights Movement also included the Red Power Movement and included the Black Power Movement. And every one of these movements was connected. They were connecting to a third-world solidarity and politic and consciousness. Especially in the Bay Area, you see, that manifested through San Francisco State creating Ethnic Studies. And, later on that turns into Berkeley and the hunger strikes that happened there. So, it is a movement that is not singular. And these posters tell that story. They are telling you about ethnic studies. They are showing you that it’s not just Chicano studies, but rather it – our liberation depends on the liberation of everyone else. We’re all interconnected. So you do have posters talking about [the] Alcatraz takeover. You have Indigenous Peoples Solidarity Day. You have [International Women’s Day]. There are all these movements that we continue to uplift and uphold for one another, told through these collective stories. And that is something that I would say is unique about the Bay Area, that it continues to have that legacy of fighting for social justice. Right? And coming together for that common cause.
CHRISTIAN: Wow. Yeah. That’s deep. How does it feel curating this exhibition and preparing for the public to view this history? How does this collection speak to you?
GILDA: To talk about how I came about curating the show. I’ll tell you a little bit about my background. I am a Xicano printmaker as well as a curator. I started printmaking when I was an undergrad at UC Davis in Chicano Studies, when I took a silkscreen class. And after that, I started working at a Xicano art center that opened as part of that, where we taught silkscreen printmaking for community members, mostly high school kids, anyone 14 and over. And that’s what I did for like five years of my life.
CHRISTIAN: So Gilda as a printmaker. What is printmaking?
GILDA: Printmaking is a way in which you create multiples of posters or multiples of one design. There are multiple methods towards printmaking. I am a silkscreen printer, and that means that usually I come up with an idea or a drawing followed with a little bit of text. Because you are limited in text in prints. Usually, you don’t want to write a whole paragraph because that’s too much information, but print is meant to be viewed from far away. Think of like a protest, for example. You want to be able to read that sign from really far away, right? You want, you want it to attract the viewer and you can’t do too much. So part of the Xicano printmaking aspect was also for it to be didactic, meaning the text and the image should tell you the same message. And this was created because oftentimes people were illiterate and didn’t necessarily have access to just elementary school education. A lot of prints were created, for example, for the UFW movement, the farmworkers movement, many of which didn’t have an education or were pulled out very early on. So, that is the printmaking format I continue to follow. Image and a little bit of text. Usually, you create that design, and then you cut it out of this material called Rubylith. This is before computers were invented, mind you. So, this is how artists created graphic designs as well, with their hands. And by cutting with like, an X-ACTO knife.
CHRISTIAN: And would you say this process looks the same to this day?
GILDA: I still do my prints in that way. Now you can get Photoshop, and you can create halftones and you can do digital printmaking, which I also do here and there. But primarily, I still make my prints through hand. And then you burn it onto a screen and based on that screen, you can print five, you can print a hundred, and you can print 10-thousand. It really depends on how many you’re trying to do.
CHRISTIAN: Dang, limitless.
GILDA: It is.
[YR MUSIC]NYGE: The Xicanx printmaking community keeps changing, and Gilda is actually part of the evolution in representation. Let’s get back to the conversation.
GILDA: So I’ve been around Xicano printmaking for a little more than 15 years of my life, and through that I’ve met many contemporary Xicano artists, many printmakers. And I have seen a certain canon develop around Xicano art and who gets represented. And it’s mostly been cis-hetero males because printmaking, Xicano printmaking, I’ll say, is predominantly cis-hetero men in the studios. So, I was a little bit of the oddball in printmaking, as is. And when I saw Margie’s collection I understood that there was something special. A lot of the artists that are usually shown in printmaking shows they’re included in that collection. But she also has underrepresented voices or peoples represented, especially through her work in the Chicana Latina Foundation and in organizing a lot of Xhicanas in higher education across the Bay Area. So a lot of that comes forward. She also pulls in a lot of Xhicana artists that you usually don’t see represented through Xicano printmaking. So that was already special. Right? In noting that, but her naming of the collection was also very intriguing to me because she named her collection “Calli Americas.” Not Cali like California, but calli – C-A-L-L-I, which is a Nahuatl word that means house or household. And usually in that, in the context of Nahuatl, it would represent your family and from then on, your family’s legacy sort of thing. So in naming her collection “Calli Americas,” she was saying, this is the legacy of Xicano people. And a lot of it had to do with indigeneity and going back to our ancestral roots. So a lot of her curation of this collection did have to do with coming back home and telling our story from our own personal perspective. And Margie was also a queer Xhicana lesbian. So it wasn’t just that she was a community member that was active in these spaces where Xicano men were creating prints, but she was also organizing Xicanos in higher education, and she was also out on the streets being an activist during the AIDS epidemic, for example. So, a lot of those posters are also included within this collection. So, she is telling or preserving the legacy of these under told stories. And many times, stories where artists and peoples in our communities didn’t get to survive, to tell their stories and had been erased. So, part of me curating the show has been about uplifting those marginal stories that are not necessarily told or highlighted in mainstream Xicano art shows.
CHRISTIAN: I wanted to ask you, what can young people learn from this collection – specifically about grassroots political power and Xicanx identity? Because I know a lot of the emphasis of Indigenous culture is to highlight ancestry.
GILDA: I will say that there are a lot of ways people identify us. And it’s a little bit confusing because there’s so many terms, and oftentimes you don’t really know why you’re using a term because you just hear it growing up, or you see it as a category, a box you check in applications. Right? Most of the time, it’s Hispanic. Other times, it’s Latino. Yeah. If it gets more specific, it lists the country.
CHRISTIAN: And then these terms get updated.
GILDA: Exactly. Over and over again. And for this show, highlighting Xicanx has been important for me because the term Xicanx or Chicano/Chicana. It was the first time the Xicano people got to name themselves, and they decided this is what we want to be called. We’re not Mexican-hyphen-American, we’re not Hispanic, we’re not Spanish. We are Xicanx. And the Xicanx has roots in Nahuatl, which goes back to our ancestral roots.
CHRISTIAN: Yeah.
GILDA: It’s so this exhibition is really highlighting the revitalization of Indigenous knowledge, which I believe is still very much relevant, especially in a world where there’s so much chaos and destruction, in a world that continues to be racist and continues to police people of color. We continue to see ongoing violence on brown and Black bodies over and over again. And all of these are stories, not stories, but issues that show up in the posters. The posters let you know that this has been an ongoing struggle that we have been fighting as a people. And I think that is important to recognize, especially as peoples-coming-to-be, because the world can feel so overwhelming sometimes, and you feel like, “What’s the point? What is the point if the world is so bad? What is the point if global warming is going on? What like, what is the point of me being here?”
CHRISTIAN: Yeah, what can I do?
GILDA: Yeah, it feels so hopeless oftentimes. And part of going back to the Indigenous is being like, “No pause. You are worthy, right? Body, mind, spirit, you are worth it.” You have just been conditioned to believe that you are not. You are. You have been conditioned to believe that you are less than human. That you deserve less treatment. Right? Because race was brought into the Americas. Because you, your hair, your nose, your eyes, they look a certain way that is not white. Right? And that is what Xicano artists were trying to do through these prints. They were trying to say, “No, this is colonialism. This is the Indian-ization that has been happening to our people.” We organize around these issues because they know that that’s what is killing our spirits. Right? And we need – one, for us to wake up, and for us to organize together. And that is what it’s in the prints. But I will also offer that the show is not just prints. There’s a lot of contemporary artists and installations included in the show, so in that way, it becomes an intergenerational exhibition of ongoing conversations regarding these issues that are presented in the posters.
In terms of Indigeneity, it is about our ancestors, but it’s also about recognizing that we are not romanticizing the past. We’re not trying to go back to a certain way of being. We’re not policing. We’re not creating a recipe. Like, if you don’t fit X, Y, and Z, or if you’re not the right shade of brown, you’re not Indigenous. That’s not what it’s about. It’s about coming back to yourself, and it’s about coming back to the earth. It’s part of our Indigenous creation stories is that we were born from the womb of the Mother Earth, or that the Mother Earth gave birth to us. Which is why matriarchs or our mother’s lineage is so important within our cultures. Oftentimes these practices continue to exist within our families and our households, but we don’t call them Indigenous. It can get complicated because we’re raised a certain way. Right? We come from traditional households and questioning even those symbols.
CHRISTIAN: Yeah, it incites fear.
GILDA: It does. And you feel like you’re doing something wrong because guilt has been so embedded within us. And also shame. And part of Indigeneity in both the posters and the contemporary art is about letting that go. Is about – one, recognizing, “Wait, why do I believe this?”
CHRISTIAN: Yeah.
GILDA: “Where did that come from? Why do I practice this?” And then also recognizing that, “Wait, I still make tamales, right? I still grind with molcajete. I still have these roots to my Indigenous ancestry, but I just haven’t called it that.” And so a lot of the art – one, the posters are more graphic and try to bring that back just visually. But a lot of the art in, in the installations bring in the materiality a little bit more. So it does bring some of the earth. It does bring some of that spirituality. We have, for example, an artist who does a Botanica del Barrio is what she calls it. Where she asks people to write down their remedies or ancestral recipes for cures that have been passed down in their families. Because that is one way indigeneity has survived within our households. Like, if you think back to anytime you’re sick, your mom’s probably like, “Drink this tea.”
CHRISTIAN: Yeah, of mint leaves. Yeah, exactly.
GILDA: Right. And those are Indigenous knowledge that, again, connect us to Earth that begin to heal our bodies. Right? And in that process, make our spirits feel a little bit better.
CHRISTIAN: Yeah. No, yeah. That’s a great point. I wanted to ask, since, like, your answer kind of went in this direction of, like, having certain values that are deemed Indigenous, but like, in your head, you’re not really making that connection. Are there moments in which you’re in these more, I don’t want to say elitist because maybe this is the wrong word, but like, in a more institutional setting or one where you find yourself in a weird spot because you kind of made the connection between something that you might have had a cognitive dissonance over before. And, you’re like, making sort of tough discoveries in the moment?
GILDA: It’s hard. It’s hard to work within institutions because that is the struggle constantly. That you have to meet a certain quota and you have to speak about things a specific way.
CHRISTIAN: Yeah.
GILDA: In order to get things through a process. It’s also highly policed in the way you can and can’t speak about things and who’s in the room.
CHRISTIAN: Yeah.
GILDA: And a part of me when I was younger, I would say, was a little bit more timid to speak up and would just be a little more complacent to what it was I needed to do. But, over time and through life and a lot of machismo and a lot of homophobia, I have also understood that by staying silent, I’m just contributing to letting these things happen.
CHRISTIAN: Yeah.
GILDA: Right? So it’s not easy to speak up and I’m not always right. I’ll also say that. I make a lot of mistakes, but part of that is part of decolonization. People love that word, especially within institutions, right? They wanna decolonize everything.
CHRISTIAN: Yeah.
GILDA: You’ve heard about decolonizing museums over and over again. Meanwhile, when it comes to actually working with people of color and communities of color, it is very difficult. Right? They don’t know how to do that work. And part of decolonizing is you have to at least try. You have to try to do things differently. Part of consciousness is learning, but it’s also unlearning. Right? And checking yourself and realizing like, “Okay, maybe I’m projecting,” or “Maybe I’m replicating these structures that I don’t know where they came from.” Right? Because they’ve been projected onto you and it’s the way you’ve learned how to do things. It doesn’t mean you can’t do things differently. Right? It just means that sometimes you have to pause and you have to be like, let me sit with myself and ask myself, like, how did I get here? Or how can I make this better?
CHRISTIAN: Right.
GILDA: And that is part of what I learned in Xicano art. The praxis, right? Social praxis of making. You do, you enact, and then you reflect. Then you adjust it a little bit, and then you go back and you try it again and so on and so forward. As long as you keep moving and keep trying. That is the process of decolonizing. Right? Decolonization is a method. It’s not an end, so to say.
CHRISTIAN: No. Yeah I agree like decolonizing is those moments where you’re like, wow. Like you were you just like, in awe of yourself, of how like, you kind of were just carrying yourself in one way and not really questioning it. And then all of a sudden, you’re questioning everything. Was there anything that I might have missed or that you wanted to cover before you conclude this?
GILDA: I would just add that this exhibition at the Oakland Museum of California is bringing together artists that haven’t necessarily been shown together before. It’s bringing artists from Southern California and Northern California together to tell the story about their calli or their Xicano legacy. The exhibition also includes site specific installations by Xicano, feminist, and queer Xicano artists that have never before been created or seen.
CHRISTIAN: No. Lovely. Thank you for this.
NYGE: That was Gilda Posada, a Xicanx printmaker and Associate Curator at Oakland Museum of California talking to YR Media’s Christian Romo.
To learn more about the exhibit, go to our episode page at Y-R dot Media slash Adult ISH. You’ll find more info about the exhibit “Calli: The Art of Xicanx Peoples,” opening June 14th.
[YR MUSIC]NYGE: Adult ISH is produced by YR Media – a national network of young artists and journalists – creating content for this generation.
Our show is produced by Fredia Lucas, Dominique French, Shaylyn Martos and by me, ya boy Nyge Turner.
Our engineer is James Riley, and our audio engineering fellow is Christian Romo. With special help this week from Christian Escobar!
CHRISTIAN: YR’s director of podcasting is Sam Choo.
YR’s senior director of podcasting and partnerships is Rebecca Martin.
NYGE: Our interns are Menelik Ransom and Jalen Black.
Original music for this episode created by these young musicians at YR: Christian Romo, Anders Knutstad, Noah Holt, Jacob Armenta, Chaz Whitley, Michael Diaz, Sean Luciano Galarza, and David Lawrence.
Music direction by Oliver “Kuya” Rodriguez and Maya Drexler.
Art and visuals are produced by the youth co-led design team at YR Media.
CHRISTIAN: Creative Direction by Pedro Vega Jr.
Designs by Jess Smolinski, Marjerrie Masicat, and Brigido Bautista.
Project management by Eli Arbreton.
Special thanks to Kathy Chaney and Kyra Kyles.NYGE: Adult ISH is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX, a network of independent creator-owned, listener-supported podcasts. Discover audio with vision at Radiotopia.fm.
A prospective hormonal male contraception option is in the works. The promising birth control gel for males is called NES/T and is applied to the shoulders and releases a combination of Testosterone and Nestorone, slowing sperm production to low levels or non-existent.
Produced by Malachi Segers
Edited by Liz Tril
The reality of many of our working lives is that we must dedicate hours at a time to tasks that leave us hunched over in front of computers. Over time, this can cause great discomfort and strain to the neck, back and shoulders if we aren’t intentional about taking breaks and stretching. I’ve certainly suffered as a result of not taking such steps. When faced with several meetings and deadlines, those things can be hard to prioritize and can often be overlooked until the pain becomes too great to ignore. Next thing you know, you’ll be wondering why your sore neck is preventing you from sleeping or why your aching back is limiting your mobility during a run.
Try a few of these stretches throughout your work day to get ahead of such pain. Disclaimer: don’t expect the stretches to suddenly cure tension that’s been built up in your muscles over a long stint of time. In order to see the best results, make these stretches part of your daily routine and research others to address your unique needs. I pulled the stretches below from sources like WebMD, MayoClinic and Medical News Today but there’s an endless amount of how-to videos on Youtube. Performing them a few minutes a day will go a long way.
Neck
Start with a forward and backward tilt, which can be performed seated or while standing. Keep your head squarely over your shoulders and back straight. Lower your chin towards your chest and hold for about 30 seconds. Next, slowly lift your head back up and tilt your chin toward the ceiling until the base of your skill is toward your back. Hold that for a few more seconds before returning to the starting position. Repeat this several times.
Another neck stretch that has helped me is the side tilt. Stand with your feet hip-width apart and arms by your sides. Gently tilt your head toward your right shoulder until you feel a stretch. Try not to raise your shoulders. Hold it for 10 seconds and repeat on the left side. This exercise can be repeated for several sets as well.
Shoulder
Shoulder rolls are a great way to ease discomfort in the shoulders. Stand with your feet hip-width apart and your arms hanging down at the sides of your body. In a continuous movement, lift the shoulders up toward the ears and back until you squeeze your shoulder blades.
This next stretch comes from Harvard Medical School Health Publishing. Stand with your feet hip-width apart and put your left hand on your right shoulder. Cup your left elbow with your right hand. Roll your shoulders down and back as you genly pull your left elbow across your chest. Hold for 10 to 30 seconds and return to the starting position. Repeat on the other side.
Back stretches
Lower back rotational stretches have done wonders for me. Here’s one that works well: lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor. As your shoulders are kept firmly on the floor, slowly roll your bent knees to one side. Hold for a few sends. Slowly go back to the starting position and repeat on the other side.
Noah Johnson is a Chicago-based journalist.
Edited by NaTyshca Pickett
In the post-lockdown era, young individuals are seeking increased human interaction, leading to a surge in small-group travel, according to Business Insider.
Despite the hyper-connectivity facilitated by modern technology and social media, many Millennials and Gen Z feel a pervasive sense of loneliness. While new apps and local community initiatives aim to address “social distance” some young people are opting to embark on vacations with strangers in search of genuine face-to-face connections.
Companies like Intrepid Travel, offering small-group experiences in over 100 countries, including destinations like Morocco and Sri Lanka, have noted a growing interest among young travelers in these group tours.
Matt Berna, President of the Americas for Intrepid Travel, highlights that young individuals prioritize travel over traditional milestones like homeownership. These small-group experiences are curated to provide intimate and authentic encounters, with an average group size of 10 people.
Berna emphasizes that these experiences foster tight-knit camaraderie, which has become increasingly valued by young travelers post-COVID-19.
Intrepid Travel’s offerings cater specifically to 18 to 29-year-olds, with activities designed to provide ample free time for individual exploration and more dynamic outings.
Additionally, there’s been a shift in travel preferences among older millennials and younger Gen X, who seek immersive and off-the-beaten-path adventures. This aligns with the overarching trend of prioritizing experiences over material possessions. Companies like Airbnb have also observed a rise in interest in immersive encounters, reflecting a broader trend toward experiential travel.
While older generations often base vacation plans on popular tourist destinations, younger travelers are more inclined to choose experiences tailored to their interests, such as cycling tours in Vietnam or culinary adventures.
Recognizing this shift in preferences, Intrepid Travel has expanded its age range for young adult trips to accommodate travelers up to 35, based on extensive consumer research.
Popular destinations among young travelers include South America, particularly Peru, which has seen increased interest following a period of political unrest. South Korea has also emerged as a top choice due to its affordability compared to Japan.
There’s a renewed desire among travelers, especially young ones, to reconnect with the world and forge meaningful connections, both with fellow travelers and the destinations they visit.
Noumaan Faiz, (he/him) is a journalist and entertainer from Corona, CA who covers culture and entertainment.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
For the past decade, Gen Z has established a variety of fashion trends, influencing different generations of people to follow along. From streetwear to mermaidcore, Gen Z presented new trends throughout the past decade that consequently meant the cancellation of former trends, deeming them as no longer cool to make way in current fashion senses. The latest Gen Z trend is an official dictation that ankle socks are no longer cool, while crew socks are.
“If you’re a millennial and love wearing ankle or secret socks, you might want to move along because if you’re a fashionista, the latest sock trend will leave you feeling old.” wrote journalist Gerry Cupido from IOL Lifestyle.
Gen Z’s latest trend poses as an identifier between generations, particularly Gen Z and Millenials. In public settings, such as the gym, the type of socks an individual wears seems to determine the age group. As a result, Millennials have quickly hopped on the trend to replace their ankle socks with crew socks in order to stay in line with cool and stylish trends.
Just another millennial trying to fit in with the crew sock trend pic.twitter.com/NR6ahQWMo1
— Hayhayyy23 (@Hayhayyy23) May 21, 2024
Ironically, what is considered to be cool and stylish today was not the case many years ago when Millennials were the fashion trendsetters. Once upon a time, ankle socks were cool while crew socks were not. Although members of Gen Z are the current fashion trendsetters, some trends are consistent with previous ones, such as “Y2K” looks. Thus reflecting the interactions among different generations to facilitate current trends and consider what other trends can be flipped in the future.
While some choose to hop on the crew sock trend, others feel a strong passion for their personal sock preferences, whether that is ankle, crew, no-show, knee-high, colorful, neutral, matched or mix-matched. In all, socks serve their righteous purpose in our fashion and comfort preferences.
Just another millennial trying to fit in with the crew sock trend pic.twitter.com/NR6ahQWMo1
— Hayhayyy23 (@Hayhayyy23) May 21, 2024
Kyana Early (she/her) is a journalist from the San Francisco Bay Area who covers entertainment and culture.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
Dr. Dorothy Jean “DJ” Tillman II is just the latest example of what it means to truly BE Black excellence. The 18-year-old Chicago native received her associate’s degree at 10, her bachelor’s degree at 12, and has just earned her Doctorate from Arizona State University, where she studied integrated behavioral health. For her dissertation, she explored the stigma that prevents university students from getting mental health treatment. She made history as the youngest person to do so, at the grand age of 17.
Last month, she was even recognized at City Hall for her accomplishments as well as her contribution to science, technology, engineering, arts, and math. In addition to her rigorous studies, Tillman gives back to her community in the form of her own service project: Dorothy Jeanius STEAM Leadership Institute. Representing STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math), yet integrating art, represents the essence of Tillman’s vision for her organization.
Tillman points her inspiration to a trip to South Africa with her mother, where she met girls that shared the same interests as her in STEM and arts programs. She took her interactions as an opportunity to bridge the gap. “We were talking about how there are a lot of creative aspects that go into STEM and how we wish that the fun of creativity could be like a part of that, and talking to them about that kind of inspired me to create my name.” Talk about a visionary!
Read more …
This guest post is in partnership with True Star Media.
While you may have seen photography drones used to shoot aerial shots for your favorite content online, did you know that same technology is being used against homeowners?
In today’s digital era, home insurance companies are increasingly leveraging technology to assess properties during policy renewals. CBS 8 reports, some are now using drones and satellite imagery to survey properties.
This method allows the drone imagery obtained from homes to be used as justification for increasing the cost of and or canceling an existing home insurance policy.
Traditionally, insurers sent inspectors to evaluate homes physically. This would allow the inspectors to analyze the surrounding property of the home and assess any damage likeness such as flooding possibilities to then determine the rate a homeowner pays on a policy.
The primary reason for this heightened tech use is the impending changes in home insurance regulations. Companies, according to CBS, are preparing for new rules that will enable them to offer underwriting discounts based on property conditions. Instances where drones have identified debris or even a drained pool have led to dropped policies for some homeowners.
This shift towards stringent assessments aims to identify deferred maintenance issues, pushing homeowners to address potential risks proactively. This means homeowners will soon face choices: either rectify identified issues to retain coverage or opt for higher premiums if they choose not to.
For the 26% of Gen Z homeowners on the market, understanding this shift is crucial to maintaining coverage and potentially securing discounts.
To avoid policy cancellations, you can take several proactive steps:
Regular Property Maintenance: Regularly inspect your property and make necessary repairs to prevent problems that could be flagged by drone inspections.
Document Your Maintenance Efforts: Keep detailed records of all maintenance activities, including dates, receipts, and photos. This documentation can serve as evidence if you need to dispute an insurer’s findings.
Utilize Independent Platforms: If you believe an insurer’s decision is unfair, use independent platforms and consumer advocacy groups to challenge the decision. Organizations like United Policyholders can provide support and resources.
Keeping it gee, while the use of drones and satellite imagery in home insurance assessments may feel intrusive, it underscores the importance of proactive home maintenance and communication with insurers. For all homeowners, staying informed and prepared is essential to avoid policy cancellations and to take advantage of potential discounts.
Miranda Perez (she/her/hers) is a Jersey City, NJ-based journalist who covers the tech industry. Follow her on X and Instagram: @mimithegee.
Edited by NaTyshca Pickett
Many people are told to keep on saving money for decades so that they may enjoy life after working. According to CNBC, Lillian Zhang embarked on retirement planning right after college.
At 20, she opened her first retirement account, a Roth IRA, inspired by insights from online personal finance content. She diligently maxed out contributions for two years using savings and earnings from internships. After securing a job post-college, she shifted focus to maximizing her 401(k) contributions.
Now 24, Zhang boasts six-figure savings spread across three retirement funds. Recently, she added a Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) IRA for her content creation side hustle. She represents a growing cohort of Gen Z retirement enthusiasts.
Today’s young professionals prioritize securing their future more than ever: the average Gen Z individual starts saving for retirement at 22, compared to millennials at 27, Gen Xers at 31, and baby boomers at 37, according to a January survey by Northwestern Mutual.
What’s driving this proactive financial behavior?
Anxiety plays a significant role. Many worry about stagnant wages amid rising living costs, says Paloma Thombley, chief human resources officer at Handshake, a job platform for students and recent graduates.
Americans estimate they need $1.46 million for a comfortable retirement, a 53% increase from 2020, according to Northwestern Mutual.
Gen Z sees millennials struggle with financial milestones like student debt and homeownership. Additionally, many observe older family members facing financial challenges. A December survey by Handshake reveals over half of current college undergraduates either support or expect to support their parents or grandparents financially, with students of color disproportionately burdened.
Meanwhile, Zhang, echoing her peers, needs more confidence in the future of Social Security. Projections suggest Social Security’s trust funds will be depleted by 2035, potentially necessitating benefit cuts without legislative action.
“If the government won’t safeguard your retirement, personal responsibility is key,” Zhang said. “Relying solely on Social Security for income in retirement seems risky.”
With government assistance uncertain, young individuals turn to employers for support.
Retirement benefits rank high among the priorities of the Class of 2024 when considering job offers, with 65% expressing unwillingness to accept an offer lacking an employer-sponsored 401(k), according to Handshake.
Employers play a pivotal role in fueling Gen Z’s retirement savings. A recent Vanguard report reveals individuals aged 18 to 24 are 32% more likely to invest in workplace retirement plans compared to older counterparts at the same age, thanks to enhanced automatic enrollment and improved plan information accessibility.
Genesis Hinckley, a 27-year-old business analyst at Google, exemplified this trend. Hinckley received comprehensive benefits four years into her role, including guidance from a financial advisor. This support enabled her to make informed decisions about her retirement contributions, including taking advantage of a 50% employer match. Though initially unsure, Hinckley adopted a trial-and-error approach, recognizing that experience is the best teacher.
“Gen Z is less apprehensive about investment,” Hinckley said. “We’re willing to navigate and learn along the way.”
Having accrued financial understanding over time, Hinckley now directs 18% of her income to a Roth 401(k), and 5% to a traditional 401(k). She maximizes her contributions annually, resulting in approximately $138,000.
Beyond anxiety, many Gen Z people view aggressive retirement savings as a means of seizing control in an uncertain future devoid of reliable support systems.
Social media fosters a sense of community and knowledge-sharing. Peers on platforms like YouTube and TikTok supplement traditional education, offering insights into tax-efficient investment strategies, compound interest, and the significance of early savings.
Saving for retirement is perceived as an annual objective rather than a distant aspiration. Zhang, for instance, learned in her personal finance class about the advantages of early Roth IRA contributions, prompting swift action before her earnings escalated.
“Young professionals today have unparalleled access to financial guidance and are keen to seize opportunities to secure their future,” Thombley said.
Much like their approach to careers, Gen Z individuals are redefining retirement, envisioning a trajectory distinct from that of their parents.
“People anticipate a career journey different from their parents’,” Thombley said. “Each person envisions their end-of-career scenario, and Gen Zers contemplate this from day one, marking a notable shift.”
As for Zhang, retirement remains a work in progress, yet she feels confident in her ability to pursue her dreams with financial security. For her, it’s about striking a balance between aggressive saving now for future flexibility and retaining the freedom to pursue passions without financial constraints.
Hinckley shares a similar outlook, emphasizing that retirement planning doesn’t necessitate sacrificing present enjoyment. She envisions her retirement as a departure from traditional notions of wealth accumulation, prioritizing time and personal fulfillment over monetary gain.
“It’s about reclaiming time, not just chasing wealth,” Hinckley said. “I don’t want to postpone my passions until I’m 70.”
Noumaan Faiz, (he/him) is a journalist and entertainer from Corona, CA who covers culture and entertainment.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
I still remember how I felt in those last few months of high school. Getting ready for prom with my friends, waiting for the bell in the classes I hated, and saying “See you later” to my friends before we went our separate ways to the colleges we committed to.
While I was glad and grateful to be moving into this next chapter in my academic journey, I still had no idea what college would have in store for me when I arrived. Since high school was a breeze for me, I thought college wouldn’t be so different. But I was completely unprepared for the whole new ballpark I was about to enter.
I grew up in the Bay Area and was fortunate enough to get into one of the most renowned schools in California — UC Berkeley. Even though I was worried about finances, my family convinced me that this was an opportunity I could not miss out on.
I had incredible professors who taught me valuable life lessons and peers who inspired me to do my best. Dorming with two other roommates left me with memories I will never forget.
Taking the bus to Emeryville and the BART to SF with my roommates and friends exposed me to all the delicious foods in the Bay Area. But in Berkeley, I don’t have to travel far to have a satisfied stomach either. At the end of the day, $16 is all you need to get two rolls of beef kimbap from Kimchi Garden.
Despite its image as a competitive school, the hardest part about college wasn’t the course content, but battling and overcoming myself. I was challenged in many other ways that I didn’t anticipate.
Learning how to manage my mental health, for example, was a lesson I had to learn the hard way. Homesickness hit me hard. Going from seeing my parents every day to forgetting to call them once a week was difficult. I’d go home every once in a while when I got sick of the dining hall food.
During finals week, I was so stressed about my workload that I had a panic attack that sent me to the ER. Thankfully, that experience led me to seek out therapy, which majorly helped my symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Everyone talks about “imposter syndrome” when talking about student life in any top university. I struggled with my own form of imposter syndrome as well. I came to Berkeley as an aspiring English major. I juggled back and forth between a more traditional route to success, such as becoming a doctor, and studying what I actually enjoyed, even if it didn’t make me any money. Fortunately, I’m grateful to say that I’ve found my healthy balance.
By the end of my freshman year, I’d probably considered over 15 college major and minor programs. After taking an amazing introductory course in the Sociology department, I’m more sure about my decision to take on a Sociology degree on a pre-law track.
I don’t know how next semester will go, but if this year has taught me anything, it’s that change and uncertainty is a necessary part of being alive. Our comfort zones are there to ground us, but also serve as reminders for us to grow past our perceived limits.
Knives Nguyen (they/she/he), is a journalist from the Bay Area who covers entertainment, culture and student life. You can connect with them on LinkedIn: @knivesnguyen.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
Find yourself wanting to travel this summer, but don’t necessarily have the means for it? Well, the next best thing, at this age, is to take day trips! Taking the train to explore the different cities throughout Illinois can be a fun way to spend the summer with your friends or family.
Here are some of the most fun, yet convenient locations to travel to:
Wisconsin: Wisconsin may be your friends or family’s best bet for a fun quick trip away from the city and is just three hours driving distance. I recommend checking out Wisconsin’s many state and national forests and parks.
Indiana Dunes: Looking for the perfect beach for a picnic or wanting to try out hiking? Indiana Dunes National Park is the place for you! Only a 45-minute drive from Chicago, the Dunes is the perfect day trip, offering a plethora of activities for you and your friends.
Starved Rock State Park: In Oglesby, IL, is where you will find the gorgeous Starved Rock State Park. From hiking the trails to watching wildlife, this park is a must-visit.
Anderson Japanese Gardens: Located in Rockford, IL, just under two hours outside of Chicago, is the Anderson Japanese Gardens. You have the choice between guiding yourself or a guided tour through this botanical garden. Basking in Japanese architecture or feeding the fishes, this garden is the epitome of beauty.
Read more …
This guest post is in partnership with True Star Media.
This might be the most embarrassing Zoom call we’ve seen yet. Yeah family Zoombombs and wardrobe malfunctions are one thing, but at least they aren’t in front of a judge about to sentence you!
Host/Producer/Editor: Malachi Segers-Seker
The Lowdown gives you the latest in news, pop culture, and everything else your friends will be talking about tomorrow. Don’t get FOMO, get The Lowdown with Malachi, every Friday here at YR Media.
For the first time in American history, a former president has been convicted of a felony.
On Thursday, a New York jury found Donald Trump guilty of a whopping 34 charges. These charges were of him falsifying business records. Trump paid off his former attorney, Michael Cohen, to give money to an adult film star, Stormy Daniels, to keep quiet about an affair Trump had with her before the 2016 election.
Daniels’ attorney, Clark Brewster, told CNN she was “really emotional” following Thursday’s conviction of Trump.
Alana Evans, Daniels’ friend, called it a “joyous day.”
Trump’s sentencing will be on July 11th, at 9AM CT. You’ll still have to hear the former president angrily tweet about it until then, since he won’t have to serve any jail time in the meantime. However, he is facing the possibility of prison time – up to four years for each conviction, but nothing will be decided until that date.
Read more …
This guest post is in partnership with True Star Media.
Before you dive into what’s happening today, take a look at what may have fallen off your radar earlier this week.
Should Fans Have Rights to Social Media Posts?
Adult ISH
Half of Gen Z Feels Like They’reLiving a Double Life
Cybertruck’s Sharp PanelsAre Slicing Drivers (and Vegetables)
The Gee Code: How Can Gen Z Score Big in Tech Sports Networking
NBA All-Star Chris Paul does a lot for HBCUs on and off the court. Here’s a look at how his projects and initiatives have helped many for the better, including the Chris Paul HBCU Challenge. Produced by Ariyana Griffin
Almost half of Gen Z Americans feel like they’re living a “double life” — between their online and offline selves, according to new research.
The survey of 2,000 American respondents, split evenly by generation, found that 46% of Gen Z respondents feel this duality, where their personality online vastly differs from how they present themselves in the real world.
But they’re not the only ones: this feeling was shared by 27% of respondents across generations, with 38% of Millennials experiencing this, as well as 18% of Gen X and 8% of Baby Boomers.
Respondents were also asked if they’re keeping their online persona a secret from any family members — one-fifth of respondents agreed. Across younger generations, 31% of Gen Z respondents admitted their online world is a secret from family, while 27% of Millennials said the same.
This research was conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Lenovo for the latest iteration of its “Work for Humankind” project, called “Meet Your Digital Self.” In this project, Lenovo brought the online personas of two Gen Z individuals to life as three-dimensional avatars.
The avatars not only resembled each individual, but also responded to real-time conversation, adjusting their tones, movements and facial expressions based on individual idiosyncrasies and emotions.
The goal was to enable meaningful conversations between the Gen Z participants, their family, and the avatars, deepening understanding of each of the three participants’ online worlds.
The survey highlighted the value of these conversations, as 53% of Gen Z respondents said it’s easier to express themselves online than offline.
That’s compared to 40% of respondents overall — including 49% of Millennials and 35% of Gen X, while less than a quarter (23%) of Baby Boomers said the same.
And while it may be easier for some respondents to express themselves online, half (49%) admit they sometimes feel a disconnect between who they are online and offline — with that number again highest for Gen Z respondents (68%).
For those who experience this disconnect, regardless of age, it’s led to feelings of anxiety (18%), loneliness (17%) and depression (15%).
Respondents were also asked what they were more comfortable sharing online. About a fifth were more comfortable sharing their ambitions (21%), their fears or insecurities (17%) and their beliefs — political or otherwise (19% each) — online than they would be offline.
Compared to their offline self, their online persona also has clearer likes/dislikes (22%), and different likes/dislikes (17%) — as well as more controversial opinions and values (15% each).
“Around one in five of the world’s young people have a mental health condition, reflecting a global crisis. We are committed to developing smarter technology to address some of the world’s most pressing issues,” said Gerald Youngblood, CMO, Lenovo North America. “Advancements in AI and smarter technologies allowed us to explore new and creative ways to use technology for good. We hope this social experiment will drive more conversations between friends and family about the need to understand each other’s worlds for the sake of mental wellbeing.”
Originally published by Talker News
EpisodesSubscribeHoller/FollowBrown v. Board of Education ended school segregation 70 years ago this month. How has education changed for Black students since?
Adult ISH is featuring a special episode of MindShift, a podcast from KQED that “explores the future of learning.”
In a conversation that points out an often-ignored downside to desegregation in education, MindShift host and YR Media alum Nimah Gobir chats with Bettina Love, author of “Punished for Dreaming: How School Reform Harms Black Children and How We Heal,” and co-founder of the Abolitionist Teaching Network.
The conversation explores how the Supreme Court ruling on Brown drastically reduced the number of Black teachers working, the impact of Ronald Reagan’s school crime policies on Black students, and how reparations can be used to repair some of the harm done to Black children in the education system.
Adult ISH is produced by YR Media and brought to you by PRX’s Radiotopia. Be sure to follow all our socials @YRAdultISH!
Show your support for Adult ISH with a five-star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, or by making a donation at: YRMedia.org/Donate. THANK YOU!
MindShift Episode Transcript
Elon Musk and Tesla are once more in the spotlight as the Cybertruck is under the radar due to its most recent unconventional design and its flaws … Mainly the sharp panels that have gone viral for slicing their owners. Will the company recall due to this safety hazard?
Produced by Malachi Segers
Edited by Liz Tril
Social media definitely has its strengths when it comes to creativity, networking, and communicating with millions of people across a variety of topics. However, what is the particular line drawn between freedom of speech and plagiarism if an artist essentially steals an original thought from any fan who may have expressed their excitement or anticipation for certain music releases.
As someone who’s heavily present on social media, it’s not uncommon to witness users’ tweet their own lyrics as to what they may expect from their favorite artists, but what happens if a fan realizes that their favorite artist used their original thought without them receiving any compensation?
Therefore the true question remains: Should fans have rights to the posts they make? What if an artist uses their material in their music and receives excessive revenue? This sparked debate when Kendrick Lamar released one of his latest diss tracks, “Not Like Us,” against Drake, and came under fire when certain fans realized that he, now nicknamed “Kendrick [‘Plagiarism’] Lamar,” allegedly stole from their posts/material. Complex reported that @mladyfootlocker wrote in a 2121 tweet, “Certified Lover BOY? More Like Certified Pedophile” And @Cammyiceee tweeted back in 2016, “If she listen to Drake she a OVHoe.” According to XXL.com, the same user recently tweeted, “Damn @kendricklamar can I get in the writer credits???”
Alexis Avery, 25, has been a long-time fan of Lamar, but since his recent diss tracks with familiar social media user posts, she feels that artistry is becoming less unique. Also, that it’s unfair for someone to take a lyric from a fan and not acknowledge them.
Read more …
This guest post is in partnership with True Star Media.
Unitree unveiled a new robot with super flexibility and the ability to fold itself into a transportable package. Plus, EA Sports College Football is returning, finally, after a long hiatus to a lawsuit involving the use of the names of college athletes.
Produced by Jason Sanford
From startup founders seeking funds, to young professionals navigating their early-career in the fast-paced world of tech and startups, networking is crucial. However, traditional networking events can feel stuffy and impersonal. For Zoomers, who value wellness, community, and authenticity – sports events offer a dynamic alternative.
Here are three athletic ways Gen Z can dive into tech sports networking.
Pickleball: The Fastest-Growing Sport in America
Pickleball is not just for retirees anymore. With its easy-to-learn rules and quick games, it’s attracting a younger, tech-savvy crowd. According to Forrester,19% of US Gen Z online adults and 15% of Millennials are already playing pickleball. Tech companies are catching on, organizing pickleball tournaments and leagues. These events provide a relaxed environment where you can meet industry peers, exchange ideas, and even brainstorm startup concepts. Whether you’re playing or cheering from the sidelines, pickleball is a fantastic way to make meaningful connections.
Run Clubs: Where Fitness Meets Professional Growth
Running is more popular than ever among Gen Z, with 60 percent of young adults citing it as their preferred exercise once a week. Run clubs are popping up in tech hubs across the country, offering a blend of fitness and networking. These clubs often organize weekly runs, charity events, and social gatherings. Joining a run club allows you to bond with fellow tech enthusiasts over shared goals and challenges, fostering a sense of camaraderie that extends beyond the track. Plus, discussing tech trends while running is a great way to keep conversations flowing naturally.
City Girl Golf: Breaking Barriers in a Traditional Sport
Golf has traditionally been seen as an exclusive sport, but initiatives like City Girl Golf are changing that. This community-driven organization aims to make golf accessible and enjoyable for women of all backgrounds, including those in tech. With golf events, workshops, and social outings, City Girl Golf provides a supportive space to learn the game and network with like-minded professionals. Golfing together can open doors to new opportunities and partnerships, making it an ideal sport for tech networking.
Keeping it gee, embracing these opportunities can lead to valuable connections, professional growth, and a healthier lifestyle. So, lace up your sneakers – your next big opportunity could be just a game away.
Miranda Perez (she/her/hers) is a Jersey City, NJ-based journalist who covers the tech industry. Follow her on X and Instagram: @mimithegee.
Edited by NaTyshca Pickett
Less than half of Americans know the true meaning behind Memorial Day, according to a survey.
The survey of 2,000 Americans last year revealed just 43% were aware it’s a holiday honoring those who died in service while in the U.S. Armed Forces.
Twenty-eight percent mistakenly believed Memorial Day was a holiday honoring all military veterans who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces — which is actually Veterans Day.
It was revealed to be a common mistake: A third of respondents (36%) admitted to being unsure of the difference between Memorial Day and Veterans Day.
Conducted by OnePoll on behalf of University of Phoenix, the survey tested Americans on their knowledge of the upcoming holiday, which, this year, falls on Monday, May 27.
That’s news to some respondents: The survey found less than half (46%) of respondents knew Memorial Day is celebrated on the last Monday of May.
When asked about the Moment of Remembrance, a moment wherein Americans are asked to pause for a duration of one minute to remember those who have died in U.S. military service, half of those polled hadn’t heard of it.
“For many Americans, Memorial Day is a much-needed day off to relax and enjoy their family. It is important to understand that it is also a solemn day of remembrance. For me, as a combat veteran, and for military members and their families, this day holds great significance. Not everyone I served with was fortunate enough to return home,” said Brian Ishmael, senior director, University of Phoenix Office of Military and Veteran Affairs and former U.S. Army sergeant.
Originally published by Talker News
Once a year, my home is decorated with grapefruits, oranges and wall hangings for the Lunar New Year. We purchase these supplies from Oakland’s Chinatown — its streets decorated with festive banners and lanterns.
But for the first time in my life, I celebrated the holiday in China. From the moment I stepped off the tarmac into the Haikou airport in Hainan, I knew the festivities at home would be minuscule in comparison.
Glowing red lanterns lined every walk of the airport and every street; hotels boasted massive fake orange trees with red envelopes glued on to every branch. Weaving through motorcycles and huge families, I counted at least 20 storefronts on Haikou’s “Old Street” with extravagant lantern displays, leading into shelves of paper cutting and red envelope designs.
On New Year’s Eve, we stayed at my great uncle’s house in the countryside. We did the same pre-dinner rituals that I do at home, which consist of preparing a meal, lighting incense and burning fake money for ancestors.
The next day we continued our festivities. My family and I lit up firecrackers at 5:30 a.m. on New Year’s Day. A huge variety of explosives were available in village shops, though not in the bigger cities. We bought everything from pea-sized poppers to full-on fireworks.
My parents set off a small string of firecrackers outside our home 20 years ago and neighbors almost called the police on them, so I’ve never been able to experience that tradition at home before this trip. We stayed in Wenchang the following days, which is a city right next to the ocean.
A big dinner of Wenchang chicken, fish, beef, vegetable dishes and soup is the center of my typical New Year’s Eve back at home. But in Hainan, every single lunch and dinner was twice as extravagant as my “big dinner.”
Hainan is an island, so the seafood is delicious. But it’s also famous for its chicken. Many village households raise and butcher their own chickens, so I had some of the freshest chicken you can get. I can’t count the amount of times I was told to eat more.
One of the most apparent cultural norms I noticed during my week in Hainan was how welcoming and willing Chinese people are to consider you family, which I think especially applies during the Lunar New Year.
Since my mom lived in Hainan for the first 21 years of her life, she has countless friends and family members that still live there or were visiting home for the holiday. We had meals with her middle and high school friends, friends-of-friends. We chatted with people she hadn’t seen in 32 years and stayed with people who required a long explanation to explain our relation to. On the third day of the new year, we had lunch with over 20 family members.
At home, we don’t have anyone in close enough proximity to visit during the holiday, so it’s just my immediate family. Seeing everyone in Hainan come together and be excited to connect with me — even through language barriers — made me so appreciative of the gatherings. It was challenging, but well worth it when my fragmented Hainanese and Mandarin vocabulary and my second cousin’s modest English could get through to other people.
The incredible hospitality, kindness, familial love and spirit I witnessed and felt on my trip started my Year of the Dragon in the best way possible.
Audrey La Jeunesse (she/her) is a freelance writer with YR Media’s AAPI team.
Edited by Amber Ly
A California bill aimed at prohibiting the sale of anti-aging skin products to children under 13 failed to advance in the state Assembly. The legislation, introduced by Democratic Assemblymember Alex Lee, was brought forward at an Appropriations Committee meeting and did not progress.
Here are the details from NBC News:
Lee proposed AB 2491 in response to the growing trend of young children being influenced by online skincare fads. Over the past year, there has been significant discussion on social media about “Sephora kids,” with viral posts depicting young children swarming stores like Sephora, creating messes, and even clashing with adults over popular skin serums and lip oils. These children, often still having baby teeth, have amassed large social media followings by sharing their skincare routines and shopping sprees.
Experts have raised concerns that some skin care products popularized on social media can harm young skin. In February, seven dermatologists told NBC News that they had seen a surge in pre-teens with skin issues such as red, dry, bumpy, and itchy rashes caused by unnecessary skincare products.
The bill, which had passed the Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee, sought to ban the sale of over-the-counter anti-aging products containing vitamin A derivatives (like retinoids and retinol) or alpha hydroxy acids (such as glycolic, ascorbic, and citric acids) to children under 13.
Despite the setback, Lee remains dedicated to protecting children from the adverse effects of anti-aging products. He highlighted that 20 California legislators had sent a letter to the Personal Care Products Council (PCPC), urging the industry to take concrete steps to prevent children from purchasing these products.
Lee emphasized that the multibillion-dollar beauty industry has a responsibility to address this issue meaningfully. In response, the PCPC urged legislators to oppose the bill, arguing that it was a rushed attempt to counter a social media trend and would overregulate safe products like sunscreens and moisturizers.
If enacted, the bill would have required sellers to enforce the age limit through measures such as posting prominent notices, verifying ages at checkout, and prohibiting prepaid credit card purchases for these products online. The PCPC, while acknowledging Lee’s concerns, cited significant compliance challenges, including the practicality of cashiers verifying product claims and customer ages at checkout.
Noumaan Faiz, (he/him) is a journalist and entertainer from Hayward, CA who covers culture and entertainment.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
Before you dive into what’s happening today, take a look at what may have fallen off your radar earlier this week.
Women’s RightsStill on the Line
7 Makeup Brands With Shade-Inclusive Products
Adult ISH: Life Transitions in Young Adulthood
Practical Tips for Supporting Friends’ Mental Health
Gen Z, Millennials Removing College from Their Budgets
Once Morehouse College announced President Biden would be the commencement speaker, students and faculty started protesting to support Palestine. And then the valedictorian had some words to say on the issue too.
Produced by Ariyana Griffin
EpisodesSubscribeHoller/FollowWhat kind of adult do you want to be? How do you evolve into that version of yourself?
Adult ISH host Nyge Turner and YR Media youth co-host presenter Christian Romo feature Elise Hu, author, journalist, and host of TED Talks Daily, in a conversation about the challenging steps she took after high school to become an adult. Elise shares why it’s important to ask for help, the power in finding mentors, and gently reminds us that you always have a chance to evolve.
Adult ISH is produced by YR Media and brought to you by PRX’s Radiotopia. Be sure to follow all our socials @YRAdultISH!
Show your support for Adult ISH with a five-star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, or by making a donation at: YRMedia.org/Donate. THANK YOU!
TED Talks mentioned in this episode “Do schools kill creativity?” – Sir Ken Robinson
“You don’t actually know what your future self wants” – Shankar Vedantam
“The psychology of your future self” – Dan Gilbert
WorkLife with Adam Grant, a TED Original podcast
Episode Transcript[YR Music]NYGE: Welcome to Adult ISH – produced by Y-R Media – and brought to you by Radiotopia from PRX. I’m Nyge Turner.
CHRISTIAN: And I’m Christian Romo. I’ll be helping out with today’s episode about navigating life transitions, including how to keep some sense of control.
ELISE: Feelings can be really powerful to guide our thinking and then from our thinking, then we can take action. So feeling to thinking, thinking to doing. But the worst mistake that we can make is just jump straight from feeling to doing (laughs). And so, during times of transition and times of confusion and chaos or crisis, I have to remember to actually slow it way down. To slow it way down, to remember to be thoughtful about things.
CHRISTIAN: That’s Elise Hu, author, journalist, and host of TED Talks Daily – a podcast featuring world-leading thinkers from live events dropping knowledge about tech, entertainment, design, and many other topics.
Before TED, Elise was a host and reporter at NPR. But she still vividly remembers life right after high school and the challenging steps everyone has to climb to become an adult. Let’s kick it off with a little bit of her bio.
ELISE: I was born in the early 80s, so I’m technically a Millennial or an Elder Millennial. But, I feel like there are folks who are born kind of between ‘76 and ‘84, ‘85 that don’t quite identify with the same cultural milestones as Gen Xers or Gen Y, which are Millennials, and so I like to consider myself a Cusper – kind of toggling in between. Because we were growing up with still the memories and in the shadows of the Civil Rights Movement and the Vietnam War, which was pretty close to the memories of a lot of our parents. But also, we had the internet, and I had cell phones in high school. So it’s kind of toggling this in-between place, which has also allowed us to kind of not have very strong opinions about our particular generational place.
NYGE: (Laughs) Right. How has that shaped like, how you related to other generations?
ELISE: I feel like it’s easier to shift as the culture shifts around us. So it’s not hard for me to kind of keep up with or not feel too left behind as my daughter’s generation, which is, I guess she is the tail end of Z or the beginning of [Generation] Alpha. And, as their generation sort of defines culture in their own way, I’m like, “okay, that’s fine. I can go with that.” You know, I don’t feel very resistant to change in the ways that a lot of I think, Gen Xers and certainly Boomers can be.
NYGE: Well, I’m curious. How like, what pushback did you feel from older generations as you transitioned into adulthood?
ELISE: Well, there was always the sense that Millennials lacked direction and didn’t want leadership and needed a lot of instruction in order to get things done. There was also the sense that Millennials, as we were coming into the workforce, didn’t want to work hard. Maybe this is what older generations are constantly saying to younger generations…
NYGE: (Laughter) Right.
ELISE: But, my issue with that is that we shouldn’t have to work harder with each generation. Like, if we believe that technological advance is making things easier and solving a lot of problems and that the old notion of working – a 40-hour workweek, and five days a week, and over time, and all those things – is outdated. It’s based on the early industrial era when people all worked in factories. Then, we should be working less. We should be working less hard. And so, I just reject this notion of constantly being dismissed or disparaged for not stepping up, when Baby Boomers never got out of the way. And so that was kind of my beef that I saw growing up.
NYGE: Yeah, definitely. That makes a ton of sense. As the host of TED Talks Daily, you’ve been exposed to a master class of examples of people sharing all kinds of transitions in life. What’s an example of one lesson that really hit home with you?
ELISE: Yeah. So, I get to present TED Talks every day, which means I think I watch hundreds of TED Talks each year. And so there’s a lot of TED Talks that stick with me for various reasons. But people often ask me kind of like, “Which ones are your favorite?” “What do you go to?” The most popular TED Talk of all time is the one about education from Sir Ken Robinson – which, if you haven’t seen it, it is a call to teach our kids differently. It says that education is kind of all wrong, if it’s not allowing kids to do what they do best – which is imagine. So that’s an awesome talk. But, the one that I think about all the time is from Dan Gilbert, who I think is a psychologist and a researcher in psychology.
DAN: All of us are walking around with an illusion. An illusion that history, our personal history has just come to an end, that we have just recently become the people that we were always meant to be and will be for the rest of our lives. At every age from 18 to 68 in our data set, people vastly underestimated how much change they would experience over the next 10 years.
ELISE: This really cracked something open for me because; and I didn’t even realize that we were living in this kind of illusion, this notion that – okay, who I am today, me Elise today, and you, Nygel, today are fully formed.
NYGE: Right.
ELISE: You have finally arrived at the person that you’re going to be. And whether I’m happy, whether I’m sad, whether I’m satisfied, whether I’m dissatisfied – all of that I can judge from this vantage point, in this moment. But that’s such a fallacy because if you look at where you are today and your beliefs, your likes, your dislikes, you know all of your different preferences. Think about how different you are than the person that you were 10 years ago. And yet we don’t expect that the person 10 years from now, the person that you’ll be 10 years from now, is going to be as vastly different. And so it just kind of opened my eyes as to the possibility of change. And because of this, you know, if you’re making a decision to get married, right? Or you’re making a decision, some sort of lifetime decision. The person who made that decision could be a stranger to you 10 years from now and doubly a stranger to you 20 years from now. In which case, the person that you married, if they don’t change in the same way, or they don’t grow with you in the same way, this is how you could easily be estranged from the choice that you made 10 years ago or 20 years ago. And so I think it’s a powerful reminder that we are growing and changing constantly, that nothing is fixed, that we’re always dynamic. This gets into my work a little bit. As somebody who writes a lot about bodily autonomy and beauty culture, that our bodies are also not fixed. Right? So a lot of women are always saying like, I want to get my body back. But back to what? Like what fixed point is what you want to get back to? Because is it high school?
NYGE: (Laughter) Right.
ELISE: You know, like what is ideal? Because we are never just stopped. Like time has never just stopped. We’re constantly evolving and growing and dynamic. And I think that’s actually something very hopeful.
NYGE: Yeah. I think, kind of like you said, that every generation has their, like, kind of cultural milestones, like a specific movie that you can look to that defines your generation. I also feel like every generation has like a year or a time period that they look back to as like the golden ages of their, of their generation. And for my generation, everybody always talks about Summer 2016.
ELISE: Why Summer 2016? Oh, it was the year before. It was the summer before Trump was elected.
NYGE: Yeah.
ELISE: So there’s that.
NYGE: True.
NYGE: But everybody always points back to that. I remember on Twitter, it was just always this thing where everybody was like, no matter who I talked to, everybody had an amazing Summer 2016. I always felt left out of that. I did not have an amazing Summer 2016. I went through a horrible breakup, and it was the worst summer ever for me. So I always, I mean, it was a horrible breakup for that time period for being like a year or two years out of high school. It wasn’t like, you know, it wasn’t that bad. But I remember at the time, I was just like, “Man, I don’t like this.”
ELISE: Yeah, but but the bottom line is, and what I think is so hopeful and gives us all hope, is that time is really powerful, and it moves forward, and it transforms our preferences, and it can reshape how we think about things. It can alter our personalities. And we know this only when we’re looking back, when we’re looking back at how much we changed from the Nygel you were in 2016. And the Elise I was in 2016. So only when we look back do we realize how much change happens. But I think that gives us hope. Right? That things are fixed, and that if you are having a bad summer, and if you are having a bad time, then it’s not forever.
NYGE: Right.
ELISE: And that we can also have a lot of hope about how we’re going to change and grow and expand. And that’s why I like to pair the Dan Gilbert talk with another one that was more recent from Shankar Vedantam, who is the host of a podcast called Hidden Brain. He’s a longtime science journalist. And he talks about the same notion. Right? That our future selves are unknowable to us.
SHANKAR: Our future cells are also going to have capacities and strengths, and wisdom that we do not possess today. So when we confront opportunities and we hesitate. When I tell myself, “I don’t think I have it in me to quit my job and start my own company.” Or I tell myself, “I don’t have it in me to learn a musical instrument at the age of 52.” Or I tell myself, “I don’t have it in me to look after a disabled child.” What we really should be saying is, “I don’t have the capacity to do those things – today. That doesn’t mean I won’t have the capacity to do those things tomorrow.”
ELISE: Isn’t that nice?
NYGE: Yeah, there’s a ton of, there’s a ton of hope in that.
ELISE: Yeah. I feel like that whole idea, after spending some time thinking about these TED Talks, is why I started playing tennis. Because I never thought I was very athletic, because of my family. My family is athletic. My dad and my brother especially. And my brother has like a 130-mile-per-hour monster serve. And they were always like, “Ugh, Elise, you look like an octopus getting electrocuted when you play tennis. And it’s so awkward. And you’re so clumsy.” And so, it really shattered my belief that I could actually do things athletic with my body.
NYGE: Right.
ELISE: But the more I thought about the fact that we have the capacity to change and grow, and this is always – so it’s at 20, it’s at 40, it’s at 90. Then, the more I opened myself up to opportunities or trying things that I had never done before. So, don’t believe that you are “fixed,” and don’t believe the myths about who you are, because who you are is constantly changing.
NYGE: I kind of feel like you didn’t answer this a little bit already, but given the clips that we’ve heard, how should we think about the, our past and future self? That’s different then the way that we usually do.
ELISE: The big idea is that your future self is unknowable to you. That you don’t know your future self yet you are going to only understand who you are. In the retrospect, in retrospect, and how you’ve changed in retrospect. But you can’t bet that just because you are this way, today is going to be the same way you are tomorrow. It’s an audacious position, and it’s also a hopeful one. Yeah. It makes me really excited about the future, because things that get me down, like if I fail in some endeavor. It right now, it’s not apparent to me how that failure might actually be directing me towards the path I need to go on. Like, you can only understand that later.
NYGE: And there is a lot of hope in that as well. But me being perfectly honest, it also is overwhelming because…
ELISE: Yeah!
NYGE: It’s, I mean well, since you’re constantly changing, how do you keep and maintain romantic and even just long-term friendships?
ELISE: Yeah. Like, does it make us fickle?
NYGE: Yeah. Just knowing that you’re, that you’re going to change into different people.
ELISE: Well, I might change my mind.
NYGE: Yeah. How do you approach that?
ELISE: I was listening to Adam Grant, who also hosts a podcast for the TED network, and he is a business and behavioral economist at Wharton. And he was talking about the difference between our values and our beliefs. In that, your values are what you think is important, and your beliefs are what you think is true. And so if one of your values is curiosity, then your beliefs can change because what you think is true can change based on new information. But your values stay the same because that is something that is important to the core of who you are. So I think that in the face of this knowledge that we can change our beliefs all the time and change our preferences. Stay true to your values. Because those values can be really core to who you are. And I know for me, growth is one of my values. Curiosity is one of my values. And so if I hold true to that and there are some things about me that are fixed, my values and those haven’t changed. I think they’ve been very helpful and centering as I’ve grown up and gone through various ups and downs.
[BREAK w/ YR Music]CHRISTIAN: Now, let’s get back to our conversation with Elise Hu and hear how many of her transitions weren’t just mental or emotional.
ELISE: Yeah, I feel like the transition points in my life tended to involve a move, like a geographical move. And so they were clearly-defined transitions. For example, I was born and raised in Saint Louis, Missouri, in a very lily-white suburb that I’m really glad I got out of. I love Missouri, and I love St. Louisans, but I felt as though I was constantly part of an out-group or just even isolated because there were so few people of color. And so, moving away from Saint Louis into Texas at the start of my ninth-grade year was really big for me, and I think that opened up a whole different world and different possibility for me. And then, I ended up going back to Missouri for college to study at the University of Missouri School of Journalism, and following that time in college, we had this something we call the “Lost Summer.” It’s sort of like your summer of 2016 Nygel, the great summer, except for you personally.
NYGE: (Laughter)
ELISE: But yeah, we have this “Lost Summer.” It was a summer after college graduation and before any of us had to get real jobs. And this really lives on in a lot of me and my journo grad friends’ minds. Because it was this platonic ideal in which we were adults, we were like fully grown adults. We were all like 21 or 22, and everything was ahead of us. It was nothing but possibility, nothing but open road ahead of us, but no actual responsibilities. It was just a weekend all the time for an entire summer. So that was a big, really meaningful time, I think, in terms of just bonding and developing friendships. I ended up getting my first job in Waco, Texas – where I was making minimum wage, so I think less than $17,000 a year, and had to live on that. And then I got burglarized when I was living in Waco. So I had to deal with a whole bunch of tribulation in the first years of adulting. And I think that it changed me in that, now I have a really loose, or I have this understanding of the ephemerality of things like physical objects, clothes or golf clubs or musical instruments because those were the things that got stolen from my apartment. So now I have this mindset of thinking, “Gosh, the most important things about who we are and our connections to one another are actually not material objects. They’re not things that a burglar could steal from you.” And then another big one. I worked as a TV reporter for several years, and then I left television news and got engaged the same year – 2009, I think, to start the Texas Tribune, which is a nonprofit digital news start-up in which I was employee number three and my journalist fiance was employee number two. So this is the first time that, and I think we were the only couple that was hired by that organization. We had to like, buy trash cans for the office because that’s how new it was. And like how all-hands-on-deck it was to start something from scratch. And I liked starting from scratch so much. And that feeling of energy and electricity of it so much that I feel as though I’ve always been chasing that in my career, this, this notion of newness and innovation. And so after I got hired away from Texas to go to D.C. to work for NPR, what I was doing at NPR was a startup within an institution. I was doing this whole new state government reporting project, so we were starting something new again. And then I had this opportunity to leave and move to Seoul and open a bureau for NPR, which was starting from scratch and so bureaucratic and all the visas and getting residency and just the business licenses and the lawyers to just open up business in another country whose language I didn’t speak. Now I still barely speak it, but it was so challenging. But also, it felt similar to starting in the Texas Tribune, where you’re just traversing new ground and doing something for the very first time. And that I think all these kinds of transitions have shaped me and helped build a kind of resilience in me too. Not only that I might lose things to burglary in Waco, Texas, but also that there is always so much possibility. So if things do get torn down, that you can start again. And that, I think, is a real through-line to a lot of my career and my life.
NYGE: Yeah, definitely. So, rewinding a little bit, something that we’ve been talking a lot about this season too is just making that transition into adulthood and managing the emotions. And, all of the big things that come with that, all of those huge changes that come with that. So for your transition between college and landing your first job, how did you manage all those changes and challenges from that transition?
ELISE: I called friends and family a lot. I rely on asking for help. And the older I get, the more I realize that that might be my superpower. That asking for help is so crucial because humans are wired for belonging, and we need each other, and we are all connected to one another in a big giant web. But capitalism and competition can often alienate us from one another or isolate us from one another such that it feels as though we’re looking over our shoulders or in competition. But instead, if you resist that notion that we’re in some sort of race because none of us are going to win that, and just remember that instead we’re actually in a web and in a network, and we need each other. Then hopefully, it helps remind us that we can ask for help and that people near us are often struggling with the same thing. I really regret not reaching out, for example, and finding solidarity with other people of color when I was constantly outnumbered in my early newsrooms. Right? Because I was feeling I was getting kind of the micro-aggression or getting confused with the other Asian girl and things like that, which were great opportunities for actually befriending the other folks that were confronting the same things, and so asking for help forging those friendships, that’s what got me through. You have to learn how to trust people and know that you’re not on your own. You know that people are often really willing to be there for you. I remember I often kind of looked to mentors. I wanted to have people who had already been through things or people who were really great writers. I would try and learn from them and try and befriend them, and I think that’s really important. And I and so many of my mentors are the reason why I’ve done so many of the things that I’ve gotten to do and had the privilege to start, but something that we shouldn’t overlook is reaching out to your peers and seeing your peers and your successors as mentors, too. So I think that’s what really got me through. If there’s anything that I really want to impart on any podcast that I’m on or in any conversation that I have, it’s that we are all works in progress.
NYGE: Right.
ELISE: Another big life transition was obviously the pandemic year. You know, too. That was huge. And it was like, so destabilizing and rocked all of us in various ways. But that was the year I decided to break up with my husband, too, and split up and begin the process of divorce. And so we were Zoom schooling our kids and trying to nest. And “nesting” is this idea that, like, the kids don’t move from house to house.
NYGE: Yeah.
ELISE: The parents come in and out of it. So it was so wild. Like, no school. No, like daycare. You’re having to parent all day. You’re still trying to work. And then me and my ex-husband, like, didn’t have a permanent home. And, so it was really crazy. But, I also think that it was such a fruitful period. Now, looking back, because we can only understand ourselves in retrospect. But, you know, you just have to take it one day at a time. Feelings can be really powerful to guide our thinking. And then from our thinking, then we can take action. So feeling to thinking, thinking to doing. But the worst mistake that we can make is just jump straight from feeling to doing.
NYGE: Right.
ELISE: And so during times of transition and times of confusion and chaos or crisis, I have to remember to actually slow it way down, to slow it way down, to remember to be thoughtful about things.
[YR Music]CHRISTIAN: Again, that’s Elise Hu. Author, journalist, and host of TED Talks Daily. You can find her on Instagram @EliseWho and we’ll have links to her website and the TED Talks Daily episodes you heard Elise talk about at our show page: YR.Media/Adult-ISH, that’s YR.Media/Adult-ISH.
Change is inevitable, but that also means it creates new opportunities for each of us. The choices we make today, tell us who we are in this moment, but not necessarily who we’ll become in the future.
As for me, I’m planning to give my past self the gift of compassion, give my present self the gift of patience, and give my future self the gift of possibilities.
[YR Music]NYGE: Adult ISH is produced by YR Media, a national network of young artists and journalists creating content for this generation.
Our show is produced by Fredia Lucas, Dominique French, and by me: your boy, Nyge Turner.
Our Engineer is James Riley, and our Audio Engineering Fellow is Christian Romo.
CHRISTIAN: YR’s Director of Podcasting is Sam Choo.
YR’s Senior Director of Podcasting and Partnerships is Rebecca Martin.
NYGE: Our interns are Menelik Ransom and Jalen Black.
Original music for this episode created by these young musicians at YR: Christian Romo, Anders Knutstad, Noah Holt, Jacob Armenta, Chaz Whitley, Michael Diaz, Sean Luciano Galarza, and David Lawrence. Music direction by Oliver “Kuya” Rodriguez and Maya Drexler.
CHRISTIAN: Creative direction by Pedro Vega Jr. Designs by Jess Smolinski, Marjerrie Masicat, and Brigido Bautista. Project management by Eli Arbreton. Special thanks to Kathy Chaney and Kyra Kyles.
NYGE: Adult ISH is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX, a network of independent creator-owned, listener-supported podcasts. Discover audio with vision at Radiotopia.fm.
And if you haven’t reviewed our show on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, please be sure to do so. Five stars is much-appreciated.
You can follow us on all the socials at @YRAdultISH. And on that note, we’ll see y’all later.
In today’s fast-paced world, the importance of mental health awareness and support cannot be overstated, especially among young people. As someone who recently completed a Mental Health First Aid course at school, I’ve gained practical tips that I believe are crucial for supporting your friends who may be struggling mentally.
During the two-day course, one of the most significant lessons I learned was understanding what mental health truly means. Contrary to popular belief, mental health isn’t just about being happy all the time. It’s about being able to sail across life’s challenges and setbacks while still being able to function in our everyday lives.
One key takeaway from the course was recognizing the difference between feeling sad and experiencing depression. It’s normal to feel down from time to time, but when those feelings persist for more than two weeks and start to interfere with daily life, it’s a cause for concern. As friends, we often have a front-row seat to notice changes in our peers’ behavior. Whether it’s unusual routines, frequent absences from school, increased frustration, or other signs, being observant can make a big difference in identifying when someone might be struggling.
When things start to take a darker turn and thoughts of suicide or self-harm arise, it’s fundamental to intervene. This is the warning stage, and it’s essential to take action by reaching out to a trusted and responsible adult. Whether it’s a teacher, counselor, guardian, or parent, having someone who can provide support and guidance is paramount.
Read more …
This guest post is in partnership with True Star Media.
Women have a long history of being excluded from conversations that have everything to do with them. Their reproductive rights, let alone their human rights, have always been put in jeopardy. This brings us to April 24 when recent news broke about a divide on emergency abortion access. The Supreme Court recently listened in on multiple arguments on whether the federal law preempts state bans on all abortions. The arguments surrounded a case that could potentially determine access to safe abortions in emergency rooms all over the country.
Things you should know:
- The court’s ruling is to be expected by late June. The outcome will determine if the federal government can require hospitals in states that have strict abortion laws to offer abortions in emergency cases.
- Abortions are one of the safest medical procedures when done properly and conducted safely. Restricting abortion access will only lead to unsafe procedures that can be fatal or cause maternal mortality.
- Up-to-date legality of abortions. States like Alabama, Louisiana, and Arkansas have near-total bans on abortions. Whereas Georgia and South Carolina ban abortion six weeks after pregnancy. It’s important to understand your rights to advocate for them.
- The American Civil Liberties Union: The ACLU aims to fight for Civil Rights in the U.S. Its involvement in the Supreme Court Case, highlights its mission to defend the rights of all people.
Read more …
This guest post is in partnership with True Star Media.
Beauty standards, through media consumption and pressures from society, have contributed to poor mental health and self-esteem. From models to ordinary teenagers, beauty standards affect celebrities and non-celebrities alike. In 2022, the TV series “You Can’t Ask That” by ABC Television released an episode in which models explained how beauty standards have personally affected them.
@abciview "It's an unhealthy, unobtainable image that we're putting out." #YouCantAskThat #Models #BeautyStandards ♬ original sound – ABC iview
During a recent interview with Refinery29 Australia, Selena Gomez discussed how beauty standards have negatively affected her. She expressed that she felt pressure to look a certain way, and therefore sought to look like other people through makeup to fit societal standards.
Gomez, founder of the beauty brand “Rare Beauty,” has faced beauty standards that impacted her self-perception and witnessed how it affected those around her. Such hardships have motivated her desire to initiate mental health efforts, including launching the “Rare Beauty” brand in 2020, which yields 1% of proceeds to the Rare Impact Fund.
Following the newest release of the brand’s powder blushes and body care collection, she began to shed light on “Rare Beauty” and the brand’s efforts to spread positivity. Based on a report from the UK Parliament in 2022, 80% of survey respondents ranging from teenagers to adults agreed that beauty brands have contributed to a negative outlook on body image and mental health. However, Gomez explains how her brand’s purpose is to transform the negative perspective of makeup and create positive change.
“I wanted to change the way we talk about both beauty and mental health. I hope all of our products capture this ethos…My hope is that we all create a safe space to be ourselves, to be vulnerable, and to challenge unrealistic standards of beauty.” Gomez claimed.
With skin-loving ingredients and product names with uplifting words, such as “hope,” “encourage” and “worth,” Gomez aims for everyone to feel comfortable in their skin and know that instead of using makeup to cover imperfections, it can be used to accentuate the features unique to a person.
Happy Birthday @rarebeauty, thank you for speaking up against fake beauty standards and always showing how every single person is beautiful in their own individually!!
Thank you @SelenaGomez for always giving this message of selflove and hopeness!
STAY RARE
— Jorge ||
(@selenatorswsel) September 3, 2022
Kyana Early (she/her) is a journalist from the San Francisco Bay Area who covers entertainment and culture.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
On May 28, the newest hit fighting game, aka Warner Bros.’ version of “Super Smash Bros.,” will be released as a free-to-play fighting game. You can choose from all your favorite characters from Warner Bros. universe.
Produced by Jason Sanford
What started as an idea for two friends to rent out an air mattress in their apartment to make some extra cash is the very root of where Air Bed and Breakfast, now known as Airbnb was founded.
The public startup was born in 2007 and since then has grown to over 5 million hosts who have welcomed over 1.5 billion guest arrivals globally.
Airbnb’s latest venture marks a unique spin on the company’s initial value proposition of: spending less on hotels to stay in comfortable homes.
Today, vacation-seekers can have what CEO Brian Chesky defines as an “out of this world experience” where people can find homes and experiences inspired by famous films, people and places.
These experiences include drifting up in theDisney “Up”House, staying in the “X-Man” Lab, and much more.
Over the years, Airbnb has gone from humble local hosts making a few extra bucks renting their homes to a monopoly-land of hosts taking a commercialized approach to the business model.
This variety in host-type has led to critiques on the business model, which for some time made the option of an Airbnb more expensive than the average hotel stay. However, the company has since got those cost numbers down, at least for large groups.
As the company has scaled, it learned its core demographic and adapted to it. Over 80% of trips booked on Airbnb are by groups. This understanding has allowed Airbnb to create features like shared wishlists and the ability to add multiple guests into communications about a reservation.
When it comes to feedback from praise to rough critiques, Airbnb seems to be constantly evolving to meet the needs and expectations of its users. This adaptability highlights a key lesson for Gen Z founders: growing with your audience is crucial. As your startup develops, understanding who your customers are and what they value will guide your business decisions and help you stay relevant.
For Airbnb, this meant recognizing the shift from individual travelers to group bookings and adapting their platform accordingly. For other startups, it might mean tweaking a product based on user feedback or expanding services to cater to a new market segment. Engaging with your audience, soliciting their feedback, and being willing to pivot when necessary can make the difference between a fledgling startup and a thriving enterprise.
Keeping it gee, the success of Airbnb underscores the importance of staying connected with your audience. As Gen Z founders consider how to scale, focusing on your customers’ needs and growing with them not only builds loyalty but also fosters innovation, ensuring your startup remains competitive and sustainable in the long run.
Miranda Perez (she/her/hers) is a Jersey City, NJ-based journalist who covers the tech industry. Follow her on X and Instagram: @mimithegee.
Edited by NaTyshca Pickett
The beauty industry has come a long way in terms of inclusivity in recent years. But it’s far from perfect. The latest scandal with the launch of Youthforia’s new foundation goes to show that there’s still much more work to be done.
After facing backlash last year for lacking inclusive shades for deep skin tones, Youthforia recently unveiled their expansion on their Date Night foundation. The darkest shade, 600, caught many people’s attention for essentially being straight up black pigment in a bottle. And Black beauty creators reacted immediately.
#youthforia #makeup #blackgirlmakeup ♬ original sound – Wumi.Afuye
It just goes to show that people won’t stay quiet when brands refuse to listen to their consumers — or in this case, disrespect them. No one deserves to be considered “an afterthought.”
If you’re looking for inclusive makeup products, you’ve come to the right place. Here are some examples of companies that have products with shade ranges for diverse types of skin tones.
Higher-end BrandsBobbi Brown
Bobbi Brown was launched by Bobbi Brown in 1991. When Bobbi Brown’s Skin Foundation Stick first launched in 1992, it was a quite “expansive” for that time period with 10 shades. Though obviously it was not inclusive by today’s standards, it was moving in the right direction and overall incentivizing other brands to release products similar to theirs. And now, the foundation stick’s range has a total of 43 shades.
Fenty Beauty
Before other shade-inclusive brands became available, the undertones for foundations were predominantly pink or orange to suit fair-skinned people. Arguably, Fenty Beauty was the company that led the shift to include more inclusive undertones when it launched in 2017. The brand’s first release included the Pro FIlt’R Foundation, which now has 51 shades ranging from very fair with neutral undertones to very rich with neutral undertones. Fan favorites include Glass Bomb Lip Gloss, Invisimatte Instant Setting + Blotting Powder, all the released highlighters and Hella Thicc Volumizing Mascara.
Rare Beauty
Rare Beauty, launched by Selena Gomez in 2020, is now a household name in inclusive makeup. Rare Beauty went viral for their extremely pigmented blushes in shades suitable for all skin tones and undertones. Their standouts in the shade range were uncommon purple blushes and shades Faith and Grace, which are very well suited to dark skin tones. The brand also went viral for their matching lip oils in the exact same shades as the blushes, so clients can match their blush with their lip oil.
REM Beauty
Another celebrity brand is REM Beauty, which was launched by Ariana Grande in 2021. Her concealer has 60 shades of light to deep from “fair 2 n” to “rich 9 c.” The launch of the Sweetener collection (Sweetener Concealer and Sweetener Foundation) surprised consumers with the large range of shades.
Affordable BrandsJuvia’s Place
Juvia’s Place is a Black-owned brand by Chichi Eburu and launched in 2016. They’re known as a more affordable option for makeup with a focus on products for deep-toned skin. This brand went viral for their liquid blushes being a dupe to the Rare Beauty liquid blushes. Juvia’s Place provides a long-lasting pigment for darker skin tones and is a great alternative to more expensive brands.
Milk Makeup
Milk Makeup was founded by Mazdack Rassi and Dianna Ruth in 2016. The brand has been a staple for makeup lovers, and is praised for their matte bronzers and twin contour sticks, which come in five shades varying from pale to rich tones. The shades of these products are dark enough to be used on deeper skin tones.
NYX Cosmetics
NYX Cosmetics was launched in 1999 by Toni Ko. NYX makes lip products, such as lip liner, lip pencil, lip gloss, and lipsticks in a large variety of colors. Not only does NYX Cosmetics carry a variety of inclusive lip products, but they also continue to release shade-inclusive foundations including Bare With Me Blurring Foundation.
Nina Tan Pernice (she/her) is a high school student from Oakland, California.
Edited by shaylyn martos and Amber Ly
A student with a facial cleft has signed with a leading modeling agency – and made it her mission to change the representation of disabled people.
Bo, who has signed a modeling contract with Zebedee Talent, said she is relishing her journey of self-discovery.
She said she now wants to remove any stigmas and change the way disability and visible differences are represented in both fashion and the media.
The Cornish student from Penwith College has already had the opportunity to work alongside leading beauty brands and inclusive organizations, such as Sephora and Face Equality International, over the last few months.
Bo, a Level Three Childcare and Education student, said: “For me, growing up with a facial difference was incredibly difficult.
“I did not see anybody who looked like me in the media and it definitely impacted my confidence.
“I used to dislike my cleft, especially when I’d see all these stereotypically ‘perfect’ models represented in the media and know that I would never look like them.”
But since starting college, Bo says her confidence has grown to a whole new level after receiving support and accommodating teaching from her lecturers.
Bo has said her differences were not a barrier to her education and achieving excellent grades at college.
She said: “I think my favorite part about college has been how supportive everyone is. Everyone is friendly and approachable and has really made an effort to do everything they can to accommodate my needs.”
“I believe it is so important to provide representation for our younger generation, to show children and other young people just like me that they can do whatever they aspire to do, that people with disabilities and visible differences shouldn’t be excluded from spaces such as modeling.”
As part of her Childcare course, Bo has had the opportunity to gain valuable work experience in her placement days and apply her knowledge to real life settings which became advantageous for her future employability and UCAS applications.
She added: “We are all unique and beautiful in our own way and I believe this should be celebrated, especially considering so much of the media attention on disabled people is so often negative or focused on what we can’t do.
“Why not shift the focus to what we can do?”
Bo is looking forward to continuing her modeling career alongside studying BA (Hons) Special Educational Needs & Disability Studies at Plymouth Marjon University.
Originally published by Talker News
A tight job market, rising living costs and lower than expected wage amounts, some Gen Z and Millennials are reevaluating their budgets and college costs are getting cut.
A recent survey from Deloitte indicated that getting a degree is being put on the back burner and tuition costs are being crossed out, according to Business Insider.
About a third of the younger generation is looking for careers that don’t require a degree as several factors are keeping them from pursuing higher education, including family dynamics and financial difficulties.
“Cost of living is their top societal concern. The financial constraints of higher education are the number one reason that Gen Zs and millennials are not pursuing it,” said Deloitte Global Chief People & Purpose Officer Elizabeth Faber.
Over the last few years, there have been more attractive jobs available that don’t require degrees, and Gen Z has paid attention. And some are taking the self-taught route.
Although I experienced living away from my family when I went to college, after moving 2,000 miles to a new state, I found the most complicated challenge was missing my family and everything from slight to big moments. I love the freedom to grow and experience adulthood without pressure, but I still feel guilty about being so far away and missing out on so much.
Missing holidays and celebrations like Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and birthdays, I’m constantly thinking about ways to maintain strong connections with my family despite the distance.
Here’s how I’m maintaining connection with family members while living far away:
- Regular phone calls every week: I consistently communicate with my family throughout the week. During the week I dedicate 1 to 2 times to phone calls, with no limit on how long or short they are, and text at least 2 to 3 days throughout the week.
- Being intentional with conversations: instead of small talk, I make it a point to discuss my thoughts, feelings, and experiences with my family to deepen our relationship. I especially prioritize sharing details of my life and being an active listener.
- Celebrating holidays even when I’m not there: during holidays like Valentine’s Day, when I cannot physically be with my family, I do things like schedule flowers to be delivered to family members, or during birthdays, I call at midnight, have gifts delivered and try to still show up for the people I care about.
- Staying longer when I visit: when visiting my family for holidays, I try to stay with my family longer to spend quality time together and make it a priority to focus on getting special moments together, documenting things, and all around being soaked up in their presence.
The growing pains of adulthood include the difficult decision to live far from your family. Although it’s hard to be still present while being far away, there are still ways you can show up and navigate those relationships in the digital age we’re in now.
Tracy Noze is a Seattle-based journalist.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
You could realistically say America’s political future has been in the drain for a while, but now we have ads from Andrew Tate simps literally telling you to not be gay! Not sure how much further we can decline than this here “rock bottom.”
Host/Producer/Editor: Malachi Segers-Seker
The Lowdown gives you the latest in news, pop culture, and everything else your friends will be talking about tomorrow. Don’t get FOMO, get The Lowdown with Malachi, every Friday here at YR Media.
When I tell other women that I’m going to France this summer, they’ll often ask me if I’m going alone. When I say I’m going with a study abroad program, they look relieved.
I’ve seen plenty of lists online about the best places to be a solo female traveler. Even though these are meant to keep people safe, I feel like it also sends a clear message: “There are very few safe spaces for women.”
I understand the concerns when it comes to solo traveling. I’ve heard all sorts of stories of other women’s experiences being harassed or stalked abroad.
As someone who is feminine-presenting, I’m often told that the world is a scary place. And many of the dangers are out of my control. But it’s frustrating to hear people discourage me from exploring the world on my own.
Young women are allowed to responsibly pursue their dreams and ambitions. It’s unfair for us to be hypervigilant at all times — solo traveling or not.
Emma Schulman (she/they), is a student journalist majoring in political science at the University of Colorado Boulder.
Edited by shaylyn martos and Amber Ly
Disney recently dropped a brand new show on Disney+: “Star Wars: Tales of the Empire”. In six animated episodes, they finally answered a burning question fans have had for a long time.
“Tales of the Empire” is the companion show to “Tales of the Jedi,” an anthology following various popular Jedi throughout the “Star Wars” movies. “Tales of the Empire” does the same thing, except with the evil characters, in the Galactic Empire.
Created by Dave Filoni, the show utilizes the same animation style as the popular “Star Wars” cartoon “The Clone Wars”. The first three episodes center on the character Morgan Elsbeth, first introduced in season two of “The Mandalorian,” then later played a bigger role in the show “Ahsoka”. The other three episodes followed a character fans have been wanting to know the fate of for a long time: the Jedi Barriss Offee.
In “The Clone Wars,” Barriss framed Ahsoka for a crime she didn’t commit, leading to her being expelled from the Jedi order. However, we never got to find out what happened to Barriss, until “Tales of the Empire”.
Read more …
This guest post is in partnership with True Star Media.
Before you dive into what’s happening today, take a look at what may have fallen off your radar earlier this week.
A Tricky Intersection: Growing up as a Queer Asian American
AI’s Getting Gen Z in Trouble During Job Search Process
Crisis Hotline Volunteers Make a Difference, and so Can You
Adult ISH: Powering Platonic Love: Keeping Someone to Count On
May Playlist: Taurus vs. Gemini
“Do you know what a bisexual person is?” With a racing heart and a lump in my throat, I told her, “That’s who I am.”
I came out to my mom in middle school. Even though she immigrated here from Vietnam as a teen and speaks perfect English, I wasn’t sure if she had ever heard of the term “bisexual” before.
In fact, like my sexuality, my life has always felt like it had been split in two — who I get to be when I’m at school, and who I am when I’m at home.
In high school, this contrast couldn’t have been any clearer. While I was at school, I was openly queer, elected President of our Gender Sexuality Alliance Club and supported our small but mighty gay community. My short hair and my appearance was frequently complimented. I didn’t have to hide who I was.
But at home, my exploration of androgyny was met with hostility from my father and disappointment from my mother. One especially tense day, my father told me I needed to change my appearance or else he would throw out all of my clothes and replace them with skirts and dresses. A female gender was a performance I had to keep up at home. And I was failing.
My family and I butt heads over hair a lot, too. I’ve always preferred a shorter hairstyle. Both for ease of washing and aesthetic preference. I would have to constantly bother my mom to take me to the salon, and even then, she would always be watching the hairdresser’s every move to make sure it wasn’t too short. As I grew older and more rebellious, I had to find ways to hide my new haircut from my parents. My personality and preferences, if they didn’t fit within the confines of my parents’ expectations, they didn’t matter.
I don’t blame my parents for their rigidity around gender. In Vietnamese American spaces, gender plays a huge role, and LGBTQIA+ topics are rarely talked about. Mostly out of ignorance, but also because the word “gay” doesn’t really translate in Vietnamese. Unless you mean to call someone an offensive slur. In a way, their harshness was an attempt to protect me. When you live in a society that preaches anti-gay rhetoric, you too will find yourself speaking the same language.
I know there are a lot of queer Asian Americans out there who struggle finding acceptance of themselves because of the deeply-rooted homophobia and transphobia within our cultures. Ultimately, we are still our immigrant parents’ wildest dreams. Who we love or how we choose to express ourselves does not take away from our potential for greatness. Everyone is deserving of unwavering love and acceptance.
Knives Nguyen (they/he/she), is a journalist from the Bay Area who covers entertainment, culture and student life. You can connect with them on LinkedIn: @knivesnguyen.
Edited by Amber Ly
“Bridgerton” is back on Netflix for part one of season three, with Penelope Featherington, played by Nicola Coughlan, taking the lead as the main character.
Last season ended with Penelope being rejected by her long-time crush and her identity as Lady Whisteldown being discovered by her best friend. Her long-time crush, Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) said he could never be romantically interested in her, putting her in the friend zone. As far as her best friend, Eloise Bridgerton (Claudia Jessie), she finds out Penelope is Lady Whistledown, who disgraced her and her love-interest Theo in season two. With her conflicting relationship with her family and these fallouts, Penelope is left isolated from all those that she loves.
Season three delivers another captivating look into the lives of The Ton (the high society of London during the Regency era), filled with drama, the continued quest for love and status, and, of course, Lady Whistedown’s thoughts, with an unexpected twist in revealing identity.
The central plotline for part one follows Penelope as she navigates her long-time and unreciprocated crush on Colin after deciding to give up on her crush on Colin and taking her fate for marriage into her own hands, romance forms between the two.
In previous seasons, the Bridgerton writers gave the audience a slow-burn romance between the two central characters amid other love interests. As always, the relationship is steamy and anticipated.
This season, Eloise forms a new friendship with Cressida Cowper (Jessica Madsen) due to her fallout with Penelope. This friendship allows viewers to explore Cressida’s character and the challenges of being in season and not delivering on marriage, which may cause viewers to feel sympathy for her.
Among other crushes and relationships formed with different characters in part one, there is continued mystery surrounding Lady Whistledown’s identity, and the Queen’s pursuit adds suspense. This keeps an engaged audience, especially toward the end.
The season ends with a cliffhanger, revealing Lady Whistledown’s identity to the one person Penelope feared most finding out. This sets the stage for the exciting story continuation in part two.
Part One delivers another exquisite and entertaining chapter in the lives of The Ton. Dynamic storytelling, combined with character development and plot twists, shows the experiences of those in the community and makes it a must-watch.
Tracy Noze is a Seattle-based journalist.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
EpisodesSubscribeHoller/FollowWe are living in a loneliness epidemic, according to the U.S. Surgeon General. And, it’s a global problem. A recent international Gallup survey showed nearly one in four people report feeling lonely – with young adults reporting the highest percentage of loneliness. So, we wanted to help by focusing on important relationships in your life, like platonic love.
Host Nyge Turner brings his best friend, Josiah Percia, to Adult ISH to talk about the work they put into maintaining a long-lasting friendship. We also feature YR Stars Nubia, Jalen, and Ny’annah, who share how they show and receive love with their friends.
Adult ISH is produced by YR Media and brought to you by PRX’s Radiotopia. Be sure to follow all our socials @YRAdultISH!
Please show your support for Adult ISH by making a donation at: YRMedia.org/Donate. THANK YOU!
Episode Transcript[YR Music theme]Nyge:Welcome to Adult ISH – produced by YR Media – and brought to you by Radiotopia from PRX.
I’m Nyge Turner.
And today, we’re talking about Platonic Love.
Jalen: No matter like, what emotion I’m feeling or like, what type of day I’m having – I feel like I can ask them any question. They’ll give me any truth, whether they’re like, yeah, even if it’s something I don’t want to hear. Like, just like the honesty and like, the communication. That’s a very good trait to have.
Nyge: Friends are extremely important to have in life. It’s a type of love that’s commonly overlooked, sidelined, and taken for granted. But, they could be some of the most important.
We are living in the middle of a loneliness epidemic, says the U.S. Surgeon General. According to CNN, one in four people feel lonely. So, this episode, we want to get into the feels about making and keeping a long-term friendship.
Talking through disagreements, renegotiating relationships, and even possibly moving away from certain friendships altogether.
To do that, I sat down with one of my best friends, Josiah, to talk about the maintenance that we’ve had to put into our 10-year friendship. And, the importance of having a kid named Michael in your life.
But, first, I’ll let Josie introduce himself.
Josiah: For sure. Josiah, all my close friends call me “Josie.” Has been kind of a nickname since high school. I am 26 years old. I currently work my day to day job in construction. I got some hobbies on the side. Playing sports: football, basketball. I got a little drone photography videography thing on the side. I love to eat good food, hang out with friends. And that’s, that’s me in a rap.
Nyge: When’s the last time you played basketball or football? (laughter)
Josiah: Alright. Maybe next…
Nyge: (laughing) I guess he had all these on the side.
Josiah: Yeah, yeah… You know, we do this…
Nyge: So, I guess to preface this. Josie’s one of my best friends. I know his…
Josiah: (Laughing)
Nyge: I know his day to day life pretty well. So when you just tried to sneak that in there, I’m like, “Dog, what?”
Josiah: Alright, alright. I wanna get back into the football and the basketball.
Nyge: Okay, okay, okay.
Josiah: But, I also enjoy watching it.
Nyge: Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Okay.
Josiah: I enjoy the sport. I enjoy the sport.
Nyge: Okay. Yeah. There you go. There you go. There you go. Yeah, nah. I remember you used to hoop and play football back in the day.
Josiah: Yeah, back in the day.
Nyge: So how long have we been friends, and how did we meet?
Josiah: Oh, boy. All right. We have been friends for a minute. I want to say, since I was 15. So we’re going on like dang near 11 years – 11, 12 years. How we met is actually, I think, a funny story. We have a mutual friend. His name is Michael. We were invited to this party. And we went up to this party, and supposedly Michael messaged you on ASKfm. Or, like…
Nyge: Yeah, yeah. So this is, like… This is what year? This is like 2013 or something like that.
Josiah: It’s gotta be. It’s gotta be.
Nyge: Probably 2013.
Josiah: Yeah. So yeah. Michael, basically he was living in Atlanta. He said he was going to move to the Bay. He somehow found your Instagram profile, all that.
Nyge: Wild story.
Josiah: And, went on ASKfm, and was like, “Hey, if I move to the Bay, could we be friends?”
Nyge: ASKfm is a, is a website that – or an app that used to let you ask questions anonymously. (laughing)
Josiah: Yeah.
Nyge: So, he asked me anonymously where I was from. (laughing)
Josiah: And, like said, “If I move into the Bay area would like, y’all be cool. And, I don’t know, when he told me this story before even meeting you I’m like, “Bro. Why would you do this? This is, this is weird. This is weird. But anyways – we go to this party and it turns out you end up being there. And Michael pops up and was like, “Hey, I’m the dude from ASKfm. And supposedly, you know, y’all kicked it off and then you and me started kicking it. And then I was like, “Shoot, this dude’s kind of cool.” So…
Nyge: Fo’ sho.
Josiah: Yeah. Then we started kicking it. Man, we played basketball for days. We got food. We play football. I mean, we did – we did a lot of stuff.
Nyge: Yeah, no. Definitely. What are things about our friendship that you value the most?
Josiah: Value the most…? I would say how open we are. Right? Like, I feel like we can talk about anything. I can, I don’t know, talk to you about the craziest idea off the top of my head. And like, we still talk it through, whether, you know… “Hey, is that a good idea? Is that a bad idea?” You’d never look at me crazy for anything. Well… And, now I’ll take it back. Sometimes, you look at me crazy for some stuff, if it’s really far-fetched.
Nyge: (laughing)
Josiah: If it’s really far-fetched. But, nah. I mean, I feel like you’re that guy that I don’t gotta worry about like, you know, “How do I sound to this person? How do I sound to that person?” It’s just like, I can put it all out there and, you know, you’re always going to give me that honest feedback, so….
Nyge: So yeah, man, we done – we done been through some times, but, yeah, I definitely have looked at you crazy, but…
Josiah: (laughing)
Nyge: But it’s just like, it’s – I’ve looked at you because I’m like, “Bro, you know better.” Like that’s, that’s what it always is. It’s always like, “Jo…” And I know I’m like, “Bro, the reason that you’re telling me about this is because, you know, I you know what I’m going to say.”
Josiah: (laughing) Yeah.
Nyge: You already know my response.
Josiah: You’re right. You’re right.
Nyge: But, yeah. It just happened.
Josiah: Yup.
Nyge: But, what do you…
(both laughing)
Josiah: Last night.
Nyge: Oh, yeah. (laughing) What, what do you look for? What do you personally look for in friends?
Josiah: I think, someone who is willing to give as much as I’m willing to give. I feel like I’m a person that, like, dedicates a lot of time, energy, and love to people that I care about. And I guess I feel like, you just would want to feel that reciprocated. Right? So, you know, I’m showing as much energy and I’m, you know, coming to you and I’m trying to build and grow and develop something with you. Then, I would hope that you would return that to me. And, you know, you kind of. Yeah. Reciprocate it. So.
Nyge: Yeah, no. I, I think what I look for in friends is just someone who… Yeah, some – like you said. Kind of, someone who’s, like, willing to put in the effort. I think my friends don’t really have to have anything in common, necessarily like, with me. They don’t have to like the same things that I like, or whatever. Or, I think that stuff is good for, for friendships, when people are into different things. And, they can kind of like, culture you in different ways. But the, like, universal thing for me is like – Bro, if I don’t feel you putting in the effort, I just – I don’t know, it’s just, it just doesn’t feed me. You know?
Josiah: Nice. Nice. You’d be responding with the text messages real dry. You know? If I’m only hitting you… You know?
Nyge: Yeah. Well, I’m not a good texter, notoriously, anyway.
Josiah: True. Alright…
Nyge: (laughing)
Josiah: If I call you… If I call you, you’ll pick up the phone and we’ll talk for a minute. Right? But, if I call you and it’s just like – the one, the one-sentence responses like, “My day was cool.” “Okay, yeah… So like, you know, MY day was cool too. In case you’re wondering.” You know what I’m saying?
Nyge: Yeah.
Josiah: Just, you got to, you got to put in that effort. You gotta…
Nyge: It has to feel mutual.
Josiah: Yeah.
Nyge: “Interesting.” (laughs) What have, what have you had to move away from in friendships just as time has gone on?
Josiah: Move away from friendships…? I would say, the directions of our lives, maybe just kind of change. Right? L ike kind of what you were saying – we don’t necessarily have to have the same interests, but I kind of want somebody like, I have the same goals, the same drive, the same path as me. I’m trying to think of like, a good example of, like, moving away from a friendship…
Nyge: Something, something I think that you are better at than me is, not holding on to friendships that, like, where you don’t feel that effort anymore. I think, for me, like, once we’re friends, like, once we’re tight – I kind of am just like, “Alright, brah. Like, no matter what, I’m a ride for you. Like, I got you.”
Josiah: For sure.
Nyge: And I think that, that as time has gone on, it’s like, it’s so difficult for me to be like, “Man, I guess, like, I can’t kick it with so-and-so no more, I guess. I guess it’s just not like that no more, I guess. Or, whatever. Because I’ll just, like, still keep like, coming through, keep showing up to the point where you’ll be like, “Bro. Like you gotta, you gotta chill. Like you puttin’ in all this effort. Like you gotta, you gotta look at the effort that you’re getting back.” You think that’s something that you’ve always been good at? Or, do you think that’s something that you have to, like, develop over time?
Josiah: I feel like it definitely had to develop over time. Because, it’s not something that you, maybe, recognize right away. Like, some time will kind of go by and then you realize that – that, that other person is moving farther and farther away from being a good friend. Alright, so – so for example, for example, like there’s a friend of mine.
Nyge: (laughing) Bro! Oh no, no, no, no, no, no, no. Don’t. Chill, chill, chill, chill… (laughing)
Josiah: Nah. It’s like, it’s like… (laughing) Alright. so like, we’re both married men. Right?
Nyge: Okay. Okay, okay.
Josiah: And, and there was a time when I was single. You know? And, I was like, you know…
Nyge: You were single. Yeah. We got it. We got you, we got you, got you…
Josiah: And there was, there was like, you know, my friends that are just always just trying to go out and party and have a good time. Right? Which, there’s nothing wrong with that. Of course. Love a good time. Love a good party.
Nyge: Right.
Josiah: We’re going to go hang out. But, you know, there’s now a time in my life, where I feel like I’m a little bit more settled. Right? Like, I’m okay with being a little bit more of a homebody. I’m okay with, you know, just chilling out the crib. And, I got my wife. You know? And we’re, we’re having a good time just, just hanging out. Right? I don’t always feel like every single weekend, every night at the weekend, I got to be doing something crazy. So…
Nyge: Yeah.
Josiah: It’s just, it’s – that’s, I guess, what I kind of mean as far as, like, alignment of goals and like, outlook right now.
Nyge: What type of maintenance do friendships require?
Josiah: I think it definitely requires communication, you know like, like tapping in with each other. Maybe not so much, like, every day is like a necessity. But like, every once in a while, like just see, “How are you doing? Like, what are you doing in life? Like how, how have you been with your job? How have you been with, you know, relationships? How have you, you know, just been doing stuff in your life?
Nyge: Yeah.
Josiah: So, I think that communication is important. Maybe more so than just, you know, liking a picture on social media. Right? It’s like that true tap-in. Texting, giving a call, and seeing how someone’s doing.
Nyge: And what ways have you had to work, and have we had to work, on our friendship?
Josiah: (muttering) Man. I feel like we’re marriage counseling or something right now.
Nyge: Hahahahahahaha!
Josiah: Nah. I think again, the biggest thing is communication. Right?
Nyge: Yeah.
Josiah: Sometimes, like you said, you’re not always the best texter. I maybe text a little bit better, a little bit more. Sometimes you send me a text and I’m like, “Yo, what is Nyge on right now?” You know?
(laughing)
Josiah: l don’t know what this means. How am I going to take this” And then, you know, I’ll call you, I’m like, “Bro, what’s up with this?”
Nyge: Yeah.
Josiah: And you say, “Oh, I didn’t mean it like that.” You know? “I was rushing, and I was in the car. I was just trying to, you know, type something real quick, and…” And, it was just like, a simple misunderstanding. Right?
Nyge: Yeah.
Josiah: So it’s just, yeah. The communication, and just making sure that y’all are on the same page.
Nyge: Yeah. It’s so, it’s so funny when and whenever we have, like, a disagreement. Because, both of us ultimately like, don’t want to like, fight with each other. We’re both like, trying to get to the…
Josiah: (laughing)
Nyge: …to the like, solution so fast that like, the conversation I’m sure sounds so wild. Like, whenever we’re having a disagreement, it’s always “Okay. Yeah. So like, don’t take this any type of way. Like don’t, don’t, don’t get angry. Like, don’t get mad. But, I just, I just think that there’s one like, little thing that, like, I just want to tell you. But, like, are you okay with me telling you that?” Like, like it’s so, it’s so much like – we preface stuff so much…
Josiah: Right.
Nyge: …in those conversations. And I’ll notice it in the moment, or I’ll be like, ‘Right, if this was anybody else, I would just say whatever I felt. And then, we would just keep talking and figure it out later.’ But, I think we’re so similar in the way that we communicate that, like, we try to like out-… we try to like out– kind of –diplomat, the other person. Like… (laughing)
Josiah: No, you’re right. You’re right. You’re right. Which is, which is good. Right?
Nyge: Yeah.
Josiah: You gotta, you gotta tiptoe to some extent. Right?
Nyge: Yeah.
Josiah: The closer of friends you are, maybe a little bit less you tiptoe. But still, as long as you have that respect. Hey, as long as you preface it like this, “Before I just come out and say this, because it could sound a little crazy…” And, I don’t know – something that I appreciate about you is that, if I am sounding crazy to you, or if I’m saying something that you may not like, or something that you may not – disagree – you, for sure, give me the time to explain it to you and truly like run that to ground. So to speak. Right? Like, I’m going to give you my full thought process on why I’m saying this, and you’re like, willing to hear me out. So, you’re not very quick to like, jump, jump to a conclusion – or really quick to just say, “No, that’s… That’s stupid. Why are you saying that? That doesn’t make sense.” You’re willing to hear me out.
Nyge: What advice would you give young people trying to develop and maintain long-term friendships? Like, say you’re talking to somebody fresh out of high school. They’re trying to maintain like, they’re trying to keep all their friends close. They’re trying to maintain and, maintain and build positive long-term friendships. What’s advice that you would give them – kind of looking back on your, your experience with that?
Josiah: I would say – I don’t know if this is going to directly answer the question, but… I would say, like, stay true to yourself – only because sometimes it may feel like if you’re if you’re drawing, if you’re moving away from certain friends, or if you feel like you want to be part of a certain friend group, it may want you to change. So, that you can be more like, you can fit in more with that type of friend. Right? Because you don’t want to move away from them. But, I say stay true to yourself and still be your genuine person. Right? And then those people that want to maintain that friendship and relationship with you will stick around, essentially.
Nyge: I like that. I think that’s really good advice. I want to, I want to pass it over to you. Like, do you have any questions for me, kind of like about our friendship? Or, yeah, pose some questions back to me about, like…
Josiah: Okay. Okay.
Nyge: …the topic of friendships.
Josiah: The topic of friendships… What are your thoughts on that type of relationship for a friend – where you and I, we talk like, every day. And then, a friend that you may feel is like really close to you, but you don’t talk for maybe months, even years. But then – when you see each other, you like dab it up. You guys talk as if like, you do talk every day. Like, you feel like there’s one relationship that may be stronger than the other, even though you still have those feelings for that person you haven’t seen in over a long period of time?
Nyge: I don’t think there’s an issue with having friends that where you all kind of just pick up right where y’all just left off. I have a lot of those friends and acquaintances and things like that, but I think with those situations I often wonder like, “Man, why don’t we stay in touch?” Like, there’s always people who I hang out with where I’m like – I’ll be in the middle of hanging out with them, and I’ll be like, “Bro, why don’t we do this more often? Like, I wish we could stay in touch more” – and we’ll say it like, to each other, in the moment. And it’ll like, “Bro, like, we’re going to be tapped in. Like, there’s no more, there’s no more of this, “Like, I’ll see you once a year type stuff, like we’re going to lock in!” And then, we go home, we like, text each other. We try to set something up. It doesn’t work out for whatever reason. And then we kind of just fall off. And then, we catch up the next year and it’s like, “Bro, we’re not doing this again!” And it’s just like this, this forever like. a repeating cycle. And I don’t, I really don’t know what to do about that. I’m very much in that space where I have a lot of different friends, where as soon as I see them, they make that face like, “We did it, again!” And I’m like, “I know. Like, I’m sorry, but we gotta figure it out.” Shout out to my boy Jason for, shout out… Jason comes to mind. We gotta lock in, bro. We gotta lock in!
Josiah: Got to lock in.
[BREAK]Nyge: Let’s get back to breaking down the ins and outs of friendship with Josiah.
Josiah: Like you said, you try to make that effort, but there’s there’s very unique people. Right? It’s a, it’s a very unique type of relationship that if you see someone and in that much time does go by. You can still pick it up, right back, right where you were. Yeah, basically, pick it up. Pick it up right where, right where it was.
Nyge: (laughing) I get what you’re saying.
Josiah: Yeah, so.
Nyge: Yeah, nah. I think you should still continue to explore those type of relationships, and those friendships. I think that was something that kind of happened with us for a period of time. I think there was like a, a period of like a year where we didn’t really talk. And, we weren’t really beefing or anything like that. We kind of just…
Josiah: Well… (laughing) Nah, I’m just playin’. I’m playin’.
Nyge: (laughing) But, we started, we started hanging out with different groups of people.
Josiah: Yeah.
Nyge: And, I would see you, kind of like, with your crew or whatever, your group of people. And I was like, “Okay, that’s how – that’s where Josie is moving, you know, now,” or whatever. And then, you will see me and then, “Oh, okay. How you doin?” But, yeah.
Josiah: But, there’s nothing wrong with that.
Nyge: Yeah, there wasn’t anything wrong with that. And then I think, we just somehow, those groups kind of merged at one party or something like that. And we ended up kicking it for like a day. And then we just kept, like, extending the day. Like we went, I think we, we were in, like… It started off in, like San Francisco or something like that. Right? Like at PIER 39, we were like, hanging out. And we kicked it at PIER 39. Then we kicked it somewhere else. And then, you were like, “Oh, let’s come – everybody come back to my house.” And it was just, like, me, you and someone else.
Josiah: Oh. I do remember that. Yeah.
Nyge: And then we ended up going back to your house too. And I was like, “Okay, like, we keep extending the day to keep hanging out. Like, we should just hang out more.” And then I think we just started hanging out again, like really regularly after that. And then we got like really, really tight after that. Got really locked in. But yeah, I think those relationships, those friendships, like you feel that way for a reason. You should listen to yourself and listen to the people who – listen to, to how you feel and pay attention to who you are and how much you like who you are around different people.
Josiah: Yup.
Nyge: And when you, when you peep that – like when you really realize, “Oh, I, I like who I am around you. This is the direction I’m trying to move in.” I think those are the people that you should surround yourself [with]. Not solely for that reason, but I do think that’s a really good quality when you are looking for friends.
Josiah: Yeah. No, I agree. You always want to surround yourself with people who are going to help level you up. Right? That’s not always a necessity in a friend. But like, I feel like that is something that I also look for. Right? Because if I’m just always around somebody who’s just always like, kind of doing the same stuff. You know, not really doing much with their life. You know, I love you. I have love for you. But I also want to surround myself with people that are going to help me level up. Right? That are gonna help me improve and be a better person and, you know, reach the goals that I want to reach.
[YR Music]Nyge: Communication in any type of relationship can be uncomfortable, but it’s necessary to keep the people you love close. Now, we’ll hear from some YR stars on their thoughts on friendship.
Nubia:A way I show my friends I appreciate them is texting them, like, all the time. And, being there for them, like talking to them whenever they need it.
Jalen: Mainly I’m always like, able to check in with them and just talk with how they’re doing. And one thing I always try to do is like, I’m a good listener, I can listen to anything somebody needs, like, I’m there.
Ny’annah: She’s a good friend because, she helps me understand. She. She helps me. She gives good advice and good people to hang around good people or bad people to hang around.
Nubia: I would say my friend Nyana here is a very good friend because any time I’m bored or anytime, just like being me chilling, she always comes and tells me the most entertaining stories. She’s a really good storyteller and she’s really fun to be around.
Nyge: Pour into your friends and surround yourself with people who pour into you. As life goes on, those relationships will mean more and more.
[YR Music]Nyge: Adult ISH is produced by YR Media, a national network of young artists and journalists creating content for this generation.
Our show is produced by Fredia Lucas, Dominique French, and by me: your boy, Nyge Turner.
Our engineer is James Riley, and our audio engineering fellow is Christian Romo.
YR’s director of podcasting is Sam Choo.
YR’s senior director of podcasting and partnerships is Rebecca Martin.
Our interns are Menelik Ransom and Jalen Black.
Original music for this episode created by these young musicians at YR:
Christian Romo, Anders Knutstad, Noah Holt, Jacob Armenta, Chaz Whitley, Michael Diaz, Sean Luciano Galarza. and David Lawrence.
Music direction by Oliver “Kuya” Rodriguez and Maya Drexler.
Art and visuals are produced by the youth co-led design team at YR Media.
Creative Direction by Pedro Vega Jr.
Designs by Jess Smolinski, Marjerrie Masicat, and Brigido Bautista.
Project management by Eli Arbreton.
Special thanks to Kathy Chaney and Kyra Kyles.
Adult ISH is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX, a network of independent creator-owned, listener-supported podcasts. Discover audio with vision at Radiotopia.fm.
And if you haven’t reviewed our show on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, please be sure to do so. Five stars is much-appreciated.
You can follow us on all the socials at @YRAdultISH. And on that note, we’ll see y’all later.
To put it bluntly, economic and political chaos have created a severe mental illness crisis in the United States. So many are suffering and their mental health struggle — mood, anxiety, personality, and psychotic disorders — has heavily impaired an individual’s quality of life.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, nearly 58 million Americans were reported living with a mental illness. And, with the cost of specialized therapy increasing, many aren’t able to receive preventative help before their mental health becomes a severe concern.
The good news is that mental health wellness has become more recognized and free treatment options are becoming accessible. Crisis Text Line, a mental health support and crisis intervention organization, is one of those places people can reach out to 24/7. Just text HOME to 741741 from anywhere in the United States, anytime, and a Crisis Text Line volunteer counselor will respond. Trained volunteers help people deal with their emotions, assist in developing coping skills, and take preventative action.
Second-year UCLA student Alex Antenen, who hopes to become a psychiatrist, spoke to YR Media about what it takes to be a volunteer text counselor and what kinds of help the Crisis Text Line offers. In the past, Antenen needed to reach out to the text line and now was available to chat with people who just needed their voice to be heard.
YR Media: What sparked your interest in becoming a crisis counselor?
Alex Antenen: I did a lot of service in high school and in my community. I was definitely looking to continue doing work in college, but I wanted something flexible. I actually used the Crisis Text Line in high school, and I’d finally reached the age that I could start the training to be a counselor. It just seemed like a good fit.
YR: That seems like a really full-circle experience to receive the services and then be able to provide them. How does it feel to support clients who are in such a vulnerable place?
AA: We kind of stray away from the idea of crisis because even if you’re just stressed out about an assignment, you can definitely text. I definitely want everyone to know that you don’t have to be in some huge crisis to feel like you can text in. You’re never bothering us. We want to help you. We want to listen.
YR:Do you think that people are more often in a severe crisis when they reach out? Or is it usually preventative help they seek?
AA: I feel like we have people in different stages of crisis. I would say the vast majority of our conversations are just like ‘I’m stressed out and I need a space to feel heard.’
YR: How has your work as a volunteer impacted your overall understanding of college students’ mental health in this country?
AA: I think that students are the biggest population that we end up talking to. There’s so much pressure on performance. With college students, we’re realizing big world events that are going on. People are suffering all over the world and that can bring up a lot of emotions too.
YR: What coping skills would you generally suggest that college students implement in their day to day lives?
AA: Mindfulness exercises can be really helpful. You’ve probably heard of counting down from 10 slowly to center yourself. Another one I really like is checking in with your five senses. What are some things that I can see, feel, taste, hear? That can really help, especially for panic attacks.
YR:Thank you for sharing! So what kind of person do you think it takes to handle the responsibility of being a crisis counselor?
AA:If you’re very easily triggered, it’s not a great point for you to start. But I think the most important thing is just being someone who can zero in on listening to somebody. Not giving advice, but just giving somebody a space to talk.
YR: On a final note, I am curious to know what motivates you to continue volunteering.
AA: Having people who are trained listeners, but who can also give good suggestions of other resources is really helpful. I really appreciate the volunteers who were there for me to really listen. So, I think it’s kind of my duty to pay it back in a lot of ways.
YR:Awesome. Well, thank you so much for making time to meet with me today!
AA: Thank you! I really appreciate it.
Ivelisse Díaz (she/they), is a college student studying psychology from Oakland, California.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
From scrolling through social media for hours to clicking the offline button, people are discovering that taking a break from social media or quitting altogether, equates to a healthier lifestyle. Social media has been notorious for having a harmful impact on people’s lives, such as spreading negativity, creating false realities, inducing procrastination, affecting self-esteem and much more. In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, it is critical to understand the relationship between social media usage and mental well-being.
Ultimately, this series of unfortunate events motivates people’s decisions to log offline, adopting a trend called a “Digital Detox.” Statistics show that more people are considering quitting social media than not. As notified by BROAD Digital Consulting, increasing numbers of Gen Z members, although known for the excessive use of technology, are taking on forms of digital detoxing.
Have you ever thought about quitting all things social media?
— Grumpy Sociologist (@OhHowByronic) April 24, 2024
Current social media users have recently noticed a decline in the amount of people posting or remaining active across all platforms, especially Instagram and TikTok. According to Medium and a recent Reddit post, this trend is common among people who have recently hit their 20s, who spoke out about their personal experiences with digital detoxing and quitting social media.
Digital detoxing experiences point towards a healthier lifestyle, with no plans for deferring to old habits. People have found that their lives have changed by improving sleep cycles, social life, positivity levels and many other aspects. By speaking out about their stories, people hope to encourage the message to take a step back from social media and enjoy what life has to offer beyond our digital screens.
Get outside and actually experience life. Tangible life. Get off of social media for a second, I promise you’ll be just fine.
— Jonathan Butler (@jonathandeandre) April 27, 2024
Kyana Early (she/her) is a journalist from the San Francisco Bay Area who covers entertainment and culture.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
OpenAI has just released GPT-4o, and it’s leveling up, now with the ability to interact with photos and live video, as well as being able to converse in real-time.
Produced by Jason Sanford
Advanced degrees in artificial intelligence have hit the Ivy Leagues.
Last week, The University of Pennsylvania announced it will be the first Ivy League where students can obtain a master’s degree in AI. This move offers yet another affirming verdict on AI’s place in the world.
The introduction of AI degrees at institutions nationwide has been long coming. According to CNBC, Purdue University, Georgia Tech and Rutgers University are just a few of the top institutions where students can gain degrees in AI.
AI programs have adjacency to computer science degrees, a wildly popular STEM degree. The difference however, lies in if the student is interested in the applications of AI in technology, or building the technology itself.
It is estimated by Goldman Sachs that AI can replace the equivalent 300 million jobs by 2030. With the increased interest in job opportunities and job security – AI degrees have never been more popular.
Over the last decade, STEM degrees overall have increased in popularity by nearly 50%. Despite the increase, Latinos represent 14% of STEM workers and similarly Black Americans represent only 9% workers in the field.
Communities of color have long been ostracized from major tech innovation waves that have resulted in generational wealth for their white counterparts.
In the digital gold rush that is AI, I cannot help but wonder if the gap will continue to widen.
With the recent overturning of affirmative action, that and the digital divide of access to AI curriculum at minority serving institutions like HBCUs – my fear is that BIPOC AI-enthusiast Gen Z will continue to have a hard time getting the equal opportunity to study the tech they love in a culturally safe space.
STEM interest has been on a consistent rise within communities of color for the last decade and it will likely continue as tech becomes more embedded into our everyday lives.
With that said, it is wise to consider our ability to create in the technology space, rather than simply consuming it. The more we push for communities of color to have access to AI information, the larger turnover we can see in BIPOC AI-degree holders and innovators.
Keeping it gee, it is crucial for folks from diverse backgrounds to think critically about the impact they can have in technology and the right we have to learn about it.
Miranda Perez (she/her/hers) is a Jersey City, NJ-based journalist who covers the tech industry. Follow her on X and Instagram: @mimithegee.
Edited by NaTyshca Pickett
College essays, speeches and now cover letters? It appears that Gen Z is relying too much on artificial intelligence to put their supposed thoughts on paper and it’s making the job hunt a little harder.
AI platforms such as ChatGPT are being heavily used by the young generation to generate cover letters. Now they’re all sounding the same, oftentimes word-for-word, sending up huge red flags to employers, according to CNBC.
“Employers are getting hundreds of the exact same cover letters word for word,” or answers to job application questions that are the same, and suspect that ChatGPT use is in play, said Shoshana Davis, a Gen Z career expert and founder of the career consultancy Fairy Job Mother.
A recent survey by Canva indicated that 45% of those looking for employment used AI to create or update their resume, and a survey by Grammarly stated that more than half of Gen Z, 61%, can’t imagine doing work tasks without using generative AI.
Perceptions of Gen Z workers that call this generation “lazy” and “doesn’t want to work,” are looking at adults who plan to work until they’re 70. A recent survey from YouGov highlights the differences in Millennial and Gen Z outlooks on retirement.
When asked about their desired retirement age, both generations show an inspiring amount of ambition, with about 3% aiming to retire before 40. An even larger portion of Gen Z (14%) are looking for an early retirement around 40 and 50 compared to 8% of Millennials. However, a significant portion of Gen Z leans towards the traditional 61 to 70 retirement window, while the largest group of Millennials (30%) skew towards that sweet spot between 51 and 60.
Both generations show varying ranges for their savings. Fourteen percent of Millennials believe less than $500,000 is enough for a comfortable retirement, a view only shared by 8% of Gen Z. On the other hand, around 15% to 16% of both generations believe they’ll need over $2 million.
Gen Z’s ambition for hard work isn’t going to waste either, as a report from The Economist shows that they are richer than previous generations at the same age. Talk about unprecedented wealth!
The notion that Gen Z as “the first generation to be poorer than their parents” is untrue. Gen Z enters the workplace with much more favorable economic circumstances compared to other generations. Soon enough, the number of full-time Gen Z workers is on track to surpass the number of full-time working baby boomers.
If anything, Gen Z is shaping up to be the most hardworking generation. Gen Z holds different views on work and doesn’t hesitate to take on vocational careers. Many young folks are exploring other options than taking on student debt for a bachelor’s degree, and it’s clear that this generation cares about money. So, you better believe Gen Z will easily change jobs if they want better pay or better working conditions.
Of course, a recession will hit and affect young people the most, as it always does, but for now, Gen Z should enjoy life and continue to save up as much as they can for retirement.
Knives Nguyen (they/he/she), is a journalist from the Bay Area who covers entertainment, culture and student life. You can connect with them on LinkedIn: @knivesnguyen.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
The feud between Kendrick Lamar and Drake has intensified as both rappers trade barbs in a series of diss tracks, captivating fans and stirring up social media. The spat escalated in March when Lamar dropped “Like That” in response to Drake and J. Cole’s track “First Person Shooter.” Despite J. Cole bowing out, Lamar and Drake have continued the verbal onslaught, with each releasing four new diss tracks over the past weekend alone.
Newsweek reported an unprecedented move on the part of both artists’ and their copyrights on the songs they put out for this beef.
Amid the feud, a surprising turn of events unfolded as both artists allegedly removed copyright restrictions from their diss tracks. This move allows social media influencers, like streamer FaZe YourRage, to share reactions without fear of DMCA takedown orders. YourRage took to X (formerly Twitter) to express gratitude, revealing that Kendrick Lamar had waived copyright on his diss track reactions. Shortly after, Drake followed suit, granting similar permissions to YourRage for his diss track responses.
Kendrick removed all copyright away from all my reactions to his disstracks & is lettin me get paid for all of em
No label has ever done that for me so I’m thankful
— FaZe YourRAGE (@YourRAGEz) May 5, 2024
The diss tracks themselves didn’t hold back, with Lamar accusing Drake of concealing an 11-year-old daughter in “Meet the Grahams.” Drake swiftly denied the claim in “The Heart Part 6,” alleging that he had strategically fed misinformation to Lamar. This echoes past controversies, such as Drake’s acknowledgment of a secret son during his beef with Pusha T in 2018.
Kendrick Lamar | Joseph Okpako/WireImage via Getty ImagesThe feud’s roots stretch back over a decade, punctuated by intermittent collaborations but primarily marked by lyrical jabs and media spats. The latest flare-up reignited in March when Lamar’s verse on “She’s Like That” was interpreted as targeting Drake, prompting Drake’s response with “Push Ups” in April.
Drake’s “Taylor Made Freestyle,” which utilized AI vocals from Snoop Dogg and Tupac Shakur, added another layer to the feud. However, the track has since been deleted, leaving behind a trail of headlines and speculation.
As the rivalry continues to unfold, fans eagerly anticipate the next moves from both Lamar and Drake, while the lifting of copyright restrictions offers influencers newfound freedom to dissect and react to the ongoing drama without fear of legal repercussions.
Noumaan Faiz, (he/him) is a journalist and entertainer from Hayward, CA who covers culture and entertainment.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
Enjoy these 24 songs from artists born in the alignment of Venus and Mercury. Sharing the month of May doesn’t necessarily mean these signs are compatible, but it does mean this compilation has a broad range of artistic personalities and genres.
As you listen, try to guess who’s a Taurus or a Gemini.
Here’s a sneak peak …
“Alright” – Victoria Monét
Could you tell she’s a Taurus? Victoria Monét taps into her sensual side on her track “Alright” produced by Canadian DJ, Kaytranada. The Singer/songwriter describes it as acting villainous, but In her Genuis Lyrical breakdown, she teases how intentional her double entendres are meant to keep everyone on their toes.
“FAERIE SOIRÉE”- Melanie Martinez
Melanie Martinez executed the earthy vibes in her visuals for “Faerie Soirée.” It’s a whimsical and playful take on her experience with psychedelics. The feeling of letting loose, giving in to the sensation is anticipated throughout the tune leading to a dramatic outro.
“Mercury”- Steve Lacy
Steve Lacy’s entire “Gemini Rights” album explains the range of traits the zodiac sign represents. Specifically on track three, “‘Mercury,” the Compton singer describes how a past relationship failed while acknowledging the “two-faced” assumptions made about Geminis. Believe what You want about Geminis, just know Lacy warned you!
Sydney Wanguhu, (she/her) is from The Bay Area and is an L.A.-based journalist who covers entertainment and culture. Follow her on Instagram & Spotify: @sydneyy._.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
Imagine just trying to eat some McDonalds and this happens to you? While it by all accounts seems like a truly unpleasant encounter, some online are…seeing sparks fly? Say “just kidding” right now!
Host/Producer/Editor: Malachi Segers-Seker
The Lowdown gives you the latest in news, pop culture, and everything else your friends will be talking about tomorrow. Don’t get FOMO, get The Lowdown with Malachi, every Friday here at YR Media.
It’s that time of year when everyone is either relieved because they successfully created the perfect plans for their mother or you’re stressing over what exactly to do as the days go by.
If you fit into the latter, keep on reading for some unique ideas that’ll surely impress the woman who gave you life.
Lip Lab: Anyone can join in on the fun in the Lip Lab. During this experience, you get to pick your shade and create lipstick. This option is such a fun way to bond and is mother-approved.
Little Words Project: At Little Words Project, located in Chicago, you can pay by time and create unlimited bracelets. This is such a simple, yet thoughtful idea that anyone can participate in – I suggest making matching bracelets!
Brunch: You can’t go wrong with brunch; it’s like the key to a successful Mother’s Day. Because who doesn’t enjoy food and good vibes, right?
Popcraft Studio: At Popcraft Studio, you can learn how to make your rugs through the tufting method. Try making rugs that you think each other would appreciate.
Read more …
This guest post is in partnership with True Star Media.
Before you dive into what’s happening today, take a look at what may have fallen off your radar earlier this week.
Mother’s Day Without Mom: 5 Tips to Survive
Adult ISH: BIPOC Efforts to Fill in Food Deserts
House Passes Anti-Semitism Awareness Act
4Lessons Learned From a Semester Abroadin the Netherlands
Can Your Facial Features Reveal Your Political Preferences?
As we approach Mother’s Day, the holiday can be a very uncomfortable one due to some of us that have lost our mothers early in our lives such as myself. To help, I have put together some tips that can help ease the pain of this difficult day.
Be Kind To Yourself – This day is very tough, be it for those who have lost their mothers. It is important to know that none of it is your fault and that everything will be okay. Time will heal all wounds and even if mom isn’t there, you still are and that is what matters.
Do a Hobby – This may be easier said than done, but doing a hobby to take your mind off of grief is very beneficial, especially if this is a hobby that your mother has done. This way, it is easier to become closer to them and feel their warmth come through you while doing the hobby. This way, you can feel their presence and not feel alone on this day.
Don’t Feel Resentment – One of the main feelings of grief is anger, and seeing lots of people talk about their mothers can bring that resentment bubbling up. All the posts, the emails, the pictures, etc, can all affect you, but know that you can turn off the TV and close those apps. Don’t let the media make you feel bad and control your emotions, your possessions do not possess you.
Do Self Care – Self explanatory, but please take care of yourself. Do things that can make you happy. Put on your favorite movie, talk with your friends, just do what you can to get your mind in a happy place.
Hold on to the Memories – Don’t let your mother’s death consume you. Let her love and support from the days she was with you be a happy memory that you treasure forever.
Know with this parting thought, that you are not alone and are stronger than you think. Keep moving forward this Mother’s Day and know that you are making her proud every day.
Zipporah Pruitt, (she/her) is an L.A. homegrown journalist, who covers entertainment and culture. Follow her on X and Instagram: @zippzapps.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
Winston-Salem State University is the first HBCU to unveil an Adobe Digital Lab, allowing students to create and learn graphic design, animation and more.
Produced by Ariyana Griffin
Last year, I visited the Philippines for the first time. One day, while eating breakfast with my extended family, I told them I wanted to try balut, a Filipino delicacy made from fertilized duck eggs.
My lolo bought me some to taste. My family didn’t expect me to actually enjoy or even finish the balut, but when I did, my lola referred to me as a “real Filipino.”
Even though she probably didn’t mean anything by saying that, I couldn’t stop thinking about her comment.
During my trip, a part of me didn’t feel like I completely belonged there. As someone who is mixed — my dad is Italian and my mom is Filipino — this kind of happens wherever I go. When I was 8, I visited Italy for the first time. And I didn’t feel like I fit in there either.
When I was younger, I dreamed of going to the Philippines. I always thought that I’d get there and feel an immediate connection to my culture. But in reality, that’s not what happened — I felt like I was viewing my culture from the outside in.
And my other half-Asian friends feel the same way. Even though we feel very connected to our heritage, there’s always this constant worry in the back of our mind about whether or not we look “Asian enough” to really be considered a part of the community. It’s like there’s a boundary between us and our culture that we can’t pass.
Being content with myself and where I fit in the world is an individual process. And I think it’s something that I will work on for a long time. I’m not in a rush to have it all figured out.
I recently decided that once I finish college, I want to move back to the Philippines for a year or two to explore my culture on my own terms — away from societal pressure.
Nina Tan Pernice (she/her) is a high school student from Oakland, California.
Edited by Amber Ly and shaylyn martos
This past semester, I embarked on an exciting journey of studying abroad in the Netherlands, spending 90 days in a 14th-century castle with 80 of my peers.
That time also came with a myriad of experiences, from adjusting to the workload to figuring out when and where to travel. For other students considering a similar opportunity, here are four lessons I took home with me from my time in Europe.
Pack Light
Everyone says don’t pack the kitchen sink when studying abroad, and it’s true. My parents encouraged me to pack only the essentials so it’d be easier when moving out. I later adopted this mindset when I traveled on weekends. Instead of bringing my carry-on, I put what I needed into the backpack I used for class, and it worked just fine. It was a lifesaver, considering some European airlines charge extra for checked bags. Packing light also gave me room for the inevitable souvenirs I collected, mostly T-shirts and books.
Culture Shock is Real
Aside from a six-hour time difference, I also had to adapt to Dutch culture. Kasteel Well’s staff carefully explained the various norms we may encounter — we even took an online history course about the Netherlands — but the real learning occurred during daily life. Every day brought a new lesson, from greeting every Dutch person you pass on a walk to recognizing the optional tipping culture.
Once you figure out which country you’ll be studying in, research as much as you can beforehand. If you have friends who did the program before you, ask them for advice, but remember your experience may not be the same as theirs. Culture shock will come in different ways, but you and your peers will get through those stages together.
Advance vs. Spontaneous Trip Planning
After compiling a list of places I wanted to visit in Europe, I quickly realized I wouldn’t be able to hit up everything I put down, especially in a 13-week semester.
I also did not book anything before touching down in the Netherlands, which turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Planning while in the castle was actually fun, and most of my peers were in similar situations. Planning travels with friends inspired me to research other places to explore. I had something to look forward to by being one step ahead, and it allowed me to enjoy every second in that new place.
I also decided to take day trips, fueled by somewhat impulsive decisions. I could hop on a bus, buy a train ticket at the station and be somewhere else in two hours. Those trips were worth it, even with a few delays. I went to a vintage car museum in Dusseldörf, Germany, and explored a church-turned-bookstore in the small Dutch city of Zwolle, among other adventures. I wouldn’t have known about them if I wasn’t curious enough to check them out.
Document Everything
Finally, it may be obvious, but take tons of photos and videos and have fun with them, too. I relied on my phone to capture all the memories I made, but some of my classmates brought film cameras or created travel vlogs. Even now, I find myself going through my camera roll again and reminiscing over how much I enjoyed the journey.
I also tried to journal as often as I could, writing down feelings as a tangible reminder of the places I went to. That journal also came in handy when collecting souvenirs, as I used some pages to store transit passes or museum tickets. There’s no single way to keep track of your time abroad. Find what works for you and stick with it as best you can.
Final Thoughts
The biggest takeaway I had from the last four months was the need to get out of my comfort zone. I had experiences I wouldn’t have gotten if I stayed back. I explored the streets of Venice and London and went around Brussels until 1 am with friends, among the dozens of stories I have now. And while there was a bit of FOMO when it came to missing places and people back home, I did my best to stay in the moment, because I wasn’t sure if — or when — I’d be back again.
My four months in the Netherlands truly exceeded my expectations. I recognize that the lessons I gained here will serve me well in my future endeavors.
Jordan Pagkalinawan (he/him) is from Los Angeles and covers news, health and technology. He currently studies journalism at Emerson College in Boston. Follow him on X: @JPagkalina1 and Instagram: @jpagka22.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
Young adults are putting themselves at risk of potentially deadly skin cancer by believing “dangerous” myths about sun protection, warns new research.
One in 3 adults (32%) agrees that a tan makes people look better and healthier, which health experts say can lead to “risky” behavior when it comes to sun exposure.
Researchers also found that almost a quarter of adults (23%) believe drinking water and staying hydrated prevents sunburn.
And one in seven adults under 35 (14%) actually believe daily sunscreen use is more harmful to the skin than direct sun exposure.
The survey of more than 1,000 American adults was conducted by the Orlando Health Cancer Institute.
Dr. Rajesh Nair, an oncology surgeon at the Orlando Health Cancer Institute, said: “There is no such thing as a healthy tan, as it’s really just a visual manifestation of damage to the skin.
“But we’re fighting against a perceived positive image and health benefits of something that actually has a totally opposite reality, which is that suntanned skin represents an increased risk of a deadly disease.”
He continued: “There is no scientific data suggesting that drinking water provides any protection from the sun.
“As for sunscreens, the protective benefits far outweigh any known risks, but if you’re concerned about chemicals or ingredients in a sunscreen, mineral sunscreens like zinc oxide that offer a physical barrier to the sun are proven to be safe, as well as clothing with SPF protection.”
Dr. Nair says that with so many sources of information – and misinformation – online, it’s difficult to decipher good advice from the bad.
Experts recommend using sunscreens with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 30 or higher and reapplying it every two hours, especially if you are sweating or are in water.
They say regular skin cancer screenings with a dermatologist or GP are also “critical” to catch any developing skin cancer early.
Originally published by Talker News
EpisodesSubscribeHoller/Follow17 million households were facing food insecurity at some point in 2022, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. That’s more than 12 percent of people having trouble getting a proper diet, including young folks.
Adult ISH host Nyge Turner leads YR Media youth presenter Christian Romo and co-host Dominique French through some ways Black and brown people are filling a need for quality food. Bing Turner of Heritage Farmers Market breaks down how food deserts reflect systemic classism. Laura Navarro and Luis Jacobo of Urban Tilth share how their neighborhood farm is cultivating a community. And, pop-up restaurant operators Josh Yos and Yared Gebru of Tiny’s World in Oakland talk about how lack of access to diverse ingredients can bring down a restaurant’s menu.
Adult ISH is produced by YR Media and brought to you by PRX’s Radiotopia. Be sure to follow all our socials @YRAdultISH!
Please show your support for Adult ISH by making a donation at: YRMedia.org/Donate. THANK YOU!
USDA 2019 Food Desert Map (updated July 2023)
Episode TranscriptComing soon…
Navigating romantic relationships can be both exhilarating and challenging, especially when it comes to young adults. As an 18-year-old myself, I’ve experienced firsthand the highs and lows of building and maintaining meaningful connections.
I’m about to share with you five invaluable tips for fostering healthier relationships, drawn from my personal experiences and observations.
Effective Communication
One of the most important tips I can give is that effectively communicating with your partner is everything. As humans, we often project what we may THINK another person is feeling onto them unfairly, leading to miscommunications and bruised feelings that could’ve been avoided with a simple conversation.
Prioritize Mutual Respect
Prioritizing mutual respect in a romantic relationship is vital, creating a sense of equality and fairness between both partners. Respect fosters emotional safety, allowing partners to express themselves authentically without fear of judgment or criticism.
Understand That You Are A Unit
Too often I see a “me” instead of a “we” mentality in relationships. Take the time to understand that you are both equals, and your actions can impact the emotions or life of your partner.
Strong Foundation of Trust
Now this one is a given. Trust and reliability are essential for maintaining intimacy, security, and emotional connection in any the relationship
Maintain Your Independence
Ironic because of #3 I know, but remember, you are your own person! In saying this I mean, make sure you are still investing in your own hobbies and productivity, not revolving around your partner’s life.
Read more …
This guest post is in partnership with True Star Media.
Nearly a quarter of Americans (22%) have missed out on at least five outdoor events they wanted to attend over the past year because of allergies (65%), according to new research.
In a survey of 2,000 adults, half of whom have perennial/seasonal allergies, found that respondents said having allergies or knowing someone who does has prevented them from being outdoors at some point within the past year (49%).
Though spending time outside is important to nearly all of those surveyed (92%), 56% say that having allergies or knowing someone who has them has dampened how much they’re able to enjoy outdoor events.
Conducted by OnePoll on behalf of ZYRTEC, the survey looked at how allergies impact both allergy sufferers and non-sufferers, causing them to miss out on the things they love.
The survey also revealed that allergy sufferers are feeling the strain of missed connections. Many are expressing “annoyance” (65%) and “frustration” (47%) when their symptoms get in the way of spending time with loved ones.
And 68% of respondents recall a time in the past year when they or someone they spent time with was distracted by their allergies.
One in 5 (22%) feel like they “always” or “often” have to make sacrifices when it comes to spending time outdoors.
Nearly a third even feel self-conscious (29%) about their allergy symptoms, while over half (67%) worry about being less enjoyable for others to be around when their allergies flare up.
When planning for outdoor meetups with friends and family who are affected, non-allergy sufferers check the pollen and air quality (27%) or choose indoor areas entirely (20%).
“There are steps you can take to ensure you don’t miss out and can enjoy outdoor moments this allergy season,” said Dr. Elliott. “Wear hats and sunglasses to keep allergens out of your hair and eyes and be sure to leave your shoes at the front door to avoid tracking allergens into the house. You can also take an oral antihistamine which can start working quickly to provide long-lasting relief from allergies.”
Originally published by Talker News
Deep tech made its way into fashion’s biggest night of the year at the 2024 Met Gala.
With the theme being “The Garden of Time,” the world’s biggest stars and celebrities gathered in whimsical haute couture interpretations of nature and the essence of a ticking clock.
Stunning images of Katy Perry, Rhianna and Selena Gomez began to roll out in the storm of other guest arrival photos that hit the internet. Much to the dismay of most the world – and even to Katy Perry’s mom, turns out those images were AI-generated.
While it seems harmless in theory that AI users can generate interpretations of Met Gala inspired looks on their favorite celebrities at the click of a button, this access to advanced technology runs the risk of spreading false information.
What was done with the Met Gala images can be classified as deepfakes, which are synthetic forms of media that have been digitally manipulated to replace one person’s likeness convincingly with that of another.
It is the tech-fueled equivalent of being in two places at once, at times, without the consent of who is being portrayed. Public figures such as President Joe Biden and Taylor Swift have fallen victim to deepfakes portraying false images and inauthentic voice generated content.
Beyond the household names of the world, deepfakes have begun to infiltrate everyday school systems. Just last year, a New Jersey highschooler caught fire for allegedly creating AI pornographic images of female students.
From the rich and famous, down to the ‘everyday Joe’s’ — no one is exempt from falling victim to being used for deep fakes, or being fooled by them.
There is a huge need for further education on how to detect AI-generated images and further consequences outlined for the use of them, if things go south.
Keeping it gee, while I am just excited as the next tech enthusiast to utilize AI, I do want to underscore that it is imperative to really research the content we see online before believing anything is true at face value.
Miranda Perez (she/her/hers) is a Jersey City, NJ-based journalist who covers the tech industry. Follow her on X and Instagram: @mimithegee.
Edited by NaTyshca Pickett
Adobe is incorporating AI into its video and photo editing software for some truly cool and eye-opening possibilities, which is getting many excited about the future of content creation.
Produced by Jason Sanford
Artificial intelligence facial recognition can predict political orientation from expressionless faces, according to a new study.
Researchers from the Stanford Graduate School of Business asked 591 participants to complete a questionnaire about their political beliefs.
Portraits of the group were shown to human raters who attempted to assess where they fell on the political spectrum, based solely on the shape of their face. They were also scanned by an AI algorithm.
The results showed that the accuracy achieved by humans and the algorithm was comparable.
The team says: “It was relatively high. In fact, it was on par with how well job interviews predict job success, or alcohol drives aggressiveness. The algorithm’s predictive accuracy was even higher when it leveraged information on participants’ age, gender, and ethnicity.”
To avoid bias in the study, published in the American Psychologist journal, researchers made sure participants removed all jewelry, make-up, and shaved facial hair. Their hair was pulled back using hair ties, hair pins, and a headband while taking care to avoid flyaway hairs.
The study says psychological traits can shape facial appearance, with factors including facial care, diet, substance use, physical health, injuries, exposure to sunlight, harsh environmental conditions, or emotional states.
The team says: “Exposure to such face-altering factors, in turn, is associated with psychological traits. Liberals, for example, tend to smile more intensely and genuinely, which, over time, leaves traces in wrinkle patterns.
“Conservatives tend to be more self-disciplined and are thus healthier, consume less alcohol and tobacco, and have a better diet, altering their facial fat distribution and skin health”
The team says that the analysis of facial features associated with political orientation revealed that conservatives tended to have larger lower faces.
They add: “Moreover, the associations between facial appearance and political orientation seem to generalize beyond our sample: The predictive model derived from standardized images (while controlling for age, gender, and ethnicity) could predict political orientation from naturalistic images of 3,401 politicians from the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada.
In conclusion, the team says: “Perhaps most crucially, our findings suggest that widespread biometric surveillance technologies are more threatening than previously thought.
Originally published by Talker News
The Anti-Semitism Awareness Act, propelled by a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers, secured passage in the House with a vote of 320 to 91, highlighting a concerted effort to address rising tensions on college campuses. Spearheaded by Rep. Mike Lawler of New York, the bill garnered support from 15 Democratic co-sponsors but faced resistance from both Republicans and Democrats who raised concerns about potential infringements on free speech. ABC News reported the details surrounding the newly passed act.
At its core, the legislation mandates the Department of Education to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism for enforcing federal anti-discrimination laws. This definition, acknowledging antisemitism as encompassing various forms of hatred and discrimination against Jews, includes provisions addressing the denial of Jewish self-determination and comparisons between Israeli policies and Nazi practices.
However, dissent emerged over the inclusivity of the alliance’s definition and its contemporary examples of antisemitism. Democratic Rep. Jerry Nadler, himself Jewish, expressed reservations, fearing the bill could skew discourse and suppress constitutionally-protected free speech by favoring one definition of antisemitism.
The backdrop of the bill’s passage is the ongoing turmoil on college campuses, particularly regarding protests against Israeli military actions in Gaza. These demonstrations have sparked debates over the distinction between criticism of Israeli policies and genuine antisemitism. While some advocate for divestment from Israeli military operations, others, including Jewish students and officials, perceive such actions as antisemitic and express concerns for their safety.
Amidst largely peaceful protests, sporadic instances of violence have occurred, often involving non-students. Speaker Mike Johnson’s recent visit to Columbia University underscored the severity of the situation, prompting calls for the university president’s resignation and even suggestions of National Guard intervention.
The political discourse surrounding these events has intensified, with President Joe Biden condemning antisemitic protests while also acknowledging the complexity of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Against this backdrop, the House’s approval of the Anti-Semitism Awareness Act signifies a concerted effort to address escalating tensions, reinforced by plans to expand investigations into antisemitism on college campuses and scrutinize federal funding allocations.
Noumaan Faiz, (he/him) is a journalist and entertainer from Hayward, CA who covers culture and entertainment.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
Almost half of Americans don’t know what a 401(k) is, according to a recent poll.
A national survey of 2,000 Americans, evenly split by generation, revealed that 43% of respondents don’t know what a 401(k) is. The survey examined Americans’ financial literacy, commitment to learning and adopting healthy money habits, and feelings regarding their bank accounts and financial futures.
The results revealed a significant lack of confidence among respondents regarding their financial literacy, with only 30% believing they could win a game of personal finance trivia.
And over a third (35%) don’t know what “interest” is in a financial context.
The study, commissioned by Beyond Finance for Financial Practice Week and conducted by OnePoll, revealed that despite these startling knowledge gaps, only 2 in 5 respondents (39%) consider themselves more financially literate than others.
Four in 10 Americans (39%) admit they procrastinate when implementing healthy financial habits. Gen Z are most likely to procrastinate (49%) while Baby Boomers are least likely to procrastinate (22%).
The top reasons respondents cited for postponing personal finance tasks include stress (25%), feeling their financial health is already poor and can’t get any worse (16%) and forgetfulness (13%).
“Unfortunately, avoiding looking at your finances and making healthy changes is incredibly common,” said Dr. Erika Rasure, chief financial wellness advisor of Beyond Finance, which can be overwhelming. Some people tend to neglect taking stock of their financial situation, and others can become nervously consumed by it. There’s a middle ground to take when improving your financial health — learn healthy money habits, pay attention and make small, achievable adjustments to your spending and habits.”
The study revealed the average American typically checks their banking app twice daily. Exactly half of respondents say they feel nervous when opening their banking portal, with Gen Z feeling most uncomfortable (65%).
In comparison, Baby Boomers feel the most calm (26%) and over a quarter of all respondents avoid signing into their banking apps on a daily basis, at all (26%).
Regarding budgeting habits, 8 in 10 respondents try to hold themselves accountable to a monthly budget with Millennials and Baby Boomers tying for the best-laid financial plans (81%).
Of those who create a monthly budget, respondents only stick to it 66% of the time on average, with Baby Boomers exhibiting the highest accountability (76%) and Gen Z deviating the most from their budgets (58%).
Originally published by Talker News
The most popular teenagers in school get the least sleep – particularly girls, according to a new study.
Scientists found that teens with the most friends sleep less than their peers – and that popular girls experience more symptoms of insomnia than popular boys.
Previous studies have shown that adolescents often find it hard to get to sleep at a time that would allow them to clock up the recommended eight to 10 hours of shuteye each night due to a later melatonin onset and increased alertness in the evening.
Researchers say it is also during the teenage years when increasing school demands, activities, more independence from parents, and relationships with peers begin to compete with sleep.
Australian and Swedish scientists wanted to find out how popularity among peers affected the sleeping habits of teenagers aged 14 to 18.
Study first author Dr. Serena Bauducco, a sleep researcher at Örebro University, Sweden, said: “Here we show that popular teenagers reported shorter sleep duration.
“In particular, popular girls – but not boys – reported more insomnia symptoms.
“Most interestingly, popularity also seems to negatively impact sleep both before and after the advent of smartphones.”
The research team examined if popularity coincided with shorter sleep duration in a sample of more than 1,300 Swedish teenagers, almost half of them female.
They asked the participants to nominate up to three friends, and those receiving the most nominations were defined as more popular.
Those teenagers slept less than their peers – the most popular ones up to 27 minutes fewer, according to the findings published in the journal Frontiers in Sleep.
When the research team looked at boys and girls separately, they also found a correlation between popularity and insomnia symptoms.
More popular girls experienced more insomnia symptoms, such as difficulty falling or staying asleep or waking up too early.
Popular boys did not experience those symptoms to the same extent, according to the findings.
The differences between sexes are not yet fully understood, but the fact that boys and girls engage in differing friendship behaviors might offer insights.
Dr. Bauducco said: “Girls express more care and concern with their friends and engage in helping behaviors more than boys.
“This might mean they carry these concerns when it’s time to fall asleep.
“We also see that popularity has been associated with worse sleep both before and after the development of handheld communication technology.”
She said the findings suggest that it may not be smartphones that cause popular teenagers to sleep less, rather other factors could be at play.
The research team speculates that more friends may mean more time dedicated to them which could result in less time left for sleeping.
They say more emotional investment could also lead to sleeping difficulties.
Originally published by Talker News
‘’Knuckles’’ is the latest series from Paramount+ in association with SEGA, based on the classic video game franchise, Sonic The Hedgehog. The show is a spin-off of the Sonic films, the first ‘’Sonic the Hedgehog’’ released in Feb. 2020, with the sequel, ‘’Sonic the Hedgehog 2’’ released in April 2022, both were smash hits among audiences worldwide.
‘’Knuckles’’ focuses on the deuteragonist, Knuckles the Echidna (voiced by Idris Elba) introduced in the sequel as the character adapts to life on Earth, amongst humans with his only alien counterparts being Sonic and Tails. After saving the world, Knuckles grows tired of having to adhere to Earth’s customs while living in Green Hills and seeks to find excitement and fulfillment in his life by honoring his roots being part of the Echidna clan; it is through spiritual guidance that Knuckles realizes that he can achieve this by teaching Wade Whipple (played by Adam Pally), the local bumbling deputy to become a ‘’warrior.’’ This leads to a hilarious journey which involves major reflection and self-realization to find one’s true strengths all while enduring bowling tournaments, binging 90s films, Shabbat dinners, abandonment issues, and rock operas. Knuckles is a midquel, set between the second and the third upcoming film in the series, ‘’Sonic the Hedgehog 3’’ due to release on Dec. 20.
Knuckles has been a fan-favorite character ever since he was introduced in the 1994 Sega Genesis game, ‘’Sonic & Knuckles’’ to rave reviews, leading it to be the best-selling game overall for the Genesis platform. With his brute strength and blunt demeanor, this version is akin to the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s version of Drax the Destroyer from the “Guardians of the Galaxy’’ films. This take on the character is by far the best among other Sonic media as a voice actor and executive producer, Idris Elba captures the clueless and reckless nature of the character perfectly not pulling his punches with his comedic jabs and steely delivery of lines.
The series plays upon the unconventional mashup of the buddy cop and road trip-style comedies as seen in the first film, with Wade Whipple as the main human, taking the place of Tom Wachowski (played by James Marsden), Whipple is the comedic foil to the hard-hitting Knuckles as they constantly butt heads on how to become a warrior. Unknownst to them, on their trail are two rogue G.U.N. agents, Agent Mason (played by Scott Mescudi aka ‘’Kid Cudi’’) and Agent Willoughby (played by Ellie Taylor) who seek to capture Knuckles and sell him to a mysterious buyer, a former accomplice of Doctor Ivo Robotnik (played by Jim Carrey in the films).
Adam Pally is hilarious as the clueless deputy with a heart of gold as he truly admires the Echidna much to his chagrin, he excels in the tremendous bouts of physical comedy combined with action as Wade is the underdog that you want to root for.
Knuckles is reminiscent of the straight-to-VHS/DVD sequels of feature films from the late 90s and early 00s, yet is more elevated both in style and substance as the film maintains the cinematography, CGI animation, special effects, and action that the series is known for, yet feels as it if could have been released to the theaters. Each episode has a different director that packs a different punch to each episode, the first was directed by the Sonic films director, Jeff Fowler, with the following episodes directed by Ged Wright, Brandon Trost, Jorma Taccone, and Carol Banker. Episode 4, ‘’The Flames of Disaster’’ is a standout episode as Jorma Taccone is bursting with the influence of his work from The Lonely Island and SNL with an impromptu rock opera taking place in the middle of a bowling alley.
The only fault with the show is that for it to be ‘’Knuckles’’ there is not much featured of the titular character, with Wade and his family taking up much of the screen time in the second half of the series, culminating in a forgettable final battle with a forgettable villain. While Wade is a charming and funny character, his character seems to dominate the screen more than the fiery Red echidna. The reasons why are unknown, but to even reference the video game and fandom meme of ‘’& Knuckles,’’ the show could have been titled ‘’Wade & Knuckles.’’ However, do not let this deter you, as this show is a quick binge-watch, comprising six 30-minute-long episodes with lots of fun needle drops and easter eggs for both loyal and casual Sonic fans to enjoy, totaling a whopping three hours of all killer, no filler.
“Knuckles” is 4 emeralds out of 5.
Zipporah Pruitt, (she/her) is an L.A. homegrown journalist, who covers entertainment and culture. Follow her on X and Instagram: @zippzapps.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
Between tuition, supplies and furnishings for a dorm, the expense of going to college is a very high order for most.
About 993,500 students rely on financial aid from federal institutions such as FAFSA to decide which college to attend. This year a series of delays, due to updates to the process, have stunted these decisions and many find themselves in limbo. They can’t notify their school of their decision to participate if their FAFSA isn’t processed and the schools can’t send out financial aid packages as early as they usually do.
Comparing which school will offer a student the most aid is crucial to one’s verdict on Decision Day this week and FAFSA’s processing in 2024 has not followed promptly with it.
Many schools have kept this in mind and issued a series of date changes for when a student must commit. But this only covers one of the many issues people have faced with this year’s FAFSA.
FAFSA’s decisions to update their site for the 2024-2025 school year have caused delays that haven’t taken place in previous years. A decision to make the application process shorter and increase the amount of aid available in consideration of inflation has caused problems for some.
There have been accounts of first-generation students with parents needing a social security number who have had difficulty getting their FAFSA processed and their accounts verified. Many people post online about their troubles with the 2024-25 FAFSA, with some students being unable to meet the graduation requirement of completing the form due to delays and technical difficulties.
Here is an example of someone struggling with one of these issues:
@luc1naaa First gen problems #fafsa #financialaid ♬ original sound – 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐬 ✧˚ ·
@pikelawsongf not the anxious tongue biting & the crying
To further dive into how this year’s FAFSA has affected students, I talked to Julia Bermudez,17, a first-generation student who has her solutions in mind.
YR Media: “If there could be any improvements made to the site what would you like to see change?”
Julia Bermudez: “I think they could afford to make it less broken. I got constant errors that didn’t allow me to put my mom as a contributor. My mom being an undocumented immigrant with no work permit makes it so we have an unsteady income, I get they have to verify that my mom is who she is, but people have had to take gap years because of how long FAFSA takes when it comes to undocumented parents. I shouldn’t have to stress more than my friends with documented parents.”
The changes that attending college brings are stressful enough and making such a large investment toward one’s future is a big choice. People spend years working towards getting accepted into the college of their dreams. But the decision to take on outstanding debt is just as impactful.
As someone who’s also in the process of attending college, filing out the FAFSA has been tedious. From the site crashing to ensuring the parent section was completed on time, calling it “stress” only scratches the surface. Many of my peers and I are just counting the days until financial aid packages are received and then we can all take one more step forward and a deep breath.
Siah Brawley (she/her) is a high school senior interested in media and culture.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
Before you dive into what’s happening today, take a look at what may have fallen off your radar earlier this week.
Tech in Schools: Harmful or Helpful?
Figuring Out Your 20sand Imposter Syndrome
Keke Palmer and SZA Cast in New Comedy Film
The Gee Code: Why is Gen Z Bringing Back Myspace?
Adult ISH: Music That Moves Culture
The recent collaboration between Keke Palmer and SZA on “Saturday Night Live” was a resounding success, leading to an exciting new venture in the form of an untitled buddy comedy film under the TriStar Pictures banner. Deadline reported that the upcoming project is set to be produced by Issa Rae, with “Rap Sh!t” Lawrence Lamont director, at the helm. The screenplay comes from Syreeta Singleton, who also served as the “Rap Sh!t” showrunner.
While the plot details are being kept under wraps for now, what is known is that Rae, along with Sara Diya Rastogi, will produce through Rae’s banner HOORAE.
View this post on Instagram (@keke)
Palmer and SZA’s chemistry on Saturday Night Live sparked the idea for this project. It marks SZA’s acting debut, as she was drawn to the opportunity to work alongside Palmer once again.
SZA | Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic via Getty ImagesKeke Palmer has established herself as a versatile talent through roles in various films and TV shows, including “Akeelah and the Bee,” Jordan Peele’s “Nope,” and “Hustlers”. Additionally, she has ventured into podcasting with “Baby, This is Keke Palmer” and launched her digital network, KeyTV. Palmer’s accolades include a 2021 Emmy Award for “Turnt Up With the Taylors” and the distinction of being the first Black woman to win Outstanding Host For A Game Show at the Emmys for her work on “Password.”
SZA, a four-time Grammy winner and Oscar nominee rose to fame with her album “Ctrl,” which received critical acclaim and multiple Grammy nominations. She collaborated with Kendrick Lamar on “All the Stars” for “Black Panther,” earning nominations at the Grammys, Golden Globes, and Oscars.
Noumaan Faiz, (he/him) is a journalist and entertainer from Hayward, CA who covers culture and entertainment.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
Imagine being so entitled you think you can escape the police just by driving to your house and having a temper tantrum! Now imagine that person has the power to decide the fate of (other) criminals. Gulp.
Host/Producer/Editor: Malachi Segers-Seker
The Lowdown gives you the latest in news, pop culture, and everything else your friends will be talking about tomorrow. Don’t get FOMO, get The Lowdown with Malachi, every Friday here at YR Media.
Working together again, Blue Ivy Carter, 12, and her mother Beyoncé are set to voice characters in the upcoming “Mufasa: The Lion King.”
Director Barry Jenkins told PEOPLE the significance of having a mother-daughter duo collaborate on-screen, highlighting the impact of their shared scenes was enchanting
Beyoncé, reprising her role as Queen Nala, stars alongside Blue Ivy, who voices the character’s daughter Kiara.
The involvement of Beyoncé and Blue Ivy began early in the film’s production, long before Beyoncé’s “Renaissance” album release, reflecting the extensive process of bringing “Mufasa” to life. Jenkins noted Blue Ivy’s growth during Beyoncé’s Renaissance tour, making the film a snapshot of their lives at that moment. The return of Beyoncé to the Lion King universe, alongside other stars from the 2019 remake, was crucial to Jenkins and his team, emphasizing her embodiment of Nala and her commitment to the project.
Beyoncé’s visual album “Black Is King,” inspired by the previous Lion King movie, underscores her connection to African culture, according to Jenkins. He appreciates her portrayal both on and off-screen, particularly as a mother. Blue Ivy’s voice resonated with Jenkins for the role of Kiara, reminiscent of her work on the audiobook recording of “Hair Love.”
Jenkins also highlighted the importance of the leads, Aaron Pierre and Kelvin Harrison Jr., in their roles as Mufasa and Taka (Scar), respectively. He emphasized their understanding of the rich and complex characters they portrayed, as well as their contribution to audience discovery.
“Mufasa” features a star-studded cast including Thandiwe Newton, Mads Mikkelsen, Keith David, and Anika Noni Rose. Jenkins clarified that Rose’s casting was not intentionally a “Dreamgirls” reunion with Beyoncé, but rather a reunion with Keith David, her co-star from “The Princess and the Frog.” Rose and David, portraying Mufasa’s parents Afia and Masego, carry pivotal moments in the film.
Jenkins remained tight-lipped about composer Lin-Manuel Miranda’s original songs for the movie, which complement the iconic tunes from the 1994 animated original. He emphasized Miranda’s ability to elevate the story through music.
As for Beyoncé’s musical contributions, Jenkins humorously refrained from divulging any details to avoid getting into trouble, emphasizing the secrecy surrounding the songs.
“Mufasa: The Lion King” is set to hit theaters on Dec. 20, promising to be a memorable cinematic experience with its talented cast and emotionally resonant storytelling.
Noumaan Faiz, (he/him) is a journalist and entertainer from Hayward, CA who covers culture and entertainment.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
Teenagers with junk food-filled diets are causing long-term damage to their brains, a new study has revealed.
New research suggests that teens who feast on high-fat sugary diets are destroying their memory, with the effects seen well into adulthood.
The study, to be published in the May issue of the journal Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, builds on previous evidence linking poor diet and Alzheimer’s disease.
People who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease tend to have lower levels of a signaling molecule called acetylcholine in the brain— which is essential for memory, learning, attention, arousal and involuntary muscle movement.
To see if a fat-fuelled diet would cause the same damage in youth, while their brains are still developing, the team tracked the acetylcholine levels in rats with different diets and put them through a memory test.
The memory test used involved letting the rats explore a new space, then days later bringing them back with one new object added to the area.
Rats on the junk food diet showed signs they could not remember which object they had previously seen, and where, while those on a healthier diet showed familiarity.
The researchers believe fast food diets are especially harmful for teenagers as they are still developing, making the effects harder to reverse.
Originally published by Talker News
Defined as feeling anxious and not experiencing success internally, imposter syndrome manifests in the workplace as being unable to internalize achievements and downplaying accomplishments, being reluctant to ask for help, and ultimately lacking self-confidence at work.
For Gen Z, one survey found that 66% were likely to experience imposter syndrome. However, Anne Marie Squeo believed Gen Z is less likely to suffer from imposter syndrome than other generations.
Imposter syndrome became a word that peers always used after starting a full-time job in Corporate America. Being in unchartered territory and navigating a new industry meant constantly questioning all knowledge and skills acquired from my past and struggling with self-confidence.
After being out of school for two years, some lessons learned about imposter syndrome have helped me show up confidently at work.
- Accept that you are capable: You can always learn anything you don’t know, and there’s nothing wrong with playing to your strengths. An executive leader recently shared that they still struggle to be good at this one thing, highlighting that just because you’re not the best at one thing does not mean you are not deserving of being where you are.
- Mentors will help you tremendously: Having people in your corner who can help you navigate your industry or company will do wonders for your career. Mentors are great reminders that they were once in your shoes, and if they’ve gotten to the place they’re in now, you can continue learning and get to the places you desire.
- Track your accomplishments: Spending 30 minutes a day or 1 hour a week tracking all you’ve done within the week is the best proof to believe you are doing great work and contributing significantly where you are.
- Don’t be defined by what you do: Realize that you are a whole person and are more than just your job or your talents and skills. It’s easy to get sucked into feeling like if you’re not doing how you’d like in your career, then you are missing the mark, but your life is so much more than what you attach to yourself.
It’s easy to get sucked into feeling like someone will find out that you’re not as talented or intelligent as you really are. You are right where you are for a reason, capable and deserving of success.
Tracy Noze is a Seattle-based journalist.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
In a world where social media has become centered around algorithmically curated feeds, over genuine connection, Gen Z is leading the charge in reclaiming what it means to truly finde self-expression and connection online.
While it may seem like there are enough social platforms to go around for decades, Zoomers are craving more. As an answer to this call, Tiffany Zhong, a Gen Z VC investor who has been in the startup space since the age of 19, has been working on the creation of Nospace, the Gen Z version of Myspace.
According to a New York Post report, Zhong understands that social media has lost its authentic social aspect, devolving into a mere showcase of highlight reels rather than a space for genuine engagement.
Nospace is designed to bring back the essence of early social media—where people posted with less fear of judgment ahead of the days of likes, tacking engagement and becoming social media famous.
Users can share updates about their lives, connect with others based on shared interests and curate their own social circles. With features like the return of the Myspace Top 8 (where members listed their closest friends) and a chronological global feed, Nospace aims to help people find friends with similar interests and encourage more self-expression.
Another aspect of Myspace that Gen Z is craving is customizable profile pages. In an era of mass content creation and the accessibility to graphic design tools, youth now more than ever has the ability to code and create in ways Millenial’s simply didn’t have access to in the days of Myspace.
Gen Z, having grown up amidst the peak of social media saturation, is saying “enough is enough.” There is a collective sense of tiredness around the forced feeling to have an image of a trending desired aesthetic at all times.
The overwhelming response to Nospace — over 380,000 people on the waitlist — is a testament to Gen Z’s hunger for a more authentic online experience. They’re not content with being passive consumers of content; they want to actively engage with others and express themselves in a way that feels true to who they are.
Keeping it gee, Nospace represents more than just a nostalgic throwback to the early days of social media — it’s a bold statement from Gen Z about the kind of online spaces they want to inhabit. By turning back the digital age clock and embracing a more personalized and authentic approach to social media, Gen Z is reclaiming their online presence and reshaping the future of digital interaction.
Miranda Perez (she/her/hers) is a Jersey City, NJ-based journalist who covers the tech industry. Follow her on X and Instagram: @mimithegee.
Edited by NaTyshca Pickett
It’s so easy to get discouraged on social media nowadays. As technology becomes more widespread, it’s important to be sure you’re using social media in a productive way and causing no mental harm.
*“Comparison is the Thief of Joy”
This is a phrase my parents implanted in me and my siblings growing up. One of the hardest lessons I’ve learned, not just surrounding social media but in life, is that you will never be happy comparing what you have to someone else.
*Understand What Social Media Is
This tip and the last go hand in hand. It’s important to understand that social media is meant to broadcast the “best” version of somebody. Sites like Instagram are designed to share your best moments, achievements and pictures.
*Branding
As we grow older and start to apply for internships, organizations, jobs and more opportunities, our online image becomes more important. The way you represent yourself online is a reflection of how others will perceive you.
*Everyone Is Not Your Friend
It’s easy to be manipulated and tricked on the internet in these times, so be sure you have the proper privacy measures in place to filter out anything unwanted and be cautious with giving out your personal information.
Read more …
This guest post is in partnership with True Star Media.
Forty-two percent of Americans support the U.S. government’s TikTok ban, according to new research.
The survey of 2,000 Americans, conducted by Talker Research, found that only 23% of all those polled are against it, while 31% have no real opinion on the matter.
Interestingly, while 42% of Gen Z and 35% of millennial respondents reported that they regularly use the app, 36% and 40%, respectively, support the ban.
This research was conducted just before President Biden officially signed the bill, which gives TikTok’s parent company ByteDance nine months to arrange a sale of the platform or face a ban in the United States.
Only one in four (25%) of the respondents said they would be impacted by the bill passing, with 45% saying it would not impact them at all.
In fact, 39% said they would be “very” unimpacted if the TikTok ban were to go through — well over half (58%) reported that they don’t use the app at all.
Of parents polled, 47% expressed worry over their children using TikTok, with 21% finding the prospect of their child using the app “very” worrying
The top concern was found to be the possibility of their child seeing inappropriate or disturbing content (58%), followed by worries that they might become too obsessed with it (51%).
Forty-four percent expressed concerns about data privacy, and 43% said they were worried their child might be subject to cyberbullying.
Alongside those, worrying about what they’re posting and sharing (39%), who they are meeting/engaging with (38%), and it shortening their attention spans (29%) all topped the list.
Originally published by Talker News
A National Center for Education Statistics survey revealed that 98% of schools use computers in the classroom and 75% of the national education market already uses iPads and Chromebooks. Roughly 57% of students use digital learning tools every day and spend at least 50% of their classroom time engaging with a device.
Advocates for digital devices in classrooms said that ample evidence supports the wide use of technology. They said technology increases engagement, and creativity, and gives students access to a wealth of learning material. An Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development study found that four-year-old children playing age-appropriate educational games on a touch-screen showed higher gains in literacy and mathematics. Supporters said these activities teach lifelong digital literacy skills that are essential for success in today’s tech culture.
Fifteen-year-old Cloe Walker, who attends Lowell High School, in San Francisco found tech in school helps with her classes.
“Computers are necessary at school. I use my computer in almost every class; for notes in AP World History, for simulating scientific models in Chemistry, I use the calculator app in math,” the 10th grader said. “My success in these classes relies on my ability to use a computer for various purposes.”
But some say the use of technology has gone too far. A letter from a California School district cited a national survey that found two-thirds of K-12 teachers said technology has negatively impacted 75% of their students by decreasing their ability to focus on educational tasks. Studies by the National Center for Biotechnology Information show that high school and college students spend up to 20% of their classroom time texting, emailing, surfing the web, checking social media, and even playing games. Spending this much time on screens has serious repercussions. In a study of children aged 8 to 12 years, more screen and less reading time were associated with decreased brain connectivity between regions controlling word recognition, as well as language and cognitive control.
Having devices in class specifically impacts kids with learning disorders. Professional Counselor Kathleen Smith at the The Bowen Center for the Study of the Family said “Children with ADHD are more likely to engage in compulsive video game use. Children play more games on screens because they already have symptoms of ADHD, such as inattention and hyper-focus. Another study found that children who play phone games were at increased risk for ADHD.”
Rising ninth grader Trent Lee,* who attends Galileo High School in San Francisco,
was diagnosed with attention deficit disorder and said having devices has been a challenge.
“When I can’t focus on what’s going on with class, I feel so tempted to just open my computer and start gaming,” the 14-year-old said. “It’s hard enough for me to focus in class with my ADHD, but having access to a device makes it that much harder.”
One solution used by many school districts is putting restrictions on school computers. The Guardian reported that some school districts have given teachers the ability to “hijack” students’ computers and intervene with what they are doing. Other schools such as the San Francisco Unified School District give special computers that automatically block most games and other non-school-related websites.
*Name has been changed for privacy reasons.
Leah Mordehai (she/her) is from San Francisco and is a local youth journalist.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
Spring is nice, but for most it just makes us fiend for the warm days of summer. After all, it’s the ideal time to not only enjoy the beautiful weather but to also freely express your fashion sense.
Flowy Maxi Skirts: Looking to enter your earthy era? Grab a maxi skirt from your nearest thrift store in any color, it doesn’t matter.
Timbs & Blue Jeans: This infamous combo dates back to years ago in the late 90s and early 2000s in Black and brown communities. Said combo is experiencing a resurgence thanks to rappers like Lil Yachty and influencers within his group – Concrete Boyz, such as Giovanna Ramos.
Crochet Everything: From swimsuits to tube tops, crochet is becoming increasingly popular, as it’s so easy to start yourself.
Linen: So airy and light, linen should be in everyone’s closet this summer.
Chunky Belts and Accessories: Chunky western belt buckles and body jewelry are being thrown over a pair of jeans, and even dresses! Incorporating chunky statement accessories into a basic outfit makes it more unique.
Braids with Beads: A staple in the Black community, braids and beads are a personal favorite of mine – especially Fulani braids. As soon as it gets hot out, I’m already searching for my next protective style.
Read more …
This guest post is in partnership with True Star Media.
Americans spend nearly $500 a year tipping more than they’d like to, according to new research.
A survey of 2,000 Americans examined just how much ‘tipflation’ may be impacting our wallets.
Results found the average respondent reluctantly tips $37.80 a month due to the pressure or awkwardness of the options presented to them.
That figure equates to $453.60 a year in guilt-induced gratuity, with over a quarter (26%) feeling they are always or often forced to tip more than they would like.
The survey, conducted by Talker Research, found the average respondent tipped more than they’d like to on six occasions (6.3) in the last 30 days alone.
And whether it’s the watchful eyes of a barrister, the hastily swiveled tablet or the waiter handing you the card machine, more than half (56%) of respondents note that pressure to tip higher is a regular occurrence.
Just 24 percent said it’s a rare experience for them to feel put on the spot when tipping.
That might be why many of those polled (49%) felt they’d noticed their options for tipping on tablets and digital devices increased in value in the last month alone.
Nearly a third (31%) said they’d been asked to tip for a service they wouldn’t normally have considered tipping for in recent weeks.
But the concept of guilt tipping doesn’t necessarily hit equally. When examining the data generationally, Gen Z (16%) and millennials (16%) were almost twice as likely to say they “always” feel pressure to tip than older generations.
Just nine percent of Gen X and only five percent of boomers felt the same constant tipping obligation.
And when purchasing specifically in-store, the pressure to tip relents the older a person is — a third of both Gen Z (33%) and millennials (33%) always or often feel pressured or made to feel guilty when tipping compared to 23 percent of Gen X and just 13 percent of boomers.
Tipping pressure doesn’t always need a human presence it seems — 23% of all those surveyed said they would likely leave a tip for service that required no human interaction, such as a vending machine or a self-checkout kiosk at the grocery store.
Originally published by Talker News
It has been more than 200 days since the first Oct. 7 attack on Israel, and protests around the United States have only grown more intense. The leaders of this widespread outcry?
College students.
Protesters at Columbia University, where the encampment-style protests originated last week, have stated that they will not leave and will continue to peacefully protest until the university commits to severing connections with Israeli universities and pledges to divest from entities linked to Israel.
This demonstration follows months of demands for university divestment from Palestinian oppression, finally escalating due to administrative silence or repression. Despite facing suspension and arrests, student protesters have maintained their resolve.
Most recently, on April 22, The UC Berkeley Divestment Coalition erected a Free Palestine Encampment on the Mario Savio Steps in front of Sproul Hall. Historically, this location is attributed to the birth of the 1964 Free Speech Movement, where students protested the university’s restrictions on political activities on campus. This encampment has only multiplied in size since its day one.
Their purpose is clear: to occupy the steps until UC Berkeley divests from weapon manufacturers profiting from the war in Gaza, such as BlackRock, Lockheed Martin, and Boeing, to name a few. UC Berkeley is the first UC campus and inaugural California college to establish such an encampment, but they are far from the last.
UT Austin, Harvard, Princeton, and Northwestern, among dozens of other universities, have begun to set up camp, leading to hundreds of arrests across the country.
Recent statements from President Joe Biden have described these university encampments as a hotbed of antisemitic hatred. In a written statement Sunday evening, he wrote, “Even in recent days, we’ve seen harassment and calls for violence against Jews. This blatant antisemitism is reprehensible and dangerous – and it has absolutely no place on college campuses, or anywhere in our country.”
On Wednesday, Joe Biden signed off on $26.4 billion for Israel and humanitarian aid for civilians in conflict zones. He also gave financial assistance to Ukraine and the Indo-Pacific region for a total of $95.3 billion in foreign aid.
National Jewish organizations have also called the BDS movement antisemitic, asserting that its goal is to isolate and delegitimize the sole Jewish state.
These concerns about antisemitism on U.S. college campuses are not unfounded. Physical and verbal threats, swastika graffiti, and Holocaust denial pose a danger to Jewish populations. This is a group that has faced historical hatred and brutality all over the world.
However, many protesters in solidarity with the Palestinian people believe that these abhorrent actions do not represent the larger protests for peace, emphasizing that negative depictions of these peaceful protests further divide and add fuel to the fire.
Aligning with the Passover holiday, we must all reflect on freedom and liberation and lead with kindness to all.
Knives Nguyen (they/he/she), is a journalist from the Bay Area who covers entertainment, culture and student life. You can connect with them on LinkedIn: @knivesnguyen.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
It’s looking more and more like this “AI Apocalypse” is actually going to happen, with the newest evidence being the inventors of the Taser introducing AI-Generation to body cams. Besides everything, what could go wrong?
Host/Producer/Editor: Malachi Segers-Seker
The Lowdown gives you the latest in news, pop culture, and everything else your friends will be talking about tomorrow. Don’t get FOMO, get The Lowdown with Malachi, every Friday here at YR Media.
I’m going to say it; I believe that the video game adaptation curse has been lifted. This can be seen in films such as “Detective Pikachu” and “Sonic the Hedgehog” and the TV show “The Last of Us.” Now a new TV show based on a video game has entered the ring, based on the popular post-nuclear role-playing game, Fallout.
As a game series, Fallout has always been wacky and zany, with atmospheric settings of sobering horror to remind you that a wasteland is a dangerous place. Through many games made after 2008’s Fallout 3, such as Fallout: New Vegas, Fallout 4, and the extremely polarizing Fallout 76, the series has now begun its first foray into the small screen courtesy of Prime Video and Johnathan Nolan.
Our story begins in Vault 33, one of the many vaults built by the Vault-Tec corporation to house people from nuclear annihilation. After over 200 years since the bombs dropped, a young plucky and naïve girl named Lucy (Ella Purnell), must leave the safety of Vault 33 to find her missing father. This soon leads her into a crossroads with The Ghoul (Walton Goggins), and Squire Maximus (Aaron Moten) from the Brotherhood of Steel, which will change the face of the wasteland forever.
The show is incredible as it gets the humor, tragedy, gore, and little details that make Fallout, Fallout. Each character is perfectly played as their actor understood the assignment and knows how to take this new world with the seriousness and levity it entails. Dark humor is heavily worn on its sleeve as the show is goofy yet dangerous.
In the words of Maximus, “Everybody wants to save the world, but no one can decide how,” this is the central conflict of the show, as many factions are vying for control. The only difference is how we are not in control of the character this time to make the choices. This show is amazing and I cannot wait for more to get my fill.
5 thumbs up out of 5.
Guillermo Guzman (he/him/they) is a Texas-based nerd who loves talking about video games, autism, and entertainment. Follow him on Instagram: @boofy_booferson and X: @Dimpy_Tenders.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
Before you dive into what’s happening today, take a look at what may have fallen off your radar earlier this week.
Is Gen Z Aging Too Fast?
7 out of 10 teens on X Get Bullied Over Their Weight
Content Creator Nicole LaenoFaces Dream College Rejection
Figuring Out Your 20s: Decentering Romantic Relationships
Adult ISH: Hearing the Unhoused: How to Really Help Homeless Youth
The Hottie side of TikTok has been gagged once again by Glorilla and Megan Thee Stallion’s ability to have everybody and their grandma outside right before the summertime. Glorilla came into the rap scene in April 2022 with “FNF, ” While Megan, also known as “Tina Snow” drew in her hottie fan base when dropping “Fever” in May 2019, giving us the era of “Hot Girl Summer.”
Both artists have undeniably shaped summer as we know it by releasing their music just when the weather breaks, resulting in cities dancing on top of cars and the term being “outside not in.” And now in 2024, they’ve both done it again, through their latest collaboration “Wanna Be” by Glorilla featuring Megan Thee Stallion. Fans are already outside yelling “Get em’ Glo,” and deeming it as “The Song of The Summer” and it’s only April.
But there’s a nostalgic twist to the recent drop that explains why fans love the song so much. “Wanna Be” samples the iconic Soulja Boy’s “Pretty Boy Swag.” Remember that beat that had our parents leaning and rocking with it in the 00s? “Pretty Boy Swag” is a Black cookout staple, among, of course, cupid shuffle and other Black staple line dances and party music. Soulja Boy’s mark on the Hip-Hop/Pop culture industry simply cannot be denied. From pioneering viral digital-internet marketing as the first rapper to promote his music and document his life on platforms like MYSpace and YouTube to now making us laugh, claiming that everyone is inspired by him on social media. Soulja continues to influence even our most current favorite artists’ music.
Read more …
This guest post is in partnership with True Star Media.
EpisodesSubscribeHoller/FollowAbout 4.2 million people between the ages of 12 and 24 experience some form of homelessness each year in the United States, according to the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty. Adult ISH host Nyge Turner connects with Emi Nietfeld, who wrote “Acceptance,” about her experience navigating being unhoused while studying at Harvard University. Emi shares resources that can help young people manage housing insecurity and explains why youth homelessness is less about personal responsibility and more about a preventable systemic problem.
If you or anyone you know needs immediate housing support, reach out to the National Safe Place Network. Just send a text with the word “HELP” to the number 4HELP (44357). Or call 1-800-RUNAWAY (1-800-786-2929).
Adult ISH is produced by YR Media and brought to you by PRX’s Radiotopia. Be sure to follow all our socials @YRAdultISH!
Please show your support for Adult ISH by making a donation at: YRMedia.org/Donate. THANK YOU!
Episode TranscriptThis is Sam Choo, EP of Adult ISH. We’ll start the show in a second, but I wanted to give you a heads-up that this episode includes discussions of young people who are unhoused.
If you or anyone you know needs immediate housing support, reach out to the National Safe Place Network. Just send a text with the word “HELP” to the number 4-HELP (44357). Again, text the word “help” to 44357. Or call 1-800-RUNAWAY, that’s 1-800-786-2929. Again, that’s 1-800-786-29-29. Please take care as you listen.
[YR Music]Welcome to Adult ISH – produced by YR Media – and brought to you by Radiotopia from PRX.
I’m Nyge Turner.
And today, we’re talking about young people without stable housing.
I think as Americans we have a tendency to look for individual responsibility all the time. And we’re pretty obsessed with individual responsibility. And so even if you’re a teenager, like I was, you know, it’s kind of like, “Well, what did you do to get yourself into this situation?” Like, “Couldn’t you have stayed with, like, that person, or like, couldn’t you have made better plans?” And I think that it’s really important to see the causes of youth homelessness and homelessness in general as systemic and to look at the people who are experiencing it as people who are really doing the best that they can.
That’s Emi Nietfeld, author of “Acceptance,” a critically acclaimed memoir of her journey from foster care and homelessness to Harvard and Big Tech.
About 4.2 million people between the ages of 12 to 24 years old experience some form of homelessness each year in the United States. That’s according to the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty. That’s a lot of young people trying to navigate being unhoused, and Black and Latinx people make up the clear majority. So, today, we’re getting some perspectives and sharing resources that could help you get involved.
Now, let’s hear about some of Emi’s first-hand experiences.
Emi: Oh, man. Homelessness is obviously a huge problem in the United States as a whole. So much of it is driven by a lack of affordable housing, by poverty, by economic reasons that are pretty much totally preventable. And a lot of that is like family homelessness – where young people are homeless with one or more parents or with siblings. My particular experience was after coming out of foster care, where, I think one element of youth homelessness that we don’t pay enough attention to is what happens when people’s parents cannot take care of them, and they don’t have a safe place to go.
Nyge: Right. What do you feel like is a common misconception surrounding youth homelessness?
Emi: I think there’s a stereotype that homelessness means living on the street and sleeping on the sidewalk, on a cardboard box, or in a sleeping bag, which obviously happens and is really, really tragic and a super difficult situation. Also, a lot of homelessness is couchsurfing. Right? Going from one friend’s place to another, bouncing between relatives – really, trying to find anywhere that you can stay. For some people, that also looks like being in romantic relationships that aren’t necessarily healthy or doing what’s called “survival sex,” where you might be engaged with a partner – not engaged to get married, but, where you’re using your body to meet your basic needs.
Nyge: Yeah.
Emi: And I think that that’s really, really common. But people don’t don’t talk about it, especially when it comes to, to children and teens.
Nyge: Yeah, definitely. But it, is like, seems like there is a stigma surrounding homelessness in general, and people don’t want to, like, admit that or classify themselves as that, because they think like, it’s their fault. What are your, like, feelings on why people do that?
Emi: Yeah. I don’t think anybody should have to take on a label that they really don’t want to take on. I mean, I know when I was a teenager and I did not have a place to live, I was deeply uncomfortable with the term “homeless” because, you know – I did have a mom who loved me. I did have a car that I could sleep in. And I think that, yeah, there is just this sense in America of, like, ‘if you just planned better, you would have a place to live.’
Nyge: Right.
Emi: Right? And, I think we want to look on the bright side. Right? When it’s a difficult situation, like, to be like, “Hey, this is temporary. Like, I’m making the best of it.” You know? And that I think that impulse can be positive. But, you know, now there’s the term “unhoused,” which I think is really useful when you’re looking at the societal reasons why so many people don’t have an affordable place to live.
Nyge: Right.
Emi: But, I sometimes worry that just like changing, the term is supposed to remove the stigma, when the stigma is about the idea more than a specific word.
Nyge: Yeah. What are particular resources that immediately jump out to you, for people who are experiencing being, you know, unhoused?
Emi: When I was 16, I had the summer where I stayed with like six different friends. I ran out of places to go. I had just had surgery, and I was sleeping in the backseat of my car, and the last thing that I wanted to do in the whole world was go to a shelter or go to any sort of resource for, like, homeless youth, youth in crisis, or anything like that. But my college counselor, she found out about my situation and she really pushed me to go to, like, make a phone call, show up at this place, and it ended up being amazing. Like, I have interacted with a lot of different systems – being in foster care and going through a lot of mental health treatment, and this shelter called The Bridge [for Youth], in Minneapolis, really was the best. And, I don’t think you hear enough people being like, “I love my homeless shelter.”
Nyge: Yeah.
Emi: But, there really are some good programs out there, that are really sensitive to the needs of young people that are super-, like, queer-friendly, trans-friendly, if that’s a group that you’re in. And that are really attuned also to like, like needs of people of color and people who might have been, like, trafficked or be survivors. And, so I wish I had been a little bit more open to getting that help. And, I’m really glad that eventually, like, I was pushed towards it. And, I think also just friends and family really were important, like people who I didn’t know that well were often willing to, like, give me a place to stay.
Nyge: Yeah.
Emi: And, that’s not a solution to the crisis that’s going on.
Nyge: Right.
Emi: But, just like, in hindsight. I wonder if I have been able to be even a little bit more open about, “Here’s what’s happening at home. Like, here’s where I’m going to spend the night,” if it might have been a little bit easier for me. Because, I think people really do want to help. And I think about it, and I think about – if I have a kid and their friends, like, doesn’t have a place to go – like, yeah, I’m pulling out the sofa. Like, I’m putting the sheets on it. Right?
Nyge: Yeah.
Emi: Like, I want to be there for them. And I think that my friends’ parents wanted to be there for me too, if I had given them the chance.
Nyge: Definitely. And those things go a really long way. What made that homeless shelter a good fit for you? Like, what aspects of care should, like, folks be on the lookout for when they’re looking for a safe place?
Emi: Yeah.
Nyge: And also, what are some green flags to look out for in a shelter? In a space?
Emi: Yeah. Even just looking at their website, it is really clear that The Bridge is super-welcoming to youth of different identities. Where they have just a lot of signaling of, like, if you’re queer, this is a safe space for you. Right? If you’re a person of color, this is a safe space for you. And, they have a youth advisory board, which is something that’s becoming more common for organizations. Every organization that works with youth should have one, but [one] where former residents are chiming in on how they think that the organization should be run. And this place was night-and-day compared to, say, the residential psychiatric treatment center where I lived. Right? Both were places where kids who were in difficult situations were being sent and were going, but residential treatment was involuntary.
Nyge: Mmhmm.
Emi: This place was totally voluntary. Right? You go there, you have the choice to come. You have the choice to leave. And I think, honoring that kind of autonomy is a huge green flag. And looking at what are mandatory parts of the programing?
Nyge: Mmhmm.
Emi: For example, if they require you to go to church or another religious service – that is a big thing to look at. And, that keeps a lot of people away from programs, because they do often have, like, a strict religious agenda.
Nyge: Yeah.
Emi: And that can make [someone] feel deeply uncomfortable. But, this place felt so welcoming to me, in part, because I got there and I was surrounded by teenagers who were going through the same thing I was going through.
Nyge: Mmhmm.
Emi: And, when I had been in inpatient psychiatric treatment or in foster care, I had gotten these messages from adults that I was the problem, and that I was not living at home because there was something wrong with me. When really my, you know, one of my parents had moved away and had really severe psychiatric issues, and my mom was a hoarder. There was no place for me in her apartment. And, this shelter just had a really trauma-informed model. And, just meeting other people who were like – “Hey, I was in foster care too. I was reunited with my family, but it didn’t work out and so I don’t have a place to live anymore,” – that kind of validation was so, so meaningful. And, whether it was coming from, like, an in-person experience or a message board online, I didn’t even know I needed that until I had it.
Nyge: Yeah. So we’ve, we’ve touched on your experience throughout this conversation a little bit so far, but I do really want to make space for you to talk about your book. Can you give our audience an overview of your book, “Acceptance.” And your personal story a little bit more.
Emi: Yeah. So I grew up in Minneapolis. I was a bookworm. And then, when I was nine years old, my parents split up and my life fell apart. One of my parents moved away. The other started dealing with really intense compulsive shopping and hoarding. But my mom, she couldn’t see that there was a problem – even when there were mice, like, running through our apartment. And so instead, I was taken to the doctor, and I was given diagnoses like Depression, ADD, and lots and lots of psychiatric drugs. And so, by the time I was 14, I had taken a dozen different pills, from ADHD meds to antipsychotics – which can be really helpful for some people – but for me, were just making the situation worse.
Nyge: Mmmhmm.
Emi: And that’s really where my book “Acceptance” opens, when I was sent to this locked treatment center. And, my life just felt totally hopeless. And I was like, “How am I going to get myself out? Like, is there a way out?” And for me, that way was college. And so I started studying for the SAT behind these barred windows of this locked facility. And then, the next year, in foster care. And I was just convinced, if I could get in, I can make it happen. But, unfortunately, even though I got a scholarship to go to boarding school, which totally changed my life and was amazing, I still didn’t have a place to live during school breaks. And, so that was my main experience with homelessness. And, I write a lot about in the book how there’s this tremendous pressure on young people to act like whatever is happening in their life is for the better. And that, like to, to just view yourself always as, like, a survivor instead of a victim – even when systems really are conspiring against you to make your life really, really hard.
Nyge: Definitely. Yeah, definitely. What school did you go to again?
Emi: I went to Harvard.
Nyge: Yeah.
Emi: So I did, I did get into Harvard.
Nyge: (laughing) Yeah.
Emi: No. I mean, that’s the, yeah… I mean, and you hope, and I think when you’re in that situation, you know, you hope that’s going to make everything better.
Nyge: Right.
Emi: And it changed my life, right?
Nyge: Yeah.
Emi: Like, my life is so different today because I got in there, and I got full financial aid. It’s, like really, the dream.
Nyge: Yeah.
Emi: And also at the same time, I still struggled with, “Okay, where am I going to stay?” You know? And when I was 18, I started dating a 27-year-old who ended up being a really bad guy. And I knew that the relationship was really bad. But, it was like, that was where I was going to stay during school breaks.
Nyge: Right.
Emi: You know, and I didn’t want to go back to sleeping in my car. I did not want to feel that desperation of asking for help. And like, unfortunately, that situation is all too common. And it really took until, like, my junior year of college when I had an internship lined up to be able to walk away and to start living, like, my best life.
[YR Music BREAK]Now let’s get back to our conversation with Emi Nietfeld. And how she thinks people can best support people who are homeless…
Emi: I think it’s really important to listen to what someone’s telling you that they need.
Nyge: Mmhmm.
Emi: And when I was 16, like, if you asked me what I needed, I was like, “I need help applying to college.” Because, I was like, “I can deal with this like, immediate living situation, but I need there to be a way out.” And some people thought that was like, a dumb request. But like, I knew what I needed, and I think a lot of people do. And, it might not always be like, intuitive to you what somebody’s asking for. But I think, as much as we can kind of meet people where they are, that’s really helpful. And I think just, also realizing that navigating resources can be really, really hard. And there are shelters. There are like crisis centers. There are food banks. But like, when you’re in the middle of it, that is not a time when you want to be doing all this research. And so I think, even just like, being non-judgmental, but helping somebody find that information can really make the difference between them being able to access it, and them feeling like they’re alone and there’s nothing that they can do.
Nyge: Definitely. On an advocacy level, how can people stand up against youth homelessness?
Emi: Yeah, absolutely. I think it’s really important to understand where youth homelessness is coming from and the different underlying reasons for it. And so, one huge reason is the lack of affordable housing. And electing politicians who will promote policies that will lead to, like, more housing, more affordable housing, programs for youth who are like, pregnant or parenting, or otherwise on their own. I think part of it is recognizing how many homeless youth are LGBTQ. There’s so many statistics that are like… I don’t know, it’s a huge number. And that’s often part of the reason why somebody ends up homeless.
Nyge: Yeah.
Emi: And I had been in a foster care situation that was – like, you know, as far as they go – pretty good. Like, I was pretty lucky with this family. But then eventually, the topic came up that I might be queer, and they were basically like, “You have to leave. You know, we don’t feel comfortable with you in our home.” And I wasn’t even like, “Oh, I’m gay.” I was like, “Well, I might be gay.” You know? That was what I was going through at the time. And they just didn’t feel safe, like, with another girl at home. And so that’s something that unfortunately happens all the time. And so that is a lot about like, you know, like educating foster parents. Like, trying to recruit foster parents who are accepting. And also just, like, LGBT-specific programs to try to help people, like, stay in their homes, stay off the streets. And then, I think the final thing is really like, looking at the foster care system – where there’s an estimate that 22% of youth who were in foster care end up experiencing homelessness.
Nyge: Yeah.
Emi: And a big part of that is like aging out. Right? When people exit the system without a family, part of that is like, reunifications that don’t quite work out. And then also just asking, like, “Hey, why was somebody in foster care in the first place?” You know? And I think for me, it was, it was a good thing for me to be in that system. But, for a lot of people, it’s not. And you end up, like, severing family ties that are really valuable and that would have helped somebody out later. Yeah. So, I think it’s all kind of interconnected.
Nyge: What do you think needs to change in order to address this issue?
Emi: Oh, man…
Nyge: I know… Easy question. (laughing)
Emi: (laughing) Easy question. Man… I think, as Americans, we have a tendency to, to look for individual responsibility all the time. And we’re pretty obsessed with individual responsibility.
Nyge: Mmhmm.
Emi: And so even if you’re a teenager, like I was, you know, it’s kind of like, “Well, what did you do to get yourself into this situation?” Like, “Couldn’t you have stayed with, like, that person?” Or like, “Couldn’t you have made better plans?” And I think that it’s really important to see the causes of youth homelessness, and homelessness in general, as systemic and to look at the people who are experiencing it, as people who are really doing the best that they can. And then I think it takes being aware of the impact rate and looking at how damaging it can be even to be homeless for a little while. Where people are way more likely to experience abuse, assaults, and just like rack up extra trauma that they’re going to carry around with them for the rest of their lives – that was basically, completely avoidable if they had, had a place to live.
Emi: So for the specific case of youth who’ve aged out of foster care…
Nyge: Mmhmm
Emi: There are people working on really amazing, innovative programs to help transition those youth into permanent housing. And I think that those people deserve so much credit in those programs. And those things include, like, setting up a dorm at a community college, so that [when] you are 18 or 21 and you age out, you can go live in the dorm. And colleges have gotten a lot better at this over the past years, of recognizing – not just for foster youth, but that – so many college students are dealing with food insecurity or aren’t sure where they’re going to stay during breaks. And so moves, like, just keeping the dorms open during winter break or during spring break – that can make such a huge impact on somebody’s life. And just like, create stability at a time when it’s so important to have.
Nyge: Where can, where can people find or engage with your work and especially and then also your book? So, let’s start with your book – first. Where can people find and get that? And then let’s get into where people can find and engage with you as a person.
Emi: So my book is called “Acceptance.” It’s from Penguin, and it’s available wherever you buy books. And then I am at EmiNietfeld.com. It’s a little hard to spell, but however you try, Google will get you there.
Nyge: (Laughing)
Emi: And I have a monthly newsletter, and I’m on social media. And I’d love to stay in touch.
Nyge: Dope. Dope. Dope. Well, thank you so much for coming on the show again. It’s been a pleasure to have you back.
Emi: Thank you so much. I really, really appreciate it.
That’s Emi Nietfeld, and with hopes of making your Googling easier – you can find her work at EmiNietfeld.com. That’s Emi Nietfeld dot Com.
[YR Music]Nyge: Youth Homelessness is a massive problem in our country and across the world, but something that will stick with me moving forward from this episode is that we need to listen to more people who are unhoused. People will let you know what they need, and if we just extend that help wherever you can, it can truly go a long way. And, to hear what young homeless people are experiencing, we need to start having conversations with people too many folx pretend not to see.
If you or anyone you know needs immediate housing support, reach out to the National Safe Place Network. Just send a text with the word “HELP” to the number 4HELP, which is 44357. Again, just text the word “HELP” to 44357. Or call 1-800-RUNAWAY, that’s 1-800-786-2929. Again, that’s 1-800-786-2929.
[YR Music]Nyge: Adult ISH is produced by YR Media, a national network of young artists and journalists creating content for this generation.
Our show is produced by Fredia Lucas and by me: your boy, Nyge Turner.
Our engineer is James Riley, and our audio engineering fellow is Christian Romo.
YR’s director of podcasting is Sam Choo.
YR’s senior director of podcasting and partnerships is Rebecca Martin.
Our interns are Menelik Ransom and Jalen Black.
Original music for this episode created by these young musicians at YR:
Christian Romo, Anders Knutstad, Jacob Armenta, Chaz Whitley, Michael Diaz, Sean Luciano Galarza, and David Lawrence.
Music direction by Oliver “Kuya” Rodriguez and Maya Drexler.
Creative Direction by Pedro Vega Jr. Designs by Jess Smolinski, Marjerrie Masicat, and Brigido Bautista. Project management by Eli Arbreton.
Special thanks to Kathy Chaney and Kyra Kyles.
Adult ISH is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX, a network of independent creator-owned, listener-supported podcasts. Discover audio with vision at Radiotopia.fm.
And if you haven’t reviewed our show on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, please be sure to do so. Five stars is much-appreciated.
You can follow us on all the socials at @YRAdultish. And on that note, we’ll see ya later.
Excel High School students recently wrapped up the FIRST STEP COURSE, a pioneering initiative aimed at empowering inner-city youth in Chicago to excel academically, express their creativity, and address mental health challenges. Shaun Redwell and Trenell Adams, also known as fashion designer Teezy, spent 10 weeks teaching selective students at Excel the essence of fashion design. Redwell and Adams taught the students how to customize their own shoes and create an outfit to go with it.
Redwell stated, “We believe in and use the power of creativity to transform lives and communities. Through this program, we aim to not only cultivate the next generation of artists and designers, but also provide essential support and resources to help students overcome mental health challenges and achieve their full potential.” Redwell added, “Each student in this program was chosen by having good grades, attendance, and over good behavior; so you have to be on your ‘A’ game to join the program.”
Read more …
This guest post is in partnership with True Star Media.
A complaint circulating widely on social media alleges that Gen Z is “aging like milk,” suggesting that individuals under 27 appear older than the preceding generation, Millennials. This notion gained traction after influencer Jordan Howlett shared his experience of being mistaken for his mother’s older brother at just 26 years old, attributing it to stress.
“I am Gen Z, and nobody ever believes me. When my mom and I walk out in public, people think that my mom is my younger sister,” Howlett said in his TikTok.
@jordan_the_stallion8 #stitch with @staying up podcast #fypシ ♬ original sound – Jordan_The_Stallion8
While initially dismissed as vanity, recent scientific findings have lent some credence to this theory. Research presented at an international cancer conference revealed that young people diagnosed with certain cancers exhibited signs of “accelerated aging,” with their biological age surpassing their chronological age. This phenomenon, attributed to factors such as lifestyle, diet, environment, and stress, may pose significant health risks, particularly regarding the development of deadly diseases like cancer.
Based on a report from the American Association for Cancer Research, experts speculate that successive generations, especially those born after 1965, may be at greater risk of accelerated aging and associated health issues. Notably, diagnoses of cancer and other chronic conditions among younger demographics have become increasingly common, raising concerns about the long-term health implications.
Factors contributing to this trend include dietary habits, with processed foods high in fat, sugar, and artificial additives potentially exacerbating health issues. Obesity, which has surged over the past few decades, is strongly linked to accelerated aging and various health complications, including diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Additionally, lifestyle factors such as vaping, mental health conditions, and social isolation may also contribute to premature aging. However, experts emphasize the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle through balanced nutrition, regular exercise, and social engagement.
Looking ahead, researchers are exploring potential interventions, such as senolytic drugs, to slow down the aging process and mitigate age-related health risks. While there’s still much to learn about this phenomenon, these findings offer a glimmer of hope for future generations, including Gen Z, in managing their health and well-being.
Noumaan Faiz, (he/him) is a journalist and entertainer from Hayward, CA who covers culture and entertainment.
Trigger Warning: Sensitive mental health and behavioral topics are discussed throughout this news report.
From heartbreak songs to redemption tracks, songs have become more negative in nature. A recent study conducted by Eva Zangerle, a researcher for Innsbruck University, shows that throughout the past 50 years, song lyrics have become progressively aggressive, expressing feelings of anger and other negative emotions. This trend is prevalent across a variety of music genres, such as rap, rock, pop, country, and R&B, in which artists are transparently expressing their emotions through music.
The consequence of negative music has the potential to lead to violent behavior, such as crime and substance use. Younger generations are a major area of concern when being influenced by negative music, with social media use and the influence of trends on the rise. Not only does exposure to music with negative lyrics influence physical behavior, but researchers also found that it has been linked to mental health concerns, such as aggression, fear, and overall discomfort.
My music taste over the past couple years has gotten increasingly violent and profanity rich. My mother wouldn’t be proud.
— ℕ𝕠 𝕄𝕠𝕣𝕖 𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐤𝟗𝐝 𝐃𝐨𝐨𝐫𝐬! (@TheyLosing) May 19, 2022
To receive a teen’s perspective, YR Media reached out to Daria Kouzminova, a college student who is active on social media and keeps up with music trends.
YR Media: How would you describe the role of social media and music in the lives of young people, including yourself, today?
Daria Kouzminova: If there is a song trending, you are more likely to listen to it as you are scrolling on your “For You Page” on TikTok or by the “Recommended For You” feature across social media platforms. That can definitely influence the type of music you listen to.
YR: In your opinion, what defines “negative” music, and how common is it to come across these types of music on social media or public places?
DK: Music is negative if it influences people to act out negative behaviors. I know a lot of rap songs, for example, talk about drugs and gun violence which could be influential and perpetuate behaviors. These songs are often normalized and therefore normalize violent or unsafe behaviors because you frequently hear about these behaviors in songs promoted by social media.
YR: Have you personally been impacted by your encounters with music containing emotional triggers? If so, what were the triggers and how did it affect you?
DK: There is a song that comes to mind because I am actually going to a concert tomorrow, where the singer will be performing. I remember my friends and I listening to the song a few years ago and there was a catchy part that was trending on TikTok at the time. The themes in the song are definitely not something a teenager should be doing. I think similar songs normalize behaviors, such as substance use and sexual activity.
YR: How do you think exposure to these songs can impact other people’s, especially younger generations, attitudes and behaviors?
DK: I think young listeners might be looking for someone to look up to, and many look up to celebrities. So, if their favorite artist is talking about something negative in a song it will probably influence their actions to be more negative because children are so easily influenced.
YR: How do you believe social media platforms contribute to the spread and influence of negative music among these young audiences?
DK: I think something culturally is changing and people become more entertained by negative music. Through social media trends, it reflects a general attitude toward life. Social media tends to feed into if one song is popular, which can lead to it blowing up very quickly and reaching many people.
YR: Are there any efforts or initiatives you believe can address the potential harms of negative music on young generations and promote more positive and uplifting music?
DK: I remember downloading Instagram when I was just in the 5th grade. It could be beneficial if social media platforms enforce more restrictions on what type of content can be viewed based on age, and verify the age people input. However, parents can have more of a direct impact than social media platforms on their children’s media intake and the type of music they listen to, such as controlling what station is playing on a car radio.
YR: What advice would you give young generations when consuming the negative aspects of music?
DK: Growing up, I remember social media was just developing and in general a happier space. But it has grown to be more risky for younger generations because they are more inclined to follow what everybody else is doing to fit in. It is okay to have someone who inspires you, but we should ask ourselves questions to understand why we look up to or relate to this person, and try to find our own identity.
Kyana Early (she/her) is a journalist from the San Francisco Bay Area who covers entertainment and culture.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
Innovation is key to progress, and Spelman College, once again has shown us why it has reigned supreme as the #1 HBCU in the country for 17 consecutive years. Spelman announced it is pioneering a groundbreaking initiative that is bound to revolutionize the beauty and e-commerce tech sector: the introduction of a cosmetic chemistry program,
Spelman’s innovative move seeks to ensure that diverse beauty products and inclusive research can be developed on its campus, by Black women. This effort offers a huge opportunity for aspiring beauty founders at Spelman college, who can now utilize the program to develop new formulas in ways that have been done at PWIs for decades.
While often dismissed as tech founders, startup founders in the cosmetic industry who utilize e-commerce and the creator economy to scale are just as technical as those building the Ubers of the world. They simply speak a language rooted in aesthetics and marketing.
It would be amazing to see the program be available to students at other HBCUs who are deeply invested in the beauty industry, but have yet to have a chance to dive into the chemical side of it.
Moreover, there is large room for this program to expand into a major, that can later have an entrepreneurship focus teaching students how to scale their products and seek funding,
The cosmetic chemistry program, set to launch in the fall, will offer a concentration in cosmetic chemistry for chemistry majors and a minor in cosmetic science for students majoring in other areas. Dr. Pamela Scott-Johnson, Spelman’s Provost, underscores the importance of this expansion, stating that it “speaks to Spelman’s innovation and commitment to empowering Black women.” This initiative is not merely about academic enrichment but about empowering students to make a tangible impact in an industry that caters to Black women as consumers.
Moreover, the program’s growth from 150 to 750 applications underscores the pressing need for expanded undergraduate offerings in the cosmetic sciences.
With research and innovation at the forefront of this program, Spelman has created an opportunity for its students to cultivate intellectual property and to innovate in ways other HBCUs have yet to imagine.
Keeping it gee, Spelman’s initiative signals a transformative shift in the beauty and e-commerce tech sector, one where HBCUs play a pivotal role in driving innovation and inclusivity. As Black consumers continue to wield substantial purchasing power, Spelman’s commitment to empowering Black women through STEM education is not only commendable but essential for driving meaningful change in the industry.
Miranda Perez (she/her/hers) is a Jersey City, NJ-based journalist who covers the tech industry. Follow her on X and Instagram: @mimithegee.
Edited by NaTyshca Pickett
Trigger Warning: this story contains information about sexual assault. Viewer discretion is advised.*
Jonathan Majors, commonly known for his roles in “Creed III” and Marvel’s “Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania”, was recently sentenced to a year-long domestic violence intervention program in addition to continuing therapy for his mental health, according to Yahoo!
The actor was previously found guilty of assault and harassment against his former partner, Grace Jabbari, resulting in him being removed from all upcoming projects with Marvel Studios and Walt Disney Co., reports The Cut. His career has taken a major shift, making it increasingly difficult for him to land new roles in movies and television.
Questions of whether Majors will be able to bounce back from this situation are circling. It’s similar to Nate Parker’s circumstance from years ago. Parker is an actor, producer, director and screenwriter. He and a friend in college were accused of rape in 1999. Parker was later acquitted while his friend, Jean Celestin, served six months in jail, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
Parker’s reputation and presence in the film industry took a hit due to these accusations. He even went as far as telling Robin Roberts, co-anchor on “Good Morning America”, that he was “falsely accused” and was “proven innocent” and refused to apologize, the Hollywood Reporter states. Just days later, “The Birth of a Nation” was scheduled to be put in theaters in 2016. The accuser later committed suicide in 2012 and the issue reawakened in 2016 when the public was made aware of this news. This made it increasingly difficult for Parker to thrive in his work environment as many people looked at him differently due to the allegations.
This case is just another that brings awareness to domestic violence. Similarly, celebrities such as Chris Brown, Trey Songz, O.J. Simpson and more have jeopardized their careers and status after their involvement with domestic violence.
Read more …
This guest post is in partnership with True Star Media.
One in six teenagers have been bullied online over their weight, reveals new research.
And the figure was even higher among those on social media with almost seven out of 10 Twitter users reporting being cyberbullied about their body, according to the study.
Twitch was the second-highest social media platform linked to weight-related bullying, according to the findings published in the journal PLoS One.
The international sample of more than 12,000 10- to 17-year-olds – from Britain, the United States, Australia, Canada, Chile, and Mexico – showed that almost 17 percent of adolescents had suffered weight-related bullying online.
Each additional hour of social media use equated to a 13 percent increase in weight-related bullying, according to the research team.
The study, led by Dr. Kyle Ganson, an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto, Canada, also involved researchers from Cambridge University and the University of California, San Francisco, in the United States.
Dr. Ganson and his colleagues investigated weight-related cyberbullying among adolescents across different types of recreational screen time and more specifically, across six different social media platforms.
The participants provided the number of weekday hours they spent “watching YouTube,” “on social media (messaging, posting, or liking posts),” “watching TV shows, series, or movies,” “playing games on smartphones, computers, or game consoles,” and “browsing, reading websites, googling, etc,”.
They also noted whether or not they used any of six different social media platforms: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, Snapchat, and Twitch.
In addition, they answered the question “Do you get teased or made fun of because of your weight?”
Those surveyed spent an average of 7.5 hours total on recreational screen time every weekday.
Almost 17 percent also reported weight-related bullying sometimes, a lot, or all the time, with a 13 percent increase in bullying reported for every additional hour of screen time reported.
Almost 70 percent of Twitter users reported being bullied, while Twitch was the second-highest social media platform linked to weight-related bullying.
The associations between screen time, social media use, and weight-related bullying were strongest for adolescents in Canada, Australia, and the UK, according to the findings.
Girls were more likely to experience weight-related bullying than boys when using Twitch or playing video games.
The researchers say further research is needed to address the “growing” social issue.
Originally published by Talker News
Extreme screen time in teenagers increases their risk of school truancy by more than a third, a new study reveals.
Online addiction in teens, along with lack of sleep and exercise, can lead to more days off sick or skipping school, but good parenting can help offset this.
The study, published in the Archives of Disease in Childhood, followed 86,270 years eight and nine pupils aged 14 to 16 who were asked about their relationship with their parents, sleep patterns, exercise, screen time, and school absence.
Excessive internet use was assessed using a scale with five components indicating compulsion; neglect of family, friends, and study; anxiety if not online; and failure to eat or sleep because of being online.
Results showed that on average teenage girls spent more time online than boys, and they were 96 percent more likely to fall into the excessive internet use category, which the researchers suggest is down to social media use.
On the other hand, boys reported more truancy than girls, who were more likely to have their absences medically explained.
Excessive amounts of online time were found to increase both truancy—38 percent heightened risk — and medically explained school absences—24 percent raised risk.
Parents, however, have the power to offset this risk by forming good relationships with their teens where they feel comfortable sharing their problems.
Good parental relations, longer weekday sleep, and physical activity all emerged as significantly protective, with more of each factor associated with a decrease of both types of school absences.
Being able to talk about concerns with parents was the biggest help in stopping absence, with 59 percent less truancy and 39 percent less absence from illness for students who felt they could share troubling issues with their parents.
Teens could also use upping their sleep and exercise to offset internet use, with more than a third of participants getting less than eight hours of sleep on school nights and a third reporting low levels of physical activity for fewer than three days a week.
Originally published by Talker News
The word is out that another “Scary Movie” will be heading our way in 2025, but is there really a Scary Movie franchise without the actress who is infamous for her iconic role in it? Regina Hall is heavily associated with this franchise that has five movies so far. Fans are demanding answers on whether she will reprise her original role as “Brenda” from the 2000 original “Scary Movie” release or if studio executives are just teasing the idea. Regardless, the reboot of this iconic franchise has caught the attention of fans across social media.
Although there have been few details released about the upcoming film, production has been confirmed and its release has been slated for next spring. Despite the franchise having multiple films throughout the decades, the legendary performance of the original “Scary Movie” cast has managed to leave its everlasting impression. Now, the question is will this reboot be a smash box office hit or just another comedy movie?
Read more …
This guest post is in partnership with True Star Media.
Recently, a friend mentioned that after graduating college, relationships seem to be a bigger deal now than ever before. It is true, but they’ve always taken the place at the center of our lives, from primary school crushes to college hook-up culture.
Although romantic relationships are a healthy part of our society and contribute to our advancement, as an adult, whether you’re catching up with friends, witnessing the latest social media debates, or having small talk with coworkers, relationships always seem to be the primary focal point of people’s lives.
As adults, it is necessary to continue investing in relationships but decentering them when it causes you to lose sight of yourself. With this new movement of decentering romance, here are some ways to practice decentering relationships to focus more on you, whether you’re happily single, dating, or in a relationship.
- Taking on new hobbies: since committing to becoming an exciting person, I have tried various types of arts and crafts, learned a new language, became a better cook, and found exhilarating things to enjoy in the city I live in. Taking on hobbies and exploring different things that bring you joy are great ways to bring excitement to your life and are great conversation topics.
- Establish and maintain boundaries: decentering romance does not mean being shut off from people you find attractive and relationships. I’m intentional with defining what I want and being consistent in that. Establishing and maintaining boundaries show up in different ways. With friends, I try to keep the conversation unrelated to my dating life, and with potential romantic interests, I reject any advances since I’m not interested at the moment. Boundaries look different for everyone, and it’s essential to establish what that looks like for you, ensuring it aligns with the relationship status you desire to have.
- Centering self: the most obvious way to decenter romance is to center yourself. This is more about taking time to understand your needs and desires, focusing on your overall health and well-being, giving yourself grace, and ultimately honoring the commitments you make to yourself.
It’s easier said than done to decenter romantic relationships from our lives. Still, the ultimate goal is to ensure we’re not spending our time focusing on someone to fulfill us but instead focusing on ourselves. This experience equips me with everything I need that will take me far in whatever relationship status I choose.
Tracy Noze is a Seattle-based journalist.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
Eighteen-year-old professional dancer and YouTuber Nicole Laeno, was unfortunately rejected from her dream college, UCLA, on March 15. Considering Laeno’s achievements with modeling, dancing, starring on reality TV, and content creation on YouTube and TikTok, Laeno’s large fanbase of millions was shocked about the rejection.
From a young age, Laeno had her mind set on attending the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and openly expressed this desire on the internet. She claims she worked her entire life leading up to this moment. Laeno took to TikTok to deliver the news and share a video of her opening the decision letter from UCLA.
@nicolelaeno A knife to the heart tbh
#college #rejected #classof2024 ♬ original sound – girl failure
Although the outcome was not what she had hoped for, Laeno told Good Morning America, “I’ve always wanted to share just the real stuff about growing up and I already knew when college decisions came around, I just wanted to record all of it, my reactions, everything that went down, and just the whole process in general.”
In the face of rejection, Laeno endured feelings of disappointment but remained optimistic as her college decision letters continued to roll out. She received support from her family and fans throughout her journey. Ultimately, with her rejections came acceptances, leading her to San Diego State University (SDSU), where she is committed to attending this upcoming fall season.
“To any other seniors who are going through this process and maybe are still feeling the disappointment and loss, like, 100% go through all the motions, cry it all out if you need to but you will come to a place where you know that rejection is redirection and you will end up where you’re supposed to,” Laeno expressed.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Nicole Laeno (@nicolelaeno)
Kyana Early (she/her) is a journalist from the San Francisco Bay Area who covers entertainment and culture.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
The 2024 valedictorian of the University of Southern California (USC), Asna Tabassum, encountered a disheartening turn of events as the university retracted her invitation to deliver a commencement speech, citing security concerns amidst escalating tensions related to the Middle East conflict, according to CNN. Despite the prestigious honor of being named valedictorian, Tabassum found herself excluded from the opportunity to address her peers and celebrate her academic achievements on stage.
The decision by USC sparked controversy and disappointment, particularly for Tabassum, a first-generation South Asian-American Muslim, who viewed the valedictorian speech as a culmination of her academic journey and an opportunity to share her message of hope and unity. Tabassum expressed shock and dismay at the university’s decision, questioning the validity of the security concerns raised and highlighting her commitment to standing up for human rights and equality.
“This campaign to prevent me from addressing my peers at commencement has evidently accomplished its goal: today, USC administrators informed me that the university will no longer allow me to speak at commencement due to supposed security concerns,” Tabassum said in a statement. “I am both shocked by this decision and profoundly disappointed that the University is succumbing to a campaign of hate meant to silence my voice.”
The controversy surrounding Tabassum’s exclusion from the commencement ceremony stemmed from her stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict. A post on Tabassum’s Instagram account (now private) was deemed as antisemitic and anti-Zionism by USC’s bipartisan advocacy group Trojans for Israel. USC, in justifying its decision, emphasized the need to prioritize safety and prevent potential disruptions during the graduation proceedings. However, Tabassum and her supporters viewed the university’s actions as an infringement on her right to free speech and an attempt to silence her voice on important social issues.
“Because I am not aware of any specific threats against me or the university, because my request for the details underlying the university’s threat assessment has been denied, and because I am not being provided any increased safety to be able to speak at commencement, there remain serious doubts about whether USC’s decision to revoke my invitation to speak is made solely on the basis of safety,” she said.
Despite the setback, Tabassum remained steadfast in her convictions and expressed hope for a reconsideration of the decision by USC. She underscored her role as a symbol for her community and reiterated her commitment to advocating for justice and equality.
Meanwhile, critics, including the Council on American-Islamic Relations, condemned USC’s decision as cowardly and argued that it empowered voices of hate and censorship.
As the debate unfolded, questions arose about the balance between ensuring campus security and upholding principles of free speech and academic freedom. Tabassum’s case highlighted the complexities surrounding discussions of sensitive political issues within academic institutions and underscored the challenges faced by students navigating intersecting identities and viewpoints.
Amid the controversy, Tabassum’s message of resilience and determination resonated with many, serving as a reminder of the importance of standing up for one’s beliefs and advocating for positive change, even in the face of adversity. While uncertainty loomed over her participation in the graduation ceremony, Tabassum remained hopeful that the university would reconsider its decision and afford her the opportunity to share her message with her peers and the broader community.
Noumaan Faiz, (he/him) is a journalist and entertainer from Hayward, CA who covers culture and entertainment.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
Like it or not, lining the Mexico border wall with almost 50,000 beer cans is the most American thing ever. Like, when other countries think of America they’ll be talking about this.
Host/Producer/Editor: Malachi Segers-Seker
The Lowdown gives you the latest in news, pop culture, and everything else your friends will be talking about tomorrow. Don’t get FOMO, get The Lowdown with Malachi, every Friday here at YR Media.
Before you dive into what’s happening today, take a look at what may have fallen off your radar earlier this week.
Many Gen Z in ‘Tears’ After Filing Taxes
Is Social Media Turning Gen Z Into the‘Hater’ Generation?
Those With Anxiety, DepressionTurning to Knitting
Adult ISH: Young People’s Mental and Emotional Health
‘Romeo and Juliet’: Racism in Verona
Gen Z is in the dawn of the “situationship,” coined as a term just in 2017, referring to a relationship between two people that can be romantic or sexual but never formally established or labeled. Because Gen Z seemed to have a hard time committing to someone and even finding a relationship, the situationship evolved. As a result, many are resorting to giving up on dating apps or even dating entirely.
Why is the dating scene so hard for Gen Z?
First, we’d have to consider how internet access largely increases the dating pool compared to past generations. The touchscreen phone was first released in 1992, and the first online dating forum was introduced in 1995. There was suddenly a stark difference in the lengths that Gen Z has had to go to to find their potential somebody. Suddenly, people could talk without even leaving the house.
Generational differences are inevitable, but dating stands out. According to a Hinge report, “More than half of Gen Z Hinge users said that a fear of rejection has held them back from pursuing a romantic interest.” And COVID-19 seemed to be the icing on the cake.
The pandemic caused a rift in Gen Z’s time socializing with others. And being that it was during most of our formative years, that lack of socialization has lasting effects. Going out to find a potential partner seems a much more daunting task than it has been for previous generations.
But despite all of this, there are still members of Gen Z that strive to find ways of dating, trying to resort to more “traditional” methods like going to spaces where they feel they’d find an ideal partner and seeking a relationship outside of the internet. This can be seen in the following TikTok trend where people joke about seeming clueless in a location where they imagine their type would be, hoping to be approached …
@narinemikey Enough games im finding my wife
♬ som original – bbm
@sylviavanhoeven
#fyp #foryoupage #foryou #relatable ♬ original sound – Kaylee
Gen Z has shown a want to find love organically. Criticism toward dating advice online has seen a rise. Online platforms lead to people giving examples of what they think a relationship should be, setting unrealistic expectations. The internet leads to the need to present their relationship as perfect when relationships are far from. As Gen Z faces that fact, generalizations are becoming less. And people are encouraging our generation to find who suits them in the spaces they enjoy, Reaching for more genuine connections. Lessening dating app usage is a start.
@nessa.mc2 Dating in this generation where hookup culture is normalized is so draining. #relationships #chivlary #hookupculture #gentleman #fyp ♬ original sound – ilham – 𝟑𝟎𝟑 𝐀𝐦𝐳.
Siah Brawley (she/her) is a high school senior interested in media and culture.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
When you think of a typical town hall meeting what comes to mind? Well, when it came to the Sacred Ground Ministries Annual Teen Town Hall Meeting, the words informative, support, and community are just a few that could be used.
Taking place at Hirsch High School, this was the 10th Annual Teen Town Hall Meeting, led by Founder and Project Director of Sacred Ground Ministries, Mary Long. Sacred Ground Ministries is an anti-violence organization that promotes peace, social consciousness, and community awareness. In 2012, they partnered with Hirsch Metropolitan High School. While in partnership they have initiated mentoring programs, restorative justice, student workshops, parent forums, Teen Town Hall sessions, parent and teacher appreciation programs, scholarships, assistance with the establishment of a new Student Council, anti-violence marches and rallies, and more.
According to Long, the endgame is to do something now so that young lives and communities don’t get worse later. “My son was killed in this community and it really hurt my heart. Over the past two years we have had over 700 murders in each year and that’s unacceptable.” Long added, “The goal is to prevent violence before it happens. We want to be proactive, not reactive…we want to get to the root of violence.”
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This guest post is in partnership with True Star Media.
EpisodesSubscribeHoller/FollowOur brains and what we have to manage change a lot from high school to being an adult. And, our thoughts and emotions change a lot, too. This week, Adult ISH host Nyge Turner talks with Stephanie Santos LCSW, who works with teenagers and young adults managing anxiety and depression through the pandemic. And, Jalen Black, our Adult ISH production assistant, joins Nyge with some personal questions about trying to adjust to college life with AJ Deloney LCSW, a staff therapist at UChicago Student Wellness at the University of Chicago.
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Episode TranscriptI’m Sam Choo, Executive Producer of Adult ISH. Before we get started, we wanted to give you a heads-up that this episode includes discussions of mental and emotional health topics.
If you or anyone you know needs help right now, TEXT or call 988 to reach the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. That’s a free, confidential connection with a trained counselor by texting or calling 988.
And, if you just want information about mental health and substance use, you can call 1-800-662-HELP. That’s 1-800-662-4357.
Please take care as you listen.
Nyge: Welcome to Adult ISH produced by YR Media and brought to you by Radiotopia from PRX.
I’m Nyge Turner.
This week, we’re checking in on our mental and emotional health.
AJ: You’ve likely heard language on social media or in person about “mental illness,” “anxiety,” and “depression,” – especially through the pandemic.
Whether you’ve experienced these first-hand or felt the effects within your family, friend group, or extended community – mental health matters.
And for those of us who are Black, maintaining our sense of well-being could be particularly critical. Of course, that’s more simple to say than to actually do, especially when ignoring or suppressing your thoughts and feelings is way easier. But there can be a real cost—and it’s high.
AJ: Our [Black] population is dying faster and earlier. And that includes our black women, our black sisters. A lot of the underlying contributors to that are related to mental illness or more specifically, untreated mental illness. When we experience trauma, and many of us do on a daily basis, just, you know, for where we live, the environment, or what’s happening as a society. In addition to that, we are also dealing or suffering with intergenerational and historical trauma caused by, you know obviously, our history with enslavement. And as Black men, we have the idea, not of our own, that it is unmanly or un-masculine to seek services for mental health. So instead, we identify the things that are unhealthy and easily accessible. So when you see issues, like with obesity or we talk about alcohol and substance dependence, those things are more accessible and easier for us to treat because society allows us to do those things. As opposed to, again, seeking treatment, seeking healthy alternatives to being treated.
Nyge: That’s AJ Deloney, a licensed clinical social worker and staff therapist at UChicago Student Wellness at The University of Chicago. He says Black people and everyone else should be more proactive in taking care of their minds so their bodies stay healthy.
AJ: So I want people, young people, to take more advantage of accessing mental health resources, because I think at some point we all go through something. Whether it’s current racial trauma, whether it’s trauma related to community violence, whether it is historical trauma – we’re all dealing with those things. Right? But we do not access them to the level that we should be – mental health services.
Growing older is a multifaceted experience. You’re making new relationships while growing into a new person. Gaining more responsibilities. And creating new boundaries and really having to advocate for yourself.
And the mental and emotional toll of all this can really be a lot. Whether it’s reintroducing your new self to friends and family or getting to know the lay of the land at work, school, or even home – figuring out how to deal with the stressors of life and normalizing talking about our feelings is something everyone is working through.
To discuss this complex phase of transitioning from teen to young adult, we’re in conversation this episode with two incredible individuals. AJ Deloney, whose voice you heard earlier, and Stephanie Santos, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She also owns Elevate Mental Health Services, a private practice specializing in one-on-one therapy with 13 to 21-year-olds managing anxiety and depression caused by life transitions and stresses – including the pandemic.
Stephanie: Yes. So, my name is Stephanie Santos. My mission in my business is that all teens and young adults can come and feel safe to feel seen and heard so that they can heal through any trauma or experiences that they are currently enduring. And, I love it.
Nyge: In your work – what about growing older are young people looking forward to, and what are they dreading?
Stephanie: So I think a lot of teens are just looking forward to be independent and getting away from their parents. I think that’s the hardest thing I see in the work that I do is parents have a hard time letting go, and all teens want to do is just be free. So they are excited to be free. I have a client who I was seeing her when she was in high school, and now she’s in college and she’s just thriving and she’s doing what she does best. She’s making her own friends and kind of learning responsibilities and learning consequences for her decisions. And so I think being on their own and having that independence is what they look forward to. I think the hard thing that they have and work hard in regards to dreading, is learning all of those life skills that maybe their parents haven’t taught them, right? Eating, how to cook food for themselves, how to wash their laundry. I mean, like I was in college, I didn’t know how to do that. So it’s just all of those independent life skills that they have to learn that sometimes their parents haven’t really taught them, unfortunately.
Nyge: What common emotional and mental growing pains do you see teens navigating as they transition from youth to young adults?
Stephanie: Yeah, I find a big one that I teach is self-advocacy. I think creating boundaries with our parents and with our friends and in our current relationships. And so one thing I do is I teach my kids, like what do boundaries look like? Like if you were if someone says something to you and that may have caused you to feel angry, that could be a boundary-crossing. Let’s talk about how we can address that with that person. And so a lot of it is, helping them learn their voice, learn what they’re about, what their personal boundaries are, how to communicate those needs and feelings and thoughts to that person. Sometimes most of the time at the time, it’s their friends and their and their family. And a lot of the anxiety that my clients feel are from pressures of school, pressures of friendships, pressures from romantic relationships, pressures from family to try to get those straight A’s to go to a good college. And so a lot of what I do is teach, not only teach boundaries, but how to cope with the stressors that are going on in their lives, and to normalize them, like, hey, like I had anxiety too. I’m fine now. Like, it’s okay and we can work on this together.
Nyge: I know you’re doing a ton of work with, with your clients on, on these things. But what are some of the things that you do to work with people on setting those boundaries? And, maybe like renegotiating some of those relationships in that way.
Stephanie: So I think a big one is learning themselves. What are their values? Right? What are things that are important to them? Is it school? Is it their family? Right? Is it their health? Is it their mental wellness? So let’s look at those values and let’s kind of take those apart. Right? If someone asks us to do something and we don’t really have a good feeling about it, let’s check ourselves. Right? Hmm, I wonder why my body is giving me those signals. My stomach’s hurting when they do that. I try to avoid that person when I’m around them. Right? These are all clues that something’s up. So we really need to pause and allow ourselves to be like, “Why are we feeling this?” Hmhm. And so I kind of walk through those patterns and those steps with my clients so they can learn that awareness piece. And once the awareness comes, we can talk about how to say those things. And we kind of do a lot of role-playing. So we have to learn how to express what they’re feeling and what they’re thinking in their own terms. So I think the key is a self-awareness and identifying your values, because once you know what your values are and your deal breakers, especially in relationships, I think that’s the first start.
Nyge: Kind of how this topic came up was one of the young people we were working with on this episode. He mentioned that the pandemic brought on some pretty unique challenges with making that transition. So I’m curious what new growing pains has the pandemic introduced for young people making this transition in life?
Stephanie: I have a lot of clients too that have social anxiety where they’re afraid to go out, and they’re afraid to engage. And, I can only imagine that that could be from being locked up in your house for a few months and not really learning how to go out there and kind of having that gap. And I think it definitely changed the dynamics in the home. Parents are always gone at work and now they’re home. So now you’re seeing these other tiers of issues that you probably never would have dealt with unless you were home together. Mom’s around more like she does things that I don’t like, or you start seeing patterns more that you probably wouldn’t have thought of.
Nyge: Yeah
Stephanie: So, I think it’s not only in the family but in the school and in the relationships that these kids have with their families and their friends.
Nyge: This time period in life is so crucial to so many young people’s lives because they’re balancing all these new levels of responsibility with new levels of freedom. For teens feeling overwhelmed with both, can you share any tips on how to manage those emotions?
Stephanie: So the first thing I would do is encourage – talk to someone that you’re close to, a friend or even a mentor or coach, someone that you feel comfortable with. If you don’t have anyone, journal. Journaling is a great way to get it out. Music, art, there’s other ways that you can get it out if you don’t have someone. And then once you get it out, I would really encourage you to ask for help. And sometimes that’s the hardest thing, and especially if you have parents that don’t believe in therapy or what it’s like, but asking for help, talking to a professional. And also, I’m really big on self-care plans. So, if you don’t want to do any of those things – create a self-plan. For example – mine is, I exercise five days a week. I really take pride in eating well, hydrating, reading books that are going to help my mindset, reading books that are historical fiction. Like that’s fun, too. So, just finding what works for you is ideal.
Nyge: A lot of your content on TikTok is centered around young people experiencing anxiety. Can you talk to us about what that might look/feel like?
Stephanie: So anxiety, like some of the common symptoms of anxiety can – and this is what I teach my clients, because I think that awareness part is really important is even for parents – signs to look for. So if your kid is reporting more stomach aches or headaches, maybe just not really interested in things that they like to do. Having lots of panic attacks and panic attacks, I’m realizing a lot of kids don’t know what panic attacks are. So some signs of panic attacks are hyperventilating, feeling like you can’t breathe, feeling like you’re going to pass out or die even extreme. Right? And just getting tunnel vision where you can’t see what’s around you. You’re just totally honed in on what you’re experiencing. And then also just lightheadedness or dizzy. And those are panic attacks where when we internalize our thoughts so much, they actually spiral and can cause us to have these physical symptoms that look like panic attacks, which is wild to me, that our mind has that much power over us. And so a lot of the anxiety is the stomach aches, the headaches, the appetite is off, the sleeping is off, maybe some weight loss as a result of the eating patterns or sudden weight gain as a result of the sleeping patterns. Insomnia, not sleeping at all. Not sleeping or sleeping too much. And just tense or are on edge all the time, worrying that things are never going to get better. Those are just some of the basic symptoms that people that have anxiety can experience.
Nyge: Yeah, definitely, and how do you work with clients to assist them with their anxious thoughts and those behaviors?
Stephanie: So we are really big on – in the therapy world, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). And so that big idea is, we help clients understand the correlation between our thoughts, feelings and behaviors. So if we can understand what we think, if we can control that, then we can control what we feel. And then as a result, we can control how we behave. So if I have anxious thoughts, I’m going to feel anxious feelings. If I’m anxious, my thought is ‘I can’t go into that mall, everyone’s going to look at me.’ Then, I’m going to feel nervous and I want to avoid it. So as a result, I’m not going to go to the mall. But if you reframe those thought patterns and you say, like ‘I am, you know, I may not have it all together, but I really need to go buy that perfume at Bath and Body Works because I really like that smell’. Then I’m going to be, and then you tell yourself I’m going to be okay. Everything is going to be alright. You start feeling more confident and you’re going to go into that store and get what you want. So there’s power in our thought patterns. And so as therapists, that’s what we do is we help reframe those thought patterns.
Nyge: So you just talked a lot about the work that you do with that, with people who are dealing with anxiety and how you treat that. What can people who are going through that type of treatment look forward to as an end result from that work?
Stephanie: Yeah. So I think, first of all, sometimes anxiety doesn’t always go away. Sometimes, it’s just acknowledging that it’s a part of us, right? Sometimes, I have anxiety, too, but I know how to manage it now. So instead of it being this foreign creature that’s like a monster, it’s an ally. It’s a friend of mine now, so I can sense it when it’s coming. I can sense what triggers [anxiety] it. I can control it. And I think that’s the thing is that I feel more confident that clients are going to leave more confident when they leave my office, that they’re going to feel like, you know what? I have anxiety, or I have depression, but it’s okay because I have the skills to navigate it, and I have the skills to know that in the moment when it happens, I’m in control, and I am more empowered and confident through that.
Nyge: Yeah, definitely. How can folks in the community with young people better support them? And also, what are some common grievances that young people have with the older generations?
Stephanie: Oh, man, I think. When I think of how the community can support our teens, I think it’s first awareness of being aware of what are the issues our teams face. Everything from, the pressures that they have with drugs, alcohol, substance abuse, sex, the academic pressures, navigating relationships, independence. And so I think having a conversation around these hard topics that parents don’t want to talk about. Right? And so I think it’s just having these conversations, like here on this podcast, using platforms that we have to educate. And then, supporting is just being empathetic to where our kids are at and not thinking like just because they’re kids, they don’t have a voice, or their voice doesn’t matter. No, it does matter. And we need to hear them and provide a space for them to do that, whether it be in therapy, whether it be on a platform like this, whether it be on social media, like kids need an outlet. And I think teenagers and young adults especially. And so we need to provide a space where they can feel heard and seen.
Nyge: Definitely. And, how can people like teachers, guardians, family members listening to the show right now show up better for their young people in their lives?
Stephanie: As therapists, we always have to show up for our clients, right? And the best way to show up is to love yourself first. So, are you doing what you need to do to love yourself? That’s the first thing I would say is really loving yourself first, and really coming from a place that’s overall going to be beneficial. Because if you, if you take care of yourself, then you can take care of others better. I’m really a believer in that.
I think for all the young adults and teens that listen to this, I think first of all, I want to say we’re proud of you. We’re rooting you on. You’re navigating this part of your life right now. That’s really challenging. You have a lot of decisions about your future. You’re at major crossroads, and follow your gut. Seek mentorship. Seek help. You’re not alone in what you’re experiencing. And if you ever think that you’re alone, believe me you’re not. And I tell my clients all that all the time. Like, it’s okay, everything is going to work out. Just be there. Just lean into this season of your life, learn, it’s a great season, and ask for help. And I think for parents – and for parents, especially listening that may have teens or kids in college – trust that you did everything you could to invest in them as parents and that they have it. They have it figured out. Let them. Let them explore. Let them make decisions. Check on them, but also not too much. Let them kind of navigate the season, and when they need you, they will come back.
Again, that’s Stephanie Santos, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who specializes in providing individual therapy to teenagers and young adults (13-21) who struggle with anxiety and depression. You can connect with Stephanie on her website, Instagram, and TikTok at ElevateMHS.
Just ahead, we’re returning to AJ Deloney, a therapist who works with university students and staff who are experiencing the significant changes of jumping in and out of college life.
Nyge: Now, I want to introduce you to the creative mind behind this episode on Youth Mental and Emotional Health – Jalen Black, one of our Adult ISH Interns.
Jalen: Hey, Nyge!
Nyge: So, why was mental and emotional health something you wanted to talk about this season?
Jalen: Well, I recently made it through my first semester in college and throughout that semester it was very hard balancing out things like classes, my internship, and just life in general. I felt like I was barely just getting by and I felt like a lot of that was maybe due to the online pandemic that cut two of my high school years off. And I know a lot of freshman currently in college feel the exact same way.
Nyge: So, where do you want to go from here?
Jalen: I want to pull in another YR Star and peer teacher. Their name is Arwyn [Rogers], and they talked about their challenges with sharing their thoughts with family…
Arywn: I had a hard time expressing my emotions a lot with my family because they didn’t – like my parents, didn’t express their emotions to me. So I never knew how to do that properly. And, bullying was also a thing a lot in, like, elementary school. I have a few therapists and I go to my mom a lot, but I also go to my music, and I write a lot, like journaling.
Nyge: What I enjboyed about listening to Arywn was the comment she made about her parents. You know? Kind of like really not being able to share their emotions. That is something that I can really identify with. My parents were kind of the same way. Mainly my Dad. And so I never really had that model and that has been something I’ve had to like, personally learn just as I’ve grown up. What about you?
Jalen: Yeah it was definitely like some hard parts with dealing with the online pandemic. I felt like I couldn’t really, like, express my frustrations and feelings to my parents because they never really went through that. And there was never really that pause in their educational life.
Nyge: Right.
Jalen: And, just having to explain to them why I lost so much motivation and why I was experiencing a lot of burnout through the semester and everything. So I feel like that’s what I related to, and like music definitely helped me a lot also.
Nyge: Yeah, you know, and that’s a great transition to the interview we did with AJ Deloney. He is a licensed clinical social worker and staff therapist at UChicago Student Wellness at the University of Chicago.
AJ: So, my name is AJ Deloney. By the way, my gender pronouns are he, him, his. And I provide direct services to college students as a full time job. But, I also have a private practice where I provide therapy mainly to Black men.
Nyge: So you’re also a staff therapist at the University of Chicago. Can you talk to us a bit about how your role on campus, and what that is, with working with undergrad students?
AJ: Absolutely. So the biggest things that I deal with, surprisingly, are related to relationships and adjustment. Adjustment to being more independent. And I think that’s especially significant post-pandemic, where a lot of young people have been isolated for a couple of years. They don’t remember or they never had the experience of socializing with their peers. And then they come to a university like this, where there’s a lot of pressure to do well academically. And they are more withdrawn from seeking services, identifying the support group to be successful in this environment. In addition to my day-to-day, you know, my day-to-day activities, and role, I’m also responsible for part of the outreach here. So, you know, I’m getting out on the campus, I’m having conversations to let people know that there are therapists that identify with them in their culture. Right? This is still a profession that is mainly made up of white women and, you know, just students of color, students from various backgrounds don’t find that as a way to communicate. But, it’s just hard to engage with someone you feel like does not share any background with you, any experiences.
Jalen: So, my main topic was about managing responsibilities.
AJ: Okay.
Jalen: And my first question was, when you’re talking to freshmen or students that are new to campus, what are some aspects of living on campus or living alone for the first time that could make it kind of difficult for them?
AJ: So, you know, when you come to college, you no longer have a parent that is harassing you to get up on time every morning or go to bed at what is an hour that will leave you productive the next day. That is now your responsibility. And it can be challenging. It can be challenging to want to hang out with people and get to know them until two in the morning, and then the next thing you know, you’re not able to study or do an exam well, or, you know, you don’t show up fully present the next day. So that’s, that’s one of the bigger challenges with freshmen and responsibilities.
Jalen: That was definitely a lesson that, like I learned my first semester, managing responsibilities and like wanting to do good in my work, but then also like, wanting to like, make friends and everything. And I feel like- I was seeing like, the aspects of both sides. Because like, sometimes like, I would be worried about like, making friends to where it would, like, affect in my schoolwork.
AJ: I think it’s, it’s important to compartmentalize your social circle, right? Identifying the friends that are great for hanging out with, but not as, as great for helping you with studying or making sure you’re taking care of your business. Or maybe the person that you actually sit down with and go over your ideas for your research, so to speak. Not everyone is going to contribute the same thing to your circle. So just having a recognition of that. Who’s going to be good for me at this particular point during this particular activity?
Jalen: So my next question was, do you have any tips or advice for young people learning on how to balance the million things that’s going on in their lives?
AJ: Yes. So obviously, it’s going to be time management, but time management in a way that identifies shorter term goals. If you are a young person and you’re thinking about all of the exams, you’ve got all the reading at midterm, for instance, it’s going to be overwhelming. And that leads to being more anxious. And when you have that high anxiety and feeling overwhelmed, you tend to freeze, or you tend to identify things that help you in the moment. Right? So maybe you go to the gym or you watch your favorite TV show instead of doing the work that you need because it’s overwhelming. And as you allow more time hesitating – we call that procrastination. That work builds up, right? So now you physically have more to do, and it’s not just in your head. So what you need to do is set shorter term boundaries. So for instance, maybe I have an assignment due in two days that I need to start reading for. Well, today I’m going to list the top three things that need to be done short term, whether it is reading for that assignment, whether it’s washing clothes, maybe you got some dishes to do – but just listing the three things that you need to do for the day, not the whole list. If you get those three things, great. It’s a bonus. If you can’t do self-care, then you identify something you want to do that’s going to be helpful in the future. But you want to compartmentalize those things better. Instead of looking at the totality. An example I used to use, and maybe I need to start cutting back now, is Thanksgiving. You go home for Thanksgiving, and you’ve got a million dishes that you can have. And you’re very excited, and you load your plate up. Next thing you know, you’re already full, and you haven’t even eaten. Focus on what’s on the fork.
Nyge: Being seen as an adult can be really difficult when you’re young. How do you advise young people to create boundaries with adults in their lives to establish themselves as adults themselves?
AJ: That is a great question. Where do I start with that? You know, so this may be more of a challenge for people. It’s not something you can just wake up today and say, ‘I want to change how I move or how I communicate.’ But learning better communication strategies, and maybe that means talking to a therapist or someone else that has that knowledge. But what I would say is, first of all, have a game plan.
If you’re going to have a conversation with parents or other older people about these boundaries that you want to set, you want to make sure everyone’s calm. You want to have a plan of what you want to say, and you want to be direct with it. So it can go like, “You know, I love you all, and I’m appreciative that you paid my tuition and that you’ve always been supportive. However, you know, I’m away at school. I’m learning to be more independent. I’m learning to understand what works best for me. And these are the things that I need in order to remain healthy.” Right?
Whether it is only calling twice a week or once a month, whatever, to check in with your parents and that, and asking them to understand that. Or maybe you’re returning home for a holiday, and you don’t feel up to spending all day Christmas with the entire family. Right? So sharing in advance, this is what I need to have peace.
Nyge: That’s powerful. Yeah.
AJ: Yeah. And I mean likejust like you experienced growing pains transitioning to adulthood, parents also experience growing pains of having to let go of being this protective as they have been. So we have to give grace on both sides. Right?
Nyge: Yeah
AJ: So allowing them grace if they still act in a way that treats you like a child, right? You want to remember that it’s a new practice to enforce boundaries. And it’s a new practice for people to learn your boundaries.
Jalen: So, what do you think are some unique challenges that people of color face when transitioning into adulthood?
AJ: So. Obviously, I’m at a predominantly white college right now, and I think those two experiences – being here versus an HBCU, can be different – but, I want to start there. So first of all, not being afraid to be nice or connect with people that look like you. Maybe you come from a background where a head nod is good. Right? And that’s it. And you keep moving. Well, you want to establish some real relationships in college because those are going to be the people that help you get through. Whether it’s emotionally, financially, or academically, you want to establish a circle. Create a circle of people that are like-minded, whether it’s values or academic goals. Right? So that’s the first thing. The second thing is again going back to accessing mental health services. If you feel like you’re experiencing something where you want to talk to someone, it doesn’t have to be major. Right? But if you’re looking to speak with someone, process stress, anxiety, maybe you’ve had trauma in childhood. This is going to be the safe space where you can share it and not feel like somebody is going to bring it up as soon as you end the relationship or friendship, whatever. Right? And it’s different because that is not how we operate in our [Black] community. So, as you’re transitioning into college, this is an opportunity, again, for you not only to address the challenges you’re having but to change the generational patterns around it.
Nyge: I’m curious: What questions should young people ask themselves to understand what type of adults they’d like to be at this stage in life? What should you be? What should you be asking yourself?
AJ: I think you should be open to trying new things. Right? So, what have I experienced in the past that made me happy? Was it being in the service of someone else? Would you be interested in volunteering? Do you find that you enjoy cooking or art? But maybe your family doesn’t feel that that pays well enough for you to pursue it educationally. Just being open to experimenting. You know, take an open art class, go to the gym, maybe do a martial arts thing, you know, just trying to think of things off the top.
Nyge: Yeah.
AJ: But just, you know, before I identify or define who I am, let me try some things and see what feels organic, before I start labeling.
Jalen: So my last question for you is, what about growing older? Do you enjoy and like, what about growing older can young people look forward to?
AJ: Great question. I think the thing that I enjoy most about growing older now is that I have two sons in their 20s, and my youngest son just shared with me that they’re expecting a baby this summer. So that means I’m going to be a granddad.
Nyge: Congrats. Congrats.
AJ: And, you know, 20 years ago, didn’t want no parts of that. Maybe even five years ago. But now that it’s actually going to happen, I’m shopping for stuff and the baby hasn’t even been born yet. And it’s a boy. So, you know, it’s something about having sons, especially where you can see them grow and recognize your contributions to that growth. Right? This is the next me. So I think that’s the most exciting thing. And it’s the thing that makes me most happy. Watching them grow. Watching them navigate life and still coming to me when they have questions or challenges. Right?
Nyge: Perfect. Yeah. Thank you. Thank you so much for that. Thank you for coming on this interview. We really enjoyed it.
AJ: You know, it was a pleasure. Like I said, talking to the two of you, as it does feel like I’m talking to my sons to an extent. Right? Two younger Black men that I want to impart my knowledge on, with hopes that you will do the same for younger people.
Jalen: That’s AJ Deloney, a licensed clinical social worker and staff therapist at UChicago Student Wellness at the University of Chicago. You can connect with AJ online at KojoNgoro-Psychotherapy.com.
If you or anyone you know needs help right now, TEXT or call 988 to reach the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. That’s a free, confidential connection with a trained counselor by texting or calling 988.
And, if you just want information about mental health and substance use, you can call 1-800-662-HELP. That’s 1-800-662-4357.
Nyge: Adult ISH is produced by YR Media, a national network of young artists and journalists creating content for this generation.
Our show is produced by Fredia Lucas, and by me – your boy, Nyge Turner.
Jalen: Our engineer is James Riley, and our audio engineering fellow is Christian Romo.
Nyge: YR’s director of podcasting is Sam Choo.
Jalen: YR’s senior director of podcasting and partnerships is Rebecca Martin.
Nyge: Our interns are Menelik Ransom and Jalen Black – who definitely earned a producer credit on this episode.
Original music for this episode is created by these young musicians at YR:
Jalen: Christian Romo, Anders Knutstad, Noah Holt, Jacob Armenta, Chaz Whitley, Michael Diaz, Sean Luciano Galarza, and David Lawrence.
Music direction by Oliver “Kuya” Rodriguez and Maya Drexler.
Nyge: Art and visuals are produced by the youth co-led design team at YR Media.
Creative Direction by Pedro Vega Jr. Designs by Jess Smolinski, Marjerrie Masicat and Brigido Bautista.
Jalen: Project management by Eli Arbreton.
Nyge: Special thanks to Kathy Chaney and Kyra Kyles.
Jalen: Adult ISH is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX, a network of independent creator-owned, listener-supported podcasts. Discover audio with vision at Radiotopia.fm.
Nyge: And if you haven’t reviewed our show on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, please be sure to do so. Five stars is much-appreciated.
Jalen: You can follow us on all the socials at @YRAdultISH. And on that note…
Nyge: Later!
Shouldn’t fictional characters be portrayed by the best actor/actress for the role regardless of color? One would think so. But when that doesn’t happen, people are triggered.
Last month, Spider-Man and esteemed actor Tom Holland posted on Instagram that he would be playing Romeo in a new production of William Shakespeare’s “Romeo & Juliet.” While many were excited, others came out of the woodwork feeling a particular way when it was announced that Francesca Amewudah-Rivers, a Black actress, would be Juliet.
This caused many of the crew and other actors to stand up for Amewudah-Rivers and say that not only is she deserving of the role, but also relit the fires that have started ever since Black women have been gaining roles for characters that are not originally Black.
Amewudah-Rivers had every right to audition and be accepted for this role. Colorblind casting is not a new thing. In recent years, we have had Halle Bailey as Ariel in “The Little Mermaid” (2023), and an Academy Award-nominated performance by Denzel Washington for “The Tragedy of Macbeth.” This play is all about finding the right actors for these roles, especially Shakespearean roles where race doesn’t matter, all that matters is raw, unbridled talent and ferocity. Theater is passion and it takes a certain type of actor to nail the soliloquies and stagecraft for these skills. It is also horrendous how people who may not even be interested in Shakespearian plays and theater are acting like they are experts in the field of casting.
Black people in Britain have been riddled with tabloids and fervor by publications such as The Sun, like how they attacked Meghan Markle. I don’t want other Black actresses being discouraged from taking big parts like this due to ignorant racists spouting that they know better.
Colorism is also massive as shown in this post, many people want Zendaya to take the role of Juliet, not just because of her fairer skin, but due to her being in a relationship with Holland. Other actresses were shown in the post that are lighter skinned and/or conventionally attractive, which is a big detraction that deletes who the best person is for the role talent-wise. They want to focus on the aesthetics of Black women, rather than who is the best actor overall.
The Jamie Lloyd Theater Company wrote a letter supporting Amewudah-Rivers as they have become very close to her and know her talent, skills, and passion. All studios and companies should do the same whenever racist backlash happens. For example, Disney did not defend Kelly Marie Tran and John Boyega from these trolls back during the Star Wars sequel trilogy.
But actor Ewan McGregor defended his co-star Moses Ingram from racist trolls in 2022.
These racists have clouded words and phrases such as “DEI,” diversity, equity, and inclusion, and “woke,” making them dog whistles for racial slurs, and co-opting them from other minorities to use them against us. Francesca Amewudah-Rivers, you will always be famous and we all have your back.
Strangely enough, historically Juliet has been played by a man.
Zipporah Pruitt, (she/her) is an L.A. homegrown journalist, who covers entertainment and culture. Follow her on X and Instagram: @zippzapps.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
Year after year, temperature records are being broken, with many years often hotter than the last. It was reported that March set a new monthly record for global heat for the 10th consecutive month. Though global warming has been around since the 1800s, the impacts of it are still fairly new and still being studied. However, these impacts are very closely tied to mental health outcomes.
Thinking about climate change is worrisome, and often anxiety-inducing. What could happen next? Will my home be underwater? Will I be forced to move? These are all common thoughts and questions people ask themselves. These questions are not limited to any one person. However, those who live in underprivileged areas, children, minorities, and those who have health issues are those who are most drastically affected by these climate events and are often worrying about these questions the most.
Part of this environmental fear is the fact that climate change leads to natural disasters that displace millions across the world every year. It has been shown that natural disasters caused by climate change such as floods, fires, or hurricanes lead to PTSD, anxiety, and other health issues. According to the American Psychiatric Association, a change in climate can even lead to physical issues such as dementia or the spread of disease, or even lead to forced migration, or job loss due to the disasters that wreak havoc on vulnerable communities.
This all contributes to deteriorating mental and physical health in these communities.
Supporting communities is an integral part of mitigating the effects of climate change and plays a vital role in improving psychological well-being. Mental health resources need to be readily available. Bolstering the health care system’s psychological departments by increasing access and numbers of therapists, keeping appointment waiting times to a minimum, and making mental health resources a possibility for underprivileged populations.
Being able to make a change and contribute to reversing the drastic effects of global warming ensures a brighter future for the planet and the people on it, not only physically but mentally. By reducing fossil fuel usage, turning to renewable energy, and keeping greenhouse gasses out of the atmosphere, we ensure a safer, happier, future for people and the planet.
Ayushree Dahal (she/her) is a Bay Area-based journalist.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
Actress Francesca Amewudah-Rivers, who will play the role of Juliet in an upcoming play, is being targeted by racist attacks by ignorant internet haters. This backlash also involves actor Tom Holland, as many on social media are asking why he has not stepped up to support his co-star.
Produced and Edited by Liz Tril
Knitting has become trendy and in 2022, a knitted garment was considered the Christmas present of the year.
The study, published in the Journal of Occupational Science, explores what people with mental health problems say about what knitting means for their health.
Researchers analyzed 600 posts collected from an arts forum, Ravelry, where knitters discuss their hobby amongst themselves.
The study found that knitting enables people to unwind, it offers an identity as a knitter and is considered a good low social context.
Knitting can also bring structure to people’s lives, which improves their mental health.
A knitter from the study said: “The nurses were wanting to give me an anti-anxiety medication until I told them that I preferred knitting for the anxiety.
“She stopped, looked at me, and said, ‘That’s much healthier than drugs.’ ”
Subjects of the study found that knitting was a highly appreciated occupation that improved their short and long-term health.
Another knitter added: “While my hands are busy doing something, my mind slows to a crawl, and I am actually able to think about one thing at a time rather than having 20-30 threads all going at once.”
Some of the knitters also noticed a change in their mental processes, saying that when they were knitting, their thinking became clearer and easier to manage.
Originally published by Talker News
The lack of financial literacy, limited money management and student loan debt are the main obstacles Gen Z face. Now throw the tax season into the mix and “anxiety” sets in.
A recent survey from Cash App Taxes revealed that more than half of Gen Z said “tax stress has brought them to tears” and the young generation is looking for therapists to help them through the aftermath of filing their taxes, according to Yahoo Finance.
“They may already be finding other challenges in their financial life, and then thinking about taxes as this add-on challenge may only increase some of the anxiety associated with that,” said Eric Bronnenkant of Betterment, a digital financial advisory company.
Another contributing factor for the heightened stress could be Gen Z’s knack for holding down multiple jobs that require more attention in reporting how they make their money as the gig economy and cryptocurrency investments has been a consistent go-to for the generation.
Social media apps give users a front-row seat into the lives of many they do and don’t know, allowing them to provide instant feedback on what they see. Some take the chance to offer words of encouragement and gestures of approval, while others rattle off negative reactions. Oftentimes, the negativity is louder than the praise.
Tearing down others seems to be a rather disturbing element of Gen Z culture, according to The Michigan Daily
Enjoying that 15 seconds, well really 15 minutes, of fame has been somewhat difficult when trying to stand out amongst a judgmental crowd. And that group of “haters,” they’ve embraced the label and made it trendy.
Is it time to stop being a mean girl, or boy, and grow up?
People are getting plastic surgery to copy filtered images of themselves on social media, a new study claims.
Researchers found that frequent Snapchat and Instagram users are more likely to get plastic surgery.
And disturbingly they report a phenomenon of “snapchat dysmorphia,” whereby patients seeking cosmetic procedures attempt to copy filtered and edited versions of themselves.
Social media platforms such as Snapchat and Instagram have been pivotal in perpetuating “selfie” culture with filters that can often distort facial features in a way that can lead to dissatisfaction with reality.
A new study, published in the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, found that time spent on social media and the use of photo-editing applications correlates with a person’s desire to undergo cosmetic procedures, and likely led to an increase in cosmetic visits.
The researchers from Boston University asked patients at a dermatology clinic to complete surveys from 2019-2021 regarding their social media usage as well as their desire to undergo cosmetic procedures.
After reviewing these surveys, they found that the number of hours individuals spent using Snapchat and/or Instagram every day had a statistically significant difference in the belief that media or social media had influenced their desire to have a cosmetic procedure done.
Furthermore, they found a big difference between the use of photo editing applications such as FaceTune, Lightroom, or SnapSeed to edit photos before sharing selfies on social media and thoughts about undergoing a surgical or non-surgical cosmetic procedure.
Patients who followed and engaged with celebrities and influencers on social media, as well as following and engaging with plastic surgery, dermatology or other accounts showing the results of cosmetic procedures on social media were also significantly influenced to have procedures.
Originally published by Talker News
Singer-actress Halle Bailey is legal-legal; she recently celebrated her 21st birthday. To further celebrate her milestone, let’s highlight 21 things about Disney’s soon-to-be Ariel you may or may not have known. Born in Atlanta yet raised in Los Angeles Roughly around late 2012, Halle and her family moved from Atlanta to Los Angeles during her...
Celebrities like Rihanna and Greta Thunberg have publicly come out in support of Indian farmers. But why? In September 2020, the Indian Parliament passed the Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce Act with the intention of facilitating a free market. This policy change has been met with backlash from farmers, protests worldwide and even a tweet...
Numerous TikTok creators have experienced famous TikTokers not giving them any credit for their trendy dances or videos, creating the ideology that these TikTok stars are subliminally taking credit for a viral dances and/or ideas that they didn’t originate. Friday was no different. Addison Rae, one of the most popular TikTokers, was featured on “The...
As a young journalist, I know covering trauma is part of the job, but I’m dreading the trial of ex-Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin. In the Twin Cities, Black residents like me are hesitant but ready to see how it will play out in the coming weeks. This has left me questioning if I still...
The United States won’t achieve herd immunity until children can get vaccinated, said Dr. Anthony Fauci. Fauci previously estimated that we need 75% to 85% of the population to get vaccinated to achieve herd immunity. But 22.3% of the population is under the age of 18, according to the latest data from the U.S Census...
Coming from an emotionally fraught past, I’ve realized no one forewarns you of the danger of finding love ahead of your identity: the inevitability of entangling the two. In my high school years, love found me and my past partner whilst figuring ourselves out and co-dependency would bind us together. Our relationship was a rollercoaster....
To My Anti-Masker Coworker, I can imagine what you’re thinking: not wearing a mask in a shared office space is well within your rights. Working full, eight-hour workdays in this office for years means the office is a home away from home for you. Because of your private car, you don’t take public transportation. And...
March is Women’s History Month and what better way to celebrate the women in your life than listening and jamming out to good music? It’s been a year in quarantine and while Zoom cocktails and group texts have been able to keep us close when we are apart, there is no greater feeling than catching...
This Karen in Illinois is going viral on TikTok for her racist, and completely absurd, harassment of a black passerby. Watch how quickly she goes from denying her actions to yelling something about a … crucifixion?
Spring break 2021 was no different than any other spring break, except, for the… GLOBAL PANDEMIC! We’re talking to spring breakers and those who have opted out of the annual college shenanigans.
I grew up surrounded by the smell of donuts and coffee. My parents are Asian immigrants who have owned a donut shop for over 20 years, and it was the center of my childhood. My sister and I would sit around at the donut shop and do our homework. Years later as an adult, I’m...
The Boston School Committee announced last year it would be doing away with entrance exams for its top-ranking 7-12th grade public schools, choosing instead to admit students based on middle school GPA and ZIP code. Now, that decision is being challenged in court by a group of parents. The admission change was prompted by a...
From the recent shootings at Asian businesses in Atlanta that killed six Asian women to the attacks against Asian elders, violence against Asian Americans have been spiking across the country. According to a report from Stop AAPI Hate, the organization has received nearly 3,800 hate incidents since March 2020. and the numbers may be much...
In February, a friend from my school was able to get vaccinated. He told me over the phone when I was making dinner. I paused from confusion. “Wait, how?” We had just started improving from the horrifying COVID-19 surge that had overtaken Los Angeles County in January when someone died from the virus every eight minutes....
HR-6 otherwise known as the American Dream and Promise Act, is the latest bill that promises Dreamers and those with TPS (Temporary Protective Status) a pathway for legal status. It passed the U.S. House of Representatives last week. Passing HR-6 along with the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, which gives temporary protected status to agricultural workers,...
The CDC recently announced that fully vaccinated people can now gather with other fully vaccinated people without masks. This has left many asking what this may mean for in-person classes for colleges in the fall. We reached out to different colleges and students around the country to find out what their fall 2021 campus plans...
A cheerleader’s mom has gained national attention after being arrested for harassing her daughter’s teammates. But it’s her method that’s gotten the most attention: altering the teen’s photos with deepfake technology usually reserved for the likes of Tom Cruise and Obama.
During the Black Lives Matter movement last June, it was more common to see Black pain, opposed to Black love and joy. Viewing Black skaters reclaiming their happiness convinced me that I had to do the same. As a beginner skater, I was clueless about how Black skaters fought to keep rinks open within their...
By Bryan Mendez When the internet signal at home isn’t steady, Daphne Ramirez packs up and looks for a better connection. For the Coachella Valley High School senior, that sometimes means traveling to McDonald’s or Starbucks to complete her assignments. This story was produced by Coachella Unincorporated and is part of a collaborative project “Behind Our Masks”...
After being named the “youngest Hollywood executive producer,” “Black-ish” star Marsai Martin has a new Disney Channel pilot underway titled “Saturdays.” The series follows Paris Johnson, played by Danielle Jalade, who, since age 4, has been skating at Saturdays, a local skating rink owned and operated by a former ’90s hip-hop back-up dancer. Paris is...
At 16, Oscar Sanchez’s parents affirmed his voice. They also challenged him to use it. Now at 23, he’s involved in all kinds of activism. Most recently, he led a hunger strike, pursuing environmental justice on Chicago’s Southeast Side. He was not alone. On Feb. 4, he and two neighbors decided to stop eating. “The...
At the start of the week, I, along with the rest of the world, watched as Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, and Prince Harry spoke with Oprah Winfrey about Meghan’s experience marrying into the royal family. She spoke about the ways the British media painted a picture of her to be this American threat and...
Lexi Underwood, known for her role in “Little Fires Everywhere,” has been cast to play Malia Obama in the upcoming Showtime series based on former first ladies of the White House. “The First Lady” will show the personal and political lives through their lens, with season one focusing on Michelle Obama. Underwood will portray Malia...
Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves signed a bill Thursday to ban transgender athletes from competing on girl’s or women’s sports teams. The bill is one of many circling state legislatures across the country that target trans youth. The bill is set to become law July 1, although a legal challenge is possible. The American Civil Liberties...
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Everybody has an opinion of what to do with cops, from protecting them to defunding or abolishing them completely. But why aren’t we looking at the U.K.? From less than a handful of police-related deaths per year to something called “policing by consent,” here’s why we should be taking tips from our neighbors across the...
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Colleges across the country have begun announcing their 2021 commencement plans and many are opting to hold in-person celebrations in May. The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is one of the latest colleges to announce its plan to hold in-person graduation for 2020 and 2021 graduates. University of Illinois Chancellor Robert Jones said the school...
Infectious disease expert Michael Osterholm warns against Americans letting their guard down, especially as the U.K. coronavirus variant B.1.1.7 spreads among young people. As the more infectious variant becomes increasingly present, cases will surge again. “And we’ve seen in Europe when we hit that 50% mark, you’ll see cases surge,” Osterholm said. Right now, the...
Have you ever prepared for a Zoom meeting in your cramped room where the same “Twilight” posters you’ve had since high school become the awkward focal point of your video calls? I’ve been there too and it’s actually becoming the norm for most young adults in the United States. While everyone’s situation is different, the...
By Jacquelin Garcia “You have no internet connection.” These words kept flashing on my screen over and over again. I had a presentation due for school, and my deadline to turn it in was narrowing. I pressed the refresh button, hoping the signal would finally work. “An error had occurred.” I threw my phone out...
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Every summer I make the long trip up to Naknek, Alaska — an outpost of human settlement among the tundra, volcanoes, and wildlife of southwestern Alaska to be part of the commercial sockeye salmon fishing season in Bristol Bay. From the airport at King Salmon, we drive the lonely stretch of pavement a half hour...
As someone who has struggled with disordered eating, I have tried — and failed — to find answers in restrictive diets. The science is clear: restrictive diets don’t work. Six years into recovery, I see familiar language cropping up in the dialogue about social media and phone “addictions” with headlines like “How a one-month phone...
President Joe Biden has passed numerous executive orders since taking over the White House in January, including forgiving student loan debt. However, his rejection of the plan to forgive $50,000 and drop it to $10,000 instead has drawn a lot of criticism. Some college students are questioning if he is going back on his promises....
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After sustaining injuries during the 2019 football season, Joseph Christensen expected 2020 to be his breakout year. But then COVID-19 hit and the Laney College football season was delayed. For Christensen, it means his dreams of obtaining a Division I scholarship are on hold. This story was produced by YR Media and is part of...
Netflix is one of the few platforms that continuously represent the LGBTQ+ community in its original films and series. However, they tend to fall short on original storylines for characters. Queer characters are constantly fighting rejection from society or they can’t tell their peers or parents about their sexuality. Is this the only storyline for...
Activist Jeremy Johnson was arrested for allegedly hitting a cop with a skateboard at a Black Lives Matter protest in Chicago. He has been on house arrest ever since. YR Media explores how police surveillance technology has proven to be problematic, leading to further complications in his case.
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“A father’s job is never done” is a quote we always hear. But which gender are they exactly referring to in this fatherly law? Rapper-actor T.I., talk show host Wendy Williams and comedian Chris Rock said that “a father’s job is keeping his daughter off the pole.” But what about a father’s job to his...
At the beginning of this school year, I put my pronouns in my Zoom name. As a cisgender person, adding them was an afterthought — I’m fortunate enough to never get misgendered. However, after speaking to my transgender and nonbinary peers, I realized that the help of cisgender people can be crucial in encouraging respect for...
The topic of birth control can be very daunting, which is part of the reason girls and women don’t like talking about it. According to a survey done by Merck, “31 percent of women in a relationship rarely or never talk to their partner about sexual health” and almost “24 percent of all women surveyed feel...
As if it weren’t hard enough to separate truth from lies on the internet, more and more so-called “deepfakes” are surging onto the scene. Fake news is nothing new, but deepfakes have been making recent headlines for their scary ability to spread misinformation that’s extremely hard to detect. Check the full interactive project here