Why I Distanced Myself From Social Media and Never Looked Back
When my friends hear that I am taking a break from social media, they usually show a surprised face and ask, “Why?” Like a lot of people, I used to check my social media feeds whenever I had a spare moment: when I woke up in the morning, when I had meals alone, when I […]
Hacking Horror: How My Digital Identity Was Stolen, and How I Got it Back
If you haven’t had one of your social media accounts hacked, consider yourself lucky—but don’t assume that you will be safe forever.[1] According to a survey by the University of Phoenix, nearly two thirds of adults have had a social media account hacked.[2] Often, scams start by sending an automated link from an already-compromised friend’s […]
Guest Post: Are the Likes Worth It?
Are the Likes Worth It? by Sarah Robertson With the introduction of modern social media came the “like system”: a metric system which publicly reveals the positive interaction a person has received with a piece of content created for their audience, whether it be the general public or a select group of followers. Users were […]
Guest Post: Chubby Cheeks, Tiny Hands, and Digital Footprints
Chubby Cheeks, Tiny Hands, and Digital Footprints By Kira Vandermeulen We’ve all seen those sweet posts featuring snaps of our friend’s baby with chubby cheeks and little hands. Today, social media is filled with children. This only makes sense: what with kids being so cute, why wouldn’t you Instagram it? However, as it becomes easier […]
Guest Post: Social Media and You: What questions about social media haven’t we asked ourselves?
Social Media and You: What questions about social media haven’t we asked ourselves? by Annika Marshall “To capture the world’s moments.” [1] That’s the motto that caught everyone’s attention when Instagram first kicked off in 2010. However, the motto is missing a key detail – “with a filter on top.” Social media was once advertised […]
Guest Post: The Many Sides of Being Social
The Many Sides of Being Social by Alannah Berson In 2014, several drag queens found themselves locked out of their Facebook accounts because their names weren’t “authentic”. [1] The accounts had been flagged after Facebook instituted a “Real Name” policy that limits what types of usernames are allowed on the site and seeks to tie […]
“The Social Dilemma”: An Aftermath of Change?
When “The Social Dilemma” came out on Netflix earlier this year, it created a tremendous reaction of shock and alarm from its viewers. Even some of the most avid social media users were stunned at the practices that tech companies were performing right under their noses, and especially at one of the movie’s main claims: […]
Guest Post: Are Instagram Stories As Safe As You Think?
Guest Post: Are Instagram Stories As Safe As You Think? By Priyaa Sathiyaseelan In the year 2006, Time magazine chose the People of the year to be You – to recognize the millions of people who anonymously contribute user-generated content to Wikipedia, YouTube, Facebook, and the multitudes of other websites featuring user contribution. Because without […]
Guest Post: Look at Me! Look at Me!: Instagramming an Altered Version of Ourselves
Guest Post: Look at Me! Look at Me!: Instagramming an Altered Version of Ourselves By Delicia Ansalem Many young people, myself included, rely on social media quite a lot. As a visual platform, it’s easy to share experiences within seconds, sometimes even over-documenting. Overall, a person’s profile and highlights can say a lot about them. […]
Opinion: Why I Deleted my Instagram and Haven’t Looked Back
One day in December 2018, in the throes of the tail end of my first semester of graduate school, I examined my iPhone’s Screen Time application. This new iOS app had been introduced not too long ago, just earlier in the year. What I saw left a knot in my stomach. I couldn’t believe it! […]
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