Is Social Media Affect and Changing Our Lives and is it bad or good?

 

SOCIAL MEDIA IS CHANGING OUR LIVES

Right now in the world, 20% of the whole earth's population is using social media. Right now that may not seem like a lot but from 1996 to 2021 social media has gone from 7.75 million to 4.48 billion users. This is because of the newer generations such as Gen Z and Gen Alpha. Currently, in the world statistics show that 64% of Gen Z use Instagram at least once per day. This social media use is also happening at younger ages like Gen Alpha. In 2023 20% of 5-year-olds will have a cell phone. While phones are a good safety device, these phones distract them from hanging out and talking to each other. This will also affect the 5-year-olds that do not have a phone. All of these statistics show that Social media is changing our world.

Social media is a very big thing in society and it can be used for very good reasons. Like, if you are far away from a family member or you are in an emergency. But, like everything social media has its downsides. It can be very interesting to scroll down on your phone to watch TikTok or YouTube shorts. This is because it can distract your brain and can cause forgetfulness and it takes advantage of the brain's systems making it hard to stop scrolling. 

Social media can also be a tough place for teens mainly because of body image. Body image videos make young kids and teens depressed because their own bodies do not look like what they see on social media. It encourages them to stop eating and to do other dangerous things. This can make kids as young as 5 years old be in the hospital because they stop eating so they can be fit. Social media also drives away family members. It is said that only 20% of Gen Z takes a break for up to 2 weeks and the rest of them can nearly last a day without their phones.

Now that I stated all the bad reasons, here are some reasons why using social media can be good too. First of all, the phone can be used for important things like calling a loved one or for safety reasons. Overall, social media is a good thing for us humans to have. Depending on the way that we choose to use it, it can either hurt or help people. I think many people might use social media in a bad way, but it is not bad in and of itself.

Sources

https://explodingtopics.com/blog/gen-z-stats#gen-z-social-media 

https://backlinko.com/social-media-users 

How Is Racism Reflected in New Kid 

By: Kabir

    In the graphic novel, New Kid, racism is a common theme throughout the book. Interestingly the book takes place in a very modern setting, so it reflects the modern experience of an African American boy going to a private middle school, according to Jerry Craft. The protagonist, Jordan Banks, and his diverse friends face discrimination from both their peers and their teachers. By the end of the book, intentional and unintentional racism is brought aware of and stopped. 

    An important character in this story is Andy, a sport's jock who's also "Mr. Popular." Often he will pick on Jordan and other people of color to show off to his friends. Occasionally those situations will include making several inappropriate assumptions about people's race which hurts many people's feelings. An example of this is when Andy assumed a hispanic boy was Mexican by his name (Ramon) and his looks. Andy also pesters Ramon about how his mom must make the best tacos, even though he's a Nicaraguan boy. At the end of the book, many of his friends begin to dislike Andy and his prejudiced ways, which is the reality check he needed. On the last day of school he's all alone, but Jordan still shows kindness to him, which is reciprocated by Andy. Even though it is not clearly stated, Andy improved as a person and learned his wrongs. 

    One of Jordan Bank's teachers is named Ms. Rawle. In this story she has kind intentions, however, many accidental racist comments are made from her. Like Andy, her misdoing were brought aware to her in the end. Several times in the story Ms. Rawle confuses her African American students with each other. When the students become fed up and confront her, she gets upset and feels in the right. Also she assumes they have poor socio-economic status based on their race. Ironically, one of their fathers was the CEO of a Fortune 500 company. After witnessing how badly it affects her students, she realizes her mistakes and apologizes. 

    Jerry Craft's interpretation of a modern high school also reflects his thoughts on modern racism. He shows two sides on the "spectrum" of racism (Andy and Ms. Rawle). While they are both are inflicted differently, all racist comments have the same negative effects. The kids feel hurt even by accidental comments and demand a change. In the end, Andy and Ms. Rawle are forced to change their ways, similarly to how racism diminished over decades in our society.

Do you think handwritten cards and letters still have value in the digital age?

 Dear reader, 

Letters need to be brought back. Waking up to find an envelope addressed to you, stuffed with as many pages as can fit is an underrated sentiment. Next thing you know, your eyes are frantically scanning the page while you search for a pen and paper to write back. The feeling you get when you get a letter are almost unmatched. The only thing that even comes close to this feeling is getting an amazon package in your name, only downside to this is it is usually no surprise, unlike a letter. 

This tradition was unfortunately lost in the fast pace that life has adopted. The convenience of texting is enticing (and in certain situations, a quick text will do) but receiving a letter carries so much more weight (literally). Writing letters requires time and patience, that’s what makes it so special, knowing that someone is thinking of you and wants to know how you are.

There is something about handwritten letters that cannot be replaced by any technology. In the way the writer’s emotion is portrayed through the messiness of their writing and scribbled out words. Contrastingly, when they write as neat as the possibly can, trying to avoid error. It’s almost as if you can feel the persons feelings through the ink, without even reading the words. 

 Writing a letter is a great way to “capture that moment and your feelings,” (Rodrigues) Whether you are writing or receiving, it really helps to get your emotions in order. Letters basically “transcend time," making it possible to look back on an important moment, kind of like a photo (Rodrigues).

I love writing and receiving letters. I find it so beautiful and intimate to write to someone. The fact that it has become less common has made it even more impactful for me too. Writing is just overall a thing I enjoy, so I treasure being able to share that with someone close to me. 

Letters are also super fun, even if you are neighbors. It doesn’t have to be anything super special, “it just has to be from you.” (Christian) I love adding stickers and drawings to go along with a letter. I used to do that with a friend and those letters, stickers, and drawings are amongst the things I value most. I still look back on them and smile. 

Sincerely, 

Alana

(P.S. if you want to send a letter, you should make 2 copies, that way you remember exactly what you said and there are no holes in your keepsake) 

Citations: 

Christian, Mary Todd. "The Importance of Letter Writing." Papyrus Greenville  University, 13 Oct. 2015, papyrus.greenville.edu/2015/10/the-importance-of-letter-writing/. Accessed 12 Dec. 2023.

Rodrigues, Siena. "Why Hand Written Letters Mean so Much." University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 3 Nov. 2023, Why handwritten letters mean so much - College of Arts and Sciences (unc.edu). Accessed 12 Dec. 2023.

Should Kindergarten Be More About Play or Literacy?

 Should Kindergarten Be More About Play or Literacy?

    Kindergarten is a pivotal point in a child's future, and whether or not it should focus more on play or literacy is a topic that should be brought up in more discussions. Jill Anderson from Southwest Minnesota State University thinks that it is vital for Kindergarteners to experience play in the classroom. She says that "Pretend play involving storytelling and story-acting helps children make the connection between spoken and written language"(Anderson 16). I agree with Anderson's claim that play is important, but it mustn't completely erase literacy and learning from the curriculum. Education is just as important. If children do not learn and only play in Kindergarten, they will struggle in their futures. 

    I think that school districts should incorporate preschools in their schools for play. That way Kindergarteners would develop creativity and growth from play in preschool, and focus on literacy and early education in Kindergarten. By focusing more on education in Kindergarten, a child's education could be much more advanced moving forward, as they would have already begun the foundation of their learning. A child wouldn't have to learn basic addition and subtraction in first grade, and they could advance with broader topics such as multiplication and division early on. 

    I went to Markham Elementary School in Portland, Oregon. Markham included preschool and kindergarten. In preschool, we had a lot of play, with minimal literacy. This curriculum allowed us to focus on literacy in Kindergarten, which I feel was beneficial to us. I learned basic addition in preschool, along with play, and I was able to learn basic multiplication skills in 1st grade. My younger sister goes to an elementary school that does not incorporate preschool, and she learned multiplication in 2nd and 3rd grade. The data explicitly shows that more literacy in Kindergarten and a focus on play in preschool is beneficial to a child's curriculum. 

    The US Department of Education states in a report on Kindergarten that "Many states are moving toward universal preschool," and that "[they] strongly support these efforts." The US Department of Education, a number of states, and numerous concerned civilians endorsing the Department of Education's statement, agree that focusing on literacy in Kindergarten would be extremely beneficial. It is important for Kindergarteners to begin learning more advanced topics early on. Play is just as important, so young children can focus on play in preschool. 

Do I like Romance Stories?

Do I like Romance Books?

By Ellie Rosch

Many book genres exist in the reading world. It's a way to sort books to fit a style that other people would like. Some genres can overlap. Often books have a main genre, like fantasy, and then have underlying plots that follow other genres. The most popular sub-genre of a book is romance. Books, ever since being written, often end with the main character in a relationship, often with another character that's been with the protagonist during their journey. Although romance is often a sub-plot, recently romance has been taking over as the main genre. Think of those popular books whose covers look drawn in pastel colors and feature the two main characters.  Examples of this include Icebreaker, Practice Makes Perfect, The Love Hypothesis, and The Love Game. These types of books have become insanely popular. Not to mention Colleen Hoover's popular books as well that continue to boost romance books' fame. The plot is always a realistic fiction setting, normally in the women's perspective, about the two main characters getting together. They normally start out as enemies or rivals and the book ends with them being in a relationship. This brings back up the question. Do I like romance books?

The short answer is no. Every book I listed as an example up there I haven't read, but it's for good reason. When I was younger I loved books like Percy Jackson, any book by Roald Dahl, Maniac MaGee, and Middle School: Get Me Out of Here. Any book that I've enjoyed reading either hasn't had any romance or it was a small edition to the story rather than a whole story arc about two characters getting together. 

I have read a few romance books though. Most of those books I've read take place in a fantasy setting. I chose those books because I really love the worldbuilding and complex characters that develop in fantasy books. Every romance book I've read I didn't know it was a romance book. I thought it was a main genre of fantasy with as usual, romance as a subplot. They were chosen purely for the fantasy setting and not because I knew that they were romance. Books like these include Red Queen, Daughter of No Worlds, and The Selection. While I had heard good things about all of those books, I was disappointed that the characters didn't want to go questing in this new world that they had discovered, but rather describe how handsome the prince of this new world was. The worldbuilding was minimal and the same romance tropes were used over and over again. I'm tired of a love triangle between the best friend and a handsome, mysterious, and hot dude.

To wrap it up, I'm ok with there being romance in the books that I read but I'm not ok with that love taking over the plot of a book. Especially when I read the book because I'm interested in questing, making friends, or fulfilling a prophecy. I have nothing against romance books because some people like them. That's why there's so many genres of books. Like what you like, but I don't enjoy romance books.