By Kane Howard, York College

Transgender individuals rarely see themselves depicted in a positive light in film and television — this spunky comedienne is changing that.

By Ally Najera, California State University, Northridge

The debate on talent vs fortune continues to dominate internet discourse.

By Azeezah Ibraheem, Near East University

Big Brother may not be watching you, but your FYP certainly is.

By Kane Howard, York College

It turns out there is a lot more to it than posing for pictures and copy-and-pasting captions.

By Kirsten Kalebich, Arizona State University

What exactly can YouTube do to address the complaints lodged against it?

By Azeezah Ibraheem, Near East University

This short series perfectly captures the experience of watching a loved one pass away before your eyes. The director writes, “In Italy we have a saying: in dreams, as in love, all is possible.”

By Kane Howard, York College

Elon Musk’s recent acquisition of Twitter has left thousands of users dissatisfied. But Twitter isn’t the first platform to fall from grace.

By Azeezah Ibraheem, Near East University

These popular series have disturbing effects on their viewership.

By Ally Najera, California State University, Northridge

The upcoming film based on Priscilla Presley’s memoir will present the famous singer from yet another perspective.

By Kane Howard, York College

The social media app is a platform where almost anyone can get their fifteen seconds of fame. But for content creators who aren’t even adults yet, what is the real price of attention?

By Ally Najera, California State University, Northridge

Even after two decades on screen and a recent shift toward horror, the actor’s fanbase continues to adore his work.

By Elannah Swarnes Matos, University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez

The artist’s music has enjoyed a recent spurt of TikTok fame, but exactly what kind of music does he make? And why should we be interested?

By Azeezah Ibraheem, Near East University

Just because you can post something doesn’t mean you should.

By Megan Miller, Arizona State University

TikTok’s latest drama pits the controversial tinder users and linewives against each other in a fierce battle.

By Olivia Moosey, DePaul University

Now that the show has moved to Disney+, the competition is even more incredible than ever! Who will win this year?

By Azeezah Ibraheem, Near East University

Despite its abundance of princess movies, Disney has had very little representation up until recently. ‘The Little Mermaid’ will help to change this problem.

By Morgan Thomas, Wayne State University

The app is a large part of our lives; here’s a list of things that will help you stay focused on work instead of endless scrolling.

By Vanessa Rivera, James Madison University

The app is premised on transparency, which appears to be a common theme among other platforms as of late.

By Kaitlyn Anderson, Cornell University

Could the indie sleaze aesthetic be the next Y2K? Fashion trend experts predict a comeback for the aesthetic, but what does that entail?

By Emily Sweeney, Quinnipiac University

Your favorite song might be on here.

By Emily Elizabeth Louie, American University

Bookstagram and BookTok have flooded brick-and-mortar bookshops with a new wave of literature lovers.

By Maria Merlo, Eastern Michigan University

Influencers hold nothing sacred. Their children are just another product to be sacrificed to the content mill.

By Megan Miller, Arizona State University

The Door, a church in Texas, thought they got away with ripping off, well, everyone. Then, they got a response from users across the internet –– and Lin-Manuel Miranda himself.

By Aunna Beranek, Columbia College Chicago

Drama on drama.

By Braden Beck, California State Channel Islands

Now that the dust has (seemingly) settled, let’s talk about the mysterious sauce that’s dominating social media.

By Kaitlyn Anderson, Cornell University

Pinterest has recently rolled out a new creator’s fund, but what is it and how are people using it to make money?

By Emily Sweeney, Quinnipiac University

Gen Z is showing up to ‘Minions: The Rise of Gru,’ in full suits and formal attire. How do the many different affected groups feel?

By Aunna Beranek, Columbia College Chicago

In anticipation of Barlow & Bear’s live performance of their musical inspired by the hit show, rewind in time to see how they went from TikTok to the Grammys.

By Virginia Beall, Elon University

Thanks to the prevalence of TikTok in artistic spaces, up-and-coming authors have begun to use the platform to promote their books.

By Kaitlyn Anderson, Cornell University

Customers are reporting hidden ‘help’ messages in the tags of Shein clothing, but are these really concealed messages from their workers?

By Nora Weiss, George Washington University

Social platforms capitalize on mindless scrolling and instant gratification — yet, such behaviors come with bad implications for our brains.

By Ally Najera, California State University, Northridge

The actor has quite literally soared and landed safely into our hearts.

By Ashley Hagan, Virginia Commonwealth University

The artist’s most recent release and accompanying music video showing her heartfelt love story exceed all expectations.

By Morgan Thomas, Wayne State University

To the dismay of some musicians, recording companies are increasingly demanding that they regularly post on the platform to boost sales.

By Anna Merlo, University of Queensland, Australia

Internet culture dominates every aspect of modern life for the newest generation, especially in the world of fashion.

By Myles Allan, University of New Haven

Podcasts can be a fun, new way to express yourself online, but there are some who are taking it to the extreme.

By Aly Walters, Michigan State University

After taking time off from the app, I realized that my mental health had drastically improved in more ways than one.

By Ally Xu, Northeastern University

The two highly anticipated events reveal one of the most powerful forces behind some of the biggest brands.

By Rebecca Trevathan, University of Texas at Austin

In this latest trend, people are embracing villainy and choosing to put themselves first.

By Alyssa Griffin, Molloy College

After the recent fiasco in Paraguay, the artist is threatening to leave the industry.

By Jordan Oulela, University of Texas at San Antonio

Oftentimes, the hype around a highly anticipated album is ruined when it’s leaked to the public without the artist’s consent. But recently, stars like Ariana Grande and Maisie Peters are using the practice to give them an edge and fuel more excitement for future releases.

By Maggie Habermas, University of Texas at San Antonio

Are we currently witnessing the death of the notorious form of celebrity? Or is it the birth of something much more sinister?

By Myles Allan, University of New Haven

With the rise in the platform’s popularity over the past few years since its release, perhaps it’s better to leave the heated political debates out of it.

By Anna Merlo, University of Queensland, Australia

TikTok star Drew Afualo and her sister Deison bring both humor and heart to their new podcast.

By Lena Bramsen, The New School

From missing persons cases to infamous killers, the macabre becomes a subject of seemingly harmless fascination on the app. Unfortunately, sometimes innocent people get caught in the crossfire.

By Alyssa Griffin, Molloy College

News spreads faster than ever before, and it’s never been easier to gauge the public’s reaction. However, the responses to what’s happening in Ukraine range from the serious to the weird. 

By Anna Merlo, University of Queensland, Australia

Listen along as co-hosts Brittany Broski and Sarah Schauer delve into topics from Facebook Marketplace to conspiracy theories on their new podcast.

By Lena Bramsen, The New School

After inheriting her family’s Victorian home, TikToker @odditiesonelmstreet took viewers on intriguing paranormal explorations.

By Michael Slade, University of Texas at San Antonio

While things like tarot are trending on TikTok, many participants are overlooking the actual intent behind the spiritual practices.

By Meredith Granmayeh, Chapman University

Angry fans captivated by the TikTok sensation’s life take things too far after his rejection from Julliard.

By Lena Bramsen, The New School

While these fast-paced trends come to life and then die in record time, fast fashion companies rake in the profit through unethical practices.

By Alyssa Griffin, Molloy College

By breaking his silence, Jack Wright gives a powerful voice to victims everywhere of a normally downplayed issue.

By Jenna Amore, Oakland University

The young composer walks his viewers through his unique songwriting process while the fans show him what they can do with his creations.

By Angelica Rovinski, Arcadia University

The Nashville-based musical artist is renowned for his talent for mixing up genres to create fresh, modern renditions of the old.

By Tori Barney, Columbia College Chicago

Just as it was beginning to seem like the show’s hiatus would never end, it returned with a bang on HBO and HBO Max.

By Virginia Laurie, Washington and Lee University

The viral New York meme that has taken TikTok and the sports industry by storm only continues to rise in popularity.

By Illusion Ventura, Whittier College

The American emo pop-punk band first made their mark on the music industry in the mid-2000s, but the group has been relatively quiet ever since — until now.

By Jenna Amore, Oakland University

To cope with sloppy work and disruptive comments, school employees have turned to enjoying TikTok and Facebook videos that poke a bit of fun at their jobs.

By Trinity Crompton, Molloy College

Binge-watching this show became a rite of passage in early lockdown, but the newest episodes might make you question your old obsession with Joe Exotic and Carole Baskin.

By Sonia Noorbakhsh, UC Berkeley

Young people can laugh along and play games with their favorite influencers thanks to this show.

By Jenna Amore, Oakland University

The viral pug became a TikTok sensation and has taken social media by storm with his daily predictions.

By Angelica Rovinski, Arcadia University

When you’re having a bad day, check out this Irish couple and enjoy some laughs from their prank-based short video content.

By Angelica Rovinski, Arcadia University

The trained actor and social media star brightens viewers’ days with comedic content based on his reactions to the world.

By Esha Shah, New Jersey Institute of Technology

Rumors have sparked about a new music project between these iconic pop artists, and it all leads back to … cheese and pepperoni?

By Elizabeth Dewit, University of Pittsburgh

After weeks of guilt trips and manipulation, fans have decided the artist’s new single isn’t worth all the trouble it caused online.

By Jenna Nelson, Scripps College

These viral sensations are repetitive, making their popularity over more creative works frustrating.

By Lauren Koop, London School of Economics - Peking University

TikTok has been inundated with videos about this super-productive, effortlessly healthy persona. Unfortunately, she’s obscuring our image of wellness and confidence.

By Elizabeth Dewit, University of Pittsburgh

It started as a freestyle on his livestream — now, TikTokers are rapping the song about the Adult Swim cartoon in front of historical sites.

By Natalie Gabor, Indiana University-Bloomington

Their absurdist comedy might seem like a bunch of randomnesses, but it’s really a coping mechanism for a world in crisis — and it’s funny to boot.

By L.R. Staples, Sarah Lawrence College

A cover by @mars_is_great is inspiring other users to include the song in videos of their own as they appreciate remarkable works.

By Mason Cannon, Columbia University

Someone new discovering old favorites doesn’t always water them down.

By Jayar Brenner, Michigan State University

Even though Klein and Paytas have had a public falling out and ended their show together, good things still came from it.

By Olivia Wisse, Hofstra University

Billie Eilish’s sophomore album ends critical whispers of her ‘flop era’ but is it possible to forgive her often problematic persona?

By Salma Heram, George Washington University

The cute and cozy toy gained several fans amid the pandemic, but their ability to bring people together is what makes them so beloved.

By Fatima Sani, Rollins College

Conan Gray’s newest single about yearning for companionship without being interested in a relationship is something that can resonate with single people everywhere.

By Ariana Quijano, Georgia State University

Her Instagram bio reads, ‘multi-hyphenate powerhouse,’ and that title fits her perfectly. The comedian has made waves on TikTok with PG-13 comedy that doesn’t use marginalized communities or awkward faces as her punchlines.

By Elizabeth Dewit, University of Pittsburgh

The popular app is fun and addictive, but it may also have some negatives effects on users, especially young people.

By Natalie Gabor, Indiana University-Bloomington

The addicting app has boosted the popularity of previously unpopularized movies, music and books, but is it for the better?

By Sydney Smith, University of Pittsburgh

With the singer’s recent release ‘Planet Her’ comes a renewed focus on captivating styles, something that has been lacking from mainstream pop as of late.

By Beth Nipper, University of Iowa

Undomesticated animals like foxes and tigers have gained popularity as pets on social media, but these creatures are ultimately better suited to life in the wild.

By Olivia Wisse, Hofstra University

The social media star has decided to alter a key facet of her ‘childlike’ image. Does this mean her haters will finally leave her alone?

By Jenna Amore, Oakland University

TikTok isn’t just for teenagers looking to participate in the latest dance trends. People of all ages are using the app to seek help from licensed therapists.

By Mason Cannon, Columbia University

The popular idea that we are all writing our own stories may seem self-centered, but it can inspire us all to act gracefully.

By L.R. Staples, Sarah Lawrence College

After lesbophobic BookTokers made their prejudices known, lesbians and allies alike came together to share their love of sapphic romance novels.

By Natalie Gabor, Indiana University-Bloomington

The algorithm of the popular social media app makes scrolling through content even more addicting as users continue engaging with videos they find funny or enjoyable.

By Ariana Quijano, Georgia State University

The newly conservative influencer’s absurdly over-the-top political rants have become a source of great humor on the video-sharing app.

By Darby Williams, University of Michigan

The playwright struck gold with ‘Hamilton,’ but backlash from his recent film adaptation as well as his cringy public actions have called his reputation into question.

By Jenna Nelson, Scripps College

As generations go on, young people act older and older — a phenomenon known as ‘Kids Getting Older Younger.’ Today, influencers dictate this ongoing process.

By Olivia Wisse, Hofstra University

The tragic passing of the beloved capuchin monkey has left millions of the social media app’s users in a state of mourning.

By Zach Terrillion, Oberlin College

The trend is reminiscent of dreams. Do the images it depicts make you feel nostalgic or do they leave you feeling terrified?

By Olivia Wisse, Hofstra University

If you use the social media app, chances are you’ve recently encountered this trend that spoofs Cartoon Network’s programming.

By Jenna Nelson, Scripps College

These performers have made countless contributions to the dance community and offer representation to queer audiences everywhere.

By Ariana Quijano, Georgia State University

This contentious YouTuber is back at it again, and this time she’s waging war on her former friend Jessica Vasquez.

By Mai Senser, Virginia Commonwealth University

The story of how ‘Castaways,’ a bossa nova-inspired song from a children’s show, became a chart-topping hit.

By Jayar Brenner, Michigan State University

Although this ‘Sour’ song is a smash hit, it includes some ableist language that needs to be addressed.

By Briana Byus, Biola University

By Jayni Nielsen, Pace University

The 2015 hit song brought the artist an unforeseen amount of attention after it went viral as part of a TikTok trend focused on the romanticization of life.

By Jenna Nelson, Scripps College

The Bermudan TikToker’s recreations of historical recipes artfully connect past events to culinary trends of these past eras.

By Ariana Quijano, Georgia State University

Viral TikTok user Ben Tarrolly is one of the many social media accounts that recycle content from other creators without giving them their due credit.

By Natalie Gabor, Indiana University-Bloomington

Gen Zers and millennials are more likely to be affected by issues related to their stomach and intestines. What is the cause?