📷 Image Credit: PC Gammer 👆By: Jeremy Peel TL;DR Simple graphics prove advantageous with the Among Us video game, which has gamers hooked! The video game, Among Us, has been taking over gaming. It needs to be clarified why such a simple game has gotten so much attention, especially in light of other games' very complex coding and designs. Among Us is a big contrast to what we might have guessed the next hit game would look like. What makes Among us work, however, is that it is more similar to a board game in some ways than a traditional PC game. In Among Us, the rules feel more social than other online gaming platforms. Many designers set their games in stone, but Among Us relies on a collaborative culture between the people playing. For instance, those in the know playing the game have an unspoken rule that players will be silent until they "have a meeting" concerning the suspicious member's activity in the game or when there is a death. Explanation, Among Us game goals, provides an imposter surrounding the other players, and they must work to find the person and protect themselves simultaneously. The idea and theme of the game itself aren't that crazy or unheard of. There are many games where you have to find someone who is the culprit, but Among Us takes this concept, usually found in a board game, and turns it into a collaborative PC game. The community cooperation that is built is unique to the Among Us game. The rules are malleable, with the players deciding how they will work together with the simulation. The idea is similar to how families probably play Monopoly, teaming and working together to buy properties. In that same vein, Among Us provides a board game-like experience to its online community, and its simplistic graphics aren't what made it famous! Go team! Sources:PC Gammer Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: Social Media Today 👆By: Andrew Hutchinson TL;DR TikTok is making significant changes to stay competitive with its next big step in eCommerce. With quite a bit of uncertainty surrounding the future of the app and the infamous US TikTok ban, the app is still going strong and expanding daily. The newest TikTok initiative with Shopify is another way for the many TikTokers to make money on the app. TikTok recognizes that the stars on the app need more ways to make money and be incentivized to stay apart from the ad deals they bring to the app, and their newest partnership is doing just that. With the TikTok / Shopify announcement, millions of merchants can run campaigns for the TikTok community linking to Shopify. While purchases can't be made directly from TikTok, this step expands e-commerce by removing barriers to purchase. Tools like "1-click pixels" make it easy for sellers to design engaging TikToks, and give up to $300 in free ad credit. TikTok's success in its monetization plan makes gains not only for TikTok but for its influencers who use the app and now add in commerce; well, that equals a winning cocktail for growth. Yes, it's getting even easier for you business owners to tap into the TikTok audience. Sources:Social Media Today Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: euntroprenur.com 👆 TL;DR Turns out saving the plant might be the way to get a million followers in under 5 hours; who knew? David Attenborough is a 94-year-old scientist known for his documentary series "Life in Earth" from 1979. The scientist only needed 4 hours 44 minutes to reach a million followers on Instagram, which is 31 minutes less than it took the previous record holder, Friends star Jennifer Aniston. Attenborough is a significant climate change and environmental issue activist. His first post is a video explaining that he is taking on Instagram as a new form of communication to explain what to do about the ice caps melting and the other climate-related issues plaguing the earth. Since then, he has been posting small videos explaining what is happening in the world and giving tips on changing it. Bravo, Mr. Attenborough! If you want to see what all the frenzy is about, go check him out on Instagram @Davidattenborough. Sources:euntroprenur.com Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: Skyword 👆By: Bernie Smigel TL;DR Phrases are used way too much to describe pandemic current events; let's make a change. "In these uncertain times"...we can't hear one more time. Right now, there is a balance as the world is shifting, and it can be hard to come across as sensitive to using cliches that people are sick of. No matter what market you are in, cliches don't usually attract an audience, and the same can be said for the Covid-19 cliches. Below are a few ideas of what to say instead. We never want to see "in these uncertain times" at the start of an email ever again. "Now more than ever" This one is a classic. Just skip it and get straight to the point. Everyone knows what's happening right now and understands that things are different during the pandemic. "Unprecedented Times" This phrase spiked in March and is still trending. The words are vague and don't say much. We suggest being specific and descriptive by saying something like, "nobody has a compass to navigate what's going on right now, but at least we have..." Or, make fun of it and say something like "a throwback to precedented times when...". The point is that your audience doesn't want to hear the same thing they have likely heard again and again and again and again. The article provides a few more fun examples of what to say, but we just had to include a few more cliches we want to avoid: "We can all stay connected" or "difficult times." If you love these phrases, go for it, but if you are tired of reading them and cringe a little at their mention, maybe your audience feels the same way. Sources:Skyword Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: TechCrunch 👆By: Sarah Perez TL;DR Facebook & Instagram app Messenger gets a facelift and cross-communication between them with new visuals. Facebook Messenger is getting a makeover. The app is getting a visual update, and a few new features, including support for chat themes, custom reactions, and soon selfie stickers, plus vanish mode. These are all part of Facebook's bigger plan for an overhauled messaging platform that will allow Instagram users to communicate with Facebook users for the first time. Instagram users were given an opt-in feature with a new update. Messenger users won't have to take action to get this new feature. They will receive the update by automatically rolling out users as it becomes available in their region. In addition, they are changing the messenger logo to the one in the middle of the photo above, which has pink and purple colors to mimic the Instagram logo and not just remain facebook blue. The logo isn't the only thing changing; there will be options to have a chat mirror the color scheme. There will be other fun add-ons, like selfie stickers, that users can create, customize and share. We are enjoying keeping up with the progress and the fun features. Sources:TechCrunch Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor