📷 Image Credit: Social Media Today 👆By: Andrew Hutchinson TL;DR As social media platforms slowly take over our lives, the government is starting to get involved. Are these regulations a good or bad thing? We think everyone is a little wary about how much privacy individuals truly have while online. The U.S. Government just recently made an announcement that could have major effects on how social media is operated. The House of Representatives introduced four separate bills that all have to do with putting potential limitations and restrictions on the abilities of digital platforms. This means that there could be possible obstacles within platforms buying other platforms, operating their ad businesses, and the utilization of user data. These bills could also possibly mean laws against platforms giving preference to their own product. For example, Apple would not be allowed to give bias to Apple Music versus Spotify. Other aspects include a restriction on business mergers in the tech sector, a ban on digital platforms owning subsidiaries that operate on their platform, improved user data portability, and more. When, or if, these laws are passed, they will put massive restrictions on the tech giants we know today, such as Google, Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, etc. We could possibly see the disappearance of TikTok as the laws will continue to examine the implications of data sharing with China. As social media and the internet have slowly taken over our lives, we don’t find it shocking that the government is trying to enforce some regulations surrounding it. Social platforms essentially influence everything we do and can impact massive global shifts in social, economic, and even political aspects. In fact, 71% of people are now getting some source of news from the internet and/or social media. We expect to see significant changes within the industry as it becomes more powerful. What are your thoughts on these potential bills? Do you hope for them to pass? Let us know your opinion in the comments. Sources:Social Media Today Written by: Naia Mader, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: Teen Vogue👆By: P. Claire Dodson TL;DR Listen to Lorde's new summer hit 'Solar Power.' It will guaranteed, make you want to get up and dance. We’re here to tell you everything we know about the next song of the summer: Solar Power. Lorde has finally emerged from 4 long years of hiding and given us an upbeat, chill, and flirtatious song. Her past discography revolved around breakups and sadness, yet her new song is anything but; this is an excitement and surprise to all of us! The song just dropped on June 10th and has already reached the global charts. Her new single represents the perfect beach day; everyone is happy, nobody is on their phones (hence the lyric: “Throw my cellular device in the water”), bare feet, tan-skinned, and all-around good vibes. Jack Antonoff, who many of you ‘Swifties’ are probably familiar with, gives us a ’70s acoustic production with background vocalists from singers Clairo and Phoebe Bridgers. The song has also had a ‘vibey’ music video to match were, we see the lovely Lorde frolicking and dancing on a sunny beach. We’ve definitely noticed some ‘Midsommar’ references with the almost ritualistic dance choreography and neutral-toned outfits that feature long, flowy skirts and dresses. In a letter to her fans, Lorde metaphorically described her album as a woman who is barefoot at all times, playful, free, and totally in touch with her past and future. Her new album is a celebration of the natural world and how we all should look to it when feeling down. We think this is a great and positive new theme for Lorde as she enters her ‘happy’ era of music. Give Solar Power a listen, and let us know your thoughts! Sources:Teen Vogue Written by: Naia Mader, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: The Verge 👆By: James Vincent TL; DR The 'Shorts' brand new audio sampling feature has a real chance of competing with TikTok; however, some users are upset about 'video stealing.' TikTok's newest competitor, Shorts, is starting to let creators sample other user's audios. Thisinspiringting news for the platform. Shorts will now have a higher chance of competing with TikTok. This new feature allows memes to spread through the platform rapidly and let other users experience new content by clicking on the sound. Sampling other audio benefits not only the originator of that sound but all other content users who find new ways to interpret and reimagine that sound. Currently, it's only available for creators in the UK, Canada, and some parts of Latin Ame; however, the sampling tool will thankfully continue to expand to the US within the next couple of weeks. Unfortunately, some all Shorts users are happy about the neManyt of people are complaining that their content will be 'stolen' with the argument that Youtube is legalizing video stealing. The other argument against this is the idea of using other audio that could potentially lead to harassment and abuse of that sound. YouTube is addressing these concerns by allowing creators to specify which videos they don't want to be used in ShorThisthis new sampling feature has a good chance of competing with TikTok. Will it indeed triumph over the Gen Z phenomenon? Let us know what you think in the comments below. Sources:The Verge Written by: Naia Mader, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: ScreenRant 👆By: Hope Rosenblatt TL;DR We are "totally buggin!" over Alicia Silverstone's TikTok recreation of her old character Cher! It's ever-so-classic. It's hard to think of the iconic movie 'Clueless' without the classic Alicia Silverstone coming to mind. She just made her grand entrance to TikTok with a reenactment of her famous 'As If' scene from the movie. Silverstone's impersonation of her old character Cher Horowitz had fans going crazy. The video racked up over 34 million views! This proves that 26 years later, the actress has still got it. Silverstone even wore the same yellow plaid ensemble that is one of the most recognizable outfits for all of Gen Z, Millenials, and Gen X. The TikTok replicates the scene where Cher is walking to school when a male student wraps his arms around her, and she screams the iconic mantra; "Ew get off of me! Ugh, as if!" Silverstone replaces the male student with her adorable son in the new video. After pushing him away, she goes back in for a loving embrace. Her comment section is filled with thousands of fans welcoming her, and her son for that matter, to the popular app. Silverstone gained just under 2 million followers after joining, proving just how timeless Cher Horowitz truly is. Next, we need Paul Rudd to join in on the fun! Once again, TikTok proves the power of how quickly a short clip can go viral. Fans have been "totally buggin" because of Silverstone's TikTok, and hopefully, we don't have to wait too long to get more content. Sources:ScreenRant Written by: Naia Mader, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: The Guardian 👆By: Funmi Fetto TL;DR Hyram Yarbro is taking the internet by storm with his do's and don'ts of skincare. If you have skin problems, we know where to find the solution! Hyram Yarbro, the internet's most prominent skincare guru, is GenZer's go-to for tips and tricks for beautiful-looking skin. The 25-year-old from a Mormon farming family has totally transformed his life in the past year. The quarantine lockdown has fuelled his obsession with skincare and social media. Hyram has accumulated 1.2 million followers on Instagram, 6.8 on TikTok, and 4.5 on YouTube in just over a year! His focus on making skincare accessible to all is one of the main reasons why Hyram is ever-so-popular and relatable. Hyram's videos focus on interpreting product ingredients, debunking skincare myths, and even including (sometimes) harsh reviews of brands. Despite giving a lot of constructive criticism to ensure the best product advice for his viewers, this skincare guru always has positive energy and a smile on his face. Due to his authenticity attracts loyal followers, Hyram receives upwards of 30 to 40 brand sponsorship offers daily. After he endorsed the brand CeraVe, the company reported a 65% increase in sales! Hyram is starting his own skincare line, Selfless by Hyram, which he hopes will be a "catalyst for creating social change." This new brand pairs clean and trusty skincare products with further expansion for a philanthropic space. Hyram's background proves that even a small-town ranch boy can inspire millions worldwide. Watch some of Hyram's videos and let us know what you think! Would you take his skincare advice? Sources:The Guardian Written by: Naia Mader, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor