📷 Image Credit: Blast & Keith Lee - TikTo 👆 TL;DR: The power of Gen Z creating just one TikTok review helped a new and struggling restaurant owner’s business go from failing to skyrocket success, just days after the post went viral. GenZ has changed the lives of many people through TikTok. This is especially true for one Las Vegas pizzeria restaurant business. Frankensons struggled to get customers through their door until Keith Lee posted a TikTok review. Using his own money and no paid advertising, Keith Lee gave an authentic review of their pizza. After 31 million views on Tiktok, Frankensons Las Vegas Pizzeria became an overnight sensation. With just one meaningful and popular review, the restaurant cooked more food in those immediate few days alone than in the four months they had been open. Viral videos are now one of the big triggers for word of mouth among GenZ, which is also influencing other generations. These TikTok trends have users supporting small business restaurants by taste-testing their foods, and posting about them, which is the most authentic and real you can get reaching the masses. The compassion and care for the restaurant business and small business owners are now something that can be seen on a worldwide scale. Posting engaging videos on social media helps grow the interest to dine in our takeout. In an effort to revive restaurants, small businesses, and start-ups, especially small businesses of marginalized groups, GenZ has used TikTok to bring them to light. What does the future hold for small businesses on Tiktok? TikTok's supportive community builds human connections that have lasting effects on startups and small businesses. This is an example of another great way GenZ is influencing social good. Sources:Blast & Keith Lee - TikTo Written by: Bridgette Meshkani, Intern Edited by: Lisa Marie, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: Carol Yepes via Getty Images / HuffPost 👆 TL;DR: ChatGPT is changing the academic and professional world. School administrators have cracked down on the use of chatbots. However, job recruiters think using chatbots is just fine as long as job seekers edit to insert their own voice. Talk about ChatGPT is trending everywhere! If you are a Gen Z high school or college student, will ChatGPT help you NEVER have to write an essay ever again? The ethics are being discussed regarding how to use chatbots acceptably. If you’ve been living under a rock (kidding) and don’t know what ChatGPT is, it’s an Artificial Intelligence (AI) chatbot that pulls information from various sources and gives human-like responses to all questions. The amazing thing is that this open AI chatbot is capable of answering medical school and MBA exam questions. We found that for GenZ, chatbots are considered normal, think gaming and discord and now with Open AI, ChatGPT it's seen as a helpful outlet for students. You might be wondering what the future is for ChatGPT, especially for students who might use it as an avenue for cheating? We see Chat GPT enabling and assisting with education and learning if used properly. Many schools have already cracked down on the usage of ChatGPT. For example, an economics professor in the United States showed students the tools they have to recognize ChatGPT through ChatZero. ChatZero is an even newer platform that recognizes work that has been created through ChatGPT. On the other hand, many employers are allowing the use of ChatGPT as a tool for enhancing writing. It is viewed as an inspiration and a guide to writing, but it cannot ultimately take the place of authentic writing. This AI tool lacks originality and cannot express the voice of the writer. We took an informal survey of college students to see what Gen Z thought about ChatGPT. We found that of those questioned, about 75% of students have used a chat bot like ChatGPT for an assignment. The survey also shows that students enjoy ChatGPT because it gives them a foundation to build on using their own human thinking. We feel that using ChatGPT properly should not be seen as a threat since bot writing cannot replace the emotion and human understanding of individual personality, personal voice...yet. The worry and trending discussion are that ChatGPT takes information that was developed by the human brain with the fear that it will replace the need for human creativity and intelligence. What do you think the future of ChatGPT and those like it will be? Will it replace the need for people skilled in creative writing and creative design? And, thinking of the next generation coming up, it will be interesting to see how GenAlpha will utilize this as native users! Sources:Carol Yepes via Getty Images / HuffPost Written by: Bridgette Meshkani, Intern Edited by: Lisa Marie, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: Meta 👆 TL;DR: Instagram’s new quiet mode attempts to prevent harmful habits and mental health issues for teen girls that research has historically shown to be an issue. We use social media a lot personally and professionally researching Gen Z and Gen Alpha trends, and we realize it’s really important to take screen time breaks. Instagram’s new feature, aimed at helping youth, has given Gen Z users a tool to help reduce teen screen time on Instagram, especially during hours crucial to good quality sleep. This new feature lets followers know when users are taking a break and reminds them that the user will receive a message once the break is over. This is also a great way for parents to engage and talk to their kids about not always being accessible. It is interesting to see Instagram creating a feature that encourages disengagement when its algorithm tries to do quite the opposite. Could this feature encourage others to unplug? When Gen Z sees their friends around them in quiet mode, will they turn their “quiet mode” on too? It is possible that, over time, we will see more people using this feature. Instagram might be hoping that this opportunity for a public break using their platform will bring fewer reports of struggles with body image issues among teen girls as a result. Creating this new tool/feature shows that Instagram is paying attention to its users' mental health, especially their younger users. This conscious effort Instagram is making to improve mental health comes shortly after the Wall Street Journal reported, "Thirty-two percent of teen girls said that when they felt bad about their bodies, Instagram made them feel worse.” We took an impromptu survey of Bay Area college students, asking if they had heard about this new tool; not one person surveyed had heard about the quiet mode feature created by Instagram. However, they were most familiar with Apple’s app feature that limits time for each app. What do you think? Is Instagram's new quiet mode redundant for apple users? Is this a tool you will use? Click the link to see more and review directions…. Sources:Meta Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: Digital Information World 👆By: Arooj Ahmed TL;DR The next big Instagram feature might be providing users with a list of accounts they might want to block. It is common for social networks to recommend whom we might want to connect with, this even happens here on Linkedin, but Instagram is going in a direction we haven't seen before. It has been reported that Instagram is working on a way to provide users with a list of people they may not want to follow. This list won't be randomized, though; it is likely it will use information from its parent company Facebook to determine whom a user has blocked on other social media platforms, including Facebook, Messenger, and maybe even WhatsApp. This feature seems to be in early development as it was discovered by reverse engineering on the platform, so if this feature truly will become available on Instagram, it is not known when it will be publicized and ready for use on the app, but look out for this as it could be an insight into the next big change on Instagram. Sources:Digital Information World Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: Polygon.com 👆By: Charlie Hall TL;DR With the new generation of gaming consoles, there is a predicted increase in the price of video games. However, with all the additional perks and money that gaming companies put into their games, the consumer is really getting more bang for their buck than ever before. Both PlayStation and Xbox are constantly evolving to newer generations, and with the Playstation 5 and the Xbox X series, the rise in the price of video games and consoles are also evolving with the newer generation of games. There is an expectation that AAA console video games will increase in price for the first time in several years. We have already seen this occur with the 2K Sport's announcement that their NBA 2K21 games will increase from approximately $60 to $70 for users using the newest generation of games. The elevation in price isn't as bad as it might seem, as the price has remained steady for the past 15 years while gaming enhancements have risen. While it seems most things have risen in price in the past 15 years in the entertainment community, from movie theater tickets to even the cost of a Netflix subscription, video game prices have been among the only mediums to have their price remain relatively stable. When you think about this is surprising that pricing hasn't changed much, yet the tech has enhancements in graphics, multi-player modes, and open-world systems. In a sense, games had only been getting cheaper for their value for the past few years. Cost per megabyte, gamers are getting their best deal yet as they are getting so much with a relatively low-cost increase comparatively. These days to create a top 10 video game, it typically costs around $100 million compared to the $35 million it would have cost in 2005. The sharp increase on the producers' side and the lack of an increase on the consumer's side made this change inevitable. Sources:Polygon.com Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: AdAge with publishing partner Female Quotient 👆 TL;DR Gen Z and Gen Alpha have been shown to react better to companies' culture of inclusion and diversification. If you want to stay relevant, make sure to consider this authentically when creating content. Amongst the many changes in recent weeks, from the pandemic to societal changes, many marketers are left wondering what the appropriate action is to take in terms of their online presence. Inclusivity, authenticity, and diversity can help transform a company from a crisis. According to a study done last summer, consumers are more likely to purchase a product if the advertising is more inclusive and diverse. We know that advertising that represents diversity will be a major differentiator in brands and products moving out of the pandemic. We are living in a different world than we were four months ago, and marketing and advertising techniques should be shifted accordingly. The goal of marketing is to shift the mindsets and behaviors of people; it is important to note how different people experienced this pandemic due to differences in race, geographical location, and other circumstances when appealing to your audience. Brands should be aware right now of how their actions in the social climate affect their brand's image and what they can do to foster more empathy and positivity. As marketers, it is important to understand the impact that marketing has on shaping culture, as marketing does not only reflect culture but continues to define it. Sources:AdAge with publishing partner Female Quotient Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: TechCrunch.com 👆By: Sarah Perez TL;DR TikTok for Business launch will make it easier for brands to navigate marketing on TikTok with everything in one place, including access to "Topview." TikTok for Business was a much-awaited feature of the app that launched at the end of June. The New "TikTok For Business" will be the home for all marketing on TikTok. The features included on the "TikTok for Business" platform are access to the ad formats, brand takeovers, in-feed videos, hashtag challenges, and effects that are branded. One of the biggest things this allows is the ad format for the "Topview." Topview is the first thing that appears on the user's feed when they open the app; this has always been an ad, and understandably it's a widely seen ad and a desirable spot for advertisers. In addition to these features, the hashtag challenge, which allows brands to invite users to interact with a brand's hashtag and make content for it, now has the ability to add a shopping feature to the experience with Hashtag Plus. TikTok also created an AR feature which is expected to be big competition for Snapchat and AR formats. The AR format is the only feature that was completely new for the app, as the other features were offered before. Now, with TikTok for Business, all the features are located in one area. This will also be where they continue to roll out new marketing options. A great feature of the new TikTok for a business option has e-learning, which explains how to use all of their digital marketing as well. Sources:TechCrunch.com Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: USA Today 👆By: Dalvin Brown TL;DR There is some speculation that the TikTok app might be collecting user data to harm the United States. TikTok might be banned in the United States due to the potential threat it poses. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that the United States is considering banning TikTok due to concerns with Chinese surveillance. In an interview on Monday, Pompeo said this is an issue that the government is currently aware of and has been looking at for a while. He warned that Americans should be wary of downloading the app as they might be giving personal information to the Chinese government by doing so. The concern stems from TikTok being owned by a Beijing-based company, which has previously stated that they don't send information back to China. However, in December, the Navy warned military personnel against downloading the app on any military devices and urged anyone who had done so to quickly remove the app. The decision to make this announcement was based on a cybersecurity threat assessment but did not elaborate on the specifics of why they consider TikTok to be a potential threat. Sources:Teen Vouge Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: Business Insider 👆By: Meira Gebel TL;DR Instagram creates a new feature, making donations to charitable Orgs much easier, but there is a catch, you have to meet the requirements to have the feature. Instagram is not all vacation photos and food pictures; there is also a way that users can attempt to help charities that they believe in through the app. While many users are familiar with the ability to provide a link in their bio, there are also lesser-known ways of raising money for causes on Instagram. Donation stickers on Instagram stories or even through Instagram live are a new option that can help raise money for a cause. This donation feature is only allowed for certain nonprofits who must be enrolled and approved to use Facebook Charitable giving Tools, as well as have a valid Instagram Business account. In order to make donations, you must also have your Instagram linked to a verified Facebook account. Once you have all these requirements in place, you are good to go. This is a great way to receive donations directly through the app rather than the link in your bio. Check it out and see if you meet the checklist requirements. Sources:Teen Vouge Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: WFAA 👆 TL;DR A Texan's TikTok making fun of local roads went viral and is a great example of creative content formats capable of going viral! We continue to see trends appear and die with the TikTok app as trends are easier to emerge and quickly die with the fast-paced entertainment design of the application. One video that blew up this week surprised most people, with user @definitely_not_travis explaining how the Road system in Texas works. His charming demeanor caught users off guard when his description of the road system in Texas wasn't what most expected, and the TikTok blew up with likes and views. The video is simply the user in his cowboy hat explaining how the Texas roads work, with a twist. TikTok user @definitely_not_travis explains the North I 35 as a construction zone sign rather than indicating the road it actually is meant to represent. He continues by explaining that the West Interstate 10 sign actually indicates a drag race to the desert and so on. The video is straight-up funny to Texans because insider information ringing a bell of truth is funny stuff. As for the rest of us not from Texas, we can appreciate the local's perception of things because our own towns have quirky attributes too. Relatability at its best. Sources:WFAA Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: Moscoop 👆By: Dipak Kumar TL;DR With rumors of TikTok stars appearing on hit TV shows, the potential for universal mega-stardom is HUGE. Outerbanks had a great first season on Netflix, ending on a major cliffhanger. If you haven't watched it, we recommend it, age-appropriate, of course. Many of their fans are eagerly awaiting the second season. With all the buzz predicting what will happen in season two, there is speculation that Outerbanks is adding TikTok star Addison Rae to the cast for a short stint. Addison Rae has over 49 million followers on Tik Tok, making this move a smart move for both Outerbanks and Ms. Addison Rae. This rumor started at a press conference in June, where they hinted that Addison Rae, Charlie, and Dixie Diamelio might be making an appearance on the Netflix Show next season. To be clear, there are no confirmations from anyone's representatives regarding the rumor. For now, we will continue to keep an eye out and are hopeful to see if some of the biggest stars on TikTok will make the transition to TV entertainment. It just makes sense. Sources:Teen Vouge Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: TheVerge.com 👆By: Julia Alexander TL;DR YouTube has created a new metric for communicating creators' profits known as RPM. RPM should make it easier for Creators to measure their success and learn how to optimize their channel performance. Youtube creators can earn money on the platform through a number of ways, including advertisements, subscriptions, donations, live-streaming features, and Youtube Premium. All of these features have made earning money on Youtube quite confusing, but with the new monetization metric known as RPM, this confusion is made simple. RPM stands for Revenue Per Mille, which is a take on the previously known CPM, Cost Per Mille (sometimes referred to as Cost Per Thousand). While the names are similar, they are quite different metrics, and RPM will be much more useful to creators trying to grow their platform by giving them the ability to identify monthly income verticals. With this new system, Creators will be able to understand the breakdown of views and how the numbers change as content changes making it easier to identify what is working and what isn't working. Sources:TheVerge.com Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: AdWeek 👆By: Brandy Shaul TL;DR Instagram's newest feature allows users to Pin comments on their photos. It is easy to use and could be a beneficial way for brands to up their community-building game by featuring select fans! Instagram recently added a new feature that allows users to pin comments to the top of their posts. This feature allows up to three comments to be pinned at the top of the comments on each post. Pinning comments can allow users to promote engaging comments that fit the post best at same time sorting out comments that might be less relevant to the user's message. In order to pin a comment, simply swipe to the left of the comment. Once you've swiped left, there will be a few options; you can reply, report, and delete a comment indicated by the icons. Once swiped, users will see a thumbtack icon in addition to the other options, just press the icon, and voila, the comment is pinned to the top. It is a simple process that can lead to a lot of great brand development and discussion by controlling the comments others first see and indicating what a user finds relevant to their post. Sources:AdWeek Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: AZFamily.com 👆 TL;DR With most in-person events being canceled, there is a need to get creative to keep young people engaged and entertained. YouTube is attempting to recreate the enchantment of outdoor summertime camp right in your own backyard. It is understandably challenging for parents to be working from home and also parenting from home full-time over the summer. Because parents are pulling double duty, there has been a spike in online searches for virtual summer camps as parents, grandparents, and guardians attempt to keep the fun of summer camp at home. Luckily there are several great options to consider on Youtube that can help keep kids at every age learning and entertained. For kids who like adventure, explore.org is a great option to bring the outside in. This is meant for kids over the age of 13, where they have the ability to learn science fieldwork and watch unedited footage of animals in their wild habitat. For those younger, they also have special comprehensive sections for children who fall under the age of 13. There are also many other options for kids' interests ranging from the arts to sports and for STEM lovers. You can find these camps at learnathome.withyoutube.com. Youtube is a far cry from the real deal, but it's better than nothing and allows kids to continue to partake in activities that create the feeling of summertime fun online. Sources:AZFamily.com Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: Forbes 👆By: Mike Vorhaus TL;DR We all know that social media is how younger generations choose to catch up on the news, and while the trust might be shaky, it's a whole different ballpark than the "Sunday" paper. With many major events going on, from the pandemic to protests to an impending recession, it has been reported that many people are turning to social media for their inside scoop. The days of peopling receiving most of their news from TV or newspaper are long gone. In 2005, case studies showed that the younger generation was less reliant on traditional news sources, and this trend has only grown. The younger generations have reported being twice as likely to turn to social media for news and information as well as 2/3rds report that they turn to Instagram to gather news sources. Social media apps like Facebook. Twitter, Instagram, and Youtube have all been rated high in terms of being used as news sources. This is interesting, as studies have shown that 14% of people view social media as a reliable source of news compared to 22% who trust search engines. While the younger generation may not appear to have complete faith in the legitimacy of their social media news, they still continuously turn to it. The younger generation is truly leading this change in news sourcing. Sources:Forbes Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: Engadget 👆By: Mariella Moon TL;DR Parents are going crazy trying to keep their kids entertained at home every day. Enter YouTube to the rescue...with FREE content. Without in-person summer camps and school, a lot of parents are juggling working from home and full-time parenting with no relief in sight. YouTube Kids announced that they want to help parents who are struggling with this with the release of 100 free full-length movies and specials to keep kids at home entertained and enriched with new materials. These free shows will be released during the month of August as part of their "After School" experience project. The new movies and specials offered on YouTube Kids will include award-winning short films, educational specials, and never-seen-before movies and shows that will debut on YouTube. Check back every Monday in August for the updated releases of old and new alike. To access YouTube Kids "After School" channel, simply go to the "shows" category on the platform. This might just be the saving grace for parents who can't stomach listening to the Frozen soundtrack one more time during zoom meetings. Way to go, YouTube Kids! Sources:Engadget Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: 1011 Now 👆By: Nicole Griffith TL;DR Few in today's society gets to experience farm life, which makes @laurafarms YouTube channel fascinating! Laura Carlson shares her passion for farm life, and people are eating it up. Laura Carlson is a teenager from Nebraska and now a famous farmer on YouTube. As a Genz 19-year-old and part of the social media generation, Carlson started her "Laura Farms" YouTube channel just three months ago, documenting her experience. It all started with her 2-minute video that shows the inside of a tractor cab. Carlson is gaining major attention with almost 50K subscribers and over 3 million views on her videos. How many of you have seen a tractor cab in person? We're guessing not many, hence the trending success of her YouTube channel. Carlson says she is very surprised that people are interested in her farming activities. She never expected people to be so interested in watching corn grow in Nebraska. Her community seems to be just as shocked and loves that people are interested in the quirks and insights of farming. With Laura Farms YouTube channel, we see her wit and charm talking about her passion in a fun way. She shows us farm life "stuff" we might never have learned before, making it entertaining for people who never plan on driving a tractor themselves. Sources:1011 Now Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: The Verge 👆By: Jacob Kastrenakes TL;DR Instagram is in the process of making its own version of TikTok. The addition to the app, REELS, might be coming just in time if TikTok gets banned in the US. Just as the U.S. is in discussions with a potential ban for the popular app TikTok, Instagram is planning on making a TikTok clone. Instagram has confirmed that its take on TikTok will be launched in early August in the United States and other countries. The feature will be called "Reels" and will allow users to record and edit 15-second video clips set to music and have the ability to use another user's audio. Reels are a story feature add-on in Instagram, which won't live forever as they do on TikTok unless a user adds it to their profile. So far, the feature is only available in Brazil and India. Instagram and Facebook have had a pattern for replicating successful features from other apps. In the past, Instagram decided to include a story option that it took from Snapchat, and they are doing it again with Reels as a replication of TikTok. Instagram is likely hoping to see the same growth it did when it introduced the stories feature to draw more users to the app. If TikTok really does get banned in the US, Instagram might be able to come in at the right time with a replacement of sorts for seamless user-generated content from one app to the other. Smart Play! Sources:The Verge Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: TheSource 👆By: Caitlyn Holroyd TL;DR Fans will likely have to settle for watching Basketball from home this season, not court-side. NBA star, Thybulle is creating a fan experience to try and keep viewership and engagement high at home by making videos on YouTube, giving the fans a glimpse into the life of an NBA player during Covid-19. The Philadelphia 79'ers rookie guard Matisse Thybulle is giving fans an opportunity to see life in the NBA with his video diary series on YouTube. His series, "Welcome to the Bubble," launched on July 11th. His YouTube series is trending, with more than 500,000 views each. Thybulle is a one-man show, filming, talking, and editing videos. The young athlete had an idea with the basketball season coming up, there could be some real interest in a series like his, and he's not wrong! Thybulle admitted he was worried about keeping it entertaining enough to show fans what life is like in the NBA, which fuels his creativity for the series. In his latest video, Thybulle facetime, his Dad gives a tour of the player's lounge and then shows how the players in the bubble are required to take their temperature every day. The videos are fun, entertaining, and insightful for NBA fans. He's even getting praise from teammate Ben Simmions, showing integrity for the sport and time. It is an iconic period for sports right now with so many changes due to a global pandemic; many people are appreciative of him giving insight into a historic moment in sports history. Sources:TheSource Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: AdWeek 👆By: David Griner TL;DR Apple's new ad showcasing its products is a perfect example of a commercial that people actually want to watch. With funny and relatable working-from-home moments and quirky characters, viewers get product education and are entertained at the same time. In 2019 Apple released a 3-minute ad showcasing a team of co-workers working overtime to get a presentation done for their intimidating boss. The ad was a huge success mirroring a sitcom type of environment while subtly showing how new functions on Apple products work. Between the humorous reality, the deadline stress, and the teaching moments for the new functions showcased throughout the ad, at a time of diminished attention span, we were willing to watch the full 3-minute video. Now, Apple is back with a 7-minute advertisement and, better than ever, starring the team of "Underdogs" trying to impress their high-level exec boss. The antics are back with the same amount of chaos from the first video, but this time the team is working from home. And let me tell you, they capture "our" new corporate at-home lives to a tea! The quirky personalities seen in the Underdog Apple commercial do not disappoint. Suffice it to say, we've worked with some version of each character at some point in our career and can relate. The fast-paced nature of the ad and the humor embedded in every scene make it feel less like an advertisement and more like a short film. Coworkers not wearing pants on camera, parents dealing with kids at home, and young adults living with parents, are all cringe-worthy home realities we know well, and yet the team gets it done. Success! Apple nailed it and did an impressive job with their second "Underdog" commercial. Moments of brevity fill the soul, do yourself a favor, watch and laugh as we did. Sources:AdWeek Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: Search Engine Journal 👆By: Matt Southern TL;DR Let the platform war to keep creators begin! TikTok is dedicating $200 million to fund their best users. TikTok is introducing a $200 million fund to pay users in the U.S. for creating content over the coming year. Officials at TikTok said they are creating the fund to further support their creators and encourage people to use their voices to inspire creativity on the app. They also said they want to give some hope and opportunity to creators who want to make a livelihood through the app, making it possible to be a full-time content creator for TikTok. The TikTok creator fund will start to take applications in August. In order to qualify, users must be at least 18 years old, live in the US, meet a baseline number of followers, and consistently post content that doesn't violate the community guidelines. These qualifications are pretty vague, but we think they will become clearer when the application is actually released. For now, we don't know what the baseline of followers will be or how often one must post to be considered a "consistent poster." We don't even know what kinds of content they are looking to fund. We do know that their main goal is to keep the TikTok stars they have and give money to the dedicated and creative content creators on the app. Money talks! Sources:Search Engine Journal Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: Hospitality Net TL;DR TikTok is the platform to master if your goal is reaching a big Gen Z audience. Meliá Hotels figured this out and decided whom better to market to GenZ than GenZ themselves. Meliá Hotels International is targeting the next generation of travelers for its TikTok marketing strategy by hiring GenZ, with GenZ as its target market. The hotel company is working with the "UNTWO World Tourism Students League," which will connect them with 59 Universities all over the world. The University marketing teams are charged with creating the strategy and launch for the hotel's debut on TikTok. Meliá Hotels is hoping to gain authentic acceptance from future GenZ customers by building brand recognition with TikTok GenZ users. The University winning team will be invited to one of the company hotels in Mallorca to develop the pilot project. About 70% of the users on TikTok belong to the GenZ age group, with the app having more than 800 million users, and Meliá Hotels International hopes to hire GenZ to engage with GenZ will be the winning combination. Sources:Hospitality Net Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: Forbes 👆By: Emily Blotch TL;DR We talked about it last week, and this week we are back with the continuation of the Facebook / TikTok rivalry. Now, Facebook is offering to compensate creators for their allegiance to their new Instagram feature, 'Reels.' Facebook might be stealing TikTok's stars if all goes to their plan. In our article last week, we described the new feature coming to Instagram known as "Reels," a TikTok look-a-like. The rumor milling about is that the parent company of Instagram, Facebook, is offering some of the stars on TikTok lucrative offers to lure them to Reels and asking them to exclusively post on Reels or post their content on Reels first before TikTok. The creators are also allegedly being given NDAs, so we probably won't get too much info from the creators themselves. It has been said that the users who agree to post exclusively on Reels will earn the biggest pay from Facebook compared to those who agree to post first on Reels. The Reels feature on Instagram is said to be launching in early August, so for now, we will just sit back and wait to see who looks like they took the lucrative deal and how successful Instagram's new feature will be. Sources:Forbes Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: Julia Alexander 👆By: The Verge TL;DR Lollapalooza is taking a huge step by offering a FREE four-day online concert. Events with thousands of attendees, like concerts, won't really be possible this year. Many concerts have been canceled or postponed...HOWEVER...not Lollapalooza. This year's festival will be on YouTube, streaming from July 30th to August 2nd at 6 pm ET, and the best part is that it's FREE! The four-day special will include over 150 performances, some new this year and some favorites from past years. Drum roll, please! New-to-scene artists like H.E.R. Louis the Child and Kaskade are on the playlist. The performances from past years feature fan favorites that include Lorde, Paul McCartney, Chance the Rapper, and Tyler the Creator, and the list goes on. A sign of the times, Lollapalooza isn't the only festival to move online. YouTube was used to show Tomorrowland, the EDM festival, virtually this year, as well many other artists have turned to different online platforms like Instagram and Minecraft to interact with fans digitally. While it won't be quite the same as attending the performances in-person, this is a cool way for festival lovers to listen to their favorite music from home, even if it's just in the background while you make dinner. Sources:The Verge Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: Bloomberg 👆By: Lucas Shaw and Mark Bergen TL;DR: We know ads on YouTube make money, but advertising dollars are down in this climate. YouTubers are pivoting and finding success with paid subscriptions. Advertising on YouTube makes creators get creative by earning revenue with paid subscriptions. Jerry Dryer from the YouTube channel BigJet TV is an excellent example of how vital subscription has become on YouTube. Since December, Dryer and his manager have been able to double more than their audience that pays a subscription for their "higher tier" videos. They make nearly $20,000 a month gross on premium subscriptions, take out YouTube's fees, and net approximately $14,000 monthly. These subscriptions are in addition to average YouTube subscriptions and allow fans to get exclusive videos from the creators they like. Not long ago, trying to charge people to watch YouTube videos would have been a death sentence on the platform, but with Covid-19, subscription-based channels are the highest growth revenue stream today. Advertising guidelines have become stricter on YouTube, which has decreased ad spending. Subscription-based channels on YouTube for those who make content not able to monetize through ad spending provide a means to an end to put food on the table for creators. Smart move! Sources:Bloomberg Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: Mobile Marketer 👆By: Robert Williams TL;DR Häagen-Daz's "Secret Sofa" campaign is a massive hit. Movies, ice cream, and feeling like you're part of a secret society equal winning combination. Häagen-Dazs came out with a series, 'Secret Sofa,' and it was a hit. The ice cream company partnered with the storytelling company Secret Cinema to make its 8-week series come to life. What was the secret sauce to their success? Each week, viewers would sign up for the secret streaming service, Secret Cinema, with offers from Häagen-Dazs pairing ice cream flavors with the movie and entering the viewers in a drawing to win free ice cream. They also offered tips on how to make specialty cocktails using their ice cream via blog posts. They also delivered; Häagen-Dazs paired up with an Amazon subscription to get the ice cream to their customers asap. All of this combined made for a fantastic campaign driving a massive increase in sales. But that's not all; they also paired with influencers to promote their ice cream on various platforms such as Instagram. Facebook, and TikTok. This series and strategy were SUPER successful for Häagen-Dazs. The eight-week home entertainment series is an excellent example of how brand collaborations adapt their marketing directives during the global pandemic. Statistically, the brand's buzz score among women increased fourfold. Their consideration score hit a two-year high with targeted influencer activity on social media. Their "Secret Sofa" series received 80,000 new subscribers and had three times more engagement than industry benchmarks on Instagram. GREAT job! Sources:Mobile Marketer Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: KSAT 👆By: Jennifer Struski TL; DR Chemistry trending. Wouldcan you tell me? YES! Thanks to Phil Cook's vibrant and educational mix on TikTok. Cook isn't your ordinary chemistry teacher. How it started, he said he was doing science experiments with his class when one of his students suggested making a TikTok. Cook said he hadn't a clue what TikTok was at the time. So, his students helped him create the account and posted the first video from their Friday lab. When he returned to school on Monday, his students were so excited! They showed him his TikTok account; it had grown to over 10,000 subscribers over the weekend...just from the one video! Now he has 2.6 million followers on TikTok and a sizeable number of followers on Instagram. Cook says he's having fun and hopes to get kids more excited about science. While Cook attempts to teach some chemistry on the app, he also shows us fun facts we didn't know. For example, his most famous TikTok; dissolved the aluminum of a soda can, which is cool all by itself, but wait, there's more! He shows us a thin plastic lining inside the soda can...mind is blown! If you look at the view count, we obviously weren't the only ones who found this fascinating. Sources:KSAT Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: The Verge 👆By: Julia Alexander TL;DR Reels and TikTok differences? Reels are trying to drive screen time to the Instagram app...as a feature. In past articles, we've been covering the TikTok copycat that Instagram engineered with its feature called Reels. Reels are released, allowing us to dive into what similarities and differences exist between the two apps. The most significant difference; Reels is a feature on the Instagram app, and TikTok, as we all know, is its platform. Instagram execs claim that Reels enables users to create short-form videos with different features than what TikTok provides. One of those key differentiators is the ability to use a new part of the camera already on Instagram that will include a barrage of tools and filters. Another difference with Reels being a feature of Instagram, Reels will be part of the explore page. Are TikTok and Reels really different? Well, Instagram stole the idea from Snapchat with the Instagram stories feature. We suggest you try Reels, and YOU be the judge. Sources:The Verge Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: Elle 👆By: Ariana Yaptangco TL;DR Charli and Dixie D'Amelio collaborate with Orosa, creating a new nail polish line. Why do we care? TikTok has paved another avenue for creators to monetize BIG by partnering with brands. At this point, it feels like everyone knows the D'Amelio sisters, Charli and Dixie. If you somehow missed it, the sisters are trendy on TikTok, with millions of followers on the app. Today though, we aren't talking about their TikTok fame but their latest project, their nail polish collection with Orosa Beauty, which dropped early this week. The sisters said Orosa sent them samples of their nail polish, and they instantly fell in love with the product. They were impressed with how fast the Orosa polish dried and the easy glide of the application brush for a smooth coat. So when the brand reached out to collaborate with the D'Amelio sisters, they were more than happy to get involved. According to Charli and Dixie, the most incredible part was the level of involvement and decision-making offered to create the collection. The sisters had developmental control and input from color choice to naming and everything in between. The girls each shared their favorite color, Charli's a hue of pink, and Dixie likes the gray tone colors in their collection called "Rapids." We love that the two sisters make the collection with very different personalities and styles. There's definitely something in there for everyone. Please go check it out! Sources:Elle Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: ARS Technica 👆By: Ron Amadeo TL;DR Mega Messaging is coming your way with the first signs of a merge between Instagram DMs, Facebook Messenger, and Whatsapp. The Facebook mega messaging merge has begun (say that 3x fast). Last year Facebook announced they have the plan to merge all their messaging apps with Whatsapp, Facebook Messenger, and Instagram Direct Messaging. The merge started with Facebook messenger taking over Instagram Direct, and then Instagram began advertising, "There's a new way to message on Instagram." This update will feature cross-communication between the two messaging platforms, promising a "colorful new look" with emoji reaction options. The Instagram messaging icon will change to match the Facebook messenger logo upon update. For now, the update seems optional, but this might change in the future with more updates mandating the change. Facebook has been a prominent leader in the messaging space, with Whatsapp having more than 2 billion monthly active users and is the second biggest messaging app on the planet. This merger between the three platforms could put them over the top. We have only seen the first step with Instagram DMs and Facebook messaging merging, but keep a lookout as we're sure Whatsapp will follow close behind in the mega 3-way Facebook merge. Sources:ARS Technica Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: Vogue 👆By: Twiggy Jalloh TL;DR You never know exactly where the next big star is coming from, but add TikTok to the mix and voila, meet Flo Milli. Here she discusses her rise to fame through the app. Tamia Monique Carter hit the ground running with her breakout track, "Beef Flow Mix." You might know her better as Flo Milli, the rapper who has gained fame on TikTok. She now has over half a million TikToks featuring her track. Here's how her breakout song made it big on TikTok; users found it, liked it, streamed it, and now she has over 125 million streams. The TikTok community did its thing and blew her up with popularity. Now she has many avid fans outside of the app, including Halle Berry, SZA, and even Cardi B. Flo went from a social media sensation to an artist hitting the Billboard top 100s. TikTok is now a major stepping stone for many up-and-coming artists and musicians. Artists and musicians before Tiktok needed access to the broad reach TikTok has to offer. The dance and music trends on TikTok are fantastic for artists to break through with songs you might not usually listen to through your "For You Page." We love seeing a great success story! Way to go, Flo Milli! Sources:Vouge Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: The Verge 👆By: Ashley Carman TL;DR Instagram might just have figured out how to double our screen time. The content is endless, with suggested posts at the end of our feed. Instagram extended its feed with "Suggested Posts." Usually, you get the banner that shows you have scrolled through your whole feed, but now there's still more after that. When you reach the end of your feed with posts from people you follow, you will be shown your suggested posts, giving everyone EVEN MORE content to scroll through on Instagram. You might be thinking, is this not just the same thing as an explore feed? The answer is nope! The explore page is usually pointing people toward more adjacent content. When Instagram officials were asked how they differ, they gave the example that a suggested post might be a picture of space, but their explore feed might be based on posts about physics in general. For now, suggested content will be mixed in with ads, but there won't be any IGTV or Reel posts. If you thought the amount of time you spent on Instagram was already a lot, get ready, as now your feed is more endless than ever. Sources:The Verge Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: Teen Vogue 👆By: Mary Retta TL;DR "Normal" morning rituals are the same except...the commute to virtual class for those who don't typically home school. Online school is a reality for many people this year. While it's a significant change to be taking classes at home for some, a few things are staying the same, such as taking the same courses, doing the same homework, and, surprisingly, having the same dress code. A student from Knoxville, Tennessee, confirmed her principal's message making it very clear over their online orientation that the dress code would remain strongly enforced over zoom. Most school virtual class dress code enforcement includes NO PJs or blankets worn during virtual class. The other rules are the same as if attending school on campus. Students must wear pants/shorts showing the waistband, no hats, and dresses and skirts must remain past finger length. The idea behind the dress code makes sense; the teachers want as little distraction as possible while teaching virtually. We have no idea how they will enforce these rules when some adult coworkers aren't even wearing pants on zoom; however, it is admirable that the rules are staying the same. We know dress codes have been rules for some students to rebel against. It will be interesting to see social media posts for those students who like to push the rule boundaries. Sources:Teen Vogue Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: Bloomberg 👆By: Lucas Shaw TL;DR The animated series, Cocomelon on YouTube is the MOST viewed channel...IN THE WORLD! Cocomelon might be the next Peppa Pig. Cocomelon has become the most viewed YouTube channel in the world. The animated video series gets more than 3.5 billion views monthly, yes, billion! To put that number into perspective, Cocomelon is more popular on YouTube than Taylor Swift, Netflix, and ESPN combined. The creator, Jay Jeon makes millions of dollars from the YouTube video series. He recognized his potential to make even more by venturing into toy making and live events and is even thinking about creating a theme park ride, following suit like the brand Peppa Pig. It can be challenging for YouTube creators to make their mark outside the platform, but Rechtman just purchased Cocomelon and is hoping to be one of the few that make the transition successfully. To turn these YouTube hit series into billion-dollar industries, Rechtman is planning on getting licensing with music and merchandising for the shows and their characters. Rechtman thinks that Cocomelon has the potential to become the biggest property in the world for kids. Sources:Bloomberg Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: ChainStorage 👆By: Dan Berthiaume TL;DR BigCommerce partnering with several brands can now turn Insta posts into shoppable experiences with purchase capability on the app. BigCommerce is now offering the Instagram Checkout feature for U.S. retailers who do business on its platform. This will allow BigCommerce to join Target and Sephora, amongst others who allow checkout via the app. By connecting their BigCommerce online storefronts to Instagram, retailers can compete with a shorter path to purchase rather than being redirected to the store's own website for purchases. Shoppers on Instagram will now see the "Checkout On Instagram" feature on the product page, allowing them to check out eight from the app. On top of that, all of their shipping updates and notifications will be available through the Instagram app, so everything is centralized on Instagram. Big win for influencers to connect products to their audience as they can now sell products for brands right on the app by tagging the product or through Instagram lives. The selling playing field is leveling out for businesses of all sizes to use the tools they need to access and serve their Insta customers. Sources:ChainStorage Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: CNBC 👆By: Alex Sherman TL;DR TikTok is finally giving out some real numbers; to say the least; they are impressive. TikTok, for the first time, revealed monthly active users in the U.S. and globally. In the new lawsuit against TikTok, the app showed that its monthly active users had grown nearly 800% since January 2018, when it had 11 million American users. The number of monthly active users has grown to an average of 100 million in the United States alone. On top of that, the company also revealed that they have more than 50 million daily active users in the United States. The numbers have grown similarly worldwide; as of July 2020, TikTok had almost 700 million users globally. TikTok is releasing all these numbers in an attempt to fight its lawsuit and an impending ban in the United States. The app claims there is no evidence of them sharing users' information with the Chinese government. While the stats for TikTok are likely to keep growing unless a ban is enacted, they remain behind Facebook, which has 2.7 billion monthly global users. That being said, it's no small feat. You can grab the popcorn, settle in, and see how this plays out. Sources:CNBC Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: Seventeen 👆By: Carolyn Twersky TL;DR James Charles shocked fans with his makeover of JoJo Siwa, giving her an authentic off-brand look that everyone fell in love with. Jojo Siwa might have one of the most recognizable aesthetics in the industry. The former Dance Mom star is known for her bright and colorful wardrobe and is rarely caught dead without a high pony completed with a giant (often sparkly) bow. Jojo Siwa has created an empire on her aesthetic, having so many products themed after her that you can have an entire JoJo Siwa-themed birthday party complete with her own ice cream flavor (don't worry, it's also rainbow). However, JoJo Siwa's most recent collab with James Charles almost broke the internet as the child star appeared without her distinctive look and bright pink aesthetic. Jojo has started to come out of her shell, and after more than a year of talking to James, she finally let him turn her into an "Instagram Baddie." The results are incredible, with JoJo looking like she never has before. Even Jojo had to admit that while the look was outside her comfort zone, it would look pretty on "any other human." All the fans seemed to love the look, too, and were very intrigued and surprised to see JoJo looking so different from her typical neon colors, rainbows, and sparkles. Twitter fans were gushing about how beautiful JoJo looked and how everyone's careers were over now that JoJo's other side had come out to display. While Jojo still seems hesitant to embrace her new look, her fans can "t wait to see more. This might be the start of her transition away from her childhood persona to young adult...and it's brilliant! Sources:Seventeen Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: QZ.com 👆By: Ananya Bhattacharya TL;DR TikTok's ban in India left an open market, and Triller is among those in the race for the spoils. TikTok was banned in India, and the race to replace it has begun. Triller, an American app, was reported to have just hired a former top executive at TikTok, Raj Mishra. They strategically hired Mishra to head their operations in India, as Mishra was the first employee TikTok hired in India in 2017. Since then, Mishra has been their country manager until recently. He was the natural choice for Triller. The focus of Triller in India started after they saw their user base in the country jump from less than a million to about 30 million overnight when TikTok was banned. Yet, Trillisnly of many ne wseeees the potential to capture the 200 million TikTok users India had before the ban. Instagram Reels and a few other apps can also pick up the old TikTok users, but with the new hire of Mishra, Triller might be able to get the most significant piece of the pie. Triller is already contacting the former top Indian TikTok creators to get them to join their app and bring their audiences with them. Something to watch! Sources:QZ.com Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: CNN 👆By: Toyin Owoseje TL;DR Dynamite, BTS's newest song, blew up... literally! And broke the most viewed music video in 24 hours record on YouTube. BTS's new single 'Dynamite' quite literally exploded and became history's best-ever-24-hour debt of music video on YouTube. BTS is the world's biggest Korean Pop band and has been dominating the K-Pop category for a while. The band released the visuals for the highly anticipated album, and the views were insane, hitting 101.1 million views in their first 24 hours. The new song knocked fellow K-Pop band BlackPink off the number one spot, who had previously held the record with 86.3 million views from this past June. BTS's new song is different in a few ways that might explain its record-breaking status. This is the first song the band has sung entirely in English. The four-minute YouTube video is filled with bright colors and retro looks from all 7 of the band members in an aesthetic we see today... and was clearly popular with their fans. I just wanted to let you know that more will come if you have yet to see the video or hear the song. This was the band's first release of an album later this year. On top of that, the band will be singing their hit song as a premiere performance at the 2020 MTV music video awards on August 30th. Pretty impressive work, to say the least; we and all of their fans are now waiting to see what will happen once the whole album is released! Sources:CNN Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: NYTimes 👆By: Reggie Ugwu and Micheal Levenson TL;DR Hollywood lost one of the biggest male lead stars, Chadwick Boseman, to colon cancer this past week. Chadwick Boseman, who played the part of many prominent black characters in Hollywood, died in his Hollywood home at the age of 43. Boseman played many groundbreaking figures, from Black Panther, in the superhero movie to roles such as Jackie Robinson, James Brown, and Thurgood Marshall. Boseman was one of his generation's most sought-after leading male actors. His death was confirmed by his publicist, who said he passed with his wife and family by his side. Boseman had been diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer in 2016, and it had progressed to stage 4. Through his struggle, he continued to bring some of his most beloved movies to our screens. He was said to have filmed many of his hit films during and between countless surgeries and treatments for chemotherapy. Boseman was a relatively private star in Hollywood. He had a somewhat late break in his career, landing the role of Jackie Robinson at age 35. However, he made up for the lost time and continued to act in many prominent roles. His death and excellent work were recognized widely as many prominent figures voiced their support and gratitude for his ability to bring history to life on the big screen. Some people who went online to show support for the actor included Oprah Winfrey, Martin Luther King III, Joesph Biden, Michelle Obama, and countless others. His death impacted all of Hollywood and his fan base, but his films and legacy will continue to be admired. Sources:NYTimes Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: Elle 👆By: Savannah Walsh TL;DR TikTok trends are always coming and going; here's the latest, the doppelgänger trend with so many people showing off their celeb look-alike status. Usually, people on social media are trying to stand out, but these TikTokers have found success by doing the opposite. People on TikTok have been transforming themselves to look like celebrities and showing off their doppelgänger abilities. A nurse from Nashville named Ashley went viral with 617K views on her video showing her resemblance to Taylor Swift. Ashley isn't the only one; you'll find others showing off their celeb look-alike status, from Ariana Grande to Billie Eilish. Great entertainment watching some doppelganger TikTokers use transformative makeup and others not even having to try; they show a photo next to the celebrity. No matter the format, this trend is fun, and we remain impressed with how similar some people look. Sources:Elle Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: Forbes 👆By: Cathy Olson TL;DR The music industry might have changed forever with the new app Audible Reality letting users customize their music experience. Despite considerable technological advances, the ability to truly customize your listening experience has alluded fans and the music industry for a long time. Enter Audible Reality, an app that lets you customize your music in the same way you would a photo with a filter. Bonus, the app is free! The app is compatible with Spotify Premium and local music and has many buy-ins from huge names in the music industry. The app was invented when Matt Boreum realized there was no way to experience music from your headphones in the way you can in a recording studio. He wanted to bring the creative, fun music producers who participated in the studio to fans at home. The app allows anyone from experienced creators to at-home developers to customize and release new mixes of new and existing music. Audible Reality may change the way we experience music forever. Sources:Forbes Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: LA Times 👆By: Jack Harris TL;DR Online basketball camp is just one of the many changes we might see in the sports industry even after COVID-19. Kenny Smith got the idea while watching his son play basketball on Instagram live. Smith realized that just because we are amid a pandemic doesn't mean that the development of basketball skills should stop. Smith usually does a summer camp and had to cancel it this year, but decided that there was a way to continue it virtually, inspired by his son on Instagram live. From there, the "Jet Academy" was born. Smith's summer camp is just one way sports have adapted to the new virtual norm. There have been so many things to emerge from the pandemic for sports fans now virtually cheering at games. Many new virtual offers coming out of the pandemic will continue for a while. Many people in the sports industry agree and have been saying they will continue to keep doing many things that have worked for them virtually. Another sign that this pandemic has forever changed us. Sources:LA Times Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: NY Daily News 👆By: Karu F. Daniels TL;DR Chadwick Boseman's last tweet had so much love and supported that it broke the record for the most-liked tweet of all time. It was a tweet felt around the world. Twitter said that the tweet announcing the death of the Hollywood star is the most liked tweet of all time. The tweet has over 7 million likes and over 3 million retweets. Fans from all around the world came together to mourn the star and show their support. The tweet was that of a black and white photo of Boseman as well as a message confirming his death and giving some details about the situation. The message noted his 4-year battle with colon cancer, shocking the world. He suffered in private. The tween also stated that it was the most significant honor of his career to star in the record-breaking film Black Panther. The previous record was held by Barak Obama when he posted a quote from Nelson Mandela in a photo. We send our condolences to his family. We feel the loss of such a great man. Many of us rewatched Black Panther to feel his presence and honor his work. Rest in peace, Chadwick Boseman. Sources:NY Daily News Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: Forbes 👆By: Shlomo Sprung TL;DR The gaming industry is growing, and the Call of Duty Tournament is proof with over 300k views. The Call of Duty tournament broke records with 331,000 views. The five games to-one win by the Dallas Empire over the Atlanta FaZe in the Call of Duty League finals was the most-watched Call of Duty Esports game in the game's history. The previous record in the league's first season peaked at 200,000 views. As is the case for most events, the company had to pivot to a virtual platform, and YouTube was an easy choice, making it easy for the viewers to watch. The league has grown immensely and has over 1 million subscribers on YouTube. The league winners received 1.5 million for winning, a custom throne, and a trophy. There's hope if you are a gamer if you want to make this a career. Keep an eye out for gamers, as their platforms are growing exponentially with this new fandom craze. Sources:Forbes Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: Mix Source 👆By: The Next Web TL;DR Twitter is improving its accessibility and automated captions. The years of skipping videos on Twitter because you forgot your headphones are over. Twitter is working on adding automated captions for their audio and video posts to increase the accessibility of the app. The feature should be arriving in early 2021. Twitter is moving toward this to help the Twitter community with disabilities. Currently, Twitter is doing trial runs and having people with hearing disabilities and other disabilities fill out surveys testing the new feature. This new feature will be an extension of voice tweets which Twitter first came out in June. It was their voice tweets that encouraged twitter to do automated captions. Twitter realized that they could do much better, making their app accessible for many in the disabled community by starting an Accessibility Center of Excellence and an Experience Accessibility Team. These two new branches are charged to help Twitter expand the accessibility of its app. Way to go, Twitter! Sources:Mix Source Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: Greenwhichtime 👆By: Lidia Ryan TL;DR Tiktok star Charli D'Amelio and Dunkin partner upbringing you her coffee recipe. Fans can now literally get a taste of Charli D'Amelio's life. The 16-year-old TikTok star now has her coffee drink at Dunkin' called "The Charli." Charli has been ordering and posting about her coffee recipe on TikTok, and now fans get to order it. The Charli is a mix of cold brew coffee, whole milk, and three pumps of Carmel swirl. Fans will love this; if you order The Charli, they have a chance to get entered into a drawing, where five lucky fans will be picked to meet the TikTok star virtually. All they have to do to enter is post a photo of themselves with 'The Charli' coffee on Instagram with the hashtag #CharliXDunkinContest. The Charli coffee beverage is being released on September 2nd. The new drink will be available on menus for a limited time, so if you want to taste what all the hype is about, you should head to your local Dunkin' soon. This is just one of Charli's success stories. She was recently named the second highest-earning TikTok star. Plus, Charli was in a Super Bowl commercial in 2019 and became the face of Hollister with her sister. She is said to be worth around $4 million. Growing your Tiktok account pays! Sources:Greenwhichtime Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: Digital Information World 👆By: Arooj Ahmed TL;DR Instagram has been doing some experiments with their newest feature, Reels, by adding it to the homepage Instagram is trying to boost exposure to its newest feature, Reels, on the app. By doing this, Instagram is hoping to gain more engagement. The suggested Reels are meant to be relevant to the users, but it is still being determined how exactly it's working. Right now, Instagram is facing some challenges with the new feature. Most users have reported that they don't think Reels is as good as Instagram. Another issue the app is facing, most of the content on Reels is reposted from TikTok, which makes Reels an indirect advertisement for TikTok, its direct competitor. Instagram is trying to fix this by doing a monthly Reels trend report and then promoting the top-ranking Reels to gain a broader audience with their best content. The monthly trend report is something that TikTok already does. As of now, Reels on the homepage seem to be a big move for Instagram. It will be interesting to see how Instagram measures up to TikTok in the coming months. Sources:Digital Information World Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: Journalism. Co.UK 👆By: Jacob Granger TL;DR The 'i' Paper has figured out how to grow a business platform on Instagram, identifying some good tricks along the way Recent reports show that all generations use Instagram more frequently for news. Earlier this month, "i" a print and online newspaper, announced that it had doubled its Instagram following in a year. When asked how they did it, they provided the following tips and tricks: -Consistency: This might seem obvious, but it's true; the news distributor said they had way more success when they posted every day rather than posting a few good things less consistently. -Content is King: They also said that content needs to be dealt with the same way you would in a physical newspaper for Instagram. Keep things on-brand! Instagram is usually known as a more positive platform, but for news outlets, it's also okay to lean into a more informative side with your posts. -Analytics: The last tip they gave was to keep up with your metrics. The best way to know what's working is to check the analytics and see what posts are getting people to visit your page, click the link in your bio, and which posts are getting more comments and likes. While some of these might seem obvious, that's the point. Instagram as a news platform only works if you do what works for your brand by keeping things consistent and engaging with your followers. Sources:Journalism. Co.UK Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: Business Insider 👆By: Amanda Perelli TL;DR Thrift shopping is trending with people building careers promoting shopping with sustainability If you didn't already know...now you know thrifting is in. There are always trends that come and go, but thrifting is vast with the financial climate right now, and it might stay trending, BIG TIME! It's become so popular, especially among the younger generations, that people are building careers out of it. For example, Alexa Hollander, known as Alexa Sunshine on YouTube, shares how she makes money thrift shopping and has built her career with sustainable shopping. She has 230,000 subscribers and generally makes between $3,000 and $6,000 monthly from ads on her YouTube videos. In addition, she also receives several offers from brands wanting to work with her and sponsor her videos. Alexa is just one of the many YouTubers who are a part of the "Thrift With Me" trend, which has surged in the past few years. Videos with thrifting in the title have increased 10x from 2017 to 2019, and we're sure 2020 will see the same type of industry growth. Sources:Business Insider Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: 9 to 5 Google 👆By: Damien Wilde TL;DR YouTube Music is set to take over Google Play Music, and it seems like there are much potential, with the 500 million downloads no small victory! Replacing a well-loved music platform is a challenging task. Yet, YouTube music is successful in replacing Google Play Music. YouTube Music is proving itself daily, recently hitting the 500 million downloads mark on the Google Play Store. YouTube Music has been slowly transitioning to replace Google Play Music with the app that will soon be taken off of all android devices and potentially all devices in general. YouTube Music also comes pre-bundled on all devices, which has helped the rise of Youtube Music downloads (unless you have an older phone). Each week, users see more and more of the popular Play Music features on the YouTube Music app. YouTube Music will soon surpass the success of Google play and go above and beyond what they initially thought would be achieved. It's always interesting when companies replace one app with another. Sources:9 to 5 Google Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: Amo Mama 👆By: Pedro Marrero TL;DR TikTok star Josh Richards is another example of all the success one can achieve on TikTok 18-year-old TikTok superstar Josh Richards was recently included in the top 5 of the first-ever Forbes list of highest-paid TikTok stars. Josh Richards has more than 20 million fans on TikTok, 6.8 million on Instagram, 2.1 million subscribers on Youtube, and 1.1 million followers on Triller. So if anyone thought amateur singing and dancing was just for fun, it might be time to rethink that assessment. His edgy-teen personality and followers on the app have earned him $1.5 million over the past year. The young star has also forged a path to show influencers how to monetize properly. Richards, born in early 2002 in Ontario, Canada, has quickly changed his family's quiet lifestyle with his emergent stardom on social media. Richard's first success was through traditional sponsorships, including Reebok, House Party, ads on Youtube, and a deal with Warner Records to make a song. Besides his success, Richards co-founded Talent X and has his drink business, Ani Energy. You can also find social content at one of the biggest TikTok houses, Sway House in LA. Way to go, Josh! Sources:Amo Mama Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: CNBC 👆By: Sam Shead TL;DR The documentary filled with insiders exploiting silicon valley secrets has gained significant traction, making some rethink social media completely. Social Media users are re-evaluating their Facebook, Instagram, and other social media accounts. This has all been sparked by one of Netflix's newest documentaries, "The Social Dilemma." The show is 90 minutes long and focuses on the downsides of significant tech platforms—many featured whistleblowers from several large platforms like Facebook, Google, Pinterest, Instagram, and others. The show includes many alarming insights into the world of silicon valley and the tech industries' business models from some of these giant companies. One former Facebook executive, Tim Kendall, stated, "...In the shortest time horizon. I'm worried about civil war." The reactions to 'The Social Dilemma' documentary have been ironic, with people posting that they will be deleting apps and turning off notifications for their social media. The show is quickly climbing the ranks to the most viewed show on Netflix in the U.K. and has many supporters claiming that it is the most important documentary of our time. Amongst all the vast amounts of praise and attention, the documentary is gaining critics as well, reporting that the documentary won't affect any social media platform. While the debate is hot from both sides, we love the insight and interpretation the documentary shows into the minds of Silicon Valley elites. Sources:CNBC Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: 9 to 5 Mac 👆By: Michael Potuck TL;DR Every once in a while, Apple comes out with a big update bringing lots of changes; with IOS 14, this was one of them. This week there was a new IOS update for all iPhones and iPads. This update wasn't one where they made a few "bug fixes"...no, no, no; they changed about 250 new features for iPhones and iPads. One change that's been trending is the further use of widgets. These widgets allow you to customize your home screen at a level we've never seen before. Users can create a variety of "stacks" to customize their app layout to maximize what works for them. The IOS 14 update also marks the introduction of picture-in-picture to the iPhone, which had previously only been an option on the iPad. Another cool feature added allows users to access their shortcuts by tapping the back of their device; with this, users can set up a double or triple back tap, which takes users to virtually any shortcuts. Apple also added an orange and green status bar dot that helps you understand what apps are using your microphone and camera. While there are more updates than the few we touched on (way too many to list), these new widgets and features seem to be the most talked-about with excitement. If you have a favorite part we didn't mention, we'd love to hear it. Please leave a comment! Sources:9 to 5 Mac Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: The Verge 👆By: Jay Peters TL;DR YouTube only allows the picture-in-picture feature to be used for premium users. Is it a glitch or a sales tactic? One of the newest features on the latest iPhone is the picture-in-picture feature. If you aren't familiar, this lets you watch a video in a small window while you do other things on your phone. It is a feature that could be super handy for texting a friend while watching a YouTube video on, say, safari. But nope... YouTube has done something that prevents this from happening. Users have been trying it out and noting that the video will briefly flicker to picture-in-picture mode before it stops unless you are a YouTube premium member. However, you are the exception for all of you iPad users out there. This functionality works for picture-in-picture without any issues, whether you have a YouTube premium account or not. As of now, no one knows whether this is a bug or an intentional decision on YouTube's part. YouTube already restricts the ability to play videos in the background to their premium users, so this may be an intentional decision. We'll make sure to let you know. Sources:The Verge Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: The Guardian 👆By: Helen Davidson TL;DR The TikTok situation in America is ever-evolving; most recent update...should we start calling it Oracle's TikTok in the United States? At this point, most of us know TikTok was considered a risk to national security with threats of being banned because ownership is by a Chinese technology giant ByteDance. That is unless a U.S. company takes over. We've covered this for the past few weeks since the controversy started. And now we have a possible winner for the bid purchase, Oracle and Walmart. Yes, we had to take a double-take when we saw Walmart listed. However, before we get to the purchase, here's the latest. U.S. government issued this statement abbreviated: Users in the United States will be unable to download the app if the company is not sold by November 12th, and it would be willd altogether. Now enter Oracle and Walmart; ByteDance, to appease the U.S. government, has created a subsidiary TikTok-Global which will be part-owned by the U.S. entities Oracle and Walmart. In this situation, four of the five board members will be American, the least likely being the ByteDance Founder. We don't think we're done covering this ongoing issue, as the details of the business deal have been described as "murky." We are definitely in a wait-and-see pattern with this deal. Sources:The Guardian Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: AXIOS 👆By: Stef W. Kight TL;DR Fake news is a problem, and we all know it. GenZ gives us hope for the future with their keen eye to recognize it and not put up with it. Gen Z may be more immune to the lure of fake news. Experts and polling have suggested that younger people apply more context, nuance, and skepticism to their online information consumption. Why does this matter? GenZ is what we need to combat the misinformation that is ever-growing. Social media, as we know, is growing and may become the primary news source for younger generations, with 83% of college students saying they get most of their news from social media now. However, while that percentage might be pretty high, only 7% said they found it to be the most trustworthy news source. 69% of Gen Z surveyed said they felt it was easy to distinguish real news from fake news, while half said they think it's hard for adults to determine the same. While that seems more option-based and may be biased, it's true. Studies show that the youngest American adults are far less likely to share misinformation online than older American adults. So what's the point of all this? It would be unrealistic to say fake news will go away with coming generations, but experts say it will be far better understood by the rising generations than it is today. Sources:AXIOS Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: NBC New York 👆By: Sarah Glover TL;DR Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg receives a vast amount of praise on social media following her death. An Icon. A lioness of the law. A trailblazer. The great equalizer. A dissenter. These words describe the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg (RBG). Following the news of her death at 87 years old, the masses took to social media to praise her accomplishments. RBG's groundbreaking career and achievements are too many to list. Still, they include graduating from Columbia Law, and she was the second woman to serve on the supreme court, appointed by Clinton in 1993. Prominent figures who took to social media after her death included Brie Larson, Hillary Clinton, Nancy Pelosi, Barbara Streisand, and Donald Trump. They all shared sentiments on her impressive career, commenting on how she paved the way for more women in politics and thanked her for her service to the country. President Trump's reaction was caught on tape as he declared that "she was an amazing woman whether you agreed or not." These were only a few among many people who shared Justice Ginsberg's remembrance. Private citizens, other celebrities, and politicians also shared in the loss of such a great human over social media. She has paved the way for all of us, men and women alike, to live in a more fair and just United States. Rest in peace, Ruth Bader Ginsberg. Sources:NBC New York Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: Media Post 👆By: Larissa Faw TL; DR Is it that moms are the following most prominent social media demographic? Moms are taking over. During the pandemic, every group and demographic has increased their social media use, but Middle-aged women with school-aged kids have gone up the most. 85% of these moms claim their social media use has doubled since March. 52% of them admitted that their usage went up by 4-8 hours every week outside of what their jobs required. One of the most significant factors affecting this has been the added responsibility of their children's education. Many of these moms share that the recent influx in their screentime has been due to their online search for educational material and tips and tricks for homeschooling their kids. Brands love it! As moms spend more time on social media, they have more time to form a relationship with this demographic. Instagram and even TikTok seem to be getting their most significant increase from moms. Many moms said that they created their TikTok for the first time when quarantine started, and even more have been spending more and more time on Instagram, staying connected with their friends, and shopping more on Instagram. The time moms spend on Instagram is predicted to keep going up with the holiday season rapidly approaching. So remember your mom when considering your marketing demographic. She may be more of your target audience than you thought. Sources:Media Post Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: Social Media Today 👆By: Andrew Hutchinson TL;DR YouTube guidelines clarify what's needed to get that pretty blue badge next to your name. Want to know how to get verified on YouTube? Well, they just made it a lot easier to find out how. Last September, YouTube announced it was changing its verification process, and now if you look at YouTube requirements, it's not a mystery anymore to get that blue checkmark next to your channel name. The first requirement, you must have at least 100k subscribers. Until you reach the 100k mark, you won't have access to this form. The second requirement is "Chanel authenticity" YouTube describes this as needing to be an authentic user creating your content, which means you will need to be verified as the person making the content and the one posting it. The third requirement equals profile completion. The user must be public, including a description, videos, and a channel icon, in order to have an official presence. YouTube also notes in these updated guidelines that they will take away verification if users are seen to be taking material or impersonating other users. These requirements seem pretty reasonable, and now creators striving for the blue badge know exactly what they need to work toward. 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: 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

📷 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: Forbes 👆By: Peter Suci TL;DR Free press for Star Wars helping firefighters in Oregon. Baby Yoda is back. The character of "The Child" from the Star Wars series The Mandalorian took over social media when it debuted. The childlike version of the popular Star Wars character Yoda blew up when the series aired last December. So much so that it gained much attention from fans and out-trended political candidates emerging at the time. While the next Star Wars series featuring baby Yoda isn't coming out until the end of October, the fictional character is becoming a sensation on Facebook once again. This time the little alien boosted the morale of those fighting the Oregon wildfires. It all started when a grandmother and her grandson were shopping for supplies to send to the firefighters battling the Oregon fires. The pair saw a cute baby Yoda toy and wanted to send it to the firefighters. The Baby Yoda toy found it's way circulating between firefighting hotspots as the fires continued. The Toy gained attention and now even has a Facebook page @babyyodafightfire. The page has around 52,000 followers and 50,000 likes allowing baby Yoda to become a fun gender-neutral storyteller during these fires and bringing smiles to faces in an otherwise stressful situation. We love a feel-good story amongst the tragedies! Sources:Forbes Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 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: The Verge 👆By: Julia Alexander TL;DR Without The Mandalorian, we all 'kind of' forgot about Disney Plus...but it's BACK! If you haven't looked at Disney Plus since the first season came out of The Mandalorian, you're not alone. After The Mandalorian came out last December, a flood of people contested Disney Plus for not having enough new content. Besides the kids who beg their parents to watch Frozen 10 gazillion times a day, the app disappointed GenZ and older generations. Math isn't opinion; statistics proved the drastic drop in viewership in January, shortly after the Mandalorian stopped airing. That's not to say that Disney Plus is struggling by any means, as they have grown beyond what anyone expected and have been doing well above their projections. However, they indeed had a couple of big jumps, the first being with the Mandalorian, followed by Hamilton debuting, and then again with Mulan. Disney, like the rest of us, was hurt by the pandemic. They needed to prepare for the massive spike in viewership that came with the pandemic. As their investors wanted more activity on the streaming service, Disney dealt with numerous delays in filming and producing more content due to the various social distancing restrictions. However, as we all have, they are persevering! With the second season of The Mandalorian, the Disney app will once again become relevant to the older GenZ population and Millennials and GenX. Now the question is, will they stay after the new series, and will Disney be able to produce more new content to keep their audience coming back? Sources:The Verge Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: Social Media Today 👆By: Andrew Hutchinson TL;DR Snapchat just added 3D body scans as a new feature! This could lead to significant changes in online shopping and tech in general. 3D body scans are the newest app feature on Snapchat. With Halloween, Snapchat developed a new set of features based on its body-tracking technology. The new filer can move with the user as their body moves, matching the movements of the person's whole body in the frame. Snapchat's 3d body scans provided the user with digital characters and Halloween costumes as if they were wearing them. Snapchat says this is the first of its AR tool. The lenses work for both the front and the back camera. The new lenses track 18 joints on the human body to create 3D images and follow the person's movements in the frame. Snapchat was trying to give people a way to virtually dress up this year when there was, for many, a lack of reason to dress up, with social distancing guidelines preventing many events. We have already seen the new feature used as an advertisement on Snapchat with Tim Horton's Timbits costume. How is this important in the marketplace? This new feature will likely open up many new online marketing opportunities with the eCommerce experience. The possibilities are enormous with this new feature, even beyond Snapchat. With online shopping continuing to dominate, people want to see this feature used to try on clothes virtually. Keep an eye out for your favorite brands; it will be fascinating to see if this really can lead to trying on clothes virtually. Sources:Social Media Today Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: IGN 👆By: Adam Bankhurst Fortnite's newest collab is bringing the world of soccer to the battle royale game. Fortnite recently partnered with the soccer legend Pelé for their latest launch. They will bring soccer outfits from famous soccer clubs worldwide to Fortnite for players to wear virtually. This launch is set to take place on January 23rd, making club outfits and Pelé's Air Punch Emote available for all players. Lucky players get a chance to get the new drop early on January 20th with the Pelé Cup. How, you ask? Players who did well in the Cup could win the Kickoff Set of club outfits and Pelé's Air Punch Emote for free. The top players from the Pelé Cup can even win a custom-signed shirt. This drop is similar to Fortnite's last year with the NFL. The soccer drop, much as before, will include ten variants of male and female outfits that can be switched between the 23 big soccer club's logos participating. Some of the clubs included are Manchester City FC, Los Angeles FC, Juventus, and other big names in soccer. On top of everything else, there will be a soccer-inspired creative island Fortnite players can access with the new launch. All in all, this collaboration can be successful for all parties involved. Very cool putting soccer, one of the most popular sports worldwide, and gaming into one. Win-win! Sources:IGN Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: Gadgets Now 👆By: Gadgets Now Bureau YouTube is making a new format that changes how hashtags are used on the app. Before, if you searched for a hashtag, YouTube would give you suggestions for videos containing the hashtag and content that the platform thought was similar or related. Now, when you search or click on a hashtag, you will see ONLY videos that have that hashtag, with the most popular videos at the top. YouTube states this is the first in hashtag management for the app. Another notable change that YouTube has made to its platform is the ability to stop or start instant playback. The new placement of the auto-play toggle will allow users to change the playback setting on their YouTube account. YouTube is working on creating a better experience daily, so stay tuned for more updates and features. Sources:Gadgets Now Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: Huston press 👆By: Jamir David People are still surprised when Netflix produces an original hit series. Netflix has only sometimes had success with all of its original shows, but lately, we have seen some impressive work with their team's ability to successfully get binge-worthy shows out to millions of viewers. Netflix has also been able to save dying TV shows and revive them on their platform. The question is, who hasn't taken advantage of new and old favorites on Netflix? Not many, we're guessing. With Netflix's impressive number of subscribers, they have really pushed itself to be taken seriously with its film and TV production. Two examples are Bridgerton and Cobra Kai, two of the latest Netflix originals that don't disappoint. They are both textbook definitions of successful binge-worthy Netflix shows. Both of the shows were explicitly adapted for Netflix. Bridgerton is based on a book series, and Cobra Kai was created on Youtube. These shows have top spots on Netflix's trending stats, with millions of viewers each. While not every Netflix show is a hit, it doesn't matter because even when a Netflix original does poorly, something new is coming out to pick up the slack. We thank god for Netflix even more this past year! Sources:Huston press Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: Forbes 👆By: Cathy Applefield Olson The music industry has changed A LOT in the past year! The cancellation of all live in-person concerts drove fan interaction and artists to rely on their online platforms 100%. Because of this, Instagram is stepping up to the plate and wants to help artists make money with a new tipping option, as well as artists being able to sell merchandise through the app. The hope is that this will allow artists to grow their audiences further and have another profit funnel for the artists to help with lost revenue. Through the past year, we have seen Instagram used by artists in many different ways. 6ix9ine live-streamed a rant on Instagram that got 2 million viewers, and Miley Cyrus has done interviews over Instagram live. While these interactions were pushed to the social media platform Instagram due to the pandemic, they aren't expecting these types of artist interactions to stop once we return to in-person life. With direct fan payments, Instagram has found a way to enhance and evolve artist interactions with their fans. Direct fan payments will be made through a feature called Badges. These Badges will allow users to get added special call-outs or benefits from the artist...just another way to show fan loyalty and build an audience! It's pretty cool! Sources:Forbes Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: Social Media Today 👆By: Andrew Hutchinson 2020 was a year no one could have predicted. That being said, we have learned from the past and made some educated guesses about what might be possible trends for social media marketing in 2021. First up is Facebook, which despite some hard hits, managed to do really well this past year. Likely, they will continue to make developments and grow in the next year, with e-commerce being one of the main pillars to focus on for Facebook We expect to see more messaging mergers in 2021 between the different Facebook applications, including Instagram DMs, Facebook Messenger, and Whatsapp. 2021will also bring us more tech with AR glasses, most likely making an appearance in the latter half of this year. In addition to the AR tech advancement, you'll also see a significant rise in VR. We saw VR in 2020, but our opinion is that it is naive to think that VR has reached its peak. There will probably be a few shifts in the algorithms this year too. As we all know, there have been issues and complaints about algorithms and the way social media propelled singular vision negativity; we expect to see changes in the algorithms to help rectify this problem, at least, let's hope so. We'd love to hear your predictions, so please comment below. Sources:Social Media Today Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: Sourcing Journale 👆By: Liz Warren TL;DR Jeans Jeans Jeans! GenZ says NO to skinny jeans, but Millennials say YES! Jeans are our tried and true. No matter what fashion trends are coming in and out, jeans have remained a staple. And Gen Z has something to say about it. That's right; GenZ declared war on the beloved skinny jeans. Skinny jeans continue to be at the top of the selling charts. Gen Z has declared war and is not having this. They've taken to their main battlegrounds of Instagram and TikTok to insist that skinny jeans are out of style and to stop buying the "outdated" Fashion. While the whole dethroning skinny jeans movement seems silly, the numbers show they might be on to something, as baggier styles of jeans have been selling more and more. In the past year, there was a 76% increase in searches for oversized jeans. Yet trend analysts have yet to be convinced. Brands are still releasing new lines of skinny jeans, and they are selling. For every Gen Z wishing away the skinny jean cut, a millennial insist on their absolute love for the body-hugging jean. Sources:Sourcing Journal Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: W Magazine 👆By: Kristen Bateman TL;DR TikTokers set the trend by wearing funky clothes, with designers noticing and incorporating the looks into their shows and collections. Are those great outfits you have collecting dust in your closet because of the pandemic? Well, no more pity parties; show them off on TikTok. Through the pandemic, distinct styles have emerged online, and TikTokers are the catalyst. TikTok videos with unique styles have influenced fashion show designers like Marc Jacobs and other big names in Fashion. Style trends, including Dark Academia, CottageCore, SceneKids, the resurfacing of Goth, and Punk, are among the recent trends. Could you take a look at the 2021 fashion shows scene, and you'll see the comparison? While Punk and Goth are not new, a few obscure fashions have come out too. TikTok dressing in "GrandmaCore" it is no joke. If that didn't shock you, maybe GoblinCore will, as both are some of the biggest trends in TikTok Fashion. Sources:W Magazine Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: Deadline; Campaign; 10 News TL;DR This year, the Weekend's halftime show became meme fodder. We saw A-list celebrities in the most prominent ads of the year. And Gen Z did their social thing on Twitter during the game. As we know, some people watch the super bowl for commercials. Are you one of them? Most people who fall into that category were not disappointed with this year's lineup of great bowl ads—featuring a list of celebrities in the commercials added to the fun and on social media. Some of the most-watched ads from the super bowl this year were Michael B Jordan's Alexa commercial, Bruce Springsteen's Jeep commercial, and Cadillacs Edward Scissor Hands video starring Timothée Chalamet and Winona Ryder. If you didn't see them, check them out on YouTube. Cheers to Uber eats for their success as one of the most-watched ads. These super bowl ads are not cheap. We all know that in the marketing world, a great bowl ad is one of the most extravagant spend debuts worth millions of dollars for one spot; even with hype by some brands pulling out of the spend and speculation for viewership decline, viewership was not disappointing for these brands. In addition to the commercials...let's talk Halftime show, shall we?! There were approximately 1.4 BILLION viewers that tuned in to see the Weekend's halftime show. The Weekend made history by investing $7 million of his own money into the show. The Weekend is also the first performer since Lady Gaga not to have a guest performer. Kudos to him for creating a unique artistic style, whether you liked it or not, giving fodder for the buzz afterward with his "audience," creating hysterical memes, and taking over the feeds in social media. Brilliant! His YouTube downloads also hit the roof. He succeeded in getting attention surrounding his performance. Overall statistically, Gen Z doesn't tune into the super bowl and sports like Millennials; the super bowl is no exception. However, this year, Gen Z dominated Twitter discussions during the show. Brands got creative this year. They combined social media to reach younger Gen Z with conventional television advertising, and it worked. Check out Franks Red Hot brand convincing David Dobrick to Tweet them back, gaining a HUGE amount of attention from the YouTube star's broad audience. The bottom line to all you marketers is if Gen Z won't come to you, go to Gen Z... on social media. Sources:Deadline Sources:Campaign Sources:10 News Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: DBK News 👆By: Daryl Perry TL;DR Justin Bieber's concert on TikTok turned everyone into a Belieber again. Donning his streetwear brand Drew House, Bieber held the first-ever long-form concert on TikTok. He performed many songs from his 2013 album with new background vocals that showed the artist a more mature voice and style. His audience joined and left randomly with the highest number of views for the Valentine's day performance at over 200,000 views. The live-stream performance was not only the debut of his album Journal but also a sign of his new shift in music style. Bieber performed with a live band, adding to the experience by mimicking a live in-person concert...on TikTok. It will be interesting to see if other artists start to use TikTok as a concert venue. Watch and see! Sources:DBK News Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: Forbes 👆By: Kate Matthams TL;DR We all know the pandemic changed our lives with video conferencing. Some brands are playing into it, making accessories and products more functional and fashionable! Jewelry Label Misho is bringing you Zoom fashion. This company specializes in minimalist jewelry and has recently come out with a new product - earrings that can hold your AirPods in place. If we keep working from home and relying on zoom calls, we might as well have a practical jewelry choice that supports our new lifestyle, and that's exactly what this is. I know we all plan on returning to "normal life" after the pandemic, but reports show that 82% of companies plan to continue the working-from-home model even when the pandemic ends. We are making this a long-term product. The earrings are designed to wrap around and hold onto the stem of the AirPod. This will keep your AirPods from falling out or moving around. The earrings are also said to be user-friendly and easy to take off. You don't need to worry about mirrors. They also made a design for those who like to run and exercise. No more need to adjust and push in your AirPods as you go on that run or ride your skateboard. Misho's accessory innovation may be worth the investment. Please check them out and let us know what you think. Sources:Forbes Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor Naia Mader, Intern

📷 Image Credit: Pure Wow 👆By: Nakeisha Campell TL;DR Pink's daughter can seriously sing! This isn't the first time we've heard about little Willows's talent. We have a feeling it won't be the last, either. Willow Sage Hart got her mother's talent. The proof is on TikTok. Pink made her debut on the popular app by sharing a clip of her 9-year-old daughter singing "Cover Me In Sunshine." WOW! Willow has a fantastic voice of her own. The TikTok video already has almost one million likes, with many comments praising the 9-year-old. This isn't the first time we've heard Willow sing. She was featured in "A Million Dreams (Reprise)" on The Greatest Showman: Reimagined soundtrack as well; she performed a duet of Nat King Cole's "The Christmas Song" for ABC's The Disney Holiday Singalong. Willow is a star in the making to watch. The other joy; watching Pink full of love and a proud mom showing off her daughter's talent. What a great mother/daughter duo! Sources:Pure Wow Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: Daze Digital 👆By: Sophie Benson TL;DR Gen Z and millennials have known that fast fashion is terrible, but that doesn't mean they aren't still buying it. The low prices and wide variety have kept fast fashion alive and well. The number of people shopping second-hand in recent years has soared. Yet, there is still much fast fashion in the mix. If you don't know what fast fashion is, here's a brief description: clothing designs that move from the catwalk (often during fashion week) to stores in a quick/fast way to meet the need for trending styles at an affordable price. There have been countless articles describing how Gen Z is killing fast fashion, with the second-hand market set to hit $64 billion in the next few years, and they are not necessarily wrong. Predictions that the second-hand market will outgrow fast fashion by 2029 are a definite possibility, but that is only part of the picture - fast fashion is still growing. With the pandemic's beginning, fast fashion saw a huge spark, especially among millennials and Gen Z. Many contribute their continued support for fast fashion because the clothing is priced cheaply, and they can't afford more expensive sustainable brands. Another factor is that fast fashion brands will often produce a large variety of sizes that are harder to find in more ethically produced brands that limit their sizing. Fast fashion may not suit the environment, but affordable pricing is winning. Sources:Daze Digital Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: Huston Chronicle👆By: Allison Bagley TL;DR TikTok has made dancing COOL! More kids are finding the love of dance through TikTok challenges. And studio-taught dance class enrollments are up because of it. TikTok is sparking interest in Gen Z kids to take dance classes later in life. Typically most kids in dance programs start dancing in elementary school, but TikTok is changing that statistic. There is now considerable interest among teens who want to start dance classes for the first time. This sudden spark in interest is due to TikTok showing what it's like to be able to move your body in really cool ways. How often have you heard, "Did you see that TikTok dance?" ...or... when a song comes on, you immediately think about the TikTok dance, seeing it in your mind's eye. What's remarkable is that older Gen Z kids have helped increase studio dance enrollment, especially with hip-hop classes. TikTok stars like Charlie D'Amelio and Addison Rae, famous on the app for their dance moves, are paving the way. Dance instructors are hip to the trends and have also started implementing some of the notable TikTok dance moves into their choreography for their students. You can go ahead and google a studio near you if you want to join. Depending on your area, studios provide both in-studio or zoom classes. Get your groove on! Sources:Huston Chronicle Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: Social Media Today 👆By: Andrew Hutchinson TL;DR Instagram will allow you to have up to 4 people on live stream starting in the next few weeks; this feature could lead to significant business engagement potential! Live streaming and video platforms have thrived under covid. Yet, the Instagram platform still needs to do some catching up to get its streaming services up to date. Instagram plans to do just that. In the next few weeks, Instagram is launching the ability to do multi-participant live streams. Right now, Instagram Live only allows one other person or guest, but with this upcoming update, Instagram will allow up to four people at once. Instagram has reportedly been working on this for over a year now. They tested this new feature in India back in December 2020 with success. This new feature showed increased viewership by 60% more on live streams. While this might seem like a minor update, this could really add much value to businesses and influencers on Instagram. With an option to have more than two people on an Instagram live stream, users can now do interviews and have guests hop on to ask questions. Let the growth begin...for everyone! Sources:Social Media Today Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: Fox 59 👆By: NexStar Media Wire TL;DR Twitter is adding an option to pay for special tweets, and the feedback is...Twitter users are NOT impressed. Twitter's platform has mostly stayed the same. However, it's about to be with their new feature, "Super Follows." Super Follow subscriptions would allow users to monetize their tweets. How did people react to the new feature? Well, let's say that #RIPTwitter was a trending Hashtag soon after the announcement. In true Twitter fashion, the memes started rolling out. The premium Twitter content that users can pay for is said to be for extra content, such as newsletter subscriptions and bonus tweets. The subscription fees would be around $4.99, but we need to figure out how much goes directly to the creator. As someone who has been active on Twitter for years, I want to pay less for memorable tweets. Who knows, though, maybe Twitter will be a place that celebrities and influencers can use as another platform to make profits. Sources:Fox 59 Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: PGA.com TL;DR PGA Golf Pro Coaches are getting on board with social media apps like TikTok and Instagram Reels, providing free coaching tips for your golf game. PGA Coaches are using social media to make golf tips easier to get than ever. PGA professionals are using Instagram Reels and TikTok to give high-quality free coaching tips on how players can improve their game straight from their phones. While TikTok and Reels might not be quite the same level as having a PGA coach next to you, it's still an excellent way to pick up some quick golf tips. You can find videos with different tricks and techniques sharing a multitude of gold hacks. Check out @Nattiegolf on Instagram, who shows us the proper technique for a great golf pivot to @jakehuttgolf showing the difference between the feel of an iron and a driver club. While there's nothing quite like in-person tailored coaching, TikTok and Instagram Reels provide a good platform for professional advice. Sources:PGA.com Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: First Post 👆 TL;DR Worried your kids are going to stumble onto the wrong side of YouTube? Well, with this new feature, you can ensure that never happens. YouTube's new parent-controlled content settings are in response to concerns regarding minors accessing violence and other inappropriate content. This new feature on YouTube will ensure that Teens and Tweens, through their google accounts, will only have access to age-appropriate content and features. These new features will come with an explore option for gen alpha kids nine years old up to gen z kids under 13 years old that includes video games, tutorials, music videos, and educational content with more leniency for gen z kids aged 13 and up. Some YouTube videos will be appropriately restricted for all age groups and marked as only suitable for adults. This is good news for parents! This is an excellent way for parents to make sure their kids aren't watching inappropriate videos on Youtube plus, it alleviates having to approve individual videos that kids may want to watch that are questionable. This might also mean a different strategy for YouTube content producers. YouTubers will need to pay attention to their content's age-appropriate specification, as this new feature could limit their audiences. It will be interesting to see how this changes the community. Hopefully, this new tool will become as helpful for parents as YouTube thinks. Sources:First Post Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: CNN 👆By: Maryam Mohamed TL;DR Jonah Hill reminds us that everyone deals with body insecurities somehow and that we need to stop body shaming. DailyMail published photos of the actor Jonah Hill a while back from when Jonah was surfing in Malibu over the weekend. One pic shows him shirtless, and the other in a wetsuit. After the DailyMail article, Hill took to Instagram to share how he has been struggling with body insecurities for years, sharing his heartfelt struggles: "I don't think I ever took my shirt off in a pool until I was in my mid-30s, even in front of family and friends. Probably would have happened sooner if my childhood insecurities weren't exacerbated by years of public mockery about my body by press and interviewers." He then went on to share that these types of photos no longer faze him as he's become more confident and self-accepting. While the actor wasn't trying to get pity from the post, he was definitely sharing his perspective and journey. Bravo! We can't help but empathize. It's not often that male stars share body insecurities. It's a friendly reminder that everyone has their struggles. Jonah sets a great example by sharing his ability to overcome some of his insecurities and share/open up about them on a broad platform. Sources:CNN Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: Screen Rant 👆By: Stu Robarts TL;DR Instagram is taking on mental health by possibly changing the ability to see other people's likes Do you look at how many likes your friend's Instagram post gets? Well, if that's a feature of Instagram you like, you might not be excited to hear that Instagram is experimenting with a new feature that will make it so users cannot see other's likes. Recently, they accidentally added too many users to this trial, causing an uproar. Like counts have been a feature of Instagram since its inception. However, the removal of the likes feature for Instagram is something they've been experimenting with and exploring for a few years now. In fact, currently, in some countries, Instagram users don't show likes on posts. Testing started in Canada in 2019, then expanded to Ireland, Italy, Japan, Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, and now the US. How it looks: The user can still see likes which will show them up to one name of a mutual connection beneath a post next to "and others." To clarify, users will still be able to see the number of likes they have on their own photos, just not those of others. Still, in testing, Instagram is concerned with mental health stating they are considering this to create a less pressurized environment on the app where people can express themselves freely. We want to hear what you think in the comments below. Do you like the idea of helping mental health by not allowing people to compare their likes to others? Or do you prefer to be able to see and know what posts are performing well and which ones are not? We see up and downsides to both. Sources:Screen Rant Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: Screen Rant 👆By: Roxie Pell TL;DR Hit or miss? The SpongeBob spin-off series featured the characters when they were kids. If you aren't ready to commit to watching just yet, YouTube is offering the first episode for free. If you aren't sure who or what SpongeBob is, then like Patrick, you have been living under a rock for the past two decades. Spongebob, as we all know, is primarily a kid's cartoon that aired on Nickelodeon in 1999 and kept producing new episodes into 2018. The new series Camp Koral: SpongeBob's Under Years is a spin-off of the show featuring SpongeBob and all the other characters you know from when they were younger. The show is available on Paramount+, but like a trailer, the first episode in the 13-show series is available for free on YouTube. You have time to decide if the monthly subscription of $5.99 is worth it. The SpongeBob episodes feature SpongeBob at camp trying to catch his first JellyFish and Squidward as a camp counselor for all of SpongeBob's friends. Camp Koral: SpongeBob's Under Years will bring nostalgia to those who love it. The creators hope to gain a wider audience by targeting to the even younger audience, gen alpha. Hopefully, they will fall in love with the show just like past generations have. Sources:Screen Rant Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: CNN 👆By: Rishi Iyengar TL;DR NFTs are trending in the market with a chance for HUGE profits. This piece pictured above sold for $69.3 million. Digital artwork that took 13 years to make sold for $69.3 Million. NFTs (Nonfungable Tokens) have made recent headlines. NFTs are starting to sell for vast amounts of money for what appears to be digital art and other digital objects. What is it? NFT art is digital art that has been verified using blockchain technology. The technology ensures that the piece is a one-of-a-kind original artwork that can be authenticated online. Digital artwork isn't the only kind of NFT. Tweets are up for sale as NFT, as well as trading cards and other items how it works. By turning items into NFTs, the owner can use blockchain technology to make money every time the NFT is copied or traceably sent. Using blockchain technology, the pieces have proof of authenticity and originality. NFTs are not new. What is new is that the general population sees NFTs as a potential mainstream income-producing avenue. The process of acquiring NFTs is still a bit tricky, requiring cryptocurrency, of which you will need multiple apps to download. The value of these NFT pieces is in the cryptocurrency that backs them, which are very technical, typically created using python coding language, taking a lot of skill and mastery to create. Overall we aren't sure if this is the beginning of a big revolution with NFTs being used in cryptocurrencies or if this is just another fad in the world of crypto. Time will tell. Sources:CNN Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: Forbes 👆By: Hugh Mclntyre TL;DR The 4th song to hit over 5 Billion views on YouTube is 'See You Again' by Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth. YouTube has always been a place that allows people to not only listen but watch their favorite music videos for free. YouTube is an easy loophole that lets you listen to a song without having to buy it on Itunes. Now we live in an age of multiple music streaming platforms, with people listening to their favorite songs on services like Spotify or Apple Music, but listening and watching music videos on YouTube hasn't gone out of style. People love the added benefit of seeing music videos on Youtube, and thus the exclusive 5 Billion views+ clubs on YouTube just got a new member. "See You Again" by Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth has recently achieved this amazing milestone of 5 billion views+. This is pretty huge on YouTube, as many other successful music videos haven't come close to getting that rank. Can you guess the other three videos on YouTube that have more than 5 billion views? Well, we will just tell you, it's none other than "Despactio," Ed Sheeran's "Shape of You," and last but not least, "Baby Shark." "Seen You Again" and "Shape of You" are close in the billion view range, but "Despacito" has 7.2 Billion views currently, and Baby Shark has more than 8 billion views. These numbers are definitely an impressive amount of views. The up-and-coming artist still has a way of organically growing their audience, and we think that's awesome! Sources:Forbes Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: Hong Kong Tatler 👆By: Danica Lo TL;DR Instagram is making an app for younger users, with safety for kids in mind. Facebook recently announced its plans to release an Instagram app for kids under the age of 13. When it comes to technology and kids, there are a lot of different opinions and movements occurring at once. Currently, there are measures in place to try and keep kids off of social media sites, as research has shown negative effects. However, current events with Covid have many parents with gen alpha and gen z young kids reliant on the likes of "iPad babysitter" videos, plus using Zoom for educational purposes, which means trends are shifting younger. Instagram knows that the age 13 and older policy in place is hard to enforce. So the Instagram team is working on an app for younger users with the hope that it will offer a safer space and community for gen alpha and gen z younger users. The team has reported that they are adding safety measures to protect younger users, but nothing compares to parent supervision keeping predators and inappropriate content at bay. Sources:Hong Kong Tatler Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: Teen Vouge 👆By: Natasha Mulenga TL;DR The fans spoke. Rihanna listened and commented back. And now we have a new song from Rihanna to look forward to. Maybe? Could it be true? Fans, will we finally be getting a new song from Rihanna? Rihanna took to her Instagram to celebrate women's history month. She also celebrated the fact that her album ANTI has been on the Billboard 200 for five years. The post also showed Rihanna celebrating her identity as a black woman, giving hope to aspiring artists. Bravo! So, why do fans think this means a new song? Well, one fan commented on the post saying that Rihanna should "celebrate by releasing a song," then the artist responded to the comment saying, "I think I should soon," followed up with, "Just one tho, lol." Rihanna fans are now going crazy and are extremely excited at this news from the artist herself. It's been years since she's had a new release. However, Rihanna hasn't been sitting on her laurels; she's been focused on her Fenty Beauty company. Rihanna has entered not only the beauty industry but fashion as well, with her combined companies valued at over $1 billion. Based on her comment post, it looks like she hasn't forgotten her music fans, and we couldn't be more excited and, shall we say hopeful. Sources:Teen Vouge Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: Morning Brew 👆By: Phoebe Bain TL;DR Instagram and Snapchat are copying the Duet feature from TikTok. Last week both Instagram and Snapchat announced that they would come out with a feature TikTok offers. You might recognize it as the "Duet" feature. If you are not on TikTok and not familiar with duets, it is a feature that allows users to make a video in response to other user's videos having theirs next to it. This is a very popular feature on the TikTok app, so it's really no surprise that these other apps are following suit and implementing it as well. In fact, Instagram has reportedly been working on the feature since TikTok launched the duet feature. Instagram's Duet version will be called "Remix this Reel." Snapchat's feature will be available in Snapchat's response tools option on the app rather than available on the homepage of the app, calling it "Remix Snap." Currently, these features are being live-tested with selected users on both apps. This really is just another compliment to the designers of TikTok. Instagram and Snapchat are doing what they can to keep up. Sources:Morning Brew Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: Teen Vouge 👆By: Emily Blotch TL;DR A huge cargo ship blocked one of the busiest trade routes, and the internet did what the internet does...turned it into hundreds of hilarious viral memes. If you didn't see it, a massive ship got stuck in the Suez Canal for a week and the internet went crazy over it. After being stuck for almost a week, the cargo ship was finally freed on a Monday morning, but not before hundreds of memes were created surrounding it. The 220,000-ton cargo container got stuck in one of the busiest waterways in the world when it was knocked off course by heavy winds and a dust storm, causing the ship, which is almost as long as the Empire State Building is tall, to be stuck in the canal. The ship stopping traffic in the waterway was said to have cost $400 million in trade every hour it was stuck. Humanity is funny! The stuck ship memes were almost more outrageous than the problems the ship caused. Example memes such as the boat being labeled "all my issues" compared to the small crane as "an iced coffee." Then the memes got into "at least your issues aren't...we can see them from space bad," followed by a satellite image of the ship blocking the canal. When news hit of the ship being moved, users wrote and asked for it to be put back so that the entertainment it brought the internet wouldn't have to end so quickly. Crazy, we know! If you are having a bad day, you can reflect and think, well, at least you weren't the captain of the stuck ship in a canal costing millions in trade. It really could be worse...Suez Canal worse. Sources:Teen Vouge Written by: Sofia Christensen, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: Social Media Today 👆By: Andrew Hutchinson TL;DR Twitter is changing yet again how users can get verified on their platform. Twitter has officially announced that they will reopen their public applications for profile verification. This is excellent news for those looking for that little blue checkmark right next to their username. Who doesn't want to seem uber-official? The application process has been on pause since 2017 due to controversy over who had ownership and rights to certification. In December 2020, Twitter set up new regulations for the procedure, making sure there were clear guidelines for those getting the verified tick mark. Those eligible are companies, brands, news, government, entertainment, sports, activists, organizers, non-profits, and other influential individuals. Think of your favorite celebrity, sports team, or clothing brand; they probably have that little blue check! Although this list seems somewhat lengthy, most people will likely qualify to be eligible for this platform endorsement. Twitter plans to extend the qualifications requirements in the future, expanding the opportunity to scientists, academics, religious leaders, and more. The platform is even considering giving unique labels to those in the humor and satire industry. Now that the process is more legitimized, users can have a better experience knowing with whom they are connecting and what the blue checkmark represents. Being verified is a significant accomplishment, and we're happy that Twitter has reopened the process so that more users have this opportunity. Who knows, maybe you'll qualify! Should Twitter keep the application process open to the public? We would like to hear what you think in the comments below. Sources:Social Media Today Written by: Naia Mader, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: Dazed 👆 TL;DR Have you heard about the app Snack? Yes? No? Well, we're going to tell you all about it. Meet "Snack," the newest video-led dating app developed to create more authentic connections between users. The app targets a Gen Z audience with more videos versus images, giving the user a realistic and closer look at a potential partner. How does it work? Users post videos to their feed and can direct message each other through the 'like' feature. With $3.5 million in funding, Snack's launch in February 2021 to date is showing great promise. Snack's idea of using videos is brilliant. Users broadcast a more honest, unfiltered, and detailed sneak peek of who they are. We all know it can be not easy to gauge whether you like someone by just a few photos and a short bio. That's why Snack offers the video option to look closely to see if lifestyle and passions are compatible. The app has been compared as a crossover between Tik Tok and Tinder. It allows you to share and stream your life in real-time, something we all love to do. As we all know, authenticity is more expressed through videos, and we recommend this dating method. Standard dating apps can sometimes be misleading; you want to avoid having an awkward coffee date with someone who presented themselves differently online. Snack's videos are a game-changer and help to prevent all the "catfishing" and fakeness that comes with online dating. For those looking for love, we recommend you join the Snack app. Do you like the video aspect? Leave us comments below with your thoughts. Sources:Dazed Written by: Naia Mader, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: Forbes 👆By: William Arruda TL;DR Standing out on LinkedIn can be challenging but follow these tips, and you'll easily glow up your profile. We all know LinkedIn is the place to showcase your professional life. What does that mean for you? It's essential to put extra effort into maintaining your profile. Here are some easy enhancements to help you stand out in the crowd on LinkedIn. First, LinkedIn now allows your headline to be up to 220 words, double the limit previously. This is an excellent opportunity to say a little bit more about yourself. Second, you can customize your background image. Canva is a fantastic app for this allowing the creation of a customizable template for LinkedIn banners. Take advantage of this step because branding your background will help you stand out in the massive sea of LinkedIn users. Third, update your "About" section to be a combination of your experiences, values, accomplishments, and passions. Tell your story; it's essential to showcase your talents as credible and likable, but most importantly, just be you. We suggest you focus more on your first three lines because those lines are static on your page before someone clicks "see more." Fourth, make sure to fill up your "Featured" section, showing off all the great work you've accomplished. If you're not a graphic designer or copywriter, no problem, take a video of yourself talking about a great project you've worked on or give tips and tricks to what you do. Not only will you add value to others, but you'll also showcase your knowledge and personality. Now that you've updated your profile, it's time to engage with others more than you already do. Go ahead and congratulate your fellow connections on their success and achievements. Write that recommendation if you think someone did a great job you've worked with. Here's a great tidbit of information; if you've given enough suggestions, LinkedIn adds the brand tribute of "generous" to the words people use to describe you. Who doesn't want that on their profile? The bonus to giving recommendations is that people will usually reciprocate, which builds stronger connections for you and builds on that positivity. We hope these tips are helpful to you. If you have any other tips to share, we'd love to hear about them. Please leave us a comment below. Sources:Forbes Written by: Naia Mader, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: BBC News 👆By: Mark Savage TL;DR Olivia Rodrigo is taking over the Gen Z pop scene, sharing her relatable emotions in her music. If you've been on social media for the past couple of months, then you are probably well aware of Olivia Rodrigo's recent success. Considered 2021's breakout star, the 18-year-old rose to fame with her hit single "Driver's License," breaking all kinds of records, including Spotify's record for the most streams in a single day. She recently released her debut album "Sour," on May 21st, which is already receiving praise and inspiring many Gen Z teens going through similar experiences. The success of the album is proving she's no, 'one-hit-wonder! Given her past acting on the Disney Channel, her new work on High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, and the fact that she's been taking vocal lessons since she was a kindergartener, Rodrigo has grown up to be a natural-born performer. Her secret that's not so secret? Olivia does not shy away from her vulnerable emotions. In fact, she wholeheartedly embraces her emotions. She says writing down her sadness, anger, and insecurities helps to manage her love life. The bonus for her fans is that she helps them do the same with her music. This Gen Z phenom says her relatability is through her experience of heartache in her authentic delivery. And the connection listeners make with her music is why she leaped to fame. At the rate she is going, Olivia Rodrigo could very well be the next Taylor Swift! What do you think? Sources:BBC News Written by: Naia Mader, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: BBC News 👆By: Steven McIntosh TL;DR The 2021 Emmys are just around the corner, and we predict that the underdog, the Limited Series category, may have higher chances of swooping wins than one may think. The biggest night of the year for TV is coming up, and we are excited to see who the competition is. The eligibility window just closed on Monday for the 2021 Emmys, so audiences have a pretty good gauge of who may or may not win. Some predict that last year's biggest TV hits will be in the limited series category. This is somewhat unique as the top prizes are usually given to those in the best comedy or drama. Comedy contenders include The Flight Attendant, which follows Kaley Cuoco's character as she battles to prove her innocence after being stuck in the middle of a complex murder case. Other popular comedy shows include Black-ish, Ted Lasso, The Kominsky Method, and Pen15. Now onto the drama queens! Shows like the Crown and Bridgerton have been all the rave this year, so we predict they will have a good chance of racking up some awards. How can you snub the ever-so-popular Regé-Jean Page? Ratched, Perry Mason, and Lovecraft Country are other dramas to count in the race. As mentioned previously, the limited series category is where we predict all actions. TV series such as The Undoing, Wanda Vision, and Mare of Easttown are fan favorites. The Queen's Gambit is especially a giant hit with audiences as Anya Taylor-Joy's acting as chess prodigy Elizabeth Harmon was showstopping. We are excited to see who steals the show at the ceremony on September 19th. What TV shows do you think to have a chance of winning an Emmy? Could you tell us your predictions below? Sources:BBC News Written by: Naia Mader, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: Forbes 👆By: Barry Collins TL;DR Have you heard that Apple may be accepting Cryptocurrency in the near future? We're here to tell you all about what that may look like. According to new job ads, Apple may be accepting Cryptocurrency in the near future. Why do we think this? The new job openings require experience working with alternative payment providers. This most likely means they would oversee the Apple Pay and iPhone Wallet feature. The job title, "Business Development Manager - Alternative Payments,' also suggests that Apple is looking for someone who does not specialize in mainstream payment solutions. The wave of the future? Maybe? The new possibility of Cryptocurrency for Apple would create plentiful opportunities. It would be the market's strongest endorsement to date! Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, is currently the biggest backer of cryptocurrencies; however, Apple's possible entry would drive demand for crypto tremendously. Despite higher demands and endorsements, there are some adverse environmental side effects. Iran just declared a four-month ban on cryptocurrency mining as unlicensed miners took advantage of cheap electricity to run massive mining rigs. This caused extremely high electricity demand, which created many internal problems within the country. Cryptocurrency is a complex topic; it can be great for financing or can result in scamming. Overall, it is a high-risk investment that has the possibility of a positive payoff that can make you money. What do you think of Apple possibly accepting Cryptocurrency in the near future? Leave us comments below with your thoughts! Sources:Forbes Written by: Naia Mader, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: Pure Wow 👆By: Sydney Meiste TL;DR TikTok's influence has the power to shift current style trends yet again. We all know that TikTok can massively affect mainstream trends. The app shapes clothing styles and accessories; users always look for the newest craze. It's even starting to influence room decor as Gen Z is currently obsessed with the "cottagecore aesthetic." TikTokers have begun to show off their love for macramé, which is a versatile and stylish decoration. Macramé, which was born in the 13th century, is a form of textile produced through different types of knots. Its origins stem from Arabic weavers who used hand looms to make 'migramah,' otherwise known as fringe. It's crazy that it's still trending today! Macramé can be used to make bags and fabrics and wall hangers to display plants and pots. It can serve almost any decorative purpose one desires which prove its versatility. This art of knotting combines ancient and modern methods, creating a style that's fitting for everyone. TikTokers showing off how they decorate their rooms with macramé has created a 3,200% increase for the word in Google's search data! It's incredible how a Gen Z-based app such as TikTok can drastically impact current trends. Would you decorate your room with macramé? We personally love this "old" new trend, and yes, we know it's not for everyone. Do you like the influence TikTok holds, or do you think the app is too powerful? Let us know in the comments below. Sources:Pure Wow Written by: Naia Mader, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: Teen Vogue 👆By: P. Claire Dodson TL;DR "Gossip Girl" is back on HBO Max with a brand new plot and cast, but it still has all the same juicy drama we know and love. HBO Max's "Gossip Girl" Reboot trailer just dropped, and fans are going crazy! We are all familiar with the original TV series, first released in 2007, starring fan favorites Blake Lively, Ed Westwick, Leighton Meester, and Penn Badgley. Now it's back with a new cast and reimagined plot. Although we will miss familiar characters and storylines, the new teaser hints at an all-new drama-filled narrative. The iconic and original Kristen Bell narrates the trailer as we see the camera pan around the fully glammed characters in slow motion. We see new cast members such as Zion Moreno and Savannah Smith whispering mysterious secrets, Evan Mock and Emily Alyn sharing an intimate embrace, and Jordan Alexander and Eli Brown posing for a ring-light selfie. The short trailer ends with the all too familiar 'Gossip Girl' phone alert. This snippet left fans wanting more, and the good thing is that we won't have to wait long. The reboot premieres on July 8th of this year! The new show will still have the juicy high school drama; however, it'll take a closer look at what privilege looks like in the Upper East Side. As Gen Z is much more progressive than when the original Gossip Girl came out, it'll be interesting to see how the show's new take on young people. We think this new version will be mega-packed with mystery, drama, love, and exploring what it's like to be a teen in our modern Gen Z world. What character are you most excited to watch in the reboot? Leave us a comment down below. XOXO, Engage Youth Co 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: Social Media Today 👆By: Andrew Hutchinson TL;DR Do you want to learn how to grow a small business? TikTok might be the perfect space for you. In TikTok's 'Behind the Business Series,' we are given many tips for Small and Medium Businesses (SMBS) that help use the platform within their marketing. This series emphasizes techniques to help your TikTok videos stand out amongst the rest. The first video highlights the criteria needed to see if your business is right for TikTok. The series then gives the best feedback from actual SMB owners and how they achieve success on the app. These content creators focus on essential points such as creating a brand that is a reflection of the world we live in, producing authentic content, and giving your audience a sense of your brand's personality. We recommend checking out these short clips, which are around a minute and a half and are an excellent start for SMBS to build a presence on the app. Other essential elements that SMBS owners touch upon; the app is a great vehicle to create a distinct feeling, having people find you, building a relationship, and nurturing that relationship over time. TikTok is arguably the best app for SMBS owners to gain traction. ThisThisThis introduction video series is worth the watch. The app is predicted to reach over one billion active users this year! Are you having thoughts about starting a small business, or do you know someone who owns one? Leave us your comments about the 'Behind the Business Series' below! Sources:Social Media Today 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

📷 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: CNN👆By: Jackie Wattles TL;DR Would you pay $28 million to go to space with Jeff Bezos? Learn all about the 11-minute and 62-mile orbit up and around the upper atmosphere. Thinking of traveling to space anytime soon? All you need is a whopping $28 million dollars! That’s the price to pay to be onboard New Shepard’s inaugural crewed mission to space. And...you get to travel into suborbital space with none other than Jeff Bezos. The sought-after spot was snatched up on Saturday when the month-long auction came to a close. Ariane Cornell, Blue Origin’s sales director, confirmed that 7,600 people from 159 countries were able to register and place a bid. How is this high price a good thing? Blue Origin’s ticket sales to the general public for the momentous event, alongside the auction money, will be used to promote science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education for the youth. The name of the lucky passenger has yet to be revealed. Nonetheless, we assume they are excited; who wouldn’t want to go to space with the world's richest man? The New Shepard takes off on July 20th from Van Horn, Texas, and will only be in space for approximately 11 minutes. The company has tested the New Shepard, the 60-foot-tall rocket, roughly 15 times since 2015 to ensure its safety. Due to the shortened time, the rocket will only travel 62 miles above Earth. This condensed launch will give the passengers a brief feeling of weightlessness, similar to the experience of reaching the peak of a roller coaster hill before shooting down again to the lower atmosphere. Is this short trip truly worth the $28 million it was auctioned off for? Would you choose to go to space? Is the money well spent? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below! Sources:CNN Written by: Naia Mader, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: The Verge👆By: Tom Warren TL;DR Xbox is back and better than ever with 'Halo Infinite,' which now offers a brand new multiplayer feature! We have the latest intel on the brand-new multiplayer feature for Halo’s Infinite; users will most certainly be excited. The new game will launch on Xbox One, Xbox Series X / S, and PC in the later months of 2021. This new mode will allow you and your friends to play the free multiplayer version across countless platforms using cross-progression and crossplay. Halo Infinite will additionally offer a battle pass that essentially never expires after you purchase it, saving people a lot of money! The game also allows users to purchase old season passes and which battle pass they want. The new multiplayer version heavily focuses on armor, weapons, academy, training, and especially more customizations. When players are qualified to earn different customizations, they can even pick details down to their character's voice or prosthetics; how cool is that?! There are also millions of options for customizing players’ weapons and armor. With this, you can switch up coatings, effects, emblems, visors, knee pads, gloves, shoulders, helmets, and more. The catch, users can only get customizations through tangibly playing the game and reaching new levels, so if you want a brand-new gravity hammer or cool gold armor pads, you better get playing! Let's talk vehicles. The vehicle feature has also been updated and becomes centralized to the battle arena on Halo Infinite. The new Razorback vehicle is able to carry multiple weapons at the rear, which could give users a great advantage. Finally, for those who need more experience, there’s an ‘academy mode’ for players to get used to the game's look, feel, and terminology. This helps people get used to the varying levels of difficulty and understand training partners with the multiplayer version. Be sure to keep an eye out for Halo Infinite this fall; we most certainly are! For those who game, what feature are you most excited about? Let us know in the comments below. Sources:The Verge Written by: Naia Mader, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: Teen Vogue 👆By: De Elizabeth TL;DR Ms. Swift has done it again! She just dropped the release of her new re-recorded album, 'Red (Taylor's Version).' Taylor Swift is an absolute powerhouse. Her discography is a force to be reckoned with as she's re-recording her albums to reclaim legal ownership of her music. Taylor plans to gradually re-release her nine studio albums, surprising fans with release dates. She just announced that her new album Red (Taylor's Version)' will be released on November 19th with more songs "from the vault." This means the new album will have 30 tracks! Swifties are going absolutely crazy. Taylor wrote the additional songs before 2012 to release with the original 'Red' album; however, only some of them made the album. She said she couldn't stop writing songs as this era in her life revolved around emotions of being happy, free, confused, lonely, devastated, euphoric, wild, and tortured by memories past. Taylor also added that this writing and recording 'Red' helped to heal her during some tough times. We're looking forward to hearing the re-recordings and listening to how much this pop star has changed and matured over her many years of fame. Not only do we get 30 songs, but Taylor also dropped that we might be getting a 10-minute-long version of the iconic 'All Too Well!' While we don't want summer to pass by quickly, we cannot wait for November 19th; sad girl, autumn is approaching! Let us know what song you are most excited to hear on the re-recordings. Sources:Teen Vogue Written by: Naia Mader, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: CNN 👆By: Chloe Melas TL;DR After over a year of limited socializing, summer concerts are back! Check to see when and where your favorite artists are performing! Ready to see your favorite band in person again? The wait is over; concerts are in full swing this summer. People are vaxxed and ready to mingle! Artists are starting to take the stage again to perform in front of live audiences now that the Covid-19 pandemic has thankfully slowed down. It may be a little challenging to get used to swarms of people in large and sweaty crowds initially, but concertgoers will get accustomed to their roots in no time. Madison Square Garden kicked off its first reopening show on Sunday with the popular band, The Foo Fighters, and the crowds went absolutely crazy! It was the iconic venue's first show in over 400 days due to the pandemic. The concert wasn't without strict rules and regulations; those attending had to prove they were fully vaccinated. As things slowly start to warm back up, multiple artists have announced concert dates for the summer and later dates in 2021. Some that have made official announcements include Harry Styles, Maroon Five, One Republic, Luke Bryan, Green Day, Fall Out Boy, Chance the Rapper, and more. This is such exciting news as things finally start to feel normal again. Concerts are a staple part of our culture and one of the main ways we socialize. It's been hard to go without that for over a year now! We can't wait to see all our favorite bands and solo singers performing on stage again. Who are you most looking forward to seeing? Let us know in the comments below! Sources:CNN Written by: Naia Mader, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: Social Media Today 👆By: Andrew Hutchinson TL;DR Facebook is testing a brand new public comment feature on Stories that could create some competition between platforms. Facebook has added another layer of engagement with its brand-new option to reply to stories! The new format splits a user's response into two options; one can either leave a public comment that would be seen by all viewers or leave a message that directly goes to the user who posted the story. The message option was previously there; however, Facebook is testing the 'comment' section. While this may seem a pretty minuscule feature, it could have some significant implications. Other massive social media platforms such as Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok have yet to implement this new feature, so this sets Facebook aside in a big way. The public comment section will help solidify engagement between users and companies, overall strengthening connections. Additionally, if users actively respond to comments, others will see that and be more likely to share their thoughts on the story. If the testing goes well, this feature will be a great way to level up your online relationships! This could create some competition between other social media platforms we use. Do you think an app like Instagram will hop on the trend after Facebook? We certainly do. Please let us know what you think in the comments. Sources:Social Media Today Written by: Naia Mader, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: CNN 👆By: Marianne Garvey TL;DR Want to watch the grown-up version of your favorite childhood TV show? The iCarly Reboot just dropped on Paramount+! Do you ever miss watching old Disney or Nickelodeon shows reminiscent of your childhood? The new reboot of 'iCarly' is the perfect antidote for Gen Z, who grew up on those types of comedic TV shows. The brand-new series just dropped its first three episodes on none other than Nickelodeon. It features old and familiar characters like Carly, Freddie, and Spencer; however, there's also an introduction of some new faces. The reboot features new actress Laci Mosley, who plays Carly's roommate, and Jaidyn Triplett, who acts as Freddie's daughter. This old and new cast will join together to celebrate the well-loved show almost 14 years after the original series' debut. The show still has its iCarly roots, but as Miranda Cosgrove says, it's all grown up now. Since the series premiered in 2007, it has left a cultural impact on mass media. There have been countless memes and content surrounding iCarly nearly a decade later. It's exciting to see that viewers have carried on the momentum of the reboot. The current version is more up-to-date on navigating work, family, and love life for the characters in their 20s. You can soon watch the 13-episode season on Paramount+! The show's revival is super exciting news for those who grew up watching the show and are now figuring out life as a young adult, just like Carly. Please give it a watch, and let us know what you think about the first three episodes in the comments below! Sources:CNN Written by: Naia Mader, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: Social Media Today 👆By: Jette-Mari Anni TL;DR TikTok videos just got a whole lot more interesting! Users can now post videos for up to three minutes. New in the world of TikTok, all users can now make and post videos up to three minutes long! This new feature creates endless opportunities for individuals and businesses to market themselves and their products to their audience for ample time. If you're on TikTok, who isn't these days, you understand the struggle of multi-part videos. It's pretty aggravating when a storytime pops up on your FYP, but then you must navigate and locate all the various parts on the user's page. The new, longer format relieves the stress of worrying about condensing storytimes or having them split up into countless videos. We are pumped for all users to be able to create a whole new range of content in the new three-minute feature. What are your thoughts? Does the time extension generate more opportunities, or does this potentially make videos boring? Let us know! Sources:Social Media Today Written by: Naia Mader, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: Teen Vogue 👆By: Brittney Mcnamara TL;DR Pop star Ariana Grande is aiding the public in giving away $2 million in free therapy. Thank You, Ariana! Mental health is a topic that we should constantly and casually be talking about. This week Ariana Grande announced she would be giving away $2 million to help bring free therapy to the general population. The pop singer partnered with the digital therapy app, BetterHelp, to help raise awareness and give people access to these resources that should be readily available to the public. The donation will enable users across the platform to receive one month of free therapy! Ariana is a mental health advocate herself, having gone through some dramatic events over the past couple of years. She encourages people struggling to "dip a toe in, to feel okay asking for help, and to rid your minds of any self-judgment hopefully." One in five adults experiences some mental illness; however, only 45% will seek treatment each year. Not only is the cost of therapy a hindrance, but the social stigma behind it also prohibits people from reaching out and seeking the professional help they need. The celebrity is taking a significant step in the right direction. Her hefty donation will lower the barrier of entry enough for someone to start a long therapy journey or even provide relief for someone in need. Ariana's $2 million in donations will most certainly make a difference in mental health. Here at Engage Youth, this topic is critical to GenZ and all generations. What is your take on therapy? Let us know in the comments below. Sources:Teen Vogue Written by: Naia Mader, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: The Verge 👆By: Ashley Carman TL: DR Every user on Instagram can now put links in their story, enabling a more inclusive community for those businesses and individuals looking to grow their accounts! Instagram is starting to allow users to post a swipe-up link to their story. The new test for the platform could drastically change how stories are used. This is exciting news! This swipe-up is different from the original feature and instead offers a sticker instead of a swipe. Users will also be able to respond to stories that include the sticker, a feature that was unavailable before, for the stories with the link swipe-up. This new feature could genuinely change the dynamic of how profiles interact with each other. Only accounts with 10,000 followers or more could link various things to their stories which made this tool very selective. Now, it'll give more access to smaller businesses, organizations, nonprofits, and individuals who want to grow their brand and their platform base. According to Vishal Shah, the test is to help people learn how to take advantage of links. Instagram will be watching the category of users and the links they post while keeping a close watch on who is spreading misinformation and spamming. Shah also says that keeping the sticker, even for those with 10k + followers, is the ultimate. Using links in stories gives each user a voice and reach on the platform and overall creates a more inclusive environment that's not limited to follower count. What is your take on the new feature? Do you think users will be consistently using it? Let us know in the comments below! Sources:The Verge Written by: Naia Mader, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: Teen Vogue 👆By: Teen Vogue Staff TL;DR Netflix is finally putting fan-favorite TV Shows and Movies on their platform this July. Get ready to binge-watch! We hope you are just as excited as we are for all the new movies and TV shows on Netflix. This month, the platform will have enough content to ensure you always have options for summer movie nights. Unfortunately, in the past, Netflix has gotten rid of fan favorites such as the classic TV series Friends. Despite this significant loss, summer will be a big comeback for Netflix by offering more options in all genres. Twilight fans, you are in for a treat! All five Stephenie Meyer movies are arriving on July 16th. You only have a couple of days to plan out your binge-movie marathon. This franchise is incredibly successful and loved by so many. Fans are also ecstatic for season 2 of Outer Banks, which drops at the end of the month on July 30th. Never Have I Ever, Fear Street, Austin Powers, Charlie's Angels, Kung Fu Panda, Love Actually, Mortal Kombat, Star Trek, Stuart Little, Grey's Anatomy, and Django Unchained are just a few of the more popular titles that will be added this month. Let us know what movies and TV shows you are most excited to see when everything drops on the platform in July! We love Netflix and look forward to all the great additions to this streaming service. Sources:Teen Vogue Written by: Naia Mader, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: Social Media Today 👆By: Andrew Hutchinson TL;DR Are you ready for a new way to communicate? Look no further; introducing 'Soundmojis!' Big news! Messenger has announced the brand new launch of their new 'Soundmojis.' This exciting feature allows users to play a short audio clip instead of simply just words or emojis. This is an alternative way to express a message when words cannot do the job. By launching this, Facebook has created another interactive element for users to engage. Messenger users can send anything creative, from crickets, drumrolls, clapping, and audio clips from their favorite song, TV show, or movie! This creates an entirely new way to engage with your audience and give it a personal touch. According to statistics, people send over 2.4 million emojis daily on Messenger, so why not give it some extra pizzazz? Additionally, studies show that 88% of TikTok users said sound is essential to the app's experience. This new feature could indeed heighten the Messenger experience. What 'Soundmojis' are you looking forward to sending? Check your 'Soundmoji' options once you've updated the Messenger app by tapping on the smiley face and selecting the loudspeaker icon. Sources:Social Media Today Written by: Naia Mader, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: Social Media Today 👆By: Andrew Hutchinson TL;DR Snapchat just launched courses in digital marketing expertise. We recommend you take them! The Snap Focus education platform now has a new feature. Social media marketers can now highlight their Snap ads knowledge through their new official certification method. For those who don't know, Snap Focus is a series of courses and certifications that help you to plan, buy, and run efficient Snapchat campaigns. One can learn the basics of marketing through hands-on experience and specialization courses for your area of expertise. This new education platform advertises its five key elements; drive full-funnel results, win bids in the auction, reach your audiences, activate cross-channel measurement, and launch a split-test campaign. These are each individual courses that only take roughly 30 minutes to complete to keep things pretty simple. If you meet all of them and pass the final exam at the end, you are eligible to receive your own Snapchat certification badge! This looks great on your profile, as it shows your industry knowledge and a deeper understanding of the tools needed to launch successful campaigns. Snap Focus is a free service and can only benefit you as an individual or your business in digital marketing. It's a great new feature, and did we mention it's free...yes we did! Would you take the Snap Focus courses? Could you tell us your thoughts in the comments below? Sources:Social Media Today Written by: Naia Mader, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: Social Media Today 👆By: Andrew Hutchinson TL;DR Looking to grow your small business? Check out TikTok's 'Small Biz Block Party! Do you run or know someone who owns a small business? TikTok's 'Small Biz Block Party' could be the perfect opportunity to promote your business and expand your ideas to larger audiences. The app runs a nationwide, 20-event virtual workshop series that aids small business owners through advice from experts. The goal is to give American business owners a chance to broaden their horizons and receive the same opportunities given to prominent and wealthy entrepreneurs. The virtual events series will take place from August 5th to November 18th this year. The setup is simple; small business owners and their teams are invited to attend the hour-long listening session with experts. TikTok will even feature a segment called 'hometown heroes' in which famous entrepreneurs from their region of the country will share their keys to success. Check out TikToks website to get ahold of all the dates and times for the over-month-long events. We think this could be a huge advantage for small businesses. TikTok's popularity is skyrocketing by the minute. If you learn how to market your business on that app, you can master almost anything with social media-related videos. Let us know your thoughts about the Small Biz Block Party in the comments below! Sources:Social Media Today Written by: Naia Mader, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: The Verge 👆By: Joey Roulette TL;DR Gen Z 18-year-old Oliver Daemen is now the youngest person to go to space. Remember the $28 million Blue Origin auction winner we told you about that was supposed to go to space with Jeff Bezos? Well, it turns out the lucky victor turned down the opportunity because of a scheduling conflict. Who can't make time to go to space? As most of the world knows, the new passenger on the suborbital trip departed and landed just recently on July 20th. The mission was successful, and the four crew on board said they enjoyed every minute of it. The Gen Z, 18-year-old Oliver Daemen, who replaced the auction winner, got to travel alongside Jeff Bezos, Mark Bezos, and Wally Funk. The Dutch teenager is the son of a prominent private equity executive and the youngest person to ever fly to space. Daemen is the first paying customer of Blue Origin. However, the company has not disclosed the family's price to get on board. It was the 16th successful flight for the New Shepard flight, although it was the first launch with actual passengers on board. Blue Origin plans to launch at least three more flights with science payloads and passengers by the end of 2021. What are your thoughts on the space race? We think it's pretty crazy that the anonymous auction winner chose to skip because it failed to fit their schedule. Do you think they got cold feet? Let us know about your thoughts on new Gen Z passenger Oliver Daemen and the successful New Shepard flight that recently took place. Sources:The Verge Written by: Naia Mader, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: Luis Goya - Georgia high school football players (L-R) Cesar Parker, Treyvon Adams, Antwion Carey, Messiah Daniels, Tyson Brown, Alto Moore 👆 TL;DR: GenZ high school football players rush to help and save an elderly woman trapped in her car from an accident. Have you heard this feel-good story about GenZ football players saving lives? Six high school football players, Cesar Parker, Treyvon Adams, Antwion Carey, Messiah Daniels, Tyson Brown, and Alto Moore, worked together to save an elderly woman in an accident trapped in her car. The Football players from Rome, Georgia, got out of their vehicles from different vantage points at the intersection and rushed to help upon arriving at the scene. Luis Goya, a teacher at the boy's high school, described the scene in a social media post: "This morning, I witnessed something amazing that our Rome High Football players did," he wrote, sharing photos of the aftermath. "While I was in front of the school during my morning duty, I heard a loud noise at the intersection that appeared to be a wreck. While I was running to the intersection, I noticed that two cars were involved. There was a 50-year-old lady trapped in her car and couldn't get out. Smoke started to come out of the car, and fluid started to spill everywhere in the intersection. The door was jammed and in terrible shape." These high school football players worked together to get the lady out of her car, prying open the driver-side door. What great role models! In our post-covid world, our community engagement and community service have begun to return to normal...whatever that means? After years of isolation, going back to face-to-face contact and reading about GenZ doing good for others gives us hope. We are beginning to see a trend of selflessness among Gen-Z. They are more community-oriented and willing to advocate for causes that don't necessarily impact themselves. It is refreshing to know that we are creating a culture that requires us to care about issues in the world and issues that directly affects people in our surrounding communities. Sources:Today Written by: Bridgette Meshkani, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: Snapchat 👆 TL;DR: Hoping to stay relevant with GenZ's newest popularized app, Snapchat has begun mirroring the features that BeReal offers. Don't have BeReal, or have it and wait for that BeReal notification to go off every day? No need! If you have Snapchat, you're golden. Snapchat has introduced a new feature that offers the same visuals as BeReal. However, Snapchat provides more than just a rectangle on the corner of your screen. Have you ever wanted your BeReal photos to be the same size? Have you ever wanted your BeReal photos in different shapes? Snapchat allows for formats that offer vertical, horizontal, circle picture-in-picture, and green screens that come in all different sizes. This will let you be able to be more creative with your pictures. Although BeReal has been a big part of GenZ's lives recently, Snapchat can still be relevant because it gives everyone a different experience. BeReal only allows you to post once daily, but Snapchat will enable you to post as many times as you want. Snapchat's front and rear-facing camera feature lets you add filters to your photos. Are you selective with whom you want to engage? Snapchat allows you to be selective with whom you wish to receive specific pictures, videos, and messages. It lets you have group chats, private stories, and the most significant incentive, streaks. If you continue sending a Snapchat once a day to the same person, you will have a number next to the person's name indicating how many days in a row you have been sending photos to each other back and forth. This everyday action will form a "streak" between you and your friend. Which do you choose: Snapchat, BeReal, or Both? Sources:TechCrunch Written by: Bridgette Meshkani, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

📷 Image Credit: BeReal social media app screenshot 👆 TL;DR: Amongst GenZ, BeReal is the new social media app to download. Were you one of the 10,000 average users that used BeReal just one year ago? If not, are you now one of the 10 million users that use it? BeReal has blown up ever since GenZ figured out about it. This app sends you a notification every day at a random time and requires that you post a picture of what you are doing at that moment. You have two minutes to post your BeReal before it is considered "late." It reminds me of when you turn in your homework assignment late. This app lets people, brands, and social media influencers post raw content that is unfiltered and in the moment. One image is taken from your front camera while simultaneously taking a picture with your back camera. BeReal even has features that add to that "rawness." This app lets your users know how often you have retaken your picture. Also, it enables you to know if your followers have screenshotted your BeReal. This is the first app to exist that takes a step back from the beauty standards that our society has set forth and forces people to share their unedited selves. Other apps, such as Snapchat and Instagram, have taken on this format of pictures to increase their apps' engagement. Our GenZ Creator Counsel polled a college campus to find out how many students actually downloaded the app. Of the 50 people that asked, over 80% of students said they have the app. When asked those in the 20% why they hadn't downloaded it, the general response was, "I haven't gotten around to it." It seems everyone on campus is aware of the app. It is only a matter of time before other generations hop on board to use and...BeReal. Sources:Social Media Today Written by: Bridgette Meshkani, Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight, COO & Mentor

Gen-Z users are tech-savvy and highly involved with their social media. Which is why they use TikTok to find entertainment, inspiration, and community. We can confidently say that TikTok is one of the most defining platforms that Gen Z identifies with. TikTok's aesthetic and unique video style makes the social site appealing. The platform is highly aligned with this generation's overall desire for more organic, personalized content. What started off as a Gen Z app now spans across Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and soon-to-be Gen Alpha (some Gen A are already on the app through their parents!) No other age group has popularized lingo, songs, or trends in pop culture like the youth of today. Here’s an easy guide explaining the slang behind some of TikTok’s most viral videos and trends.   First, let's start off with some lit visual trends. One thing the following trends have in common is that they capture the imagination. These trends do an awesome job at quite literally painting a picture! Starting strong we have the ‘Tell Me Without Telling Me’ trend. The #tellmewithouttellingme, trend lets creators fix almost anything in a fun way. Typically, the creator will say something like, “Tell me you're in college without telling me you're in college. I'll go first.” We love these videos because the trend is long-lasting and is relatable ‘af’ to every topic!   Here we’ll list out a few more similar trends. Are you into photography? The #WhatImeanwhenIsayI’mfrom, trend shows off your original (OG) roots through the simple use of pictures. This is an efficiency that Gen Z often prefers. We are also loving the #GoogleEarth, trend where we can zoom into beautiful landmarks. Who knows, you might learn a thing or two about geography as well! Ever feel like you’re the star of your own movie? Then the #MainCharacter, trend is for you. This trend on TikTok is a series of videos referencing cliche characters where you can show off their unique and hilarious personalities.   Everyone loves a fit check. Be sure to check out the #OutfitoftheDay, (OOTD) trend to show off your style. We are obsessed with the #Don’tbesurprisedifonedayIjust, trend as it shows off Gen Z’s crazy imagination about living out their dream lives. Who doesn’t want to quit their job and travel the world? There are too many trends to count! More include the #3Dphoto, trend the #AdultSwim, short art film trend and the #shapeshiftlookaliketoacelebrity, trend. These all have incredible potential for the “I’m dead” type of laughs!   Any iconic Tik Tok sound can perk up Gen Z’s ear. Next on the list is audio-based trends! The #Sheeeshhh, trend sound can be used for almost anything. Gen Z typically uses it to show off themselves or their partner; we love confident kings and queens! Do your prefer using DM’s over texting? Turning your #InstaDMs, into inspirational quotes and reading them pokes fun at some of the crazy messages on the internet. It does indeed ‘go down in the DM’s!’ We are living for the trend of #lip-syncing to Taylor Swift’s ‘All Too Well.’ Who doesn’t love a good TS bop? Next in line is the #Iwasbusythinkingbout, trend. Tik Tokers lipsync those words and follow it up with something random they’ve been thinking about. This can get pretty creative. The most recent #MaterialGirl, trend is a perfect example of how something so simple can create hilarious content. Creators just use this catchy, one-line sound and put a video where they feel like an absolute boss.   Tik Tok has more trends that fall into just visual or audio-based categories. There are endless types of videos users can create! For example, recreating chef Emily Mariko’s #salmonricebowl, has been all the buzz recently. We are absolutely living for it! Users also reenact her facial expressions as she takes a bite of her creations. Eating yummy food is a trend we can definitely get behind! Gen X’er Carla Rockmore also defies typical trends. At 54 years old Carla is killing the style game. She became popular because of her trend to bizarrely mix and match clothing pieces. Millennial Emily and Gen X’er Carla just goes to show how popular different generations can be on this app. While it’s clear that Gen Z owns Tik Tok trends, Gen X and Millenials have hopped on the bandwagon. The app is even more special because these generations are bringing their own style of humor, insight, and creativity. At Engage Youth Co. our job is to keep you posted with the latest trends and we hope we did just that. TikTok is the gateway to Gen Z’s mind. If you want a peek inside their humor, just open the app!   Sources: https://invideo.io/blog/tiktok-trends/ Written by: Naia Mader EYC Intern Edited by: Lisa Knight Source: The Bark Blog

Teens and young adults aka Gen Z are able to spill the tea on just about every binge-worthy series. There are endless amounts of possibilities for young viewers to stream. Many recent shows have done a fantastic job capturing the Gen-Z experience, viewing diverse and emotionally compelling storylines. Shocking or not shocking, here are the top 7 Generation Z shows that have massive viewership! What’s important to them is that they can’t get enough of shows that feel authentic, have diversity, have relatable humor and plot lines, and something they can identify with. Let’s dive in! 7. Euphoria First up we have the mind-blowingly relatable series, Euphoria, which first premiered in the summer of 2019. We are so excited that the new season came out, starring big-name celebrity Zendaya! Check out the first few episodes on HBO Max. Euphoria is a series about a group of high school students who learn lessons through their experiences with drugs, sex, love, and relationships. It covers a range of pressing everyday issues that high school teenagers face, showing the raw ups and downs; and they aren’t afraid to sugarcoat it. Gen Z is obsessed! 6. Bridgerton Next up, we have Bridgerton, a period drama with a modern twist. Who would have thought we would bop to Ariana Grande’s ‘Thank You, Next,’ by a string quartet band? Bridgerton is precisely what many young viewers are looking for. The clothing is fantastical, the scenery is opulent, and the show carries us to a nostalgia of time that we can only dream of. If you are drama hungry, you’ll love this diverse and beautiful ensemble cast. Everyone loves a good secret, if you know, you know. If you don’t, check it out. Season 2 is coming this March! 5. Sex Education ‘Sex Education,’ the awkward and hilarious show, has been grabbing young viewers’ attention left and right. With its raunchy humor and honest insight into the reality of teenagers’ romantic lives, it’s been dominating Netflix’s Top 10. Never underestimate the power of the Gen Z effect. A coming-of-age comedy that got it’s viewership for its open and honest depictions of sexuality in young people. With 3 seasons under its belt, season 4 is being renewed this year! 4. You Who would’ve thought we would be binging a series about a serial stalker? The Netflix series ‘You’ shows some of Gen Z’s stalking fascinations taken to the next level. Joe Goldberg, played by Penn Badgley, the main character (and psycho might we add) makes cringeworthy decisions we can’t stop watching. It’s hard to root for him, but that’s why this suspense thriller is so addicting to young viewers. If this is your cup of tea, check out the crazy if you haven’t already! 3. Maid The new series on the block, Maid, has totally been flying under the radar until now. The storyline focuses on a woman named Alex, dealing with a string of unfortunate events in her life. Alex, played by Margaret Qualley, stars alongside her TV and real-time mom Andie MacDowell. The bonding mother-daughter storyline is relatable to Gen Z. Props to her for acting with her mom. We love a nepotism baby duo! If you want a heart-wrenching story and are in for a good cry or two, be sure to check it out on Netflix. 2. Riverdale Are you a comic book fan? The series Riverdale follows the original plotline of the drama-filled Archie Comics. If you crave mysterious adventures, love triangles, and unexpected surprises, you’ve come to the right place. We would best describe Riverdale as a quirky thriller. Right up Gen Z’s alley! It has an OMG factor! You can completely relate to the characters in this show. Anything can happen; we are still just as confused about the whole ‘Gargoyle King’ as well, trust us! 1.The Society Wouldn’t you agree that Gen Z’s dream is to live in a town where there are no adults or rules? ‘The Society’ is a mystery thriller show centered on a group of teenagers living in West Ham, Connecticut. They are trying to cope with their new lives as they run their community by themselves after the rest of their population has disappeared. The teenagers defy any adult expectations and do basically whatever they want, whenever they want. Did we forget to mention the part about how they can’t leave the city’s limits? They also have to learn how to run a participatory democracy all while being 18 years old! Big yikes! We hope we helped you find the 7 trendiest shows of Gen Z! Go find your Netflix N’ Chill buddy and binge-watch these killer series. Engage Youth Co always gives you the most up-to-date trends in social media. Stay tuned for what’s to come! Sources:https://www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/gallery/gen-z-tv-showshttps://mashable.com/article/netflix-originals-representation-gen-zImages:Netflix.com

Amidst the sea of struggling retailers, a few brands stand out as industry leaders when it comes to effectively engaging and selling to Gen Z shoppers. These retailers include Supreme NYC (streetwear), GameStop(video games and consumer electronics), and NTWRK (home shopping). They each have one key strategy in common that’s winning the hearts and wallets of today’s youth culture: they create a sense of belonging for shoppers. Each retailer brings Gen Z together in unique ways that are relevant to their targeted young audiences while staying true to its business model. For example, Supreme has done away with outmoded seasonal product releases, and “drops” (launches) new products or smaller, limited-quantity collections every Thursday. This approach drives demand that creates long lines outside of its store, where young people gather in hopes of getting the latest products before they’re sold out. However, the true genius behind this strategy is that the experience of waiting in line itself builds a strong community of passionate fans, who look forward to connecting with other like-minded peers. The brand’s appeal goes far beyond its physical store, however. The exclusivity of the products has fostered a new economy of Gen Z resellers, who sell or trade Supreme items online after they’re no longer available. It works because the strategy is as much about creating a deeper connection and elevating the status of shoppers as it is about the retailer making money. At GameStop, it’s an entirely different strategy to engage and sell to Gen Z shoppers. This national video game retailer builds a strong sense of community by employing incredibly knowledgeable staff known as “associates,” who are authentic experts in the field (many are rising eSports players themselves). The associates create a powerful comfort level among parent buyers, who are often disconnected from the latest gaming trends, products and technologies. It’s also worthy to mention that GameStop has remained nimble enough to pivot into collectibles and other must-have products, which are popular among Gen Z and many multigenerational fandoms. The latest retailer to step in and get it right when it comes to engaging Gen Z shoppers is a drops-driven QVC-like shopping network for the YouTube generation. The company is called NTWRK, and features daily content segments focused on e-commerce sales hosted by creators, musicians and other pop culture figures. NTWRK’s strategy is to create the next wave of video commerce: a mobile-first, home shopping experience that brings curated styles from big personalities directly to consumers. Young shoppers typically want the most exclusive products, content and experiences, yet gaining access can often be a serious challenge. NTWRK is dedicated to making exclusivity more accessible. The first content released was a shopping show hosted by youth culture icons DJ Khaled and Sean Andre. NTWRK is now partnering with top brands in fashion, tech, sneakers, toys and collectibles. Related story: A Marketing Guide for Generation Z 5 Engagement Considerations for Retailers Targeting Gen Z The world is a fast-growing global generation. Look to emerging geographic markets such as Nigeria, Southeast Asia, and Mexico for opportunities to reach some of the largest audiences of Gen Z shoppers. Practice good storytelling. In a world where the greatest prize is attention, content must capture young shoppers’ attention and inspire them to participate and take action. Don’t take Gen Z for granted; they expect authenticity and will quickly see through any lack of relevance. Create retail experiences that elevate a young shopper’s status. Create content and real-world experiences that positively showcase the coolest, most meaningful and original things you’re doing as a brand. This provides young shoppers a currency that can be leveraged to elevate their status. Be where they are; build a presence on emerging social platforms. YouTube, Instagram and Snapchat are among the top social channels for engaging Gen Z. However, the algorithms work against everyone — including retailers trying to reach young shoppers. Consider opportunities to be a “big fish in a small pond” by establishing a presence on fast-growing social platforms like Twitch, Discord, TikTok, and YouNow. You’ll reach millions, and with less algorithm resistance. Future-proof your retail business and embrace the conversational economy. Start developing strategies that use chatbots to create two-way conversations with young shoppers. Focus your efforts on channels those customers are already comfortable using. Gregg L. Witt is a renowned youth marketing strategist and generational expert, author and public speaker. He has spent 17 years in consumer insights, media and youth marketing, and is currently chief strategy officer of Engage Youth Co. He co-authors the insightful new book, “The Gen Z Frequency: How Brands Tune In and Build Credibility,” now available from Amazon and other retailers. Visit www.thinkwithwitt.com.   Article originally published in https://www.mytotalretail.com/article/how-retailers-can-better-engage-and-sell-to-gen-z-shoppers

We conducted hundreds of interviews with Gen Z kids, tweens, teens and young adults and has distilled his findings into a list of youth culture attributes. These generational markers are the identifying traits of what will be the most significant global demographic shift in history. Gen Z Generational Markers: Independent: Gen Z is willing to work hard for success vs the ‘be discovered’ mentality prevalent among their older Millennial siblings. Diverse: As a global cohort, Gen Z is open to all ethnicities, races, genders and orientations. They expect to see those values reflected in their brands, classrooms and media. Engaged: Gen Z is very politically aware and actively involved in supporting environmental, social impact and civil rights causes. They are focused on making the world a better place and want to align with organizations dedicated to making a difference. Activists like Malala Yousafzai are their role models. Knowledge managers: Often misrepresented as having a ‘short attention span,’ Gen Z has developed an ability to quickly filter the mass quantities of information that appear on their screens and decide what is worthwhile and what should be filtered and discarded. Pragmatic: Raised by Gen X parents who experienced a similar childhood shaped by the recession, Gen Z are choosing more pragmatic careers (for example, selecting a legal profession instead of trying to be a YouTuber influencer), are financially conservative and are avoiding the social media privacy pitfalls of Millennials. Personal brands: Unlike Millennials who tended to overshare on social media, young people are managing their presence like a brand; privacy matters and contributes to the popularity of ephemeral social media apps such as Snapchat and Instagram. Collaborative: Whether it is in the classroom using Skype with students in another country, playing Club Penguin or team sports in their backyard, Gen Z has learned early in life the importance of collaboration in both local and distributed (or virtual) environments. Article originally published in azbigmedia.com

Today’s young people tend to be highly individualized and making culturally relevant connections is non-negotiable. If you want to be noticed, followed and garner their attention, find and align with the most relevant groups within youth culture. Successful brand alignment with young people depends, in part, on your organization’s capability to make psychographic and situational context a priority. What does this mean? Many brands default to demographic, geographic and behavioral targeting as their primary filters because they are more convenient, but the reality is that relationships are built in the personal realm. Demographic targeting, such as age, gender and ethnicity, remain a starting point to help organize consumers who are more likely to be a good match with a brand. However, the ultimate goal is audience segmentation that helps us not just organize youth culture, but to understand it. Hyper-individualization is the norm Gen Z is pushing the idea of individualism, sometimes to the point of hyper-individualism. Gen Z defines itself as being more highly individualized than previous generations. This perception is important. Whether or not they truly are the most individual generation of our time is a moot point if they believe they are. It’s interesting when you consider how much exposure they have to the world via the Internet and social media, at a time when they’re developing a sense of self: they may have more options and raw materials to choose from than previous generations. Regardless of studies and statistics, to understand Gen Z’s perspective we have to recognize their self-perception as the most unique generation. A 2017 report by AwesomenessTV found that, “Growing up in a time when intersectionality is the buzzword du jour, [Gen Z] perceive identity on a spectrum — a complex, ever-evolving construction of self rather than a static set of demographic descriptors. Now we are faced with an arsenal of niche, interchangeable and hyper-specific labels …” In fact, there seems to be an infinite number of hybrid subcultures that young people can zero in on and claim as “home.” No identity is too specific or personalized; it can all be made-to-order. Being highly individualized isn’t a barrier to entry or to societal acceptance. One might easily be accepted because of their individuality, instead of being excluded for it. Today’s youth celebrate differences with less judgment or hesitation than previous generations, but it goes beyond just self-expression. Gen Z needs a more flexible identity because they have to adapt to more variety and situations in their lives. Identity is less and less conveyed by a static, stereotypical ‘persona,’ and more by a fluid, evolving, ever-changing condition. We’ve all been in situations where we bring forward a different side of our personality to blend in with others, whether that’s our parents, boss, peers or partners. This is adaptation. Gen Z will try to match themselves to their current situation just like everyone else. Yet, because they’re also at a life stage marked by transition, coming up with the right personality may be more intense, because they’re discovering and defining themselves, as opposed to toggling between more solidified personalities like adults might do. Gen Z is blending characteristics like the pieces in a kaleidoscope. A teenage male entrepreneur who enjoys knitting while he and some friends drive to Coachella is no longer seen as having an identity crisis. He’s making an identity statement. If brands want to connect, they need to understand and adapt to the way that Gen Z defines and identifies themselves. But tuning into the trends and influences that inform Gen Z’s lifestyle and consumer choices means getting out of boardroom comfort zones and into the complexity of youth experience. So, where do we start? Putting alignment into action A brand’s likelihood of building a commercially viable audience is in direct relation to that brand’s ability to identify and connect with the right spectrum of groups within youth culture. The key word here is spectrum. Relying on demographic targeting alone is like casting a net into the water and crossing your fingers. A segmentation method rooted in the lifestyles of youth culture may require more patience and work up front, but it’s far more likely to result in real cultural identification and alignment with the groups that will desire and value what that brand represents. Key stages of youth culture alignment Stage 1: Needs Analysis: Determine the extent of your targeting needs. How big, small, specific, etc. does your audience have to be for a particular offering? Stage 2: Brand and youth personality match: Identify the consumer traits and characteristics you should look for that would be compatible with your brand’s offerings. What qualities do you and your ideal audience share? Stage 3: Identify and prioritize potential subgroups: Develop a list of subgroups that share key personality traits and characteristics with your brand, and determine their alignment with commercial viability for your brand. What groups share these qualities? How deep is the connection, and how commercially viable is that group for your brand? Stage 4: Optimal youth audience definition: How do alignment and commercial viability intersect? Who’s most aligned, who is most viable, and how can you strike the most successful balance? Do you need to sacrifice a little alignment to reach a more profitable group, or will sticking to a smaller group of more aligned youth result in more long-term success? Youth culture alignment tips, takeaways Hyper-individualization is the norm: Gen Z expects unique. When developing creative strategies to reach Gen Z, remember that being highly individualized or even “weird” presents an opportunity to connect with them on their frequency. Traditional demographic targeting models are outmoded. If you really want to get tuned in with this group of individualistic young consumers, focus segmentation strategies on psychographic, lifestyle and situational context as priorities. Embrace the diversity of Gen Z. If you approach Gen Z as a homogeneous entity and fail to appeal to the multitude of segments that comprise it, you’ll be relegated to a limited view of both their world and the motivations behind their decision making….

A powerful social engagement strategy to boost interaction with youthful audiences at retail is to integrate elements of gamification into merchandising, content, social media and event-driven brand experiences. Here’s what Tilly’s is doing right on their ROCK-PAPER-SCISSORS promotion: They’ve aligned with a vendor brand, JanSport and two pop culture influencers, @shonduras and Echosmith’s @sydneysierota, who are actually into both brands (and it shows). Created a simple AR game for customers to interact in two distinct areas in-store (female and male sections) Layered in a traditional (yet effective) sweeps contest with a 20% discount for participation Driving engagement and retail traffic w/ a steady stream of relevant Instagram stories Increasing app downloads and growing their customer database. Best part? It doesn’t feel forced, it’s fun, it creates a sense of belonging and everyone wins!

Establishing trust is absolutely critical when building consumer relationships. The process, while it might not always be easy, doesn’t need to be complicated. Trust in youth culture comes down to a simple equation: Transparency + Authenticity + Action = Credibility. By avoiding pretense or deceit and being true to core beliefs, young people will be more likely to trust in your promise, reliability, and the strength of your company. Trust: prove it. Create content that helps give young people reasons to believe that your brand will deliver what it claims. That it’s reliable, has ethical business practices and that an association will be beneficial to Gen Z by exposing ‘how it’s made’, ‘demonstrations of…’ – it’s about showing, not telling. Why should consumers within the youth culture trust your brand? How do you reinforce your relationship with people who engage in your brand? Are you transparent about your business practices? Does Gen Z view you as an ally or an authority? Do you even know?