Why are we so drawn to social media? The truth behind "perfect" photographed lives

© Your Teen Magazine

Research conducted by the University of Michigan estimated that 210 million people worldwide suffer from chronic addiction to social media. Modern teenagers are living in a new and never-before-seen stage of life, with an entirely different reality than previous generations.

The difference between Gen X and Gen Z is that one generation is growing up with the access to advanced technology that can fit right into our pockets. On one hand, this development is revolutionary, but on the other hand, it can hurt personal growth and human development.

Screen use releases an abundant amount of dopamine to the brain, more than the brain is used to. Family practice physician, Kathryn Lorenz, described prolonged use of electronic devices and the internet, as a “digital drug for our brain.”

Young girls in Ecuador sharing a phone. © Insights \ UIG

A study conducted by Harvard’s Psychology Department reported that we are programmed to feel sensation and a sense of reward after disclosing information about ourselves. And the easiest way to do this is through creating an Instagram post with a picture of ourselves on a Saturday night, or making a Twitter post celebrating a career success.

This opens up issues as well. On social media, we see others succeeding but fail to realize that the perfect human beings in even more beautiful pictures aren’t always succeeding...

The second part of this article is coming soon, along with an introduction to the House of Representatives' TikTok bill.

Check back in on Monday, March 18th by 4:30pm with a new video and more updated content! If you like this article, give it a like and create an account to be notified when the second part is updated.

Share what you think about this issue in the comments to have your ideas featured in Part 2.

Too Smart, Too Rich, and Not Black Enough: Affirmative Action and the U.S. Education System

An often highlighted solution to ending educational inequality is Affirmative Action. Affirmative Action is the effort to increase diversity in both education and the workplace by boosting opportunities to oppressed minorities. It often targets minorities in race, gender, and sexuality. 

Although aspects of affirmative action should be supported to increase minority opportunities, the negative additions of Affirmative Action can easily tug down brighter and more fortunate students.

In July of 2023, the Supreme Court ended the race-based admission process due to the unfair and challenged application processes of both Harvard University and UNC-Chapel Hill.

The sprawling campus of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, ranked #22 nationally, © US News

Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown said about ending race-based admission processes, “...deeming race irrelevant in law does not make it so in life.” She had also made an analogy connecting the decision to the “let them eat cake” outlook on life.

Supreme Court Justice Kentanji Brown, © NBC News

Justice Clarence Thomas also quoted in disfavor of Affirmative Action that, “I hold our enduring hope that this country will live up to its principles that...all men are created equal, are equal citizens, and must be treated equally before the law.”

It may appear as though the Supreme Court decision doesn’t affect us today in our day to day life. But even application-only U.S. High Schools are currently being challenged for their race-based processes.

Last Tuesday, the Supreme Court declined a hearing to address the issues that parents had with the nationally top ranked TJHSST’s race based application process. The application process was accused of being racially discriminatory towards Asian students. 

Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, #5 High School in the Nation (previously #1) © tjToday

Other schools, such as West Point Academy and Boston Latin School, are currently being challenged for their admission processes. This national dilemma of educational and workplace inequity is worrying for the future of U.S. education.

What do you think about Affirmative Action laws? Do you think that Affirmative Action should be restricted or encouraged? At Activating Activists, we believe that the voice of students affected matters most. So share your ideas here.

If you are looking for a free, virtual, and open summer program to hone your writing skills, consider registering for Activating Activists’ summer Young Writers Workshop. This program aims to target students with an interest in bettering writing skills. The power of the pen is the most powerful power of them all. Make sure to register before it’s too late!

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Citations

Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "affirmative action". Encyclopedia Britannica, 20 Feb. 2024, https://www.britannica.com/topic/affirmative-action. Accessed 25 February 2024.S

See more

Cole, Devan. “Affirmative Action: Supreme Court Declines to Hear Challenge to Virginia High School’s “Race-Neutral” Admissions Policy | CNN Politics.” CNN, 20 Feb. 2024, www.cnn.com/2024/02/20/politics/affirmative-action-supreme-court-thomas-jefferson-high-school/index.html.

Quinn, Melissa. “Supreme Court Turns Away Affirmative Action Dispute over Virginia High School’s Admissions Policies - CBS News.” Www.cbsnews.com, 20 Feb. 2024, www.cbsnews.com/news/supreme-court-affirmative-action-virginia-thomas-jefferson-high-school/.

Totenberg, Nina. “Supreme Court Guts Affirmative Action, Effectively Ending Race-Conscious Admissions.” NPR, 29 June 2023, www.npr.org/2023/06/29/1181138066/affirmative-action-supreme-court-decision. Accessed 25 Feb. 2024.

U.S. Department of Labor. “Affirmative Action | U.S. Department of Labor.” Dol.gov, 2019, www.dol.gov/general/topic/hiring/affirmativeact. Accessed 25 Feb. 2024.

C is for Claudette, an unrecognized teenage pioneer in Civil Rights Movement

© Teen Vogue

Claudette Colvin, at the age of 15, was arrested on her return trip from Booker T. Washington in Atlanta, Georgia. Her arrest is often seen as an uncanny resemblance to Rosa Parks. Although both women had refused to give up their bus seats for white individuals, only one name is still circulating today.

Although Claudette Colvin had been charged for three charges due to her actions, two of the three were dropped, leaving only the case of assaulting a police officer to be challenged. Dropping the segregation interference case made it so that civil rights leaders could not directly challenge segregation with Claudette’s case.

Because of this, her uncontrollable feistiness, the civil rights movement eventually dropped Claudette as a representative. After her trials, Claudette found out that she was pregnant with an unknown man. Other reasons Claudette was ostracized was because of her darker skin tone, her age, her gender, and her hair.

Rosa Parks once said that the civil rights unit was not accredited because “If the white press got ahold of that information, they would have [had] a field day. They'd call her a bad girl, and her case wouldn't have a chance.”

In the months following her arrest, Claudette and Rosa Parks began spending time together between youth civil rights movement meetings. Although Claudette’s story was covered up and hidden by the accomplishments of older civil rights leaders, her devotion and dedication should be recognized today.

© The Guardian

Claudette Colvin teaches us that youth can make a difference in their community through the power of drive and belief in change. Claudette believed that she could stand up to bus segregation, and she worked towards doing that. Although her impact was not immediately visible, her actions inspired other Civil rights leaders, and created a ripple of change.

And now, it’s our turn to set the ripple in effect. Together, we can establish a group of individuals dedicated to making a difference and inflicting change into society. The question is, who will be the one to toss the first stone?

© Oprah Daily

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Works Cited

Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Claudette Colvin". Encyclopedia Britannica, 20 Dec. 2023, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Claudette-Colvin. Accessed 13 February 2024.Copy Citation

Laughland, Oliver. “Claudette Colvin: The Woman Who Refused to Give up Her Bus Seat – Nine Months before Rosa Parks.” The Guardian, 25 Feb. 2021, www.theguardian.com/society/2021/feb/25/claudette-colvin-the-woman-who-refused-to-give-up-her-bus-seat-nine-months-before-rosa-parks.

Theoharis, Jeanne. “Claudette Colvin | the Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks.” Rosaparksbiography.org, 2022, rosaparksbiography.org/bio/claudette-colvin/.

Wikipedia Contributors. “Claudette Colvin.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 28 Oct. 2019, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claudette_Colvin.