Grace ChenJournalist based in Vancouver, B.C. who is passionate about storytelling, seeking the truth and sharing it with the world.
Written Works
Queen's Journal Articles
‘My Mind & Me’ opens conversation around mental health Selena Gomez normalizes struggles faced globally in new documentary Selena Gomez released her newMy Mind & Medocumentary on Nov. 22, available on Apple TV+ and in select theatres. The phenomenal film details Selena’s upbringing, her life of stardom, and her mental health struggles within the industry.
The film traces Gomez’s life over the past six years, marking her struggles of being diagnosed with lupus and bipolar disorder and navigating her kidney transplant in 2017. It depicts intimate scenes in which her conditions taking a toll on her mental health and interactions with her loved ones.
It offers the audience an in-depth glance at not just Gomez’s personal life, but the dark sides of the entertainment industry that don’t always make it into the limelight, like the pressures artists face to succeed.
Importantly, the documentary spotlights the pervasive nature of mental health in our society—one that doesn’t discriminate based on status or wealth. Selena Gomez is one of the world’s biggest, wealthiest, and most-followed celebrities, but this doesn’t save her from the struggles so many people around the world face.
My Mind & Me exposes the falsehood that having money and fame means you have a perfect life.
The film is filled with heavy, painful moments, such as scenes of Gomez checking into treatment facilities and clips of the manic episodes she has had after performances.
Her transparency and vulnerability aid in sparking conversations worldwide around mental health. Gomez’s openness about her mental health is crucial given the stigma surrounding mental health. Mental health is still a very taboo subject, even though millions of people in the world struggle with it.
We often put celebrities on a pedestal—one that sees them absent of flaws. The documentary deconstructs this pedestal by showing how the rich and famous, like Selena Gomez, struggle with their mental health as well.
This sheds light on how pervasive these difficulties are and helps normalize the conversation around mental health. If we can see someone living a life of stardom and luxury face the same challenges we do, we can begin to feel less stigma when discussing our own personal struggles.
It was a courageous act for Gomez to share her story. She told interviewers she was about to pull the plug for this right before release, but her strength to release it to the world regardless was a powerful move.
Indeed, voicing one’s truth isn’t easy, especially for celebrities who have a platform and audience constantly watching them. For this reason, not every famous person chooses to speak up, but when they do, it’s an act of courage that benefits the community overall.
Other celebrities should take note of Gomez’s courage and come forth with their stories too—if they’re comfortable doing so. Their commentary makes the largest impact given the pedestal we give them. Their words can move mountains.
The final year of university can be daunting for students, but for Alexa Bjerknes, it’s a time of hopefulness.
Fourth-year Fine Arts student (BFA ’20), Bjerknes talked about her first experiences with art, her current inspirations, and her hopes for the new school year.
Bjerknes is a Kingston local. Growing up here in the Limestone City, she found inspiration for her artwork from the environment around her.
“It’s so nice to go out on nature walks and hikes. Seeing little things like mushrooms and fungi especially are so cool,” said Bjerknes.
Drawing from the natural elements of her surroundings, Bjerknes first started experimenting with art when she was a little girl. She says she was 11 years old, sitting in her living room, when her little sister got a brand-new toy rocking horse.
Watching her sister play with her new toy, she started sketching.
It was her grandma who gave Bjerknes her first compliment on her artwork. Feeling affirmed, the artist continued to work on them.
Ever since then, Bjerknes has drawn inspiration from the world around her.
“I want to paint a pretty picture and have something nice to look at, but I actually want people to spend time looking at it and not think[ing], ‘Oh, that’s just another painting,’ she said. “I want them to see the intricacies in them.”
Bjerknes thinks her fourth year is the perfect time to focus on improving her technique in painting more intricate subjects and details within large-scale paintings.
Currently, she’s working on larger pieces than usual, though they’re still grounded in her signature natural imagery.
“If I were to describe it, it would be on the more realistic side of things. There are a lot of landscapes, earthy colours, and natural colours,” said Bjerknes.
While she draws inspiration from all things in nature, she’s especially enthusiastic about her work focusing on her horses.
Bjerknes’ horses are a major source of her happiness and inspiration. They even factored into her decision to come to Queen’s to study fine arts.
“I kind of threw all my eggs in one basket and went to Queen’s because I live here, and because I didn’t want to be far away from my horses. I love being a Kingstonian,” she explained.
After being at the University for three years, Bjerknes hopes to spend her final year focusing on refining her skills, preparing to enter the working world, and focusing on the themes that matter most to her.
When people view her work, Bjerknes hopes that her concern for the earth shines through and encourages a sense of urgency around environmental awareness.
“One of my pieces was of power lines going through this beautiful landscape and they’re obstructing the view. This draws the attention to the little things humans put out there, like the expansion of housing and concrete cities, so there are a lot of green spaces in my work.”
Now at the start of her fourth year, Bjerknes looks back on her time at Queen’s and the changes she’s made in her personal life.
Moving forward, her goal is to push herself and face new challenges. With that in mind, Bjerknes hopes to create a website to promote her artwork.
“I’ve learned to really take charge of my own wellbeing and experiences. I’ve learned to not be afraid to fight for who I am and [to] be confident in who I am,” she said.
Corrections
This story has been corrected to reflect the correct spelling of the artist’s last name.
Hookup culture can be harmful to your self-esteem.
Casual sex shouldn’t be condemned, but it shouldn’t be represented as the norm either.
In the past few months, I’ve been reflecting a lot on hookup culture in society and at Queen’s, the negative consequences it has on many people’s self-esteem and views towards sexuality. Hookup culture is perhaps more prevalent than ever, perpetuated by the media.
I’ve seen various Reddit posts and TikTok videos from students expressing their lack of belonging to this culture. At Queen’s, I’ve never fit into this lifestyle, especially as a late bloomer who’s still figuring out what I want out of life and other people.
But I eventually came to the realization that it’s okay if you don’t want to indulge in hookup culture.
There are many other things in life and in university that students can enjoy, and other ways to go about your relationships that don’t involve casual sex.
We live in a hypersexualized world where everything is about “numbers,” body counts, and doing things quickly to just “get it over with.” Billboards, magazines, and social media show a lot of explicit, over-curated content that wrecks people’s self-esteem when it comes to ideas surrounding sex.
Beer commercials involve women in bikinis and female superheroes wear skin-tight costumes—it’s hard to not engage in a culture that focuses on physicality and body image over everything else.
It’s hard to look at these images of women—who are deeply adored by men—and live in a society where casual sex is prioritized without feeling unworthy or unlovable.
I learned while everyone is free to do what they want, we shouldn’t feel peer-pressured into doing something that doesn’t connect with our values.
Ask yourself: Is sex the most important thing right now? Am I engaging in it because that’s what everyone else is doing, or because I want to?
Answering these questions can reframe your perspective. Sexuality and sex are marketed as this holy grail, when, in reality, it’s just one thing—a natural thing in life that will just eventually come to everyone, if that’s what they want.
Social media perpetuates hookup culture. It makes it feel like everyone is participating in it, when that’s not really the case. Hookup culture can engrain false senses of insecurity into people’s heads that everyone is living their best life sleeping with numerous people and that if you’re not doing that, or enough or it, then you aren’t enough.
At the end of the day, sexuality and sex are personal and intimate matters that don’t need to be disclosed to anyone, not even your closest friends and family members. You should never feel rushed or pressured to hook up if you don’t want to.
There’s a huge subsection of students who aren’t into casual sex at all. Some are merely at the library focused on getting their degree, studying, and hanging out with their friends—without the benefits. Everyone has their own trajectory, and sometimes, hooking up with strangers on a sweaty dance floor doesn’t need to happen or be romanticized as normalcy.
Give yourself permission to carve your own path and own who you are, even if that road is outside of the hookup culture path. You are whole and complete as you are. You have a lot to give to this world and are worth more than your body and the relationships you’ve been in.
This hasn’t been easy for me to realize, but after realizing how much I love the little things in life—like spending time with my friends and chasing my own career pursuits—I’ve come to the conclusion that hookup culture isn’t for me, and that’s alright.
The impact of Music and Live Concerts on Well-Being
August 10 2023|Mental Health
By: Grace Chen
Music serves as my muse for both the bright and the somber moments in life. I have always cherished music and the experience of attending live musical concerts. The thrill of these events and their ability to invigorate my senses leave a lasting impact on my emotions. Music has consistently provided me with an escape, a sentiment shared by many who use it as a respite from reality.
Did you know that attending live music events can enhance brain function? Generation Z (Gen Z) is leading a revolution in the listening culture by blurring the lines between consumption and creation (11). This shift is rapidly influencing culture, commerce, and daily life. With greater connectivity and access to technology, individuals are enhancing their mental well-being. Scientific evidence demonstrates that participating in live music concerts contributes to brain development, mental health, and the economy (2). As we witness the return of live music post-pandemic, that familiar rush of post-concert exhilaration will once again permeate our lives.
Reflecting on my own experience, attending Taylor Swift's Eras tour in Seattle, I can attest to the empowerment that arises from being part of a 72,000-strong crowd. Dancing and singing alongside fellow enthusiasts in a stadium setting is a profoundly therapeutic experience that encourages letting loose and momentarily forgetting life's challenges.
The Therapeutic Power of Music and Live Concerts
Interestingly, the human inclination to seek solace in music dates back to the dawn of mankind. It forms the bedrock of social cooperation (1), transcending cultures and historical periods as a shared endeavor (3), showcasing its enduring positive impact on human lives. Concerts epitomize communal experiences, uniting thousands of individuals in song, dance, and enthusiastic chants for the artist on stage. The social dimension of concerts significantly contributes to individual musical enjoyment (5). However, it's essential to acknowledge that attending concerts might have side effects, particularly for individuals with pre-existing mental health conditions, whose symptoms may intensify due to the excitement of concert life.
The Psychological Dynamics of Post-Concert Emotions
Post-concert amnesia, sometimes referred to as post-concert depression (PCD), describes the sense of melancholy that settles in after a concert. Although not synonymous with clinically diagnosed depression, this "depression" captures the sense of emptiness experienced the morning after an eagerly anticipated concert. A loss of motivation, concentration, and excitement ensues, along with a longing to relive the previous day's experience (14).
This feeling can be even more profound for those grappling with major depressive disorder, as Dr. Douglas Menin, a clinical psychology professor at Columbia University, explains that the end of a highly anticipated event can impact various aspects of functioning (14). The transition from extreme emotional highs to lows can be challenging to navigate, a sentiment likened to the emotional crash experienced by Olympic athletes after a significant competition, as Dr. Seth Feuersthein, a psychiatry professor at Yale University, highlights. As another contributor notes, "Reentering the real world while still riding the adrenaline of a concert, attempting to hold onto those moments, is painful".
During the pandemic, Lyen Krenz Yap conducted a groundbreaking study on PCD, delving into this unexplored psychological phenomenon. Yap's findings suggest that while post-concert depression is a form of experienced sadness, it's more closely tied to cultural and sociological factors. It's crucial to use the term with care, avoiding its conflation with long-term clinical depression. Instead, it's linked to fandom culture and the modern listening culture, where audiences forge unique relationships with their favorite artists. Factors like passion for concerts, personal backgrounds, upbringing, and coping mechanisms in times of stress influence susceptibility to post-concert depression (13).
A Solution to Post-Concert Depression
Attending more concerts isn't necessarily the solution. The path to recovery and sustained happiness lies in engaging in mundane activities outside the concert setting, such as pampering oneself or spending time with friends. These actions encourage continued interaction with others, even if they lack the intensity of a packed stadium filled with passionate music enthusiasts. Recognizing PCD's existence is essential. While the grief isn't on par with losing a loved one, it evokes a sense that such happiness will never be experienced again. The reality, however, is that life moves forward, and new sources of excitement and contentment will emerge.
A study involving dedicated BTS fans, known as ARMYs, reveals that many respondents encountered symptoms of PCD and/or major depressive disorder (MDD) following a concert (15). A clinical description of PCD characterizes it as an abrupt, overwhelming, and rapid descent marked by recurring feelings of emptiness, disappointment, longing, and heartache. This crash follows a highly anticipated moment of euphoria, and the subsequent fear of never reliving that moment contributes to the distress (8).
Coping with Post-Concert Blues
Moving ahead, considering proactive versus preemptive anticipation can mitigate the intensity of post-concert blues. Gratitude for the opportunity to attend in the first place is a healthy approach to anticipating enjoyable experiences. Experts endorse several coping strategies, including (13):
Fondly reminiscing about the night.
Engaging in exciting activities post-concert to avoid concentrating all anticipation on one event.
Maintaining connections with others and avoiding isolation.
Limiting exposure to new videos and live streams to prevent feelings of isolation when an artist performs without you.
Recognizing that other activities may seem less thrilling, allowing for greater enjoyment of the present moment.
Music Shapes Identity and Culture
"Listening to music results in personal growth related to self-identity, mood management, increased social interaction, and diversion from everyday life" (1). For artists adept at connecting with their audiences, such as Taylor Swift, the transition from individual music consumption to the live experience is especially exhilarating, as they engage in real-time storytelling. Music consumption serves various purposes, including fostering a sense of belonging and a deep connection to an artist's lyrics.
"Music transcends language, culture, race, religion, class, and gender, acting as a powerful equalizer in terms of social identity and location" (3). DeNora (2000) contends that music, particularly in daily life, organizes both internal and social realms. It extends beyond mere background accompaniment, continually shaping the aims of various activities (North et al. 2004:43).
Post-Concert Amnesia
Post-concert amnesia is a real phenomenon (7), inducing a sense of memory loss following a concert. Recalling details of the show apart from a few key moments becomes challenging. This outcome was particularly prevalent among attendees of the Eras tour in 2023. Fans reported difficulty vividly recalling the show's exceptional moments (3). While the artists themselves aren't primarily responsible, excessive excitement plays a significant role. Psychologists posit that intense emotions, including excitement, can trigger amnesia (6).
Music Consumption in the Digital Age
Spotify has extensively documented the positive psychological effects of music consumption, shedding light on Gen Z's engagement with playlists and exploration of self through digital audio and media platforms. Spotify's music and podcast features, along with its social functions, enable discovery and connection. Individuals often listen to music that mirrors their emotional state and surroundings (10). The platform acknowledges that "many of us feel lonely and stressed at times, and we don't always feel comfortable discussing this with certain people" (11).
Gen Z is reshaping consumption and creation culture by blurring traditional boundaries and participating in emotionally uplifting activities like podcasts and community support groups. What was once a one-sided connection has evolved into mutual interaction between fans and artists. This shift benefits both parties, enhancing the fan experience and artist engagement (9). While still rooted in para-social relationships, this mutual connection creates a sense of acknowledgement for fans who invest deeply in their favorite artists (9). This connection resonates with humanity's inherent nature of seeking connection with one another.
In conclusion, music remains a potent force in shaping emotions, fostering social bonds, and uniting diverse communities. The experience of live concerts offers unique emotional highs while potentially leading to post-concert lows. Acknowledging and addressing these emotional fluctuations through proactive strategies can enhance our overall well-being. The transformation of music consumption, particularly by Gen Z, underscores the power of music in bridging gaps and nurturing meaningful connections, both with artists and among fans. As music continues to weave its influence through generations, it remains a powerful source of solace, joy, and shared identity.
HerCampus Article
WHY 1989 IS MY FAVOURITE TAYLOR SWIFT ALBUM AND ERA
The opinions expressed in this article are the writer’s own and do not reflect the views of Her Campus.
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Queen’s U chapter.
Happy New Year’s HerCampus readers! For all Swifties out there, here’s to 1989 and Reputation Taylor’s Version (T.V),
Taylor’s two biggest pop albums, being re-recorded and released in 2022!
As we all know, Taylor Swift is one of the most successful songwriters of all time and having grown up with her since I was five years old, it is very special indeed being born at a time when she flourished musically. It is hard to pick a favourite album, as they are all so brilliant and successful, but if I had to, it would definitely be 1989 (2014). With 19 brilliant songs, this album led to her winning Album Of The Year at the 2015 Grammy’s, as well as being the number one best-selling album of 2014. It even the “Frozen” soundtrack, further proving the global success of this album. This is my go-to album when I am feeling happy, elated, and strong.
ggggggj
The 1989 era was the pivotal turning point in Swift’s career because it marked her official change to pop music, turning the country singer into a global pop-star sensation. It was the risk she took that was ultimately worthwhile. The synth-pop and electronic accents in the background of every song truly take me into another dimension of joy, wonder and possibility as 1989 is inspired by the 1980’s synth-pop. I remember being in grade 8 in 2014 when “Shake It Off” was on the radio 24/7, when her songs would play in the background of my cheerleading competitions and practices, and the name Taylor Swift truly became a household name. The aesthetics, inspiration, and happy bops from this era all make it my favourite. It was the time when her style, personality, and talent all came together. I actually did not become a hardcore “Swiftie” until 2021, despite having known who she was my whole life and being a casual listener here and there, but when I did, I definitely fell hard and fast, especially for the 1989 era. At first, I was mad at myself for not having been a stan during the actual 1989 era, but I came to remember that I was also very young at that time, and had not experienced enough heartaches to understand the depths of the lyrics of the 1989 album. Seven years later though, my appreciation for it has grown. It was one of those personal moments of reflection where I realized that I needed to come back to Taylor and keep up with her. I would not get through this pandemic and this life, to be honest, without her music, wise words, and her overall person whom I feel so connected to and can relate to. It also makes sense to have only become a true 1989 fanatic until later, now that I am much closer to the age she was back then as well as I now also dream of moving to New York and making my big-city dreams come to life. Having grown up with Taylor, it is as if she wrote my life, having left behind lyrical keepsakes and journal entries that resonate with me so much now that I am older.
Not to mention, I was awestruck by her creativity in the “Blank Space” music video and song, which is actually not a love song despite featuring a fictional boyfriend and two lovers falling apart. A song that is such a hit, and her third most popular song on Spotify proves that not every successful song has to be about love and heartbreak. There are stereotypes, and in particular for Taylor, who has been criticized by the media in the past for presumably only writing songs about her ex-boyfriends, that musicians only sing about love, when in reality, that is not true. Along with “Blank Space”, she has over 30 songs on her whole discography that are not related to romantic relationships. In fact, I was inspired when Taylor said that “Blank Space” is a self-satire for the ways in which social media criticized her and caused her to go crazy, mad, and passionate to create change, with the beautiful castle scenery and fantasy-like life and perfect boyfriend falling to pieces as a reflection of her downward spiral.
Next, the inspiration from her tours was what really drew me to this era. On Youtube, there is a 1989 World Tour film, featuring her show in Sydney, Australia, and from start to finish, I was captivated by the stunning performances, intimate crowd moments, and all-around exciting vibes. It is one of my comfort films when I am having a bad day and need inspiration and creativity. When I watch it, I feel like I am right there in the moment, a place where I am safe, can be myself, and rejoice in the excellence of everything while in the presence of Taylor and like-minded fans. “Clean” is one of my favourite songs off of 1989 and the speech she gave along with it during her world tour is one that I go back to whenever I am having a bad day or coming out of a really rocky situation. Before singing, she gives a long speech about how “the moment you realize that you are not the opinion of someone who doesn’t know you or care about you, it’s like you’re clean” and how we are not defined by our mistakes. Actually, walking through rainstorms, or in other words, going through tough times actually gets us clean. I was so moved by the speech as someone who went through hard times as a teenager and had problems socially with friend groups but hearing Taylor speak out about how this is something she struggled with and continues to learn made me feel so seen. I saw myself in her. Ever since leaving high school to university, I began to heal, and I am feeling cleaner every day. I will not let my mistakes define me. The world is such a big and exciting place, with so many possibilities. The world does not end in high school, which Taylor even said at one point. Furthermore, the gorgeous visuals and cinematography in the back as she sang “Clean” punched my heart hard as they perfectly represented the feelings of feeling lost and broken but then coming out clean and free. As well, other bops like “Shake It Off”, “Welcome to New York”, and “All You Had To Do Was Stay”, truly blew the audience away with the energy and passion from her voice and her acts with the backup dancers made e the songs come alive even further.
During her tour, she also invited numerous surprise guests like Selena Gomez, Wiz Khalifa, Mick Jagger, Fifth Harmony, etc so the hype from the audience was BIG, not knowing there would be so many other popular favourites showing up. Taylor worked so hard to make her shows the best nights possible for fans, which inspires me, as I know how much she wants us to have a good time and connect with us. Her exciting surprises and smart business moves to make it a memorable night for everyone reflect the vibes of the 1989 album itself. She is a genius, and after all, art imitates life and vice versa. She truly came alive and became such a confident icon, which was all evident in her songwriting too. Outside of tour, she even chatted with grade-school children at the Scholastic Web Chat Interview around her release of 1989 about how “Shake It Off” sends the important message to not be afraid to laugh, dance, and to shake things off sometimes, in comparison to her song “Mean” from the Speak Now album that evokes more serious feelings when someone is being mean to you. She tells them you can either be like her in “Shake It Off”, or “Mean”. I thought it was so adorable and inspiring the way she loves talking to kids about life.
Overall, I will forever be a 1989 Taylor Swift stan because of the inspirational takeaways, and while it is important to keep in mind the struggles she faced behind the scenes during this time, as later revealed in her 2020 Miss Americana documentary, there is of course, still the fun, light, and positivity to look back fondly on. It is important to separate the storytelling from her actual life, so while some fans later claim to hate 1989 because of how she felt during that time, I think happily of the masterpieces she made. The best part is that now we get to re-live it, but bigger and brighter, with more fun escapism during the pandemic, in 2022 with Taylor’s Version. You can catch me in a few months’ time, or a few weeks or days (who knows if Taylor suddenly drops a surprise!), all dressed up in 1989-themed clothing with my polaroid camera and house decor to celebrate the re-making of this beautiful album!!
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Queen’s U chapter.
Dear HerCampus readers,
As a Gen-Zer born in 2001, I have quite literally grown up with social media. More likely than not, most of you reading this are using some form of social media to read this. Social media, as most know, is a place where we can fall for people’s best highlights. Many users love to only post the good, the hot, the sexy, and the fun. It is also effortless to fall for scams, especially on the internet, in this day and age. Instagram has certainly evolved a lot in the past decade since we started using it, and some of those changes have not all been good, some have even been harmful and dangerous. We can’t trust everyone, and we can never be too careful when someone we don’t know asks for our assistance. Instagram has, in my view, eventually become a platform where users are more susceptible to scams, deceits, and manipulation because of all the new functions and features. That is why exercising caution and not clicking on links before truly confirming with the other person is so important. My story of being hacked, frankly, has brought me tremendous self-growth.
The ordeal began last month, when I received a direct message from a friend on Instagram (whose account was compromised at the time), saying “Hey mate, I need your help” along with a lot of crying emojis, and “I was trying to login to Instagram on my new phone, and they need me to find someone to click a link for me, will you?”
At first, I was a little suspicious, as this person and I had only met and talked a few times last year. Why reach out to me out of all people? However, considering the friendly relationship and how I had previously been a mentor for this friend, I believed it was my friend on the other end. I am also quite gullible and I always want to help others, so I went with it. Before I knew it, though, I was locked out and the hacker changed all my contact information so I could not regain access to my account. It was scary and frustrating since I had a lot of photos, memories, and interactions with friends on that account I had been using for many years. Having to put in the work to make a new account and start over, along with informing everyone I had been hacked was tedious. It’s unfair that a tiny link could end it all coupled with the fact that Instagram’s customer service doing nothing. However, it is just Instagram at the end of the day, so my reaction made me re-evaluate my values. What is essential in my life right now? How much time, effort, and wasted energy do I want to put into curating a perfect Instagram feed?
From my reflections of my persona outside and inside of social media, I realized I got a little too used to being doubtful and straying away from letting people into my life on a deeper level. I didn’t want to let people in my safe zone. I can’t be hurt again if I don’t let anyone in. I could do my own thing and work hard on my dreams, but at the same time, this took me until university to realize that life is to be lived with others. We are social beings who need to co-exist with others and form meaningful friendships. I deserve love and companionship. Things can change; I need to believe it can, and I need to work hard for that. I carried a lot of that social trauma from high school into my university social settings. Even though I have made a lot of new friends and have a lovely friend group, I noticed that I tend to naturally isolate myself from big social settings or take extra mental preparation for social gatherings due to fear of rejection. I tend to immediately assume that a group of people I meet will not like me. Same thing with job applications: I tend to doubt myself and don’t try for fear I will not be good enough. I had to start making meaningful changes in my perception of myself and others. Being hacked and forced to take a break led me to change. Instagram became a hiding spot for me, a place where I could create another ideal imagined world where I am an extraordinary, influential, Instagram-model gorgeous with zero flaws, who has tons of friends sitting by me all the time, but now I must take this mask off.
Like any vice, I became addicted, I LOVED the high I got from likes and comments of approval and went through withdrawal when I lost my account. However, I am also strong enough to get through this. We can all earn a life where all those ideal scenarios I described can be real and current, not just curated on a screen. When I re-visited New York City during reading week, a few weeks after this happened, it brought me a passion and thrill beyond the reaches of social media. I visited so many cool places like the New York Times building, which reminded me of my dream job and dream city. To get there, and afford life there, is only possible through dedication and good financial planning. Less time on social media and more time striving for these goals is worthwhile. If I was going to die tomorrow, I do not want to spend my last day mindlessly scrolling.
Today, while I created a new Instagram account that looks like it is here to stay, after suddenly getting an apology email from Instagram (again, back to the peculiarity of Instagram’s customer support services that needs revamp), I’m happy that I am on a new journey of using Instagram more wisely, as well as monitoring for when I grow too attached to that world. It’s no wonder issues like cyberbullying and teen suicide is so rampant because Instagram is such an easy place to harm other people emotionally and psychologically with their support team rarely taking action to stop it, like not removing certain accounts when they need to be gone. I also want to attend to the social struggles I have instead of suppressing them so that who I am online versus in-person are no longer strangers. I want to start living more authentically and cultivate a lot of long-lasting, authentic relationships with people. So-called friendships through a screen of likes, comments, and follows, do not count anymore. I am also done with seasonal friendships that come and go. It’s time to start building a life I am proud of. If I want my dream job and to live in my dream city, I have to work for it. The same thing with friends, if I wish to have beautiful friendships, I have to work hard on myself and put myself out there. None of this will come easy, especially as someone who has been so absorbed and obsessed with the world of social media for so long, but as the saying goes, we miss 100% of the shots we don’t take. Do everything in moderation, and remember that nothing you see online is as great as it seems.
News Writing/Radio Lab class Voicers
WOMEN’S HOUSING GRACE CHEN 2/21/2024
THE HOUSING CRISIS IN CANADA IS ALIVE AND WELL. THANKFULLY, GOOD NEWS IS HERE FOR VANCOUVER’S REAL ESTATE THAT THERE IS A NEW $2 BILLION FUNDING LAUNCHED BY JUSTIN TRUDEAU AND DAVID EBY AS PART OF THE BC BUILDS PROGRAM. THIS INITIATIVE IS DESIGNED TO HELP GET HOMELESS PEOPLE IN VANCOUVER OFF THE STREETS TO GET SAFE AND ACCESSIBLE HOUSING. BY COMMITTING $950 MILLION TO BUILD THOUSANDS OF HOMES FOR MIDDLE-CLASS CANADIANS, MANY PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO ACCESS LOW-COST HOMES.
UNFORTUNATELY, THIS PROPOSAL DOES NOT CATER TO ALL GROUPS WHO NEED HOUSING, LIKE WOMEN AT ATIRA. SARAH MCINTOSH WHO WORKS AT THE ATIRA WOMEN’S SHELTER EMPHASIZES HOW THE GOVERNMENT’S PLAN IS STILL OVERLOOKING KEY FACTORS OF SUCCESS SEEING IT DOES NOT ALIGN WITH ITS MISSION STATEMENT OF APPEALING TO MARGINALIZED GROUPS.
“There needs to be a purpose built many options. There’s not going to be one solution for everybody and so this BC builds announcement is just one solution for one group. And so creating that strategy where you’re also creating housing subsidy, shelter, purpose built long-term, short-term housing, there needs to be lots of options.”
“Investing money into 100 century old buildings, in order to bring them up to code and create a level of safety for tenants and staff just as is not a solution that’s working, right. And so we need to we need to now look for other solutions. And so the BC builds announcement is is a one solution.”
SARAH MCINTOSH IS ABOUT TO VOICE HER CONCERNS AT THE UPCOMING BC’S THRONE SPEECH, HOPING TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT THERE ARE STILL SO MANY GROUPS LIKE VULNERABLE WOMEN WHOSE NEEDS ARE NOT YET BEING MET BY GOVERNMENT ACTION PLANS. GRACE CHEN’S BCIT THE CROW.
Editorial Assignment: Social Media
SOCIAL MEDIA ADDICTION GRACE CHEN 02/20/2024
MANY CHILDREN OF THE INTERNET BORN IN THE EARLY 2000S, DO NOT KNOW A WORLD WITHOUT TECHNOLOGY AND A CULTURE THAT IS HEAVILY CENTRED ON SOCIAL MEDIA. INSTAGRAM LAUNCHED IN 2010 WHEN GENERATION Z WAS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, AND BACK THEN ,SOCIAL MEDIA WAS SIMPLE. EVERYONE WOULD POST SIMPLE PHOTOS WITH BUILT-IN APP FILTERS. THE SIMPLICITY WAS PARAMOUNT. SADLY, THIS IS NOT THE CASE ANYMORE.
“Meta had “designed psychologically manipulative product features to induce young users’ compulsive and extended use” of platforms like Instagram.”, SAYS ONE COMPLAINT IN A LAWSUIT OVER THE COMPANY’S ALGORITHM’S.
THIS IS AN EPISODE WITH GRACE CHEN ON SOCIAL MEDIA ADDICTION.
MUCH OF GENERATION Z CAN RECALL HAVING GROWN UP WITH SOCIAL MEDIA SINCE ITS INCEPTION, BUT WHAT IT IS TODAY AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR THE NEXT GENERATION ARE FRIGHTENING BECAUSE OF ITS DAMAGE ONTO THE MENTAL HEALTH OF YOUNG FOLKS. THE FUNCTIONS AND FEATURES, SUCH AS ITS ALGORITHM AND ABUNDANCE OF ADVERTISEMENTS AND NOTIFICATIONS AVE GONE OVERBOARD, AS CAN BE TESTIFIED WITH THE HEALTH CRISIS ATTRIBUTED TO SOCIAL MEDIA OVERCONSUMPTION.
THAT SERIOUSLY NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY SCHOOLS, LAWMAKERS, AND META THEMSELVES, THE PARENT COMPANY OF INSTAGRAM AND FACEBOOK.
ACCORDING TO THE NEW YORK TIMES, META IS BEING SUED BY OVER 49 STATES FOR ALLEGEDLY CAUSING TOO MANY ADDICTIVE FEATURES LURING CHILDREN AND TEENAGERS TO BECOME OVERLY ADDICTED (KANG 2023). THE STATE OF COLORADO AND CALIFORNIA CREATED A JOINT LAWSUIT THIS DOCUMENT EXPRESSES THE SENTIMENT THAT:
“The company’s algorithms were designed to push children and teenagers into rabbit holes of toxic and harmful content, the states said, with features like “infinite scroll” and persistent alerts used to hook young users”, SAYS KANG.
DESPITE COUNTER-CLAIMS FROM ADAM MOSSERI, THE HEAD OF INSTAGRAM SAYING THAT INSTAGRAM IS NOT THE CAUSE FOR MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS BUT IS RATHER A SOCIETAL ISSUE WITH NO SILVER BULLET (LINEBAUGH 2021), THEY DO NOT CORROBORATE WITH THE REAL-TIME DOWNFALL OF THE MINDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE EVERYWHERE.
STUDIES FROM BMC PSYCHOLOGY “UNIVERSITY STUDENTS’ VIEWS ON THE IMPACT OF INSTAGRAM ON MENTAL WELLBEING: A QUALITATIVE STUDY”, SHOW THAT PEOPLE WHO USED INSTAGRAM MORE HAVE A HIGHER RATE O STRUGGLING WITH SOCIAL COMPARISON, BODY IMAGE, AND DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY (MORETON 2022).
EDUCATORS IN SCHOOLS NEED TO IMPLEMENT HIGHER RESTRICTION ON CELL PHONE USAGE, SO NOT BEING ABLE TO HAVE ACCESS DURING INSTRUCTION TIME, IF NOT BANNING THEM ENTIRELY ON SCHOOL GROUNDS BESIDES USING THEM TO COMMUNICATE WITH PARENTS WHEN NECESSARY. LAWMAKERS NEED TO PUSH META TO DEVELOP HEALTHIER FEATURES, PUT A STOP TO ENDLESS SCROLLING AND TARGETED ADVERTISEMENTS, AND DIAL DOWN THE ABILITY TO ACCESS HARMFUL, SENSITIVE CONTENT. THE UPTICK IN ANXIETY DISORDERS, EATING DISORDERS, AND DEPRESSION ARE NOT GOING TO GO AWAY UNTIL SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANIES IMPROVE THEIR SERVICES. `
