If you have heard the phrase “Data drives all we do”, you’re likely familiar with the 2016 Cambridge Analytica scandal which unmasked how personal data were collected and used to psychologically profile citizens for political consultancy. In … Continue reading
Tag: Social Media
What the U.S. TikTok Ban Says About U.S.-China Relations
In April 2024, the U.S. Congress passed a bill banning the popular social media app TikTok in The United States of America. Former President Joe Biden subsequently signed it into law, and after facing many challenges, the U.S. Supreme Court … Continue reading
Elon Musk’s Undue Involvement in the 2024 US Election
On October 5th, 2024, videos of Elon Musk frantically jumping up and down on stage at a Trump campaign rally circulated across social media. The billionaire appeared to support the Republican presidential candidate, forming an “X” with his body while … Continue reading
Is Kamala Brat? How Social Media Shaped Gen Z Voting
IS Kamala Brat? After Vice President Kamala Harris’ nomination to run as leader of the Democratic party, the Harris campaign put considerable effort into relating to young voters. When British pop singer Charli-xcx tweeted, “Kamala IS brat”, Harris’ social media … Continue reading
Climate Change: The Social and Environmental Impacts of Popular Culture
Rapid technological advancements marked the rise of media’s steadfast growth—a vital application in shaping popular culture—transforming our communication, socialization, and knowledge exchange approaches. In particular, the emergence of media platforms has dramatically influenced society by contributing to the vitality and … Continue reading
TikTok Ban in New Caledonia: Democracy in Danger?
On May 13th 2024 social unrest erupted in New Caledonia after the French government announced a revision to the 1998 Noumea Accords. In response to this, on the 15th the French government issued a ban for the … Continue reading
Is TikTok Bringing an End to Democracy in Indonesia?
The 72-year-old presidential candidate, Prabowo Subainto, has gone viral in Indonesia through his large presence on TikTok. Videos of him dancing in front of a large crowd with his signature moves have quickly spread among its 125 million users, … Continue reading
McGill Students on hunger strike for Palestine
With the continuously growing death toll in Gaza, McGill University’s student body has become increasingly vocal about their disapproval of the university’s inaction regarding this matter. Many student-led groups have expressed disappointment and anger with McGill’s financial investments tied to … Continue reading
Celebrity worship and the idealization of an unattainable lifestyle
The phenomenon of celebrity worship syndrome is often associated with the rise of social media in the past couple of decades. It is defined as a “type of parasocial relationship that occurs when admiration of a celebrity shifts into an … Continue reading
Manipulation médiatique : L’euphémisme du massacre palestinien
Les médias, souvent considérés comme les gardiens de la vérité, prétendent opérer avec une objectivité inébranlable. Pourtant, derrière cette façade d’impartialité se cache une réalité plus nuancée, où la manipulation de la perception des utilisateurs devient monnaie courante. Cette manipulation … Continue reading