10 Technology CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES
Net Neutrality: A Debate far from Neutral Maxine Martinez Business Manager
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t has been less than a year since the topic of net neutrality went viral across the United States. For weeks it was all anyone could talk about, and even the halls of PPCHS could not escape the discussion. However, like many debates fueled by the people, conversation quickly turned to the next pressing issue, leaving many in confusion. Fast forward many months and an important question arises: what happened to net neutrality and where does it stand in America now? Simply put, net neutrality enforces an idea of equality across the internet. Sophomore Natalie Gonzales expresses that “I support net neutrality because it allows consumers access to any network or website without it being slowed down by your internet provider.” This practice was established under Obama’s Presidential reign, but on June 1st, 2018 new rules repealing the net neutrality protections were established. For many students at Charter, and people across the U.S, this was not what they were hoping would happen. “I personally don’t think it’s fair to block or favor certain websites over another. The internet is such a wide platform utilized in
this age, and I already know a lot of people who are disappointed with it,” commented Emily Alan, a junior. The new rules put internet users at a risk of potentially paying more in order to access certain servers. A l o ng with this, although net neutrality will not make big companies like Netflix disappear, but many worry that it will affect future companies and those trying to grow and expand. Many states have been debating the federal
Making Every Second Count: Tiktok Brianna Butler Staff Writer
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ne of the most prominent features of social media is the quick-paced nature that it holds. Over the past few months, something new has been able to exponentially rise in popularity: TikTok. This app revolves around short videos, ranging from 15 to 60 seconds, where creators have the liberty to do a variety of different things, such as dancing, lip-syncing, performing tricks, or even facing the arduous challenge of incorporating mini-skits into the short amount of time given, while music or other audio plays in the background. Each video has the logo of a ‘b’ in the shape of a musical note, making everything from that source easily recognizable. Its large growth is primarily because of how it has merged with a similar app known as Musical.ly, as well as an intense marketing campaign. ByteDance, the Chinese company that owns both apps, appeals to the teenagers by placing forms of advertisement through YouTube, Snapchat, Instagram, and other forms of social media. This has led to TikTok gaining a massive following. “I think TikTok is pretty entertaining,” states senior Timothy Ortiz. “In my opinion, I feel like it became primarily popular due to the funny compilations that arose on Youtube because of it.” This app has been able to transcend the boundaries and become popular on many other sites and forms of social media. It trends in a multitude of different places, which aids in its rising following. Not only is TikTok featured through ads, but many people repost and spread these videos. This is one of the largest reasons why it appeals to a large percentage of the youth group. A large amount of people choose to migrate due to the attention it receives on other places. “I think TikTok is a fun app that allows you to channel your imagination. It’s very entertaining and addictive, so it’s not that hard to understand why it became popular so quickly,” expresses junior Samantha Cruz. “Tiktok has found a way to allow people to express themselves, and what better way that through music? It’s a common ground for all of the different types of people.”
Tiktok has allowed many people to form connections, whether it would be through sharing certain ones for entertainment or being a content creator. It presents a very light hearted atmosphere, with videos created to amuse and engage the audience. Sophomore Riley Lannon has both created TikTok videos and met a variety of people on the site. “It encourages people to go beyond what you would normally do for views. It’s also an app where people can express themselves freely, which is why I think it became so popular. My favorite part of this app is the community because of many other people that share similar views as I do.” TikTok seems to be welcome to everyone, and there is a type of category for anybody to find videos that match up to their humor. With its rising popularity comes potential rivals. At the top of the list is Facebook, and its plan to launch a standalone app called Lasso. The purpose of this new app is the exact same, except they are hoping to make videos longer due to contracts secured with many major music labels. “It’s crazy how people are already trying to copy TikTok,” begins freshman Nicholas Chavez. “While I do think it’s clever that Facebook wants to create a similar app, I highly doubt the success it would carry. Tiktok has already become popular on several different platforms, and most of them appeal to a younger audience than Facebook does. It’s hard to replace something popular with an app that has the same functions.” While it is unknown how Lasso will do, it is still worth mentioning as one of Tiktok’s first competitors. Tiktok has managed to increase in levels of popularity and attract all types of people, forming a diverse community where many different personalities come together for a platform dedicated to entertainment. It has become one of the most popular apps, even though it has not been around for a very long time. The attention seems to be ongoing and there is a strong chance TikTok will continue to be popular, despite Facebook’s upcoming rival. The best way to describe how great this success is to quote one of the app’s trendiest songs at the moment: “Hit or miss, I guess they [TikTok] never miss, huh?”
government on its stance. California in particular is taking major actions against the repeal of net neutrality. The state is imposing strict net neutrality l a w s . S o m e who opp o s e California’s new stance argue that the bill directly g o e s against the constitution, w h i c h emphasizes the idea that states do not regulate interstate commerce, the federal government does. However, freshman Emily Abella, commented saying “The law regulates that companies cannot block
or use new plans to get rid of content or degrade network performances at higher rates.” Despite California performing possible illegal actions, their inclusion of the bill will most likely sway certain states to support the practice, considering it holds a lot of weight when it comes to what the national conversation is. California is one of three states, including Oregon and Washington, that has passed regulations, but California is most definitely the most forceful with their bill. Students at PPCHS, such as senior Damani Jackson, have continued to show their support. “We should have freedom on the internet. Without net neutrality internet service providers will be able to make endless money.” Actions against net neutrality have been taken, yet the debate and conversation is far from over. The topic will come up in this year’s midterms, especially with young voters. As states such as California show their support, the topic of net neutrality will continue to resurface.
Graphic By: Matthew Morales
Trends - Societal Game Changers Florencia Azcurra Co-Features Editor
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ith the reuse of fashion and creation of new slang, personal taste and question of style are concepts that are constantly reshaping to keep up with the latest trends. Our cut and paste digital culture has sped up the pace where trends spread. But the difference between recycled trends and new ones is a blurry line. In today’s visual society sending a Snapchat or retweeting a post can determine whether the pants you’re wearing are cool enough to wear until the next pair comes along to tell you otherwise. Most new trends typically tend to fall under the fashion category, and those are the ones that make the most considerable impact with the most obvious changes. Fashion trends have evolved quickly over the past 40 years. From the 80’s disco groove to the 2000’s denim turnaround, fashion eras have each had their own unique touches that individualize every style. But with the increase of technology, trends, especially fashion trends, seem to be losing the exclusivity these mass movements have had in the past. The recycling of clothes has become progressively popular today as people are becoming more interested in older styles. But why? Well it can be said that the fast paced society we live in today has created a burn out of, well, trends, although, that’s only half true. While yes, digital media and our eagerness to fit the posts or tweets we see have increased the pace of fashion eras, millennials today have also been putting their own twist to the trends they follow. After all, even if older styles resurface, new ones are the way we like to stand out. The topic of social trends prompts the question of who starts them. There is no exact answer as to what “power” forces social trends, but most of our inspiration for them seems to originate from western interpretation of eastern culture. For example, like how the movie Crazy Rich Asians shows: a lot Eastern/Asian countries wear things or do things that seem out of the norm to us, yet they’re considered icons in most of the things they do. In America’s case, celebrities try to put their own spins on those things. Spontaneous, brave and even a little crazy outside of the mainstream, celebrities in the western spotlight are the real trend setters. Eastern culture, for sure, influences most trends set here and even around the world, but essentially anyone can set trends. They’re called the adaptors. The underground workers who are constantly looking for the next big thing are eager to try
out new things. By the time on trend is set in motion on Instagram and Snapchat, the adaptors are onto the next trend. This calls for the creation of their own movement. While social media can speed up the longevity of some trends, it can also help make trends more prominent and part of an even bigger movement than, say, a trend 50 years ago. New fashion styles, what social media apps to use, and even what decor to use can all be taken global with the help of social media, calling attention to the next potential phenomenon. With this being said, most social trends, or any trend for the matter, take place with the younger demographics. The young people are the real game changers who without realizing it spread trends when sharing a photo on Instagram or copying an outfit they saw at Forever 21. Nowadays trends are quite literally impossible to find and set forth in motion without social media. We follow trends and make them an important thing because it’s how we interact with each other. People interact with one another based on the changes we see and then we mirror them.
Graphic By: Matthew Morales