As the world transitions to greater reliance on technology, socializing has also moved online. Our ability to connect and converse with others is one defining trait of being human, but has social media suppressed our capacity to create true, meaningful interactions? Or has technology actually improved communication. . . Join the three of us as we provide our own opinions and dive into the topic of communicating via social media!

Sources:

How social media Effects communication? (The Education Magazine)

How social media makes us unsocial | Allison Graham | TEDxSMU (YouTube)

Influence of Social Media in Interpersonal Communication (Dr. K.R. Subramanian)

Disclaimer: This is just our opinion! We're always trying to learn and grow; email us if you have any problems with what we said!

Questions, comments, concerns? Email us at [email protected]!

Whether you love or hate them, romantic comedies have remained widely popular since the rise of Hollywood. But why do people have such strong opinions about this movie genre? In another addition to our new segment, "Chill With IAS," join Sarina in a solo episode discussing the praise and critique of romantic comedies! 

Sources:

Why Are Romantic Comedies So Bad? (The Atlantic)

From 'Hitch' to 'Say Anything,' How Rom-Coms Distort Romance (The Atlantic)

Why Do We Love Teen Rom-Coms So Much? (Elle)

Disclaimer: This is just our opinion! We're always trying to learn and grow; email us if you have any problems with what we said!

Questions, comments, concerns? Email us at [email protected]!

Pot. Weed. Marijuana. Whatever you call it, cannabis has become a hot topic. Recently, states have begun allowing its recreational use, with ample benefits and drawbacks. So, what does legalizing marijuana mean for the individual? What are its effects on the economy and broader society? Join the three of us as we dive into the legalization of recreational marijuana!

Episode disclaimer: The Sha'carri Richardson situation is still changing, opinions are still shifting, and what we say in the episode may not include the most recent updates.

Sources:

How does marijuana produce its effects? (National Institute on Drug Abuse)

Marijuana in the United States: How Attitudes Have Changed (Time Magazine)

Cannabis Overview (NCSL)

The Country's Evolving Marijuana Debate (The New York Times)

Race and the Drug War (The Drug Policy Alliance)

Sha’Carri Richardson, a Track Sensation, Tests Positive for Marijuana (The New York Times)

Olympics swimming star Michael Phelps suspended after being pictured smoking drugs pipe as Kellogg's cancel contract (Daily Mail UK)

Undecided on the cannabis referendum: 10 pros and cons of legalising the drug (The Conversation)

Helping Drug Users Survive, Not Abstain: ‘Harm Reduction’ Gains Federal Support (The New York Times)

Government & Policy The Economic Benefits of Legalizing Weed (Investopedia)

Disclaimer: This is just our opinion! We're always trying to learn and grow; email us if you have any problems with what we said!

Questions, comments, concerns? Email us at [email protected]!

June is just ending, but are you already feeling burnt out? Have no idea what you’re doing for the next two months of your life? Well, Ida, Amy, and Sarina have got you covered. In the debut episode of our new series, "Chill with IAS," we'll give you 50 fun summer ideas!

Souces:

How Many Books Did The Average American Read In The Last Year? This New Study May Surprise You (Bustle)

100 fun activities to do in summer with or without kids (CNN)

http://www.sarinazhao.com (Sarina's blog)

Disclaimer: This is just our opinion! We're always trying to learn and grow; email us if you have any problems with what we said!

Questions, comments, concerns? Email us at [email protected]!

School uniforms and dress codes have been around for a while, and so has the debate surrounding them. What are the pros and cons of school uniforms and dress codes? Do the benefits outweigh the drawbacks? Join the three of us as we dive into school uniforms and dress codes and provide our own opinions!

Sources:

Is Your Body Appropriate to Wear to School? (NYT)

The Movement Against Sexist and Discriminatory School Dress Codes (The Atlantic)

Uniforms: The Pros and Cons | PublicSchoolReview.com (Public School Review)

The School Uniforms Debate – Global Academic Commons (Global Academic Commons)

Disclaimer: This is just our opinion! We're always trying to learn and grow; email us if you have any problems with what we said!

Questions, comments, concerns? Email us at [email protected]!

Brandy Melville, a popular clothing brand, has stirred up some controversy for its "one size fits all/most" mentality. To what extent should Brandy Melville cater to all and is it okay to have niche businesses? Join the three of us as we dive into Brandy Melville and provide our own opinions!

Sources:

Brandy Melville faces allegations of racism and body-shaming by former employees (Today)

Why I Quit Working at Brandy Melville *THE TRUTH* (YouTube)

I Applied to Work at Brandy Melville and This is what Happened! (YouTube)

I SPENT $1000 AT BRANDY MELVILLE.. a try on haul full of regret (YouTube)

Disclaimer: This is just our opinion! We're always trying to learn and grow; email us if you have any problems with what we said!

Questions, comments, concerns? Email us at [email protected]!

The COVID-19 pandemic hit the world hard, not just physically, but mentally and socially too. Maturing teenagers are some of the most affected, so we collected experiences from teens around the world. Listen to their take on quarantine and the pandemic!

Disclaimer: This is just our opinion! We're always trying to learn and grow; email us if you have any problems with what we said!

Questions, comments, concerns? Email us at [email protected]!

Kpop groups such as BTS have explosively risen to international fame. But there's a lot working behind the scenes to support Kpop idols and groups – much more than what meets the eye – and the influence of these celebrities is widespread. Join the three of us as we dive into the Kpop industry and provide our own opinions!

Sources:

The biggest K-pop records of 2020 (Guinness World Records)

BLACKPINK: Light Up the Sky (Netflix)

Rethinking the K-pop industry's silence during the Black Lives Matter movement (The Conversation)

The VMAs' new K-pop category spawns backlash from BTS fans (Vox)

When Anti-Asian Parody Targeted BTS, the Boy Band’s Fan Army Mobilized (The New York Times)

K-pop stars BTS share experience with racism, condemn anti-Asian violence (Today)

How K-Pop Fans Actually Work as a Force for Political Activism in 2020 (Time Magazine)

😱 CRAZY KPOP FANS Vs. KPOP STARS (YouTube)

BTS SASAENGS / Rant on obsessive Kpop fans (YouTube)

Suicides by K-Pop Stars Prompt Soul-Searching in South Korea (The New York Times)

I have reported on 30 Korean celebrity suicides. The blame game never changes (The Guardian)

6 Most MISTREATED Groups In Kpop History (YouTube)

TRCNG's Wooyeop And Taeseon Release Multiple Proof Of Abuse And Mismanagement By Their Agency (Koreaboo)

BTS and EXO: The soft power roots of K-pop (BBC)

Disclaimer: This is just our opinion! We're always trying to learn and grow; email us if you have any problems with what we said!

Questions, comments, concerns? Email us at [email protected]!

It seems in recent years that opposing political parties have grown further and further apart. But is that really what's happening? What are the causes and consequences of political polarization, and how can we bridge the gap? Join the three of us as we dive into this issue and provide our own opinions!

Sources:

What political polarization means for the 2020 election (The Observer)

Opinion | Is Media Driving Americans Apart? (The New York Times)

Are Social Media Driving Political Polarization? (Greater Good Berkeley)

Historian Niall Ferguson on the roots of today's political polarization (YouTube)

Emotion shapes the diffusion of moralized content in social network (Proceedings of the National Acadamy of Sciences of the United States of America)

Why Social Media Is So Good at Polarizing Us (The Wall Street Journal)

Democrats and Republicans are divided over coronavirus risks. That could kill people. (The Washington Post)

Polarization and the Pandemic: American Political Discourse (Berkman Klein Center)

Why America’s Political Divisions Will Only Get Worse (The New York Times)

What is the MMP voting system? (New Zealand Parliament)

Disclaimer: This is just our opinion! We're always trying to learn and grow; email us if you have any problems with what we said!

Questions, comments, concerns? Email us at [email protected]!

TikTok exploded onto the global scene recently, and with its rise came questions about the responsibilities of TikTokers, their fame, and their wealth. Join the three of us as we dive into some of these issues and provide our own opinions!

Sources:

TikTok drama: Psychologists say fame may harm child star influencers (Insider)

How TikTok Is Addictive. Psychological Impacts of TikTok's… | by - | DataSeries (Medium)

TikTok’s 7 Highest-Earning Stars: New Forbes List Led By Teen Queens Addison Rae And Charli D’Amelio (Forbes)

Meet the Original Renegade Dance Creator: Jalaiah Harmon (The New York Times)

Further reading:

Digital Crack Cocaine: The Science Behind TikTok’s Success (Forbes)

Top 10 Most Followed TikTok accounts in 2021

Disclaimer: This is just our opinion! We're always trying to learn and grow; email us if you have any problems with what we said!

Questions, comments, concerns? Email us at [email protected]!