Summer 2022 saw another new app come onto the mainstream social media scene: BeReal. Over this summer, the download count on the app store for BeReal jumped from 7.67 million in April of this year to over 53 million by the beginning of October. People were eager to share their exciting, depressing, and mundane summer moments in real-time, and this app offered just the method to do so.Continue Reading
Alongside decreased energy costs, the Ethereum network had several incentives to execute the Merge. One is the introduction of new validators. In the old proof of work system, miners were using natural resources to convert energy into crypto; in proof of stake, prospective validators can use financial resources to produce these securities. Continue Reading
A degree from a vocational school also translated to a high chance of getting a stable job in a factory that provided several benefits and services, such as cash transfers, free food, and free housing. However, unsustainably good working conditions in factories didn’t last long because of efficiency issues within state-owned enterprises; eventually, the wave of privatization in the 1990s ultimately led to the mass closure of state-owned factories and consequently closed many job opportunities for vocational school graduates.Continue Reading
A “small” industrial city in China became known on the internet due to its extremely affordable housing prices. While the development paths of former resource cities remain uncertain, Jessica Yu argues that the experiences of the city of Hegang will likely serve as a defining example of how China’s industrial cities can revive through “alternative” development paths.Continue Reading
Despite complaints against its payment methods and streaming rate methodology, Spotify has remained headstrong in the treatment of creators on its platform. While the effects of the pro-rata system are looked down upon by many artists in the industry, Spotify maintains that the system encourages an inclusive market that rewards success and allows for those that work the hardest to gain notoriety and artistic standing.Continue Reading
Supported by reselling platforms such as StockX and GOAT, anyone with access to the Internet could resell sneakers and earn a significant profit. However, within the last year, profit margins for sneaker resellers have decreased across the board, a trend that has negatively affected the sneaker community and ultimately pushed away prospective sneakerheads from entering the resell game.Continue Reading
Downward trends in enrollment have had a ripple effect at institutions across the country. As decreases in enrollment continue, schools are feeling pressure to keep tuition affordable. Although inflation has pushed up the prices of most goods and services, the necessity for more students has incentivized institutions to keep tuition prices relatively low. Continue Reading
Despite the sheer stress and anxiety that the college application process induces, society has embraced it as the norm. This does not benefit anyone–or does it? Hundreds of corporations and other organizations have learned to capitalize on this stressful process, making millions of dollars in profit and transforming college applications into a booming industry.Continue Reading
The NIL (name, image, and likeness) rules of 2021 now offer college athletes a way to support themselves by getting paid for the use of their name, image, and likeness while staying in school and not choosing the route of professional sports. The NIL has transformed and will continue to transform how fringe NBA draft prospects view the draft and make decisions about their future. There will be ramifications for athletes, college sports programs, the NBA draft, and wealthy individuals who choose to fund NIL deals to support their favorite college team. Continue Reading
The fact of the matter is that award shows are losing more and more of their audience with each year. With the rise of social media and the internet, they have become old-fashioned relics of the past. So what can organizers do to generate higher interest and attract a wider audience?Continue Reading