Debate-style political booths are structured to be as unbalanced as possible and put you at as much of a disadvantage as they can. There is only one way to “win” in these debates: to not pick up the mic at all.
Tag: tiktok
Posted inVoices
Gen Z has a battle between purity and partying
Like other generations, Gen Z has unique trends. From championing acceptance and social justice in 2020 to becoming obsessed with “looksmaxxing” in 2025, there is no denying we tend to contradict ourselves.
Now, there is a new dilemma among us: is it better to lead a “pure” life or have fun while we’re young?
Posted inOpinion
Social media platforms have all become the same thing, and I’m tired of it
Ash Pickett is a Business Administration Senior and opinion columnist for Mustang News. The opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of Mustang Media Group. I deleted TikTok about four years ago. I got tired of the endless scrolling on the app and felt like it drained my energy more than anything […]
Posted inPeak Burnout
College influencers at Cal Poly navigate brand collaborations and burnout
College student influencers face challenges such as navigating trends, maintaining authenticity, and dealing with unpredictable algorithms, while also being overlooked for brand ambassadorships due to their school’s size and sometimes facing fake results in ads.
Posted inOpinion
The PAC stage was Morgan Jay’s playground: A review
On Tuesday, Jan. 13, Jay performed at the Performing Arts Center, and he gave me the laugh I needed while gearing up for winter quarter. In the first five minutes of his performance, Jay walked into the audience with his cameraman and autotuned microphone, a staple of his performance students may know from viral TikTok or Instagram videos.
Posted inOpinion
Overwhelmed and understimulated: The TikTok paradox
It’s 2 a.m. and my eyes hurt. My brain feels like static. I’m exhausted and wired and bored all at once–which shouldn’t be possible, but here we are. I’ve been scrolling TikTok for three hours and couldn’t name a single video I watched. I close the app, feel a wave of relief yet immediately open it again.
Something is very wrong here.
Posted inOpinion
Looksmaxxing is ruining social media
Do you have a positive canthal tilt? A weak brow ridge? Do you consider yourself an absolute Chad? Or would you say you’re more subhuman? These are terms coined by the trending looksmaxxing community, and it is promoting harmful, extreme ideologies to social media users, with teenagers and young adults being its primary targets.
Posted inOpinion
Pics or it didn’t happen: Why do we need to constantly “capture the moment?”
Coined as “capturing the moment,” Gen Z’s addiction to taking photos is not a new point of discussion. Thousands of photos render their way into our digital albums, but the mentality behind our endless camera roll is not as deluded as some would assume.
Posted inOpinion
TikTok ban helped Trump stumble into another win with young Americans, but don’t be fooled
It’s a funny tactic, but TikTok explicitly crediting Trump as the person responsible for something “good” staying in people’s lives will bump his popularity, especially among young Americans.
Posted inOpinion
The media’s role in a divided America: time for a new path forward
Who’s to blame for America’s political divide? A lot of it comes straight from the media. Let’s face it—the headlines love conflict and fear, and that’s pushing Americans further apart. Sensational stories are great for clicks but terrible for trust. Something’s got to change.
Posted inOpinion
How validation is tied to wealth – and how it’s destroying the planet
I walk to the mailbox and see a package that I’ve long awaited; I ordered it weeks ago and am so excited to have finally received it. For me, this box is typically filled with clothes. I love looking good, getting compliments and receiving external validation. Finding clothes that other people think look good on me gives me the validation I desire.