social media

I’ve been seeing a lot of “Day in the Life of a College Student” videos on the Internet, and this is the college student that I sometimes wish I was. So, here’s a piece of autofiction about the day in the life of a so-called “perfect” college student. 

TikTok might mimic the spontaneity of meeting a stranger or the serendipity of finding common ground with another person, and it may have even served as an anchor in community life during the pandemic, but third places hinge on this element of place, and TikTok would be more fairly considered a “nonplace.” 

While TikTok is a great app for spreading news, discovering new recipes and starting trends, its addicting algorithm has some downsides. Here are some of the drawbacks that I’ve felt while using TikTok.  

After the lapse in 2020-2021 fashion trends during the pandemic, 2022 is seeing an exciting comeback in the fashion industry. With social media influencers largely dictating the current fashion scene, trends are moving faster than ever before.

After weeks of exceeding my desired limit for screen time and lamenting the waste of time, I deleted the social media apps that kept me glued to my phone. Still feeling the pull to my screen, however, I naturally sought something to fill the gap, and I found it in puzzles.

When you cast your ballot, make sure you share your voice. As you share your voice, make sure you are the one speaking.

Like many of you, I once spent my free time going down the rabbit hole on social media for hours on end, scrolling past people who I’d probably never meet in real life. This is your sign to delete those apps for a while. 

When one social media platform gives way to another, those forgotten spaces on the internet become ever more alive.

Reach for those Koss Porta Pros, sweaters and Doc Martens, and embrace the gloom.

When my world gets too overwhelming, I like to imagine I’m with Chanel underwater, swimming with the fish where, momentarily, nothing really matters. I remind myself that while scrolling through my depressing Twitter feed past midnight on midterm week may make life seem dull and hopeless, there is still so much joy and beauty in the world.