So, uh. Did anything big happen this week? Maybe some awful consequences of unregulated social media corporations and hateful rhetoric? No? How odd.
📰 In the news
What did your brand say on 1/6?
🇺🇲 You know what they say: “inaction is action.” Brands across the globe are weighing in on this week’s events. Among them are the usual, bold, outspoken brands like Patagonia, Ben and Jerry’s, & Axe. Also among them are brands that apparently didn’t know politics was a thing before people talked about it online. Sarcasm aside, it’s a positive thing to see more brands speaking up.
Loser-In-Chief blocked from social
📵 It finally happened. The President of the United States has been blocked from Twitter, Facebook, & a whole bunch of other platforms. And all it took was inciting domestic terrorism. Reddit has also banned the r/DonaldTrump subreddit which was itself a group to replace the banned r/The_Donald. It’s funny how the social media giants figured out they could shut him down on the same day they found out that Democrats would now lead the committees that oversee them.
Something that isn’t Capitol Hill carnage: Ratatouille!
🐁 Speaking of rats… With everything going on right now, it’s 100% understandable that you’d want to hear something positive that takes your mind off of things. 2020 wanted to kill theatre, but in true theatre kid fashion, the industry said “No. Watch this!” A TikTok musical? Before the boomer rage drowns everything out, I’d like you to read why this is a fantastic idea and possibly the future of theatre.
📚 What we’re reading
On Online by Alicia Kennedy
📱 Starting off the year on a very meta note is Alicia Kennedy. This awesome opinion piece about collapsing our identities on social media questions the… well, questioning of definitive fact and authority. She takes particular issue with Instagram, taking aim at the lack of link sharing and text posts that claim themselves as gospel. Here’s another one.
🤔 Thought of the week
most of us swim in water we cannot even see and have not taken the time to examine – age – race – gender – wealth – orientation – nationality – physical abilities – and more
— ⚖️Laura Fitton🇺🇸 (she/her) (@Pistachio) January 8, 2021
what’s in your water that you forgot to think about?