This Week  in Tech: Tiktok is in Trouble

In this article, “The week in tech: Tiktok is in Trouble” by Jamie Condliffe, it explores the new craze people have on the new app called TikTok but why it could get shut down. TikTok is a social media platform for creating, sharing, and discovering short music videos, such as karaoke and choreographed dances. It has recently been downloaded 1.2 billion times globally, it is growing very fast. At the moment, it is more popular than Facebook for some teens, which is why some people dislike it. It is cashing in on a vast market opportunity and taking away from many others. People are trying to compete but losing loads amounts of money; Google is trying to compete with a similar app called “firework.” Other businesses and brands are worried it is taking far to many people away from there apps so others could suffer. People are also worried because it is Chinese run and own, and there have been many worrying statements made that the Chinese communist party knows where your child lives and what they look like. Nothing has been confirmed about these worries, but if it’s true, do we want our kids posting on this platform? I’ve seen Tiktok pop up everywhere recently and how famous people are becoming from it, so I wanted to see what the craze was all about. It was fascinating to learn where it came from and who started it but also how many issues it is starting and creating for people.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/08/technology/tiktok-government.html

 

With dance challenges and explainer videos, publishers invade TikTok to court Gen Z

After being rebranded from its former name of Musical.ly, TikTok has now become one of the most popular social media apps for younger generations. As a never ending scroll of jokes, memes, opinions, and whatever the users find interesting enough to point out, this app has gained the attention of an audience ranging from ages 16 and 24 years old. Due to its youthful audience, the humor on this app is very different than what other generations would find amusing. To put it simply, nothing is taboo to joke about on TikTok. Depending on recent news trends or what types of jokes gain more traction, the range of material can be from partaking in dance trends, all the way to joking about the “World War 3” draft. Now that a new platform for spreading information has emerged, many news providers are broadening their reach in order to bring correct and current news to the apps audience.

Whether it be from Instagram or Twitter, the members of Generation Z rarely obtain their news from its original sources. Many different news providers have made the effort to provide a social media presence for widespread news so that the people who find scrolling through a news website or reading the daily paper boring can stay informed about current issues. These news sources are now making the move to establish themselves on Tiktok. Companies like ESPN, NBC News and The Washington Post are now launching accounts to incorporate their news into the trends circulating the TikTok app. Their content ranges from behind the scenes videos to employees taking part in certain dance trends all so that they can gain followers and popularity in order to inform people when the jokes and misinformation get out of hand later on. During the trend of the idea of a WW3 draft, USA Today made a post giving its audience a “What You Need to Know” video about the tensions between the US and Iran. Despite not gaining as much popularity as other trending videos, this post reached at least 50,000 people, videos concerning news about the Australian fires reaching 63,000.

Tiktok is seen as an escape for the younger generation from the actual troubles of the world, and these companies know this. Despite wanting to get the news out there, there is an understanding that this funny and ultimately happy app isn’t something that should be overrun by news since that is not what Tiktok users are there for. Dave Jorgenson, a journalist for the Washington Post said, “If i can find a TikTok that fits within what people are talking about on TikTok that also is related to the news, I will do that, but I never want to force it in with what already is trending on TikTok (CNN).” The bridge between social media and the news is one that depends on the type of content an app is meant for. Twitter and Facebook, although used for humor, are also mainly used as a source of daily news and current events based on its trending pages. Apps like TikTok are made purely for jokes and wasting time for the younger generations. However, the attempt by news sources to find ways to keep this generation informed has been a  successful one in that they understand the boundaries in where they should push news to its audience, and when the audience should be left alone to their viral dance trends.

Advertising for online gambling has never been more popular, it seems that every platform from podcasts to television is promoting it but is all this promotion necessary and the better question safe?

Its never been easier to lose your money now a days with Identity theft and cyber security breaches but people seem to have found another way to lose their life savings in a flash with fast action online sports betting. If you haven’t heard sports betting became legal in Pennsylvania in summer 2019, and business is booming for the states casinos and online bookmakers like fanduel and mybookie. Adverts and show hosts boasting about having the best picks guaranteed to make you money coupled with promotions offering you up to $500 dollars of free gambling credit aim to create action in the public. All this promotion is creating more degenerate gamblers.

People seeking help for gambling addiction has more than doubled since 2018 when online gambling became legal in New Jersey. Last year The Council for Compulsive Gambling of New jersey spent roughly a third of their 2 million dollar annual budget on ads to promote their online gambling hotline, which seems to be a step in the right direction. However when compared to the amount of money spent advertising online gambling that number is laughable. According to OnlinePokerRepot.com a typical gambling operator spends roughly 24 percent of their total revenue on advertisements, for New Jersey alone 24 percent of their total revenue is hovering around 80 million dollars.  The adverts seem to only promote gambling with a small aside at the end to mention to gamble responsibly. The future for the house seems bright.

https://nypost.com/2019/12/08/nj-addiction-experts-warn-ny-on-dangers-of-online-sports-betting/

image: https://www.inquirer.com/philly/business/pa-legal-sports-bookmakers-taxes-new-jersey-casinos-20180716.html

The South-Korean film Parasite, directed by Bong Joon Ho, received a total of six Academy Award nominations, but none of those include actor recognition.

For the past few weeks, Parasite has been receiving amazing reviews and praise. Just yesterday they snatched a SAG Award in the category for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture, making history as the first foreign-language film to win this award. However, it’s a different story for the cast in regards to the nominations for 92nd Academy Awards to be celebrated next February 9th. Parasite is nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Foreign Language Film, Best Original Screenplay, Best Production Design, and Best Film Editing; but (as you can see) it has no acting performance nominations.

In spite of the talented competition the Parasite cast members would have gone up against, it still begs the question why there are almost never any Asian nominated actors and actresses in the Academy Awards. For the 2020 Oscars, it is a positive thing that two of the five Best Actor nominations are of hispanic descent (Antonio Banderas and Joaquin Phoenix). However, of the total acting performance nominations, there is only one person of color: Cynthia Erivo.

According to a Vice article, the reason why there always seems to be a lack of Asian performance recognition in the Hollywood mainstream is multifaceted. Some of it has to do with racial biases and stereotypes, while it also has to do with a deeper cultural difference. The latter refers more to the kind of acting American audiences are more used to seeing on the big screen. The article claims Sylvia Chong, associate professor and director of the University of Virginia’s American Studies Program, told them over the phone that in most American cinema films, when the audience sees an Asian actor, they usually see the race, and not the character conveyed by the actor.

As media consumers and future professionals, it is important that we know how to view media in a critical manner. If you have seen Parasite and any of the other amazing performances nominated this year, do you think the cast should have received at least one nomination?

Sources:

https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/wxed7y/why-doesnt-the-academy-awards-oscars-nominate-asians-for-best-actor-bong-joon-ho-parasite https://deadline.com/2020/01/parasite-history-sag-award-win-1202835717/

It is no secret that our nation has dealt with a great deal of mistrust and uncertainty in recent years in virtually all aspects of life. Widespread reports of “fake news” and other misconduct have left citizens to wonder, “who can we trust?” 

A recent national survey conducted by the Morning Consult revealed that more Americans trust American companies than the U.S government and institutions. The survey asked subjects to rate their trust in over 20 different brands, institutions, and public figures and their ability to “do the right thing.” Subjects could respond one of five ways, including “a lot,” “some,” “not much,” “not at all,” or “I don’t know.” Among the most trusted companies were Amazon and Google, which were ranked third and fourth by those surveyed. Both were ranked higher in overall trust than teachers, law enforcement, Donald Trump, and the U.S Government. Ultimately, primary doctors and the military were among the top two most trusted by those surveyed. Still, 39% of subjects expressed trust in Amazon, and 38% placed confidence in Google. These ratings are exceptionally higher than the 26% trust in scientific studies and 23% trust in health warnings and advisories among subjects. 

This data suggests some intriguing insight into the opinions of Americans presently. More than two-thirds of the subjects surveyed stated that they have become increasingly less trusting of public entities and figures in recent years. Alongside, nearly three in four Americans placed their confidence in major companies and brands to deliver a consistent and dependable product or service. This dependability has created a virtually unbreakable loyalty among consumers, one that appears to be stronger than that of the dynamic between citizen and government. Although these findings may come as no surprise to many Americans, they only further emphasize the need for change within our country. If Americans cannot trust those appointed to protect and serve, how can the country continue to prosper? 

 

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/people-trust-amazon-and-google-more-than-the-police-or-the-government-2020-01-14 

There is a new report on streaming from Interpublic Groups Magna that assess Netflix and Quibi as being vulnerable in this accelerating streaming wars. With many big players going the industry, the report forecasts that media companies will create content super bundles to keep viewers. Streaming isn’t going anywhere, and all businesses small and large are going to continue to have to find innovative ways to stay afloat. In 2020, report estimates that streaming will make up 60% of all video viewing next year, and 70% by 2024. It is going to become the most dominate mode of video consumption for some audiences in 2020, eclipsing linear TV. Even powerhouses like Netflix will need to reevaluate because according to Nielsen data, Netflix’s most viewed offerings during the 2018-2019 season were Disney titles. Now that Disney has since taken back those tittles and added more of their own into their own streaming service that will really shake up the tables. Netflix will need to do more if they want to continue to be the top dog in streaming.

https://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/344746/magna-netflix-quibi-are-vulnerable-get-ready.html?utm_campaign=Feed%3A+mediadailynews+%28MediaPost+%7C+MediaDailyNews%29&utm_medium=feed&utm_source=feedburner

 

The first ever Apple Music Awards took place on December 4th, 2019. The award show  streamed on Apple Music from the Steve Jobs theater in Cupertino, California. The show awarded the most popular artists of 2019. The award for Breakthrough Artist of the Year went to Lizzo, who had a number one song on the chart with “Truth Hurts”; Song of the Year was awarded to Lil Nas X for his hit song’ Old Town Road’. However, the biggest winner of the night was Billie Eilish who has graced the year with one of the top-selling pop albums. Eilish took home the award for ‘most streamed artist’.

Apple has had a very interesting year. The media giant released their newest iPhone (iPhone 11) and on November 12th they delivered their Apple streaming service which has had a ton of success. This award show does raise a few eyebrows due to how quickly it came after the announcement of the Spotify music awards. What makes both of these award shows interesting is that they give the awards out by determining who has the most streams. This week the Billboard charts announced that they will count YouTube streams toward the Billboard 200 chart as well.

It is clear that times are changing and the internet/ music world is finding more ways to adapt to the world of streaming.