Embedded Files
Source: Time Magazine
Australia’s Social Media Ban
By: Haylee Downing
Children 16 and under living in Australia were shocked to open their phones on Tuesday, December 9, to discover that their social media accounts had been deactivated. A new law has been passed in the country that is supposed to “safeguard young people from the potential harms of the platforms,” as reported by The New York Times.
Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Youtube, Tik Tok, and many other platforms were required by law to remove the accounts of all children under the age of 17. The consequences of failing to do this—as provided by The New York Times—is 49.5 Australian dollars, which is about $33 million U.S. dollars.
Millions of Australian teenagers are devastated by this event. Social media is a foundation for communication and entertainment in the younger generations; without it, these children feel excluded. The purpose for placing this law was to keep children safe from cyberbullying, predators, and other complications that come with having a platform. In theory it’s a good goal to keep children protected and secured, but some parents are worried about the effects this may have on teens.
Because this law has just been established, there isn’t too much information surrounding the effects of children at the moment. However, it seems like other countries are planning on taking similar actions. According to NBC News, Malaysia is planning on initiating a ban next year. It is also reported that France, Italy, Spain, Denmark, and Greece are in the works of testing an age-verification template for these platforms.
Christmas Music
By: Kadence Hammer
One of the traditions that a lot of families look forward to is listening to Christmas music to get in the holiday spirit. You can listen to a lot of these songs on the radio when going to school or work, and even on social media. There are many different types of Christmas music that are very popular every year. One of the Christmas classics is “All I Want for Christmas Is You” written by Mariah Carey. This song was released on October 29, 1994, from her holiday album Merry Christmas. Even with this song being released over 30 years ago, it is still a very popular listen and is a fan favorite. Going along with upbeat Christmas songs, another popular song choice is "Underneath the Tree” by Kelly Clarkson. This song was released on November 5, 2013 and this song is the lead single from the album Wrapped in Red. Lastly, the second most listened to Christmas song is “Rocking Around the Christmas Tree,” which was sung by Brenda Lee. This song is even older than Mariah Carey's classical hit being created in the 1950s. This song still hits #1 on the music charts to this day. So if you are looking for some Christmas music to listen to, these choices and many others are good choices.
Gray Matters Smoothie Making
Gray Matters Smoothie Making
By: Haley Ruser
As finals are approaching rapidly, it is easy to neglect taking care of your own needs when you already have too many responsibilities on your plate. However, it is essential in remembering to take care of your mental health during such a stressful time. One of the most crucial ways to do this is to make sure you are consuming a healthy diet. At the Gray Matters’ meeting on Wednesday, December 10, the group collaborated with Chef Greenwood to learn some recipes that fulfill a healthy diet. Here are some of the foods that were presented with Greenwood as well as some extra recommendations:
Breakfast:
Acai smoothie
Greek yogurt
Oatmeal
Nuts
Fruit
Avocado toast
Eggs
Lunch:
Seafood
Salad
Vegetables
Grilled chicken
Soup
Dinner
Rice
Steak
Beans
Shrimp
Veggie pasta
These examples are all great at increasing focus and energy, supporting the immune system, and supporting the overall mood. Therefore, the food people intake plays a big role in the health of their body and mind, setting students up for success during their final exams.
Winter Music Festival
By Andan Nguyen
On December 10th, the Orion High School Concert Band, Concert Choir, Syncopation, and KnightSounds Jazz Band all performed their songs. The Concert Band performed 3 songs. Syncopation performed 2 songs including the iconic tune, "Deck the halls." The KnightSounds Jazz Band performed 3 songs where 2 of their members, Maggie Dochterman on trombone and Nolan Cook on trumpet, performed with some festive instruments. The Concert Choir performed 3 very iconic christmas songs; Silent Night, Jingle Bell Rock, and their traditional song, Carol of the Bells.
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