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Why is Meta Being Sued and What Effect Has its Technology Had on Local Students? By Lucy Bikahi American Journalism Student As of October 2023, 40+ states are suing Meta for actively contributing to the youth mental health crisis through the technology offered on their social media apps, specifically Instagram. According to an NPR article, Meta is being accused of knowingly deceiving the public in regard to how safe their technology is and, as stated by the attorneys general, has “exploited and manipulated children.” Growing up on social media undoubtedly has an effect on those using it, regardless of how profound it may be from person to person.
In an exposé published in the Wall Street Journal in September of 2021, the newspaper reported that Facebook, now Meta, had conducted research on how Instagram affected the mental health of teenagers using the app. There were clear statistics featured in the article showing that the mental health of teenagers was being negatively affected. Despite having years worth of research on how their app was negatively affecting teenage users, Meta neglected making any significant changes to improve this issue, instead continuing to preach that it was good that their applications were bringing people together and that any negative impacts their applications were having were “quite small.” Emma Dunbar, who has been an educator in SFUSD for 15+ years, sat down for an interview to discuss the impact she has seen social media has had on teenagers’ mental health with the rise of social media. When as if Meta’s applications have had an effect on teenage mental health, Ms. Dunbar answers, “Oh for sure. Basically all school discipline is now attached to social media, and there’s a ton more school discipline. So there’s more mental health [issues] in addition to that discipline,” Ms Dunbar says, speaking from experience as a former principal. One example she gives of the way teens are now utilizing Instagram are massive anonymous group chats that essentially function as online burn books. “Instagram won’t take anything down unless there’s a threat to life, so these massive toxic group chats exist and they really can’t be controlled.” The effects of growing up on social media carry on far past grade school; students who started using social media in middle and high school continue using it through college as it becomes deeply ingrained in users’ lives. “People try to post the best versions of themselves, like a life half of them probably don’t have, and it makes you jealous. It makes you want certain things you think you should have or that you’re not good enough if you don’t have it,” says SMC junior Abigail Burrell, who has been on Instagram since seventh grade. “Seeing what other people post sets these expectations in my mind, it makes me more conscious of what I post,” says SMC junior Jerin Philip, who has been on Instagram since high school. While it’s a more subtle effect than what is being seen in San Francisco’s school district, growing up on Instagram has caused people to obtain a sense of constant comparison as second nature. Meta was contacted for a comment, with a link to the WSJ article included in this article along with interview questions. A response was never received.
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The National Zoo’s pandas have departed for China  Image c/o Jose Luis Magana/Associated Press On Wednesday, November 8, the National Zoo bid farewell to their giant pandas Mei Xiang, Tian Tian, and their 3-year-old cub Xiao Qi Ji. As the zoo held a nine-day “panda-palooza” to commemorate its decades-long panda conservation program, hundreds of fans came to say goodbye to Washington, D.C.’s panda family. “It felt amazing,” exclaimed 10-year-old Kelsey Lambert, who traveled from San Antonio with her mother to catch a final glimpse of the bears, “My mom always promised she would take me one day. So we had to do it now that they're going away.” The National Zoo’s pandas are just the latest departures from American zoos, following the Memphis Zoo and San Diego Zoo’s return of their pandas to China in recent years. After the three pandas arrived in Chengdu, only four pandas now remain in the U.S., at the Atlanta Zoo. But why? How come U.S. zoos are suddenly losing their pandas?
The answer lies in the tricky relationship between the United States and China, with rising tensions causing speculation that this gradual pullback of pandas is a sort of diplomatic “deep freeze” from the Chinese government. Dennis Wilder, a senior fellow at Georgetown University’s Initiative for US-China Dialogue on Global Issues, suggests this response is a possible punitive measure for a variety of recent developments, ranging from U.S. sanctions on China’s officials to American restrictions on the import of Chinese semiconductors. In an interview with the Associated Press, Wilder claims that Chinese officials suspect a growing animosity between themselves and NATO-affiliated countries and allies, hence the ongoing rollbacks on panda loan contracts in not only the U.S. but in Scotland and Australia as well. Things came to a head with the death of Le Le, a panda on loan at the Memphis Zoo, at the age of 25. Due to the average panda’s lifespan reaching up to 30 years old in captivity, the unexpected death incited an explosion of allegations on Chinese social media platforms that claimed the Memphis Zoo mistreated Le Le and his female partner Ya Ya. This controversy ensued even after an inspection by a Chinese medical team confirmed Le Le’s natural death due to a heart condition and was only quelled after Ya Ya’s return to China after her loan contract expired in April of this year. The practice of China loaning giant pandas to the U.S. began in 1972 during President Richard Nixon’s historic visit to China. First Lady Patricia Nixon recalled growing quite fond of the bears during a dinner exchange with Chinese Premier Zhou En-lai, who would agree to lend the National Zoo two pandas as a form of goodwill. Two months after the visit, pandas Ling Ling and Hsing-Hsing arrived in Washington, D.C., and the diplomatic tradition has continued ever since. In the meantime, the National Zoo remains hopeful that future pandas will one day return to their care, even sending an application that is currently being reviewed. As for Mei Xiang, Tian Tian, and Xiao Qi Ji, many view this as inevitable and simply their time to go as the two adult bears reach old age. “They are at the age when they should be in China,” said conservation biologist Melissa Songer, “I don’t want to have a panda pass away outside of China.” While the future of American zoos hosting giant pandas remains unclear, the National Zoo’s panda family has settled into their new home at the Wolong Giant Panda Reserve. Works Cited: The New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/08/us/politics/panda-zoo-china.html PBS Newshour: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/national-zoos-giant-pandas-to-return-to-china-in-december-leaving-only-a-handful-in-america CNN: https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/08/world/panda-diplomacy-us-china/index.html Richard Nixon Foundation: https://www.nixonfoundation.org/2011/02/pat-nixon-and-panda-diplomacy/ Will the town of Grandavik be spared from this volcanic activity?  Image c/o NBC News By Lillian La Salle Associate Editor As cracks widen into chasms destroying Icelandic infrastructure and sinkholes swallow up property in the small town of Grindavik, some scientists remain hopeful that the community will be spared from the impending volcanic eruption.
Iceland, a country of less than 400,000 people has been at the mercy of volcanic activity for years and even stands between two tectonic plates with a considerable amount of seismic activity. According to the Complete Guide to Iceland, the country has seen an uptick in volcanic activity, with the Fagradalsfjall volcano erupting in 2021 and 2022 after not erupting for 6,000 years. According to The New York Times, the new volcanic activity is 40 miles away from the small town of Grindavik, home to a little over 3,000 Icelandic citizens. PBS said City officials ordered the evacuation of citizens on November 14th and a week later citizens were allowed to return to secure their key possessions. Icelandic resident Ingibjorn Gretarsdottir says in an interview while waiting to reenter the town, “The earth has collapsed about one meter or something, so the lava is under our house. We don't know if we're going to have a home or what.” Meanwhile, other residents are quickly packing as much of their lives into their cars to escape to safety, with some residents packing their business supplies in with their familial belongings to make sure they still have a livelihood. It is unknown the exact effects the eruption will have on the town of Grindavik, but scientists explain to PBS that the eruption of magma may come from the fissures that have been evolving and expanding in the ground throughout the town, spreading the volcanic effects across a wider range. Already Jon Thor Viglundsson, a spokesman for Iceland’s Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management, explained to the New York Times that the sewage systems are under great stress with the magma causing the lines to rupture. Mr. Viglundsson adds that the eruption also poses a large threat to the infrastructure of the town, putting thousands at risk. On the more hopeful side, The Times and PBS have secured information that the seismic activity causing earthquakes has been steadily declining. The Times includes the previous amount of seismic activity, which reached over 1,000 earthquakes all across the Reykjanes Peninsula in the southwestern part of Iceland in only a 24 hour period. Since last month when the earthquakes reached their peak, Iceland has seen over 10,000 earthquakes all across the peninsula. In the past week seismic activity is less frequent and has a lower magnitude than before, giving hope to Iceland that their towns will be safe. Kristin Jonsdottir, head of Iceland's volcanoes department, explained to PBS that, “Every day, what we're seeing is a decline in the rate of earthquakes and also in the rate of energy release from the earthquakes.” However, she explains this decline in seismic activity does not mean that an eruption will not occur. Iceland Meteorology Officer Benedikt Ofeigsson says that, “If an eruption will occur, it's probably within days, rather than weeks.” Citizens question whether they will be able to return to their homes in Grindavik at all, and Icelandic Prime Minister Katrin Jakobsdottir is working to ensure housing and salaries for the citizens who are displaced by the danger of eruption. The town is also working tirelessly to protect their powerplant form the scortching magma that could melt it down to nothing. The Times explains this power plant provides energy and hot water for over 30,000 people and was expected to take 30 days to complete. However, a PBS interview with Vidir Reynisson, Director General of Icelandic Civil Defense found that, “We are a little bit ahead of schedule...even if we would have an eruption in the dike at this moment…we would at least to delay the lava flow to the power plant.” Although the displacement of thousands is causing great distress among Iceland and numerous other countries throughout the world, Forbes explains the global effects of this eruption will not be as widespread as the Eyjafjallajökull eruption of 2010 which delayed 100,000 transatlantic flights due to the substantial amount of volcanic ash in air circulation. The impending eruption will have lasting effects on the people Grandavik, and all of Iceland will suffer the impacts of earthquakes that will ensue with this volcanic activity. Thankfully Icelandic Officials are acting quickly and efficiently to protect their citizens and their livelihoods from the volcanic activity that threatens their communities.  Image c/o AboutAmazon.com By Tucker Long News Reporter On September 26, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) filed a lawsuit against online shopping giant Amazon for illegal conduct that allows the website to wield monopoly power. The FTC lodged this complaint along with seventeen state attorney generals, alleging that Amazon unfairly uses its power as a digital marketplace to “inflate prices, degrade quality, and stifle innovation for consumers and businesses.”
Amazon is not being sued for its size or market share, rather the tactics the company uses to push out smaller sellers and promote its own merchandise, degrading the experience for not only the sellers but the customer as well. Amazon not only provides webspace for online retail, but they also sell their own merchandise, in direct competition with third-party sellers. According to a source on NPR, around 60% of products sold on the website come from sellers other than Amazon. Because Amazon is the largest online retailer, its actions can have strong effects throughout different online retail spaces. The FTC is alleging that if a third-party seller’s merchandise is selling at too low of a price point somewhere else on the internet, Amazon can bury that seller’s products on Amazon so far down in the search results that they lose significant traffic and relevancy. Sellers are not able to just up and leave Amazon because it is still the best way to sell products online, and because of this Amazon is keeping prices high across the internet. Furthermore, Amazon is able to add conditions to their “Prime” service for sellers that make it more difficult to sell elsewhere online. Services like Prime and their advertising service are costly and technically optional, though it is said that they are “virtually necessary for sellers to do business.” Because Amazon is so fundamental when it comes to the online retail industry, third-party sellers cannot just pivot and take their business elsewhere, rather it is still more lucrative to play by Amazon’s rules. The company is able to decrease revenue for their own sellers and make it so other online retailers cannot prosper, this is seen by the FTC as abuse of monopoly power. On top of this, the FTC is claiming that Amazon promotes paid advertisements and Amazon’s own products above more relevant or better-reviewed ones, making the customers’ experience worse. In a report released on November 2, The Washington Post writes that according to newly released details from the lawsuit, Amazon executives, including founder Jeff Bezos, are instructing this kind of behavior. The suit is quoted as saying that “Amazon executives internally acknowledge this creates ‘harm to consumers’ by making it ‘almost impossible for high quality, helpful organic content to win over barely relevant sponsored content.’” Amazon denies the allegations put forth by the FTC. In a statement put out on their website, the company says that while they “respect the role the FTC has historically played in protecting consumers and promoting competition.” They believe that their current iteration is “misguided”. If successful in their lawsuit, Amazon claims that the FTC will be forcing them “to engage in practices that actually harm consumers and the many businesses that sell in our store—such as having to feature higher prices, offer slower or less reliable Prime shipping, and make Prime more expensive and less convenient.” Amazon aims to bring low prices to customers and to help independent sellers be successful on their website, according to David Zapolsky, Amazon’s general counsel. Currently, the FTC is trying to prove that Amazon broke the law, and if so, to put a stop to it. The outcome is still far from being determined, with FTC chair Lina Khan saying, “At this stage, the focus is really on liability.”  Image c/o AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File By Edith Cuevas News Reporter Pleasant Hill pilot Joseph Emerson has been charged with 83 counts of attempted murder after attempting to shut-off a plane’s engines mid-flight. As an off-duty pilot, Emmerson was able to fly with the pilots in the cockpit jump seat. Takeoff was smooth, according to the New York Times. It was when cruising altitudes were reached that Emmerson began to show signs of agitation.
“I’m not ok,” he told the pilots. This is when Emerson reached over and attempted to pull the fire-suppression handles, which were designed to cut the fuel supply and shut down both engines. “I thought it would stop both engines, the plane would start to head towards a crash, and I would wake up.” Emerson continued to tell the New York Times. In the weeks leading up to the incident, Emerson had ingested psychedelic mushrooms. According to ABC 7, the ingestion of psychedelics can have a lasting effect on a person but can also trigger an underlying mental health illness. According to Emerson’s wife, Sarah Stretch, he had become depressed in 2018 following the sudden death of his best man, Scott Pinney. “The loss of Scott was devastating to us, and for Joe especially. I feel like he has never come to terms with his death.” This weekend getaway was meant to commemorate the death of Pinney. This is what plunged him into the hallucinogenic state that Emerson was in such desperation to wake up from. There are restrictions imposed by the FAA that prevent pilots with depression from flying, and it also prevents the use of prescriptions for any mental health treatment. According to the FAA, this is to prevent any potential issues in the cockpit including mental breakdowns or suicide attempts. Pilots had to undergo routine medical assessments, disclosing various medical diagnoses, such as depression or anxiety, along with details of consultations with health professionals. Many pilots avoid seeking medical treatment fearing permanent grounding. In a significant shift in 2010, the FAA approved specific antidepressants for pilots dealing with mild or moderate depression. However, the pilots that opted to take the medications were still grounded for a month for a monitoring period. The entire process of gaining approval to resume active flying could extend even longer, with no guarantee of ultimate approval. The potential impact on careers, as noted by aviation doctors, industry lawyers, and pilots, prompted many aviators to either falsify information about their treatment or altogether sidestep seeking help. Instead opting for the risk of a $250,000 fine and five years in prison Emerson told The New York Times, “I started to have this feeling that this wasn’t real. I thought of a lot of traumatic things that in that time where I was like, ‘Am I dead? Is this hell?’ I am reliving that trauma.” According to Emerson, he was briefly brought back to reality, he then left the cockpit on his own and immediately asked one of the flight attendants for help. As he walked down the aisle, he looked at the passengers, all seemingly unaware of what had just happened. That is when Emerson began questioning the reality of what was going on. “You need to handcuff me right now, or it’s going to be bad,” is what Emerson told the flight attendant according to the police officer who interviewed the flight crew. “I am horrified that those actions put myself and others at risk,” Emerson said. “That crew got dealt with a situation there’s no manual, checklist or procedure that’s been written for. And they did an exemplary job keeping me and the rest of the people on that plane safe.” The FAA announced that they will be creating a committee to provide recommendations on breaking down barriers that prevent pilots from reporting mental health issues. “A mental health diagnosis is not a career ender. We have completed clinical research and amended policy to make it much easier for pilots on a widening number of antidepressants to continue with their careers,” said the FAA’s Federal Air Surgeon Dr. Susan Northrop. A historic space to honor veterans of past and present.  Image c/o Expedia By Lillian La Salle Associate Editor On Veterans Day, the Bay Area’s own Alameda County celebrated its veterans at the USS Hornet Museum, which celebrated its 80th year of being commissioned by the United States Navy as an Essex-class aircraft carrier, as well as its 25th year of being made a museum. The ceremony honored veterans and all those who worked to maintain the Hornet and consisted of a wreath laying, a flyover, and a number of different speakers. An NBC Bay Area news report stated that speakers included East Bay Congresswoman Barbara Lee as well as Retired Rear Admiral Jonathan Yuen, who spoke about the accomplished veterans and the great milestones the USS Hornet represented for the United States. According to the Air Museum Guide, the USS Hornet (CV-12) has lots of history, including helping with WWII, the moon landing, holding historic aircrafts and helicopters, and honoring the prior USS Hornet (CV-8) which sank during the Battle of Santa Cruz Islands in 1942. The rich history of past engineering masterpieces are housed in this massive ship, and the public is strongly encouraged to tour and learn more about the American Navy, and others who worked to maintain the ship. Other exhibits include daily logs and photos of pilots who used to fly from the Hornet during WWII between 1944 to 1945. This ship acts as a time capsule honoring all those who made sacrifices during their service to America. With this upcoming holiday season let us keep these veterans in our thoughts, and if you are in the Bay area be sure to stop by the new Hornet Museum to witness the amazing exhibits it has to offer.
Lafayette Teachers Seek Appreciation and Increases Despite District Financial Challenges By Daniela Orecchia American Journalism Student Teachers in the Lafayette School District are demanding a 14% increase and recognition for their years of service during a critical period for Lafayette education. Concerns about the community's educational future are raised by the district's financial difficulties and the increasing exchanges between administrators and teachers. The teachers' demands for a significant pay raise and appreciation for their commitment are at the heart of the current labor crisis. Although Superintendent Brent Stephens has called attention to the financial obstacles, educators contend that the request is about more than simply money—it's about appreciating their dedication to teaching. Deeper worries regarding the district's educational system's sustainability and resource distribution are brought to light by this conflict.
In a statement sent via email, Brent Stephens described the costs associated with granting the teachers' requests. He clarified that a 12% raise would need a $1.8 million budget cut over the following three years. Due to the financial strain, educators are challenging the district's allocation priorities, particularly with regard to the emphasis on science, art, and music programs and classroom materials that are supported by Lafayette Parent Instruction Education (LPIE). There are many issues other than just money that worry teachers. Many have mentioned earlier cutbacks, like accepting less healthcare coverage, as reasons for their feelings of undervaluation. These complaints draw attention to the larger problems at hand and cast doubt on the district's dedication to its teachers as well as the distribution of resources. The Lafayette Teachers Union and the School District will hold an important compromising session on October 27 under the guidance of an outside mediator. The result may not only influence educators' immediate futures but also have long-term effects for Lafayette's general educational quality and the caliber of instruction. Mrs. Thompson, a concerned parent, said, “My child deserves the best, and part of that is having instructors that are driven and committed to their work. Although I agree with the teachers' demand for recognition, I'm concerned about how the district's financial situation may affect the standard of instruction as a whole. It's a delicate balance that requires careful consideration.” Mrs. Martinez, another parent explained, “My whole support is with the teachers' 14% pay increase proposal. It's only right that the commitment of our educators be acknowledged because they are crucial in determining our kids' futures. A fair salary for our teachers is a fundamental right, as they provide valuable education that benefits our community.” Julia, an education major at Saint Mary's College of California said, “I am majoring in education, therefore I am aware of the extreme commitment required to become a teacher. Developing young minds is the commitment, not just a job. In order to draw in and keep enthusiastic teachers, a 14% raise is not only warranted, but also essential. Respecting the experts who mentor our kids is the first step towards investing in their future. Acknowledging the skills and knowledge teachers contribute to the classroom through years of service is just as important as providing a salary.” In addition to endangering the district's finances, the continuous conflict calls into question the importance of education and the welfare of its teachers. The results of the negotiations could have a ripple effect on the Lafayette School District, affecting the quality of instruction and the kids' entire educational experience. The larger implications raise concerns about the district's educational system's sustainability as well as the priorities for allocating resources. Based on data from the Lamorinda Weekly, this study attempts to educate the public about the labor issue in the Lafayette School District, with a focus on the grievances of the teachers, current negotiations, financial problems, and the potential for a strike. In addition to educators and administrators, parents, students, and the community at large are all concerned in finding a solution to this problem. The outcome of this labor dispute affects not just administrators and teachers but also parents, kids, and the community at large as talks are about to begin. The outcome will dictate the district's financial stability as well as the importance given to education and the welfare of its teachers. The district's educational system's sustainability and resource allocation priorities are called into question by the larger implications. Many local bay area residents are scared in regards to the rising crime rates. From car break-ins in San Francisco to armed robberies in Walnut Creek, things are only getting worse. A few local bay area residents are able to give input on their experience with crime and how they are having to change their lifestyles because of it. By Francesca Caronna American Journalism Student It is not a shock to most that crime in the Bay Area has increased in recent years, making residents move out of certain areas and overall be more cautious. From car break-ins in San Francisco and Oakland, to muggings in Walnut Creek, it has gotten out of hand. Some Bay Area locals have strong feelings about the crime at hand and are uneasy about the level it has increased.
Bay area native, Radha Rai grew up in Berkeley but recently her family moved to Danville, which is a suburb more inland. Rai stated “My family decided to make the move to the suburbs because Berkeley started to get a little too dodgy for our liking.” This seems to be a common experience for residents of Berkeley, Oakland and even San Francisco, where individuals and families are relocating to areas with less crime. Oakland and San Francisco are notorious for auto theft and car break-ins, in fact residents are so used to this criminal behavior, they often watch it happen and sometimes video record it. However, according to a local news station, it is often not reported to the police (KTVU2 News). Senior resident of Orinda, John Caronna, was recently getting dim sum from his favorite restaurant in Oakland where he unfortunately experienced a taste of the increased crime rates. Caronna said “I was literally out of my car for two minutes when it got broken into. I heard people yelling that someone’s car window was getting smashed and I turned around and it was my car.” This is a harsh reality that Bay Area residents are experiencing, and as Caronna stated “I just never thought it would happen to me.” The rising crime rates are not just on the other side of the Caldecott Tunnel, according to KRON 4, it is happening in Lafayette and Walnut Creek as well. There have been reports of muggings and robberies occurring in downtown Walnut Creek, where perpetrators are targeting individuals that are specifically wearing Rolex watches and other luxury jewelry. It has gotten to the point where residents are having to take preemptive measures. Local resident, Stephanie Caronna, frequents walnut creek often and she explained “I take my watch off and avoid wearing nice jewelry or carrying any obvious name-brand bags when I go to Walnut Creek now.” The lengths people are being forced to go in order to not become a target is the harsh reality of the world we live in right now. Crime like car break-ins, auto theft, and muggings are happening more often and bay area residents are scared. They are having to change their lifestyles, the accessories they wear, and their residence due to the rising crime rates. Many residents find themselves not going to certain restaurants or stores as often because they are known as crime hotspots. |
StaffMadison Sciba '24, Archives
May 2024
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