March 2023

CURRENT AFFAIRS IN A WAY YOU'LL LOVE

MARCH 2023

THE DOOMSDAY CLOCK

HOW OLD IS TOO OLD TO BE LIVING AT HOME?

VOL 4 // ISSUE 3

PSYCHOLOGY OF SOCIAL MEDIA

THE RADICALIZING EFFECT OF THE INTERNET

WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF THE ONLY PERSON YOU HAD TO IMPRESS WAS YOURSELF?

SAHITHI LINGAMPALLI

TARUNI MANAM

KAVYA GURUNATH

ASHMITA ANNAMALAI

HARINI AKURATHI layout co-director

UDAY LINGAMPALLI

vice executive opinion co-director

GEETHIKAA TARRA

MIA GRACE

founder art co-director

arts & media co-director

politics & world events codirector

EVELYN CHEN

RACHEL ADAM

art co-director

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vice executive lifestyle co-director

politics & world events codirector

vice executive science co-director

editing co-director

HELEN BIAN

layout co-director

THEJO TATTALA

tech & design co-director

AATHMIKA RADHACHANDRAN public relations co-director

MEET THE DIRECTORS @theaffairmag theaffairmag@gmail.com Published monthly by The Affair.

All Rights Reserved.

JUEE DESHMUKH science co-director

COVER DESIGN BY HELEN BIAN

MAGGIE KWEE

public relations co-director

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meet the staff

WRITERS: Isabel White Thejo Tattala Juee Deshmukh Kavya Gurunath Gunkriti Kaur Taruni Manam Maggie Kwee Geethikaa Tarra ARTISTS: N/A

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EDITORS: Kashika Misra Ashmita Annamalai Uday Lingampalli Dharshini Muthukumaran Shukashini Sivakumar Kavya Gurunath Taruni Manam Juee Deshmukh Geethikaa Tarra Aniha Vasnad Maggie Kwee

LAYOUT DESIGNERS:

Sahithi Lingampalli Helen Bian Chhavi Agarwal Shukhashini Sivakumar

contents

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WORLD POLITICS

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The Radicalizing Effect of the Internet

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TECH

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Different Coding Languages

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Science

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The ACT Science Section

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The Doomsday Clock

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Psychology of Social Media

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LIFESTYLE

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What would you do if the only person you had to impress was yourself?

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Coconut Cupcakes

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Spring Cleaning for the Soul

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OPINION

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How old is too old to be living at home?

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When marks "the end" of COVID-19?

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world events & politics

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the radicalizing effect of the internet Although the internet provides more benefits than are possible to name, it also has promoted further polarization of extremist groups and makes way for misogynistic and bigoted speech and actions.

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the radicalizing effect of the interne

Undoubtedly, the internet has provided the world with a host of good: international communication at the press of a button, everything anyone has ever known at your fingertips, access to databases of music, movies, and literature, etc. However, with the growth of social media and online chat forums in particular has come niche, radical extremist groups and bigoted ideologies that have effectively locked themselves into an echo chamber with only people who mirror their own point of view.

One example of this that has become the center of an internet-wide joke is the so-called “incels.” Essentially, incel online groups (typically on Facebook, Reddit, and 4chan) describe themselves as “involuntarily celibate” (abstaining from any any type of sexual interaction) and gang together to describe their negative interactions with women and feelings of self-loathing, especially about their own looks. Many incels believe that women will always choose the “Chads” (ie: blonde hair, chiseled jawline, etc) over them, creating an 'us versus them' mentality common in such extremist groups. Feelings of failure and frustration make way to anger and

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hatred towards all women and pave the way for misogynistic speech and actions. One “incel” from the UK states, after being asked directly whether or not he hates women: "In some ways, yes,’ he stutters. ‘I try not to, but I find myself like - I'll just be talking and I'll say things that I shouldn't really say, just because I've been looking at forums.’”

The effects of the internet are much more broad than one almost comical group of misogynists. For example, many women with any amount of internet fame report swaths of unwanted sexual comments from mostly men unlike anything they have heard in real life, from aggressive flirting to death threats. When these women try to speak out about the misogyny (or bigotry of any kind) they have experienced online, these same trolls often respond with accusations of stifling free speech or tell them to “lighten up.” Less overtly, many women who try to enter the computer science or other “male-dominated” industry often face discrimination to the point where they leave their profession, with their attrition rate being double the rate of men at 56%. This also prevents women in the technology industry from

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by isabel white edited by kashika mishra & ashmita annamalai layout by sahithi lingampalli

speaking out about the aggression they have experienced and potentially making positive change in their companies in order to prevent such instances from occurring.

Additionally, many find it much easier to be a misogynist (or a bigot of any kind) behind the screen and find comfort in the anonymity the internet provides due to the online disinhibition effect, which is when people feel less reservations about saying exactly what is on their mind on the internet compared to in-person interactions.

Comments such as “The successful males I train simply seem to be hungrier and more willing to make the personal sacrifices required to get ahead of the competition” to “I don't trust anything that bleeds for five days and doesn't die” all contribute to underlying feelings of male superiority and may make these men feel more comfortable expressing their hatred for women. Bigotry, of course, does not only come in the form of sexism on the internet–1 in 4 LGBTQ+ youth reported online gender-based discrimination, 40% reported harassment related to their sexuality, and half of American teenagers encountered racist hate speech on

social media by 2018. With the rate of online usage skyrocketing after the COVID-19 stay-at-home orders that began only 2 years ago, this harassment is guaranteed to have increased exponentially as well.

It is unclear what the future of the internet will be, as online communication is still growing out of its infancy. What can be concluded from the high levels of misogyny and bigotry present online is that we all must work together in order to ensure the internet is a safe space for everyone to coexist without hate speech, discrimination, or feeling targeted due to their identity.

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this month's topic for...

technology

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different coding languages

As the world becomes technology, computer sc extremely valuable to both the Affair as we guide thr world of computer science.

s increasingly dependent on cience and coding skills are h students and professionals. Join rough a brief exploration of the .

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written by thejo tattala layout by helen bian edited by uday lingampalli & dharshini muthukumaran 11

different coding langua Coding is a vast subject, with many different languages available, but it is easiest to understand these languages in terms of front-end and back end development. Front-end development coding languages help the user’s experience flow smoothly, and focuses more on the consumer’s ability to interact with the product. Back-end development focuses more on the functionality of the app, and its ability to carry out these functions without error.

Let’s look at examples of both.

HTML stands for hyper-text markup language, and it is mainly used to create websites as well as apps. It is easy to learn, free, and supported across many different browsers, making it very accessible to learn and use. HTML focuses on layout, and it does not provide means to make the page look aesthetic or incorporate functional aspects. However, it is useful for creating the basic structure for websites and apps, as well as providing an easy introduction to coding.

CSS stands for Cascading Style Sheets, and it is mainly focused on the presentation of information, making it readable, understandable, and usable for users. The advantages of CSS are

that it can be used to create a r format. It is also easy to mod update, can be altered from an in the world, and automatically changes. The disadvantages a CSS, unlike HTML, is not compa any browser; there are requirements that must be met, a not as easy to learn for first-time However, with practice and effo can be used to create ae products.

JavaScript is used for c complicated features in applicat is utilized for dynamic, or m actions such as motion graphics etc. The advantages are that Jav allows for many more function website and reduces server de However, it has the potential to security issues and depends on s browsers for support.

Swift is predominantly used creator, Apple, for iOS, macO other similar devices. The strengths of Swift are ease and s is more compatible with first-tim to learn and it prevents the cod making mistakes. However, it compatible with outdated iOS v Swift is a good way to programming, especially for begi

ages

eusable dify and nywhere y saves re that tible on certain and it is coders. ort, CSS esthetic

TypeScript is actually an extension of JavaScript, and it can be imported into JavaScript as well. TypeScript is a more rigid format, specifying the exact type of code, structure, and elements.

However, it is harder to implement due to the conversion process and accessibility. Nonetheless, TypeScript is a beneficial programming language for people who have a firm understanding of JavaScript.

creating tions. It moving, s, maps, vaScript ns on a emands. o cause specific

Java is similar to Javascript in terms of the actual code and in its aim to create dynamic functions within the application. However, Java is compiled while Javascript is interpreted. This means that Java is directly interpreted by the target application, while Javascript needs to be interpreted by a third-party before it can be imported and used.

by its OS, and main afety; it me users er from is not ersions. learn inners.

C++ is a general-purpose language, and it has many applications in the real world. The advantages of this language are that it is portable, easy to access, fast, and efficient regarding memory of data/code. However, it is more difficult to learn and comprehend, especially for first-time coders. It also involves more manual coding in terms of erasing or storing memory, and it does not have automatic libraries like Java or

JavaScript. Although challenging, if learned, C++ can be applied to many different fields across many different industries.

Python is a favorite for students; it is much easier to learn and facilitates fascinating projects, such as coding drones, websites, LED systems, and much more. Python, like Javascript, is an interpreted language, which informs the coder of errors before the code is implemented, making the process safer.

It is free, has many libraries available to import and implement, and it can be exported to different programs while keeping the code the same. However, Python, unlike C++, uses up large amounts of memory. Nonetheless, for first time programmers and students who want to create projects using code, Python is a good place to start Ruby is similar to Python because it has many uses and libraries available. Ruby is fast and readable, with simple “syntax”, or language. However, it is slower in performance and less flexible than Python (cannot be modified as easily). While Ruby is easy to understand, and helpful for first time learners, Python is more popular and flexible.

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THIS SECTION: science

THE PSYCHOLOGY OF SOCIAL MEDIA

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THE ACT SECT

SCIENCE TION

THE DOOMSDAY CLOCK

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THE PSYCHOLOGY of social media

Psychology that governs our behavior, daily activities, our emotions, our mood and how we generally spend our day. Today, social media plays a huge role in our daily life and somewhat influences our lifestyle and behind that is psychology and hormones and all that scientific things that one must know.

High usage of social media causes our brain to feel overwhelmed. When we receive positive feedback or get complimented on a post, our brain responds uniquely by releasing a hormone called dopamine, governed by the ventral tegmental area (VTA; responsible in our body to determine rewards). Things like gambling and narcotic drugs have the power to rule over the brain’s rewards system in a similar capacity. Social media users should be aware of these parallels to avoid potential pitfalls.

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HOW DOES SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCE OUR IDENTITY? Over the course of the three years since the lockdown, the perception of identity has now changed to our social media presence and how our peers accommodate it with different lifestyle choices.

Using apps such as “Instagram”, “Twitter”, “Facebook”, etc. makes us opinionated, which in some cases tends to backlash on us. For example, celebrities these days get “canceled” if they say or comment on anything that netizens find troubling.

One major benefit for social media users is - they can reach out to and connect with groups of people with similar interests across the planet. People can find more information about niche hobbies, popular pastimes, and general interests. This ability to belong to

different groups is excellent for people coming from smaller or distant communities, and the psychological advantages for those individuals are immense.

MENTAL HEALTH AND SOCIAL MEDIA Specifically, younger social media users can now create stronger bonds with friends because of the easy access to friends’ information and interests.

Through these connections, users get an opportunity for greater independence and autonomy, which increases their critical thinking and decision-making abilities. These feelings of community and self-worth will palpably improve the mental health of users over the course of time.

Researchers found many positive effects of social media on mental health, such as: Social integration with similar interest groups.

Healthy and body-positive lifestyle motivations.

The availability of support groups.

Maintaining and building new relationships.

An introduction into new modes of thinking.

While we talked about the positive effects of mental health, there are many negative effects as well. Social media apps have the tendency to have a very toxic effect on teens. In a cultural moment that stresses the importance of staying online all the time, these seemingly disconnected issues can overwhelm users and result in profound anxiety.

These negative effects on teens’ mental health illustrates the need for parents, educators, and other role models to build better examples for social media engagement.

CONCLUSION Social media is a technological revolution which allows us to freely communicate, develop, discover, improvise and much more, but it also is a dark pit hole which once we fall into can be very dangerous. Therefore, there must be a well-balanced gap between the usage of social media and our daily life.

BY GUNKRITI KAUR EDITED BY KASHIKA MISHRA, GEETHIKAA TARRA, & KAVYA GURUNATH LAYOUT BY SAHITHI LINGAMPALLI

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t by Layou i Chhav al Agarw

Standardized tests seem scary. Over the course of high school though, it’s worthwhile to take a standardized test.

While they may not be compulsory for some universities, knowing the experience of the test setting, as well as the format of the questions, is valuable knowledge to have. When choosing between the SAT and ACT, two common tests, the ACT gives an opportunity to demonstrate critical thinking in science. After taking the ACT, I’ve noticed that the science section doesn’t test specific scientific knowledge; it actually tests one’s ability to analyze scientific situations. More than a “science” section, it’s a “science reasoning” section.

According to the ACT website, the section “measures the interpretation, analysis, evaluation, reasoning, and problem-solving skills required in natural sciences” (ACT, n.d). There are various scenarios presented, with each one having follow-up multiple choice questions. These scenarios touch on concepts from biology, chemistry, earth sciences, and physics. Throughout K-12 education,

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Edited by Uday Lingampall i, Kavya Gurunath, Shukhashin i Sivakumar

students are bound to acquire some basic knowledge in those areas, so it’s nothing to worry about. The questions also assess “science skills and practices” (ACT, n.d).

First, it’s valuable to know the format of the scenarios. Understanding the information presented is vital to understanding what the questions are asking. The information, according to the ACT website, appears through visuals of data, predominantly through research summaries, and sometimes through presenting conflicting viewpoints (ACT, n.d). Examples of data representations include graphs, data tables, and pie charts. You should know how to read graphs and recognize the relationship between the variables in these visuals. The research summary format provides condensed information regarding an experiment.

With information presented like this, it’s important to be a quick reader, and be able to spot the main theme of the experiment. Annotating the text can also be helpful. The same tips go for reading conflicting viewpoints. Being able to find distinct points in each viewpoint is going to make the questions much easier.

THE

By Juee Deshmukh

Science Section

The questions in the science section assess the students’ ability to recall the information presented, read and find relationships in data visuals, and demonstrate critical thinking skills.

There are four scores reported for the science section. Three scores are for different categories, and one is the overall score. Most of the score is based on the ability to interpret data, which is not only analysis, but also manipulation of the presented data. Don’t worry! It’s not complex manipulation. A question in this category could be something like “If variable X was increased, what will happen to variable Y?”. Another prevalent category is scientific investigation, which requires the understanding of scientific procedures.

A relevant question would be “identify the independent variable in the experiment.” The last score category is the “evaluation of models, inferences, and experimental results” (ACT, n.d).

The evaluation category requires the ability to make conclusions and inferences based on the current information. This category’s questions might be the hardest because it involves reading between the lines. But still, keep calm/ don’t panic, because the questions don’t ask for anything complex or deep.

If you’re like me, science can feel like a scattered, deep, and abstract subject. When I was younger, the idea of testing for science scared me. But after taking the official ACT, and many practice tests, I realized that it’s really just a critical thinking test. That doesn’t make it any less valuable for one’s education. As mentioned previously, the whole experience of standardized testing is a priceless one; teaching patience and perseverance. Happy testing!

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The clock is set by the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists every year in January.

They consider factors such as nuclear war and climate change in their annual decisions to reset the clock. The scientists who formed the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists were a part of the Manhattan Project, the secret project commissioned by the United States government to create the atomic bomb (Lerner, n.d.). They knew the potential of their creation and suggested the president not use the bomb. They suggested the bombs be dropped in an uninhabited area so that Japan was aware they existed, and the threat could be used to make them surrender. In the end, the United States ended up dropping the bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

After the bombs were dropped, the scientists condemned its use and created the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists to inform the public about science and the manmade dangers that threaten humanity (Lerner, n.d.). Today the Bulletin consists of many different scientists, including 11 Nobel Prize winners. It also has a website and a

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bimonthly magazine that you can check out here: https://thebulletin.org/.

The clock was first set in 1947 primarily based on the threat of nuclear weapons, but today, climate change is factored into the conversation as well.

The farthest the clock has ever been from midnight is 17 minutes after the Soviet Union collapsed, and after the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty was passed in 1991 (Marples et al., 2023). In 2023, it was moved to 90 seconds to midnight, the closest it has ever been to midnight. The Bulletin states that the Russia-Ukraine war was one of the reasons for the move closer to midnight.

There is concern about the use of nuclear and biological weapons.

Additionally, countries are spending more on oil they once got from Russia, which could worsen climate effects (Science and Security Board & Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, 2023).

There is some conversation over the accuracy of the clock, and whether it’s outdated, considering it was started 75 years ago (Marples et al., 2023). The metaphor of the clock is not perfect as

the different things that could cause catastrophe happen occur at different rates. However, the Bulletin is sure to emphasize that the clock isn’t predicting the future. It is meant to start conversations about climate change and other man-made disasters. It is meant to give us the push we need to start thinking about solutions to some of the problems we have created, to save ourselves and our planet.

To turn back the clock we need to start making changes. Maybe bike to work rather than walk, or look into more eco-friendly ways to live. These small changes hopefully will turn back the clock and delay doomsday.

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what if the onl you had to impr was yourself?

Before diving into the main contents of this article, here are some reminders: you are worthy, and you are enough, just the way you are. The right community will accept you as your authentic self.

The only person who knows you the best is YOU. Not even the closest of your peers see the raw, authentic version of you. With this in mind, the best person to rely on is solely yourself . Although easier said than done, trusting yourself in your decisions made, words said, or outfits worn will bring more satisfaction in daily life.

Healthy social interaction is vital to an individual’s well-being. In day-today interactions, we establish ourselves through our actions, appearance, and words. Everyone we interact with has a perception of us, regardless of how much they know about our life. Being around other people constantly, it’s hard not to overthink how they may judge us.

However, overthinking about our image leads us not only to question our identity, but also to live our lives based

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ly person ress on our assumptions about other people's perceptions. Worrying about what others think of us causes us to lose sight of the daily practice of living for ourselves.

External validation is like a feedback loop, except its not always positive validation. Let’s say you go to a social event. Not because you actually want to, but because it’s a social event and many highlyesteemed people will be there. In this case, you are ignoring what your gut truly wants, and instead craving the external validation that comes with attending an exclusive social event.

Doing things to appeal to others, at the expense of oneself, damages an individual’s true identity.

If no one else in the world mattered, would your actions be different?

Would your preferences, choices, and tendencies (that you have control over) be different? If the answer is yes, then you are most likely living through someone else's lens. Start living for yourself.

The path to ultimate peace begins with making choices that serve YOU. It includes trusting your internal validation over external validation.

Don’t start questioning everything you do, but every time you have a bad gut feeling about something, take the time to think: am I doing this action for myself, or is it because it will look good in the eyes of someone else?

If the only person you had to impress was yourself, what would you do?

written by: juee d edited by: aniha v, taruni m layout by: Harini a.

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COCONUT cupcakes ingredients. cupcakes Flour (2.5 cups) Baking Powder (1.5 teaspoons) Salt (1/2 teaspoon) Sugar (2 cups) Vanilla extract (1.5 teaspoons) Unsalted butter (1 cup at room temperature) Coconut milk (1 cup) Eggs (4)

frosting Unsalted butter (¾ cup) Cream Cheese (8 oz) Powdered sugar (6 cups) Vanilla extract (1.5 teaspoons) Coconut milk (3 tablespoons) Shredded coconut (½ cup)

WRITTEN BY TARUNI MANAM :: EDITED BY ISABEL 25

directions. cupcakes 1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. Whisk together 2.5 cups of flour, 1.5 teaspoons of baking powder, and ½ teaspoon of salt.

3. Mix the 2 cups of sugar and 1 cup of unsalted butter in a large mixing bowl with a beater. This should take about 3 minutes to get fluffy. Mix in vanilla and eggs. Mix in 1 egg at a time with a few moments in between, making sure that each becomes well incorporated in the mixture. Do not overmix so that the mixture stays light and fluffy.

4. Add in parts of the flour and coconut milk, alternating. Mix these two ingredients in on low speed.

5. Line two muffin pans with paper liners. Fill the liners with an ice cream scoop's worth of batter.

6. Bake the cupcakes for 25 minutes or until golden brown. To check if the cupcakes are fully cooked, insert a toothpick in the middle and make sure it comes out clean.

7. Cool the cupcakes on a wire rack.

frosting 1. Mix together ¾ cup unsalted butter and 8 oz cream cheese together in a large mixing bowl. Beat these two ingredients together until smooth.

Slowly mix in 6 cups of powdered sugar until combined and smooth.

2. Add in 1.5 teaspoons of vanilla extract and 3 tablespoons of coconut milk and beat until fluffy.

3. Pipe the frosting onto the cupcakes and serve with shredded coconut sprinkled on top.

WHITE & ANIHA VASAD :: LAYOUT BY HELEN BIAN 26

Spring Cleaning for the Soul Take the time to declutter your surroundings, and have a fresh new start with the upcoming season.

The start of the new season, spring provides a breath of fresh air, to reset and renew oneself after the cold, gloomy winter season… that is at least if your room is tidy. Unfortunately, for most of us, the accumulation of various belongings and random things seem to clutter up as we hibernate during the winter. Luckily, the common practice of spring cleaning seems to provide an opportunity to tidy up our lives each year.

If you’ve been setting aside the daunting task of cleaning up your messy room, spring cleaning might be a good opportunity for you to buckle down and get to organizing. As you sort through the messes of last year, remember that spring is a season of awakening, life, and new beginnings. Make sure to enter the spring cleaning habitat with a positive mindset, and an open mind.

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To make your experience more engaging or enjoyable, turn on your favorite music or podcast, or even call some friends to keep you company.

Turn the “chore” into a healing, selfcare journey. The spring cleaning practice can help you clear your mind, destress, and let go of things of the past. Additionally, it often improves your mood and helps you focus on new goals, and also gives you a freshly clean, organized environment to live and work in!

So, how should you start your cleaning? The first step is to remove any old waste or clutter taking up space that you don’t need. This doesn’t mean selling your broken vintage grandfather clock, however, but it does mean you should get rid of the broken umbrella in the corner of your room. Furthermore, doing a closet decluttering and going through old clothes that are still in good shape and can be donated is always a good place to start even though they no longer interest you.

written by - maggie kwee editing by - taruni manam, shukhashini sivakumar layout by - shukhashini sivakumar Next, you can work on organization, whether it’s your dresser or your desk, putting things in the right place, or designating a place for your belongings can help you to present your items in a neater way, as well as help you stay consistent in having a cleaner, more organized room. Keep in mind that as you organize, you can also go in and clean the empty surfaces of your desk, your drawers, and even your mirror. As you go through your belongings, you can factor out what has value or use, and get rid of things that don’t.

To help you decide what items to keep or not, here’s a list of some common items that may be applicable to you.

First things first, if something has sentimental value, such as a necklace, even if broken, or photos, don’t get rid of them. In your kitchen, do you really need piles of Tupperware containers or a collection of mugs that you never use? Or similarly, in your office or room, go through your stationery, and get rid of any pens that may be inkless, or wooden pencils that have been reduced to stubs.

Similarly, head on to your local electronics store, or other electronic drives to recycle old digital devices that you no longer use. In your living room, do you have stacks of magazines or books? Books can be donated to your local library, and magazines can be recycled, or turned into a project.

As spring reminds us to declutter, we can learn the lesson of not overspending or getting caught in microtrends. The world of social media and consumerism culture is prominent in terms of promoting spending, and being influenced to buy products excessively. Spring cleaning can help you realize and appreciate what you already have. In addition, it can be a great reminder to remember to live sustainably and do your own part in helping the environment throughout your existence. In addition, the remainder of spring cleaning also serves as an alert to form good habits, and sustain an organized lifestyle.

As you embark on your spring cleaning journey, remember that spring cleaning is all about starting new and having a positive attitude. So, clean your surroundings, and take that breath of fresh air!

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E

OPIN

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NION

How old is too old to be living at home?

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By Geethikaa Tarra

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How o too o be livi hom

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Edited by Aniha Vasad & Ashmita Annamalai

None.

old is old to ing at me?

In short, there is no age limit for living at home. However, it is equally important to be able to stand on your own two feet, whatever that looks like for you.

You don't need to be financially independent and move out by the age of 18, but you should be looking to earn your own money, have your own job, and have the skills necessary to manage your own day-to-day lifestyle upon completing education. Ultimately, life throws us curve balls all the time and our parents can only be with us for so long. So, as individuals, we must be prepared to live life on our own when the time comes.

With various exceptions to my opinion, I believe by the time an individual is financially stable, usually in their mid to late 20s, it is ideal for them to move out of their parents’ house. Of course, this is not a requirement by any means and rather a goal in order to lead an independent life.

Layout by Sahithi Lingampalli 32

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With Governor Newsom ending California’s state of emergency at the end of February, it feels like COVID-19 is “ending,” at least in my community.

However, it also felt like people stopped caring a long time ago. My peers stopped wearing their masks, attended parties, and I rarely hear stories of positive cases. But at the same time, viruses, especially ones that cause pandemics, don’t just “end” or “go away”. I believe that COVID-19 will never “end,” but rather that it is something we will just grow accustomed to like the flu. Many doctors also agree that the virus will just become a part of our routine vaccinations and may reduce in case numbers but will continue to exist in society. As far as I am concerned, people will continue to get vaccinations and boost our herd immunity, reducing the impact of the virus but still allowing it to live. Whether you believe in vaccinations or not, it is important that we recognize that COVID-19 is not going to “end” or “disappear” anytime soon.

WRITTEN BY Geethikaa Tarra

EDITED BY Isabel White Kashika Mishra

LAYOUT BY Helen Bian

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references

References for world politics The Radicalizing Effect of the Internet Duggan, M. (2020, August 20). 1 in 4 Black Americans have faced online harassment because of their race or ethnicity. Pew Research Center. Retrieved March 21, 2023, from https://www.pewresearch.org/facttank/2017/07/25/1-in-4-black-americans-have-faced-online-harassment-because-of-their-race-or-ethnicity/ Griffin, J. (2021, August 13). Incels: Inside a dark world of online hate. BBC News. Retrieved March 21, 2023, from https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-44053828 Gámez-Guadix, M., & Incera, D. (2021, February 4). Homophobia is online: Sexual victimization and risks on the internet and mental health among bisexual, homosexual, pansexual, asexual, and Queer Adolescents.

Computers in Human Behavior. Retrieved March 21, 2023, from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0747563221000509 Khazan, O. (2015, January 14). Men Are Far More Likely to Leave Sexist Internet Comments. The Atlantic.

Retrieved March 21, 2023, from https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2015/01/the-darkpsychology-of-the-sexist-internet-commenter/384497/ Percentage of teenagers in the United States who have encountered hate speech on social media platforms as of April 2018, by type. Statista. (2022, July 7). Retrieved March 21, 2023, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/945392/teenagers-who-encounter-hate-speech-online-social-mediausa/ Taylor, A. (2022, February 3). Misogyny On The Internet. https://www.outlookindia.com/. Retrieved March 21, 2023, from https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/misogyny-on-the-internet/290205 The Radicalizing Effect of the Internet Duggan, M. (2020, August 20). 1 in 4 Black Americans have faced online harassment because of their race or ethnicity. Pew Research Center. Retrieved March 21, 2023, from https://www.pewresearch.org/facttank/2017/07/25/1-in-4-black-americans-have-faced-online-harassment-because-of-their-race-or-ethnicity/ Griffin, J. (2021, August 13). Incels: Inside a dark world of online hate. BBC News. Retrieved March 21, 2023, from https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-44053828 Gámez-Guadix, M., & Incera, D. (2021, February 4). Homophobia is online: Sexual victimization and risks on the internet and mental health among bisexual, homosexual, pansexual, asexual, and Queer Adolescents.

Computers in Human Behavior. Retrieved March 21, 2023, from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0747563221000509 Khazan, O. (2015, January 14). Men Are Far More Likely to Leave Sexist Internet Comments. The Atlantic.

Retrieved March 21, 2023, from https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2015/01/the-darkpsychology-of-the-sexist-internet-commenter/384497/ Percentage of teenagers in the United States who have encountered hate speech on social media platforms as of April 2018, by type. Statista. (2022, July 7). Retrieved March 21, 2023, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/945392/teenagers-who-encounter-hate-speech-online-social-mediausa/ Taylor, A. (2022, February 3). Misogyny On The Internet. https://www.outlookindia.com/. Retrieved March 21, 2023, from https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/misogyny-on-the-internet/290205

References for tech Different Coding Languages Clark, J. (n.d.) Top 10 Front End Programming Languages. back4app. Retrieved from: https://blog.back4app.com/front-end-programming-languages SoftwareGuild. (n.d.). What is the difference between Java and JavaScript? Retrieved from: https://www.thesoftwareguild.com/faq/difference-between-java-and-javascript Deronjic, V. (30 January 2023). A Comprehensive Guide to C++: Advantages and Disadvantages. Pangea.

Retrieved from: https://www.pangea.ai/dev-web-development-resources/a-comprehensive-guide-to-cadvantages-and-disadvantages/ TechVidvan. (n.d.). Python Advantages and Disadvantages – Step in the right direction. Retrieved from: https://techvidvan.com/tutorials/python-advantages-and-disadvantages/ Srivastava, V. (26 January 2023). Pros and Cons of Ruby Development. Pangea. Retrieved from: https://www.pangea.ai/dev-ruby-development-resources/best-practices/

References for science The ACT Science Section The Princeton Review, (n.d). SAT vs. ACT: Which Test is Right for You? The Princeton Review, retrieved from: https://www.princetonreview.com/college/sat-act ACT, (n.d). Science Test Description for the ACT. ACT Inc. Retrieved from: https://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/the-act/test-preparation/description-ofscience-test.html the doomsday clock Lerner, L. (n.d.). What is the Doomsday Clock? UChicago News. Retrieved March 5, 2023, from https://news.uchicago.edu/explainer/what-is-the-doomsday-clock#founding Marples, M., Rogers, K., & Ramirez, R. (2023, January 24). The Doomsday Clock reveals how close we are to total annihilation. CNN. Retrieved March 5, 2023, from https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/24/world/doomsdayclock-2023-climate-scn/index.html Science and Security Board & Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. (2023, January 24). 2023 Doomsday Clock Statement. Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. Retrieved March 5, 2023, from https://thebulletin.org/doomsday-clock/current-time/ Psychology of Social Media Effects of Social Media Use on Psychological Well-Being: A Mediated Model. (2021, May 25). Frontiers.

Retrieved March 16, 2023, from https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.678766/full The Psychology of Social Media. (2019, September 19). King University Online. Retrieved March 16, 2023, from https://online.king.edu/news/psychology-of-social-media Psychology of Social Media Effects of Social Media Use on Psychological Well-Being: A Mediated Model. (2021, May 25). Frontiers.

Retrieved March 16, 2023, from https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.678766/full The Psychology of Social Media. (2019, September 19). King University Online. Retrieved March 16, 2023, from https://online.king.edu/news/psychology-of-social-media

References for lifestyle coconut cupcakes Kanell, J. (2022, April 8). Coconut Cupcakes. Preppy Kitchen. Retrieved March 13, 2023, from https://preppykitchen.com/coconut-cupcakes/

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