STAFF EDITORIAL

It’s common sense to not walk up to someone and insult them to their face. Everyone agrees: it’s bad, it’s mean, it’s wrong. But on the Internet, the lines get a little blurrier. Sure, we know it’s still wrong. Yet when we’re behind a screen and a username, it’s so easy to let those insults fly. Consequences don’t exist. Sympathy is impossible–without truly knowing the person, how can we possibly consider their feelings?

And so we insult. We harass and spew hatred. People see the likes the offender earned and dogpile on top of them. LMAOs and LOLs flood comments, usually in response to a cruel joke. Users are chased offline due to all the torment. And it’s all because of some benign reason– slightly controversial musical taste, an embarrassing typo, an imperfect body. It’s a sad sight and an even worse experience.

Maybe it’s thanks to apps like Twitter and TikTok. Maybe it’s a result of our COVID isolation. Or maybe we’ve just always been this nasty. Either way, online harassment is worse than ever. According to Pew Research, 40% of adults have said they have been cyberbullied in the past. That number skyrockets to 75% for students. And it’s genuinely harmful to victims: 41% reported some form of social anxiety as a result of the bullying, 37% developed depression, and 24% left social media entirely.

One thing is clear: it’s well past time to tone it down. You don’t look “cool” calling someone ugly online; you just look like a jerk. And it really isn’t funny. The person on the other side of the screen would most certainly agree.

The best rule of thumb for the Internet: if it’s not hurting anyone, just mind your own business and carry on with your day. Or, better yet: if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all. The world is already scary and mean as is. Don’t let your negativity ruin someone else’s day.

Spotify vs. Apple music

It’s now turned into common practice for people to use music streaming platforms as ways to characterize personalities. For example, Spotify users can be “classified” as social. Apple users can be “classified” as minimalistic, and the list goes on.

Many people also personalize these streaming platforms, so it becomes more than a place where you can just listen to music or podcasts. Because of this, now it’s not just music defining someone, it’s also how they present it.

Before we get too in depth about stereotypes and other assumptions about the people who use these platforms, lets get into the knitty gritty. As a Spotify user, it pains me to admit that without Spotify’s ‘HiFi’, Apple Music takes the cake on sound quality and availability. Apple music has better bitrate and resolution than Spotify, and supports higher resolution streaming. Along with that, Apple music has diverse spacial audio and other higher-tech capabilities than Spotify does.

You can also argue that Apple Music’s free trial has a better deal than Spotify, but I am conflicted on this point. There is a free trial available for Apple Music listening, letting the user explore the site freely for an allotted amount of time. While Spotify has unlimited listening with the exception of ads that are played around every 15 minutes, or 3 songs.

However, music, like many other artforms, is inherently social. As someone who almost always is listening to music, I love sharing it with people who I care about. Sometimes songs can put across meanings, feelings, and words better than I can. Both streaming platforms have aspects of sharing and socializing, but Spotify takes the cake as the “social site”. Some even say it’s another social media and honestly, I agree. You can follow friends, create playlists, and stylize what you listen to. For most, that’s very important.

With most platforms and sites these days, it also comes down to aesthetic. If you’re more into a lighter, cleaner, and more minimalistic vibe, Apple Music fits right up your alley. If youre more into darker, more creative freedom and social aspects, with organized clutter, Spotify is probably going to be your jam!

At the end of the day, music is music, and how we present ourselves virtually is not the end of the world. All that matters is that you can listen to the music you like.