#REALMEDIAGIRLS of 2021
2021 is winding down, and what a year it’s been. As we look back on the last year, we at MEDIAGIRLS want to reflect on some of the real-life women who made headlines in 2021 and the lessons that they can teach girls+. The six women on this list are some of many who broke […]
Giving Thanks on Social Media
Thanksgiving is one week away. This holiday is awash in complicated feelings, but the core of it is definitely worth celebrating. This is a time to take stock of the year you’ve had and enjoy the simple beauty of having made it through another one. Through all of life’s ups and downs, every life has […]
Halloween Scares On Social Media
Halloween is upon us, and there’s a lot to be excited about. Costumes, candy, parties, decorations – I like the spooky season as much as the next gal. Still, for every good-natured fright, there are some real scares to account for every Halloween, many of which are exacerbated by social media. Let’s break down three […]
Body Redefined by Neutrality
Beau Ideal Social media prompts various questions concerning the self. This is clearly apparent in many of the platforms we interact with. We must ask ourselves how we can establish who we truly are when we are too often told to tailor ourselves to the external forces and expectations around us? How can we recognize […]
The Influence of Quizzes on Self-Identity
Amazon Prime has released its second season to one of the most real, heart-warming shows on its platform, Modern Love. The show itself is a romantic anthology series based on true love columns written for the New York Times, Modern Love. One episode this season, titled “Am I… Maybe This Quiz Will Tell Me” struck […]
Five Incredible Follows for this Indigenous People's Day
Fast approaching is one of America’s most complicated and controversial federal holidays: Columbus Day. Commemorating the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the Americas, the modern world essentially begins here. However, we as a culture tend to overlook the bloodshed that shaped the colonial exchange and ultimately led to the founding of the United States. In […]
TikTok's Troubling Beauty Standards
Social media has a messy relationship with, well, most tenets of reality; the priority is often less an accurate depiction of a person or the world, but a version of the aforementioned that maximizes attention and interest. This is especially true of a platform like TikTok, where users have mere minutes to make an impression […]
TikTok Made Me Buy It
TikTok is a massive juggernaut in the pop cultural arena. Millions of people around the world are active on the app, and naturally, advertisers and marketers are eager to tap into this market, especially the younger demographic that may include your girl+. In this article, we’ll break down the commercialism of TikTok and the strategies […]
Introduction to Cottagecore
Cottagecore is a fashion and lifestyle trend that’s made an impressive splash on social media platforms over the past year. Its defining ethos is its attempt to recreate an idealized quiet life in the countryside — flowy dresses, Emily Dickinson poems, baking cookies out of dandelion petals, and so on. Cottagecore celebrates the beauty of […]
Vaccines and Social Media Literacy
With over 60% of Americans twelve and over at least partly vaccinated, the Covid-19 pandemic in the United States appears to finally be on its way out (fingers crossed). However, getting vaccinated has become a contentious topic for a lot of people. Social media platforms have always been forums for people to voice their own […]
Social Media Summer Mindfulness Techniques
Summertime is here, and that can mean exchanging the stresses of the schoolroom for those of the social internet. Luckily, there are some relatively simple strategies and practices you can use to keep the stresses of social media at bay to give yourself a more mindful, mentally healthy online experience. These aren’t counters to every […]
The Pros and Cons of Online Activism
The murder of George Floyd led to an explosion of online activism, particularly amongst young people. New accounts were formed with the sole purpose of explaining issues of institutional racism to their audiences, infographics popped up everywhere, and everything from videos to petitions to GoFundMe campaigns were shared widely. Now, one year after George Floyd’s […]
How George Floyd's Murder Changed the Way Young People Use Social Media
One year ago this week, the world watched as George Floyd was murdered by a police officer. The injustice and brutality of his death sparked protests around the US, around the world, and all across social media. On the anniversary of George Floyd’s death, we asked our Youth Advisory Board how his tragic murder impacted […]
Indya Moore: Activist, Actor, and Model
With the LGBTQ+ Day of Silence having just passed, MEDIAGIRLS Editorial Intern, Catrina Yang Farrell uses this blog post to celebrate Indya Moore–a trans and nonbinary actor, activist, and model–and highlight some of their powerful work in fashion, film, and advocacy. As a transgender black woman who identifies as nonbinary, Indya Moore is no stranger […]
Inspiring LGBTQI+ People to Follow on Instagram
On 2021’s LGBTQ+ Day of Silence–a student-led day of action to spread awareness about the effects of the bullying and harassment against members of the LGBTQ+ community–MEDIAGIRLS Editorial Intern Catrina Yang Farrell gives us a rundown of six inspiring LGBTQI+ individuals who we should follow on Instagram. Tanya Compas @tanyacompas (She/Her) (Photo from Tanya Compas’s […]
Women's History Month According to Our YAB: Part 2
In Part 1 of Women’s History Month According to Our Youth Advisory Board, we asked our YABbers what the biggest challenges facing women and girls today are and who we can look to for inspiration in fighting against these challenges. In Part 2 of Women’s History Month According to Our Youth Advisory Board, we ask […]
What JoJo Siwa Coming Out Means for LGBT+ Representation
In a TikTok lip syncing to Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way” and wearing a sweatshirt with the words “Gay Cousin” on it, JoJo Siwa, 17-year-old popstar and teen sensation came out to the world. If you don’t happen to have any preteen daughters or are over the age of 13, you may not know who […]
It's Okay To Be Human
(Trigger Warning: This blog post discusses eating disorders.) This week is #NEDAwareness Week–National Eating Disorders Awareness Week. In this piece, MEDIAGIRLS Development Intern Annie Kew discusses her eating disorder, her recovery journey, and gives three accounts she follows to support her in overcoming her eating disorder. If you or someone you care about is experiencing […]
Today's Black History Makers
In honor of Black History Month, we asked our Youth Advisory Board: who is a Black girl or woman who you think deserves to be recognized today, tomorrow, and decades from now? Who is out there making history right now? Here’s who they chose… Ria L. selected Jess Guilbeaux! “Jess Guilbeaux is a strong Black […]
How Can Social Media Bring Us Positivity in 2021?
We asked our Youth Advisory Board how they are using social media to stay positive and inspired (we know, not words that you often hear associated with social media) in 2021! Who are they following? How are they navigating the challenges that social media often brings with it this new year? Here’s what they had […]
How COVID-19 Has Intensified the Negative Effects of Social Media and How You Can Mitigate Them
As we quickly approach the anniversary of living in a world turned on its head due to COVID-19, former MEDIAGIRLS Editorial Intern Emma Silva provides insights and strategies into how we can continue to adapt our media usage to support us in navigating our ever-changing reality. Since March 2020, the world as we all know […]
Why Are We So Obsessed with Makeovers?
The end of one year and the beginning of a new one inevitably means an uptick in the amount of toxic marketing around people losing weight, clearing their acne, and–more broadly–being made over into a “better” version of themselves. In this piece, MEDIAGIRLS Editorial Intern Melody Tuan explores why the “makeover myth” in mainstream media […]
2020 Was Terrible for Girls. Or Was It?
As 2020 comes to a close, we asked our Youth Advisory Board to reflect on this historic year of pop culture, pandemic, protest, and performance. Here’s what they had to say… On a scale of 1-10–1 being the worst year ever and 10 being the best–how was your 2020? Rhea rates this year a 5. […]
Why We Should Slow Down on Fast Fashion
We’re knee-deep in the holiday purchasing season and that means a lot of sales, a lot of online surfing, and a lot of spending. According to Adobe, on Black Friday alone, consumers spent a record-breaking $9 billion. In this piece, MEDIAGIRLS Editorial Intern Melody Tuan discusses the cost of the clothing industry–an industry that girls […]
Social Media Activist Culture: Ballot Selfies and Slacktivism
As states certify their vote tallies and the 2020 election cycle draws to a close, MEDIAGIRLS Editorial Intern Melody Tuan looks at the ways that social media activism helped galvanize young voters in this election while also examining the limits of online activist culture. The U.S. has just concluded a nerve-wrecking presidential election. With this […]