Kayla McPherson, age 13

Katie Lamm

staring back at me 
is the face of an angel — 
someone who i am supposed to be. 
and i see the gaps that i could fill 
and i’ll still want 
to rip out my pieces 
and place them into where they fit 
and throw away the ones that don’t fit
that never could fit 
because i am crooked and uneven. 
staring back at me 
is a blue-tinted screen 
with smiling, happy people seeming 
to be stuck inside  
trapped in that moment — that perfect moment —
Forever.

Poetry

In a KidSpirit poem, teen poet Katie Lamm reflects on social media and self-image.

blue-tinted

Fifi Wang

ultrasound waves in shutter speed
you came out of the womb smelling like fear
trembling, clenched jaw, a natal tooth
hooked on untouched flesh, punctured
blood tasted on the tip of your tongue
a bittersweet iron, metallic, like bullets
and you were born with Columbine’s gunshots
hoarded like 15 teeth between your breath

eyelids fluttered and something stared back
an accusation of your hindsight
you envisioned with towers, twinned
four planes circled the delivery room like vultures
their screeches sounding like a coax.
flashing cameras, preying on a pile of bones
in the mirror was a monster, coughing up blood
shaped in history’s greatest tragedies

the adults couldn’t bring themselves to look
when shadows landed in the room
claws bending rails on your crib
took you under its wing, raised by a vulture
as if you were its own. rode on its back
through Iraq and Syria, afraid that politics
turned to violence, human rights paved with blood
Arab Spring preceded by a harsh winter

a pack of vultures, mistaken flashing screens
for a carcass on buses and trains
the streets of London paralyzed
footsteps turned into camera clicks, hatred thrived
but you couldn’t have known
if the vulture hadn’t taken you there, a decade later
Paris, loud vibrations on the theatrical walls
nothing has changed, you’re crying, and we are too

reflected in the vulture’s sharp, watery glance
voices broke out from silence, Lives Mattered
alarms as lullabies, shutters for gunshots
your caretakers scratched out a world
in great feasts and meatless bones, in two truths
and a million lies, chaos is raw but human.
the media has raised a generation of us
when the rest of the world wouldn’t — couldn’t

In a KidSpirit poem, teen poet Fifi Wang takes up the weighty tragedies that have shaped her generation through the lens of the media. 

shutters for gunshots

Adya Sarin

We know social media is harmful, we know of the effects it has on our mental health, we know it is everything we are meant to stay away from, but do we ever take a minute to understand why? 

The Social Dilemma is a documentary-style drama by Jeff Orlowski that, just like his other documentaries Chasing Coral and Chasing Ice, makes us question our own human capabilities to protect ourselves from a monster we have created. In this case: social media. I’ve always thought of social media as harmless when used mindfully, as something that can only have an effect on you if you let it. But, little did I know, it already has a profound effect on my daily life in nuanced ways I never could have spotted before watching this film. More than anything, this docudrama is eye-opening. It shows you a side of social media you probably didn’t even know existed. 

The film starts off with interviews with former social media company workers, as they present to us the world of social media from their side, that of the creators. We then see social media presented to us from the point of view of a typical family and begin to see just how ingrained it is in our lives. These two simultaneous perspectives slowly build up to the same dilemma, when we begin to question how much control we have over social media, and in all sense of reality, how much control it has over us. 

The film’s professional interviewees are made up of top executives from Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook, and various other websites that trick us into spending hours scrolling through them, just so they can sell our data, to eventually result in more time spent, more hours lost, more lives wasted. 

In my opinion, the most striking interview would have been that with Justin Rosenstein, who co-invented the “like button.” In the beginning, he tries to justify his co-creation by saying the like button was originally intended to spread happiness and positivity, and I have no arguments against that, as it most definitely does so. But it’s an absence of happiness that begins to cause problems, as the button’s effects are like that of a drug. Users start to crave more of it, and the only way to get what they want is by changing how they look to gain attention and gain their likes. This drive to gain attention was represented rather realistically with a scene where a teenage girl uses filters to edit her face in order to gain the likes and comments she didn't get when she previously posted pictures of her unedited face. But when the negative comments start trickling in, she begins to worry she does not look good enough and wishes she looked the way she looked with those filters she had used. Such feelings are known as “Snapchat dysmorphia” because a majority of the content on the social media app Snapchat has gone through filters to color and saturate what would have been ordinary, non-filtered faces and lives. 

As a matter of fact, this exposure to unrealistic beauty standards and air-brushed, glowing faces causes users to begin to focus on their flaws after seeing versions of themselves without them. According to 2017 data, over 55% of facial plastic surgeons say patients have requested cosmetic procedures to look better on social media, an increase of 13% from the year before. Furthermore, access to these filters and “flawless” versions of oneself at a young age trigger depression, social anxiety, and various other mental health issues in children as young as 12, resulting in actions as drastic as suicide and self-harm. This exposure to social media and a world without flaws has been presented in a rather harsh and bluntly realistic light in the film, almost making it seem as though the situations depicted have been exaggerated, whereas, in reality, it is the scenario that has been and will be faced by so many. I personally have been lucky enough to not have this affect me to an extreme level, but I definitely see it in my daily life as my own self-worth slowly crumbles after seeing people around me represented in such a different light on social media. I’m not denying the fact that filters are fun — it’s really exciting that you can have a unicorn horn or fairy wings on your camera — but when filters are used to change one’s face shape and air-brush one’s skin, it is bound to have negative repercussions, if not on you, then on those around you.

In my opinion, this film is insightful, to say the least; its depictions are eye-opening in a way that does not bombard the viewer with knowledge and advice. Instead, it allows us to form our own opinions. It is rather well-executed, with an even balance between the storyline and the interviews, keeping it engaging throughout. One aspect of it that may put off viewers is one’s own personal mindset on social media and its impact, as watching it with a stubborn mindset may not allow for a strong enough impact and leave the viewer uneasy. Furthermore, the events in the storyline have been dramatized immensely in order to influence the viewer, which felt slightly over the top at times. The filmmakers’ focus may have been to really get to the viewer and impact them, but as a viewer, it just reminded me that regardless of my being able to see traces of this world in my life, it was still a movie. The exaggerated dramatization just distances the real world from that shown on the screen. 

The aspect of the film that impacted me the most as a first-time viewer would be the metaphors laced into its storyline. A social media user is shown to be controlled by external robots, symbols for the social media algorithm, depicting the algorithm designed in itself to be rather defined and one-sided, whereas, in reality, it is not. Nevertheless, this simple representation makes something as complex as algorithms and their effect on one’s social media usage rather simple to understand for ages as young as 10. However, I would not recommend this film for children below 12, as the events do get rather intense toward the end and the concept of social media may not be one they can relate to. On the other hand, teenagers might find it easier to empathize with the on-screen characters and develop a more profound impression and clearer understanding of the platforms that they probably use on a daily basis. 

As for a rating, I would give this docudrama a 4.5/5, purely because of the impact it left on me as a social media user and quite forcefully made a difference in my own life and how I view such platforms now having watched it twice. I now put a conscious effort into how much I let social media affect me, constantly reminding myself that it is just the “best version” of oneself that is shown and I actually have no idea what is behind the screen. It’s also pushed me to be a lot more mindful about a) how much data I store on my phone and how much of myself I let leak into this virtual world and b) how much time I spend aimlessly scrolling through posts that will not have any productive or helpful effect on me. 

In a KidSpirit Media review, teen writer Adya Sarin weighs in on the lessons of Jeff Orlowski's documentary-drama The Social Dilemma.

Our Daily Dilemma 

Isabella Zheng

Rain splattered relentlessly onto the windowpane and I stared listlessly at my frozen computer screen. I had reached the afternoon of a dreary day of online classes, and it seemed nothing was going right. 

The blurred screen only exacerbated the isolation I felt when sitting all alone in an empty house, and my morale continued to plummet. I was locked away in my own world, and, although I desperately craved the company of my friends, I could not bring myself to call them. In a state of conflicting confusion, I longed for connection but was accustomed to the loneliness.

The spinning circle next to my cursor disappeared and the screen slowly thawed into its usual state. Suddenly, I received a message from a friend who eagerly asked if I still wanted to start a newspaper with her. I sighed and sat there in careful consideration. The message was an abrupt surprise amidst a monotonous afternoon, but we had, in fact, discussed the idea long ago. I thought about how we were miles apart, in the midst of a global pandemic, unable to see each other and caught up in the various difficulties that permeated our everyday lives. I was both mentally and physically exhausted; I did not know if I could complete such an immense task. And then my mind drifted back to when we had first brought up this initiative, and I remembered the passion that had fueled me to make this decision — the missions and goals I had so sincerely hoped to achieve. We had aimed to provide a platform for students and adolescents to share their voices in global affairs, to speak up and reflect their full potential in a welcoming environment of vibrant diversity and acceptance. I smiled softly in thought and eventually typed out, “yes.”

Starting a newspaper was even more difficult than I had initially thought it would be. With COVID-19 restrictions challenging in-person newspaper distribution, we opted for an online newspaper model. Creating the website, establishing different departments, gathering writers and editors, receiving the support of teachers and our school, were all feats in themselves. After continuous sessions of online calls, conflicting ideas, pinging notifications, and intense discussion, we finally managed to round up a team of eager student volunteers and formed our eight departments: news and opinion, school, arts and entertainment, humor, lifestyle, features, and advice. Our newspaper was finally established, and we called it The Exchange. 

The name itself reflected our objective of running the paper: to unite the fragments of our school identity with a living, breathing publication and provide a platform to showcase the idiosyncratic voices of our local community. By working on The Exchange team, I regained much of the self-confidence, fulfillment, and happiness I had possessed prior to the pandemic outbreak. I was interacting with individuals from a multitude of different backgrounds and cultures, working together to craft stories and share their voices on matters they were truly passionate about. From writer to editor and then to editor-in-chief, I truly experienced the stressful, exciting, overwhelming, and exhilarating moments of working on a newspaper, but even more so, on a team. I felt as if immersing myself in The Exchange and collaborating with all the incredible people around me truly lifted me from the dark hole of confusion and despair I was trapped in. Personally, The Exchange was more than just a newspaper or a culmination of my efforts; it gradually and subconsciously began to heal me. 

Yet, beyond impacting me, The Exchange has also helped and shaped many others. It allows individuals to express their thoughts on foreign relations, human rights, and environmental issues around the world. It provides a safe space that enables them to explore their artistic creativity and indulge their imaginations, as well as share interesting facts or useful advice. Most importantly, it strengthens the bonds within our local community. The Exchange has always sought to continue expanding its platform, recruiting new members, and even involving students from other schools to contribute articles and speak up about matters close to their hearts. Through incessant feedback and consequent developments, we have helped numerous writers across various grades gain the confidence to raise their voices and share their knowledge with others. 

The Exchange team has received positive feedback from teachers in different departments and contributions from students as young as primary school with eager passion for journalism, providing a supportive platform that encourages them to pursue their aspirations. We have raised awareness for varying social issues, playing our part in informing the community of current affairs and ways we can address these issues. Although The Exchange began as a small project amidst the flurry of the global pandemic, looking back one year later shows it has ultimately grown into so much more. It carries a spark that allows our community to stand firm together, helping individuals achieve their goals through expressing their thoughts, inspiring us to fight for what we believe in and venture onwards into the unknown. 

The media has always unknowingly shaped us, influencing our perspectives, views, and understanding of people and events. And newspapers are perhaps one of the most dominant forms of this type of media. The Exchange has allowed individuals within our community to reflect upon this influence and choose their own paths within the continuous cycle of receiving and dispensing knowledge, sharing their beliefs and values. We are truly both a product and reflection of “the media that raised us.”

In a KidSpirit Helping Hands article, teen writer Isabella Zheng shares how starting a newspaper during the pandemic helped her and others find confidence, inspiration, and community.

Light in the Darkness

Lyla Cheary

My writing can have more worth than just a grade.

The poems would be about anything from a color or a season to a real-life event. Whatever it was, I would jot it down on a blank sheet of paper in class.  I was always so excited to show my parents what I had done, even though the writing usually consisted of messy kindergarten scribbles. I was most proud of the poems that included rhymes, just like the Dr. Seuss books my mom used to read to me and my sister ever since we were newborns. 

As I grew up, I didn't stop writing. My poems got stronger and stronger as I  gained more experiences to write about. When I reached the fourth and fifth grade, I had a teacher that loved writing just as much as I did. She always encouraged me and was always thrilled to read my work. She often showed my class poems from famous writers such as Maya Angelou, Gwendolyn Brooks, and Langston Hughes. Eventually, she helped me start a poetry club where she would teach me and some of my peers all about poetry and what goes into the art. My love for writing multiplied because of her, and not only did  I continue with my poems, I expanded into short stories and memoirs as I got older. But even then, the freedom we had with our writing was minimal. There were strict topics we had to write about, which restricted my passion for writing.

In late fifth grade, a couple of months before I graduated from elementary school, my mom started submitting my work to various writing organizations in the media. Often, they would accept my work and post it on their website. But nothing really happened after that.  I was always excited when they accepted a poem because that meant they liked it, but I would soon forget about it, and they would soon forget about me.  At some point, my mom came across KidSpirit. She asked me if she could submit the most recent poem I had written, “Rainfall.”   

                                                            Rainfall

I stand in a puddle staring
As my shirt and shoes get drenched.
I notice all the thoughts that wash up in the rain.
But its not only those things that appear
It is my worries that wash away.
I feel them fall down my neck
And onto my back
And drip down my legs
Into the puddle
For someone else to carry.
-Lyla Cheary, (original version) 

I agreed but wasn’t really interested, believing KidSpirit to be just a mirror of my experiences with English classes and other writing organizations, where my work would be judged and eventually forgotten.  Soon after submitting my poem, KidSpirit contacted my mom asking if I could join the editorial board. They gave a brief explanation about KidSpirit and what I was expected to do while I was there. I was super excited to go to my first KidSpirit meeting. I had never seen or heard of anything like this before and was curious to see what it would be like. As the date of the meeting crept up, I slowly got more and more nervous. I worried about what I might do or say, or how the other teens would act. However, when I got there, my nerves immediately calmed. Elizabeth and Jack were sitting on the other side of the room. They smiled at me when I walked in and kindly welcomed me to sit down. They talked to me briefly about how my day was and where in New York City I came from. They explained what we were going to do and that I wasn’t expected to contribute to the conversation if I didn’t want to. Immediately, I felt myself relax and forget the worry that KidSpirit would be an echo of the stressful school environment. “I think this might be something special,” I thought as I sat down.

I was right.  Toward the end of my first year at KidSpirit, my family bought tickets to the KidSpirit Awards ceremony. This event ended up being a pivotal moment in my life. KidSpirit in general has been such an amazing experience for me, but the KidSpirit Awards is what solidified that. I was so excited to attend the ceremony. We would all get dressed up in our finest outfits and meet people that came to New York from all around the world. School, in my experience, never gave writers as much praise and attention as this. When I entered the hall, I immediately thought it was one of the most stunning venues I had ever seen. There were just about a hundred people milling about under the warm purple lights and tall marble ceilings. We all sat down with some people that we knew, or maybe some people that we didn't know. We discussed where we came from and our work with KidSpirit while we ate a delicious multi-course meal that ended with a mouth-watering chocolate mousse surrounded by vanilla cream. People came up on stage, illuminated by a bright spotlight, and discussed their work and some of the things that mattered most to them. In that moment, I realized the importance of KidSpirit, and of the media. KidSpirit brings us all together to discuss things ranging from what we ate for lunch yesterday to some of the most impactful things that have happened in our lives. There are no boundaries. 

Writing with no boundaries was very different from what I was used to. My words were no longer bound by the limits school inflicted on me. I now had the power to write freely and on what I was passionate about. My writing can have more worth than just a grade. If it weren’t for KidSpirit, I wouldn’t have renewed this love of writing that started when I was a little girl.

In a KidSpirit Awesome Moments article, teen writer Lyla Cheary explains why joining a youth-led magazine reignited her passion for writing. 

No Boundaries

Pragya Natarajan

The media is like sugar. In small servings, it brings comfort and joy, but too much of it is deadly.

In my community, social media, TV shows, and other forms of media are heavily influential in all aspects of our lives. 

Most teenagers, including me, receive information about world events from media sources such as newspapers and Instagram posts. My experiences with the media have been bittersweet because the media is entertaining and provides me with information about the world and ways to advocate for causes; at the same time, the media feels like a never-ending vortex sucking me in. Media is all-encompassing and can provide a sense of community and comfort, yet there is a fine line between controlling the media you consume and that media controlling you. It can monopolize public opinion through its ability to inspire mob mentality. However, it can also be an effective tool to organize communities and fight for social causes by spreading information and raising awareness. Applying these observations to my own opinions brought me to the realization that the media is like sugar. In small servings, it brings comfort and joy, but too much of it is deadly.

I have noticed that the fundamental nature of humans is to gather in groups as a more surefire way to survive in the world. When part of a group, we feel safer and believe that it is the best way to continue because there is strength in numbers. Media creates groups for people to join, ranging from friend groups to fandoms to activist movements. Fandoms, for example, are groups of people who share the same enthusiasm for entertainment such as books, comics, animations, and music, and bond over their shared interest. A person can find these groups while having these interests but not caring too much about them. I can open Instagram, search for a few posts, and suddenly there are more and more posts like them in my Instagram feed. Being shown numerous examples of the same idea, with infographics and more, can hammer ideas into your head and drive you to go to the media for more information about your interests. You will like what it says, and it will make you emotionally invested in this. 

Media unites communities of people who have the same beliefs, making it more compelling for you to join them. This is helpful when people are promoting social causes. I love to read from credible sources and influencers who do their research, like @pinkmantaray, @mattxiv, and @jameelajamilofficial. However, a small hobby can become a full-blown obsession if you do not have enough self-control to consume media in only small amounts. I manage to keep myself from obsessing over the fandoms I am part of, but it takes an enormous amount of self-control. To try to keep the media from swallowing you whole, you need the ability to turn away and say no to it.

The media can be a double-edged sword because your judgment is crucial. Ideas spread like wildfire, especially when presented in the media. Once you have been exposed to an idea, no matter what your stance is, it will affect you at least a little. Each person is affected differently by ideas presented to them, and the media strives to present ideas that the majority of people believe in. The media shoves these ideas into your face regularly, and your attitude toward topics will be heavily influenced by the ideas you frequently see. The media is so omnipresent that we choose what media we want to see at first, but, at some point, the media begins to take advantage of our likes to provide us with more and more interesting content, to the point of addiction. There is a delicate balance in how much influence the media has over you, and this balance can easily tip. In the same way, processing information received repeatedly builds a person’s worldview. When hordes of people have the same viewpoint, the media picks up on that and creates pressure to agree with this specific viewpoint instead of questioning or fact-checking it. The vast majority of people do not take the time to fact-check all that they see, so if inaccurate information is being spread in the media, then viewers will not receive all the information they need to properly come up with their opinions.

Coming up with individual opinions and presenting them within a group of people who hold a differing opinion, however, can lead to harassment, bullying, hate speech, and more. The way the media presents viewers with “correct” opinions and drills them in reminds me of The Lottery by Shirley Jackson. In this short story, a town chooses a member of the community for an annual ritual called “the lottery.” The entire town sees this lottery as a ritual that simply has to be done, and only the oldest member of the community remembers it is a superstition that denotes a good corn harvest. They have the entire community, including the children, draw from a box full of slips of paper, and one of which has a black dot on it. Everyone makes sure to draw, even those who can’t attend because of sickness or age, going to great lengths to make sure everyone participates in the tradition. At the end of this story, we learn that the ritual is for the entire town to stone the person who draws the marked paper to death. One character, Tessie Hutchinson, repeatedly calls the tradition unfair, but she’s berated by the rest of the community and draws the black dot, leading to her being stoned to death by a vicious rain of stones. 

No one in the town dares to question the morality of stoning someone to death; it’s just an age-old tradition. Even children are throwing the stones, and the coordinator is eager to finish Tessie as soon as possible so the villagers can continue with their day. The mob mentality that leads the villagers to stone a person to death without even knowing the reason for the tradition or whether the tradition is worth the carnage mirrors how mob mentality works in our world. When seeing fledgling ideas contest mainstream opinions, the vast majority attacks those ideas without even needing a reason aside from the fact that others are attacking those ideas. This behavior has been omnipresent throughout human history, such as during the Spanish Inquisition, when people were hunted people down for being heretics, and in the modern-day with stereotyping, name-calling, and more. In all of these examples, the majority belittles and secludes minorities and then attacks them, like the people in The Lottery attacking whoever drew the black dot. Minority groups never ask to be discriminated against, just as Tessie didn’t ask for the black dot, but the majority do not question their morality. 

It is also why incorrect representation of minority groups in the media is extremely dangerous. Humans tend to conform to socially accepted ideas, so movies, TV shows, YouTube videos, music videos, and more cause harm when they portray minorities incorrectly. These false representations imprint on public opinion and build a majority opinion that is harmful to people of minority groups because it labels them in ways that show them as less than human. This leads to the normalization of seeing minorities as less than human and gives people around them the message that it’s alright to treat them as less than human, too. This leads to the mistreatment of minority groups in aspects of their lives from policies to their daily routines. Spreading harmful misconceptions and stereotypes that lead to the oppression of minorities shows the same mentality displayed by the villagers when they stoned Tessie to death. They are both examples of masses of people conforming to the world around them despite knowing the world is filled with angry mobs.

As the media touches all kinds of people, representation is critical to mold the public’s opinion on various issues. When people see incorrect representation, it is what they end up believing in. The media features many stereotypical fictional tropes, such as the gay best friend whose entire personality is just their sexuality, the woman who is utterly powerless and always needs the hero to save her, the violent criminals and thugs who are mostly of minority groups, and more. These stereotypes lead many to apply these fictional ideas to real people because of the prevalence of these ideas. When correct representation is shown to the public on major platforms, this can turn public opinion for the better and help minority groups escape stereotypes and combat social discrimination. Improving public perception of members of minority groups will help improve their lives, but only if the representation becomes prevalent enough. Media reaches people of all socioeconomic classes, ethnicities, backgrounds, professions, gender, and sexual identities, so most people are exposed to these attitudes and can be affected by them. When pointing out minorities as scapegoats, they’re the easiest to “stone to death,” as it’s commonly accepted to view them as lesser or as deserving of violence. Public opinion can be humanity’s greatest asset and greatest foe.

However, because of its ability to connect people and build communities, the media is extremely helpful as a tool for activism and social change. It can be used for organizing people to protest against a discriminatory policy or for working against harmful representation that spreads misinformation and dangerous beliefs. Social media activism done by well-researched sources, public influencers who have partnered with credible organizations, and people of minority groups or who support minority groups advocating for social change manage to receive traction within media because, as I said earlier, once exposed to an idea, it will affect you no matter if you agree with it. Social media activists such as Schuyler Bailar, the previously mentioned @pinkmantaray, continuously point out the hatred pointed at minorities and the societal problems caused by it, and despite receiving mounds of hate on a daily basis, he continues to persevere and provide information about the LGBTQ+ community, as well as promote petitions to fight against bills harmfully impacting the transgender community. Being able to influence public opinion in a way that will help people’s lives is a beautiful thing about creating media. It helps people discover safe spaces to be themselves without fear of discrimination. The majority of public opinion doesn’t always protect minorities, and members of those minority groups can find solace in areas of media that are there for them instead of conforming with the majority. Areas such as affinity groups help support people, and the media helps get word of these places out into the general public. While the majority of media appeals to overall public opinion, some media utilizes its influence to benefit lives by investing in activist movements.

As you can see, because the media is an omnipresent force that holds a lot of power in our lives, people tend not to question it too often. It tends to be addictive, and it spreads all kinds of ideas to people. The media's ability to distribute information and beliefs can be harmful if it spreads beliefs that impact communities negatively, and yet it can be beneficial if the ideas promoted improve the lives of people. In order to make sure that you can still enjoy media without being swept away in a storm, choose the media you want to view wisely.

Thank you so much Laurance Shipley, Madelyn Stone, and Theresa Nguyen for helping me brainstorm.

In a KidSpirit Big Question article, teen writer Pragya Natarajan explores the pros and cons of our constant exposure to media.

Choose Wisely: To What Extent Can the Media Influence Our Beliefs and Attitudes?

Iman Monnoo

I knew God existed when I heard the rhythmic pulse of spoken verse reverberate through the living room for the first time. 

I still remember the way the syllables rolled over one another, the softness of each carefully chosen word, and the indescribable emotion I felt overcome me. When I asked my cousin (who was with me at the time) about the experience, all she had to say was that I had witnessed the pages come alive, speaking their truths of our history. It was like having the key to our nation tucked in our tiny palms. A tale our ancestors wrote, hidden so sublimely in the words of verse. 

The anthology from which my grandmother read to me is now probably lost in a box in the attic somewhere, pages tattered and title lost to time. Despite that, I can recall how quickly I fell in love with this part of my heritage, entranced by the works of Allama Iqbal and Faiz Ahmed Faiz, engulfing page upon page of Ghalib’s love poems, and sitting up at night listening to videos of people as equally captivated as me recite their favorite pieces. Thinking back on it now, perhaps my infatuation with the art form came from the feeling that I shared a secret with the old earth beneath my feet, long forgotten in the minds of my peers and elders, and erased from the pages of history books. 

But as that version of me in my childhood introduced herself to the world, she was influenced by many of the Western traditions that had trickled into the melting pot of Pakistani culture. Whether it was the fashion of jeans and t-shirts over traditional kurtas or the taste of French fries over curry, my interests quickly became dominated by those of countries so far away from my home. Time and media played their tricks on me too, and by the time I had reached the sixth grade, where I had savored the Urdu shairi I had grown up on, I was now more intrigued by Robert Frost and Emily Dickinson. Their names were the only ones my tongue remembered when someone asked me who my favorite poet was. 

My grandmother was the first to notice this change in me, sitting me down on that very same floor where I had listened to her all those years ago, and asking me what happened; I didn’t know how to respond. It was a change so subtle I had not even noticed it in myself, and in that moment, I lost all sense of who I was. How did the girl so obsessed with the genius lyricism of these poems become a stranger to the works she’d held so dear? If you asked me right now why I chose to write about this subject, I’d say it’s because I am trying not to forget. I am trying to rediscover my passion. 

To start off with, I began researching the history behind this art form, where it came from, and why it was so important to our culture. Learning about how the proposition of having a separate nation hung suspended in the air, like a man on a tightrope, and how people turned to seek courage from Urdu shairi filled me with admiration for my ancestors. Intricate verses, whether they were printed on an expensive piece of royal parchment or a cheap scrap of newspaper, were able to inspire thousands to seek the freedom they had long prayed for, and captivated the hearts and souls of people across the subcontinent. In fact, the very soil I stand upon today can only be attributed to the candle of hope that shairi became during those dark days of struggle.

It was only through understanding this part of our history that I could then delve into the versatility that characterizes this genre of art as a whole. The more I read it, the more I could appreciate its ability to embrace passion, anger, morals, or religion. It was a way for savants like Ghalib to embody every ounce of desire in his heart through the symbolism on his page. It was a way for Faiz Ahmed Faiz to shatter a dystopian fantasy and illuminate the flaws he saw in our corrupted world. Ultimately, it became the source of inspiration for my own works of poetry, which help me escape the everyday curveballs life enjoys throwing at me. 

As humans, we often lose ourselves to everything this world has to offer. We can forget our own people and those who sacrificed so much to get us where we are today. Especially with the onset of modern-day media through which so many cultures have become accessible to us, it can be hard to remain true to ourselves. Having experienced such a loss myself, I can tell you it’s a long journey on the path to rediscovery, but when you dive into the history of your world, it can be shocking how much you learn and how much you grow from the experience. 

Urdu shairi was my home and it remained waiting for me even when I strayed away for some time. I hope there’s something like that for everyone, something they can put their heart and soul into and find that it will be just as open with them. 

When Pages Speak

Adina Gerwin

The media can either reinforce or dismiss those who wield social and political influence.

There is a lack of equitable representation of women and minority groups in the media, and those racial and gendered disparities are critical in defining the social dynamics and hierarchies that exist in society. 

Representation in media magnifies outreach and power. The media can either reinforce or dismiss those who wield social and political influence. Moreover, the content that the industry creates and how media is consumed lowers people's self-confidence and changes their self-image. The fewer women and minorities that partake in media creation, content, and distribution, the less accurate the media becomes. This article will examine the impact media has on society, specifically how a general lack of representation in the media can negatively affect women and other underrepresented minorities, while also giving those same people a platform through which they can influence society. 

Establishing the reach and influence of the media is critical to understanding the magnitude of how underrepresentation affects people. As technology has evolved, the power that media outlets have has grown tremendously. Currently, the media has become all-encompassing and encircles most aspects of our lives. Every day there is media that we consciously choose to surround ourselves with. Whether scrolling through Instagram, creating a Spotify playlist, reading a book, or simply watching TV, we actively choose to be influenced by the media. In 2015, US residents consumed traditional and digital media for over 1.7 trillion hours. This averages approximately 15-and-a-half hours per person per day. In that same year, children (eight-to-twelve-year-olds) consumed an average of six hours of media a day, and teens consumed nine hours (Forbes). Furthermore, there are a whole set of moments where we have no control over the media being consumed and the influence it might have. In unavoidable daily activities like walking down the street or using transportation, the media surrounds us. From music being played to newspapers littering the sidewalks to the poster boards and ads around us, consuming media is an unavoidable part of existence in today's society. These forms of media can be even more constant as they enter subconsciously, and we have no real control over when and where they influence us. As hard as it might be to reconcile and admit, the media has so much power over us and can dictate something as simple as a small lifestyle decision or as significant as someone's self-worth. Society places enormous trust in media sources, and people rely on them to make everyday decisions. We allow the media to create and perpetuate social norms and shape our self-image. Standards of beauty, body image, fashion, and lifestyle are established and distributed by the media outlets around us. 

Likewise, the characters depicted in the media significantly impact us and how we view ourselves. Negative stereotyping of a specific group or gender in the media can diminish the self-esteem of its viewers. When women and minorities are underrepresented, and children cannot find admirable people in the media who look like them, then their self-confidence is lowered. A 2011 study conducted by the Opportunity Agenda that looked at representation on TV and its impact on youths' self-esteem reached a similar conclusion. In a survey of around 400 Black and white girls and boys, researchers found that the only demographic that did not experience lower self-esteem after watching TV was the white boys (VICE). Clearly, underrepresentation is so important as today's undiverse and inaccurate media can and does diminish viewers' self-confidence. 

Unfortunately, minorities and women are continuously underrepresented in the media; making up around 60% of all main film leads, the white male is still the demographic with the most power. In 2020, the percentage of top-grossing films with female characters in speaking roles was only 36%. Similarly, in that same year, the rate of films with female protagonists was roughly 38%. Additionally, regarding race, ethnicity, and other minorities, the percentage of Black females in speaking roles declined from 20% in 2019 to 17% in 2020. The rate of Latinas increased to 6% in 2020, and in the same year, the percentage of Asian women with speaking roles was also 6% (Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film). Also, people of color only made up 19.8% of all lead film roles in 2019. Finally, across the top 100 top-grossing movies of 2018, only 1.6% of characters were depicted with a disability, and only two portrayed a gay protagonist (UCLA). Conclusively, able-bodied, straight, white male individuals overwhelmingly dominate the film industry and lead roles.

By that same token, the news industry hasn't achieved anything that resembles gender equality. A 2015 Time report that drew on 49 studies of women across media platforms and used numbers from 2012-2013 found that men overwhelmingly dominate the news industry. Women in the evening broadcast news are on camera only 32% of the time, while 70% of all commentators on Sunday morning talk shows are male. Likewise, more than 67% of bylines are male, and men still dominate the "hard news," while women cover the lifestyle and education sections. Men report 65% of political stories, 63% of all the science coverage, 64% of world politics coverage, and 67% of criminal justice news. Unsurprisingly, only 10% of sports coverage is produced by women. 

These results are not actually proportional to the US population. Not only do women make up 50.8% of the population, but, according to 2018 US Census Bureau estimates, the nation's population is nearly 40% non-white. Not to mention, the Pew Research Center found that the U.S. will not have one racial or ethnic majority group by 2055 (Pew). These numbers irrefutably show that, across most media platforms, women and minorities are underrepresented relative to the demographic composition of American society. 

With great power comes a remarkable ability to do harm. The media has so much control over society, and media attention and screen time give people and groups influence. When the media only represents the abled white male's perspective, it reinforces those who already have social and political power. This constant focus on white, able-bodied men allows them to maintain their authority and disempowers women and minorities by excluding them from processes that are constantly setting standards, determining beliefs, and creating social hierarchies. In essence, as long as white able men continue to control not just the content but also the processes of creating media, they will maintain social power. 

Additionally, this lack of representation leads to blatant falsities and the creation of harmful media content. As long as the media continues to only be made and distributed by mostly white, straight, able-bodied men, then it will continue to spread negative and erroneous stereotypes. This is incredibly harmful because when people, particularly children, continually see false information and stereotypes in the media, they begin to believe it. When these inaccurate depictions are constantly reinforced, they become a reality, primarily if a person does not engage with other communities daily. The mass media can serve as a curriculum with an educational impact on people who have very little or no direct contact with members of the groups being portrayed. For instance, people with disabilities have faced centuries of belittlement, forced isolation, and discrimination. It was only in the 1960s that the disability rights movement was formed, and it was even later that basic vocabulary like ableism (discrimination against people with disabilities) was introduced. Therefore, when disabled characters are around 15% more likely to be rescued in family films than other characters (Ford Foundation), it stops progress. The media is reinforcing the stereotype that all disabled people are in need of saving, and that harms society by perpetuating and teaching people this inaccurate perception of all people with disabilities. Basically, the only way to stop these atrocities from happening is to include women and minorities, such as people with disabilities, in the processes of creating media. 

To summarize, the media dictates so much in our society. What counts as equitable representation in the media is determined by the kind of society we want to create and who we want to have power. If we want minorities and women to have a platform to influence society in a significant and impactful way, then they have to be represented in the media. Additionally, if we want people to have an accurate understanding of groups and communities they don't engage with daily, then the media must stop perpetuating stereotypes. Furthermore, the only way the media will spread accurate depictions of people and communities is if minorities and women are included in the creation and distribution of that media. Finally, if we want the 15 hours daily we spend consuming media to make us feel good about ourselves and not lower our self-perceptions or self-confidence, something has to change. The same media that dictates and perpetuates harmful aspects of our society, like negative stereotypes, can also be the vehicle by which we achieve positive change, and it's up to us to decide what we do with the power and influence the media has. 

UCLA School of Social Sciences. "Hollywood Diversity Report 2019." February 21, 2019. https://socialsciences.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/UCLA-Hollywood-Diversity-Report-2019-2-21-2019.pdf.

Smith, Stacey L., et al. "Inequality in 1,200 Popular Films: Examining Portrayals of Gender, Race/Ethnicity,  LGBTQ & Disability from 2007 to 2018." USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, 2019. assets.uscannenberg.org/docs/aii-inequality-report-2019-09-03.pdf.  

Lauzen, Martha. “Research.” Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film, June 17, 2016. womenintvfilm.sdsu.edu/research/. 

Navarro, José Gabriel. “Female Sexualization in Film by Age 2018.” Statista, August 12, 2021. www.statista.com/statistics/641313/film-female-sexualization/. 

Heumann, Judith. “Roadmap for Inclusion: Changing the Face of Disability in the Media.” Ford Foundation, 2019. www.fordfoundation.org/media/4276/judyheumann_report_2019_final.pdf. 

Alter, Charlotte. “Women in Media: 8 Sad Truths from the Women's Media Center 2015 Report.” Time, 5 June 2015, time.com/3908138/women-in-media-sad-truths-report/. 

Lawson, Kimberly. “Why Seeing Yourself Represented on Screen Is so Important.” VICE, February 20, 2018. www.vice.com/en/article/zmwq3x/why-diversity-on-screen-is-important-black-panther.

Wang Yuen, Nancy. “Why Is Equal Representation in Media Important?” Forbes Magazine, June 29, 2021. www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2019/05/22/why-is-equal-representation-in-media-important/?sh=615108342a84.  

Cohn, D’Vera, and Andrea Caumont. “10 Demographic Trends That Are Shaping the U.S. and the World.” Pew Research Center, July 27, 2020. www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/03/31/10-demographic-trends-that-are-shaping-the-u-s-and-the-world/. 

In a KidSpirit Feature article, teen writer Adina Gerwin explores why diverse representation in the media is essential.

The Importance of Equitable Representation in the Media

Pahal Bhasin

Books, art, and music are everywhere. It is almost impossible to imagine our life without them. 

Faith and art: two totally different things yet still so connected. Faith is trust and reliance on someone or something. Religious media does not only teach me moral values but also contributes to my historical outlook. Either way, religious media can guide us and teach us how to live, though in a sometimes more exaggerated way with a simple lesson. This type of media also gives us a sense of what was believed and followed in past generations about which we have no other evidence. Compared to all the different types of media, I personally connect most with art that portrays faith and spirituality. I believe I am a visual learner, and paintings and pieces of art from our ancestors pique my interest the most. They provoke my imagination and influence my perspective on faith to a great extent.

Last year, I visited the National Museum in New Delhi. The Museum presently holds approximately 200,000 diverse objects covering a time span of more than 5,000 years of Indian cultural heritage. One of the prominent galleries is the Harappan gallery, where the exhibits come from important centers of the Harappan Civilization (circa 2000 BC), which developed along the mighty river Indus (and for that reason, it is also known as the Indus Valley Civilization). At the gallery, I was fascinated by a work of art, the famous “Dancing Girl.” She is a bronze sculpture and stands calmly on a fiber platform in the museum. She is just about 4 inches in height. I was amazed to see the artifact — her posture, her hand on the hip, her bun on the head, and bangles on her arms. She had very long legs and arms compared to her torso; her head was tilted slightly backward, and her left leg was bent at the knee. She was possibly a dancer or making an offering to her God. I saw many seals to support the existence of faith in the Indus Valley. Some seals resemble the god Shiva. Other seals depict a tree which the Indus Valley believed to be the tree of life. Besides realizing that people of Indus Civilization knew metal blending, casting, and other sophisticated methods, I realized that just like today, faith and entertainment, especially dance, were part of the culture.

Contrary to my statement about connecting most with art related to faith, when it comes to wisdom, I am most influenced by books. Wisdom is the quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment. For me, wisdom is also being able to think with the help of past experience and knowledge gathered from different situations. A lot of this knowledge can be gathered from books of all sorts. Whenever I read a new book, I am able to interpret a situation from the author’s perspective. Moreover, I learn from the characters’ mistakes and decisions. 

I have learned significant life lessons from India’s two great epics, the Rāmāyana and the Mahābhārata. Going through the intricacies and complexities of their characters is an exciting journey that offers so much to learn and understand. The Rāmāyana teaches us that no matter how powerful evil is, it will always be defeated by Good. A person should always have a noble heart and good values. That is how Lord Rama defeated Ravana, the most knowledgeable and powerful person of his time. Lord Rama treated everyone equally and that’s how he earned the love and respect of everyone. He was always kind and humble to people. No matter if someone was a royal or a common person, young or old, male or female, he acted as the same person toward everyone. He treated everyone equally and did not discriminate on the basis of economic status, sex, age, or caste. 

The Mahābhārata is also an amazing compilation of numerous interlinked stories, each depicting the vulnerable nature of humans, the true meaning of family, and the dilemmas of morality. For example, there are many insights that can be gleaned from two wonderful relationships of friendship and loyalty, one between Lord Krishna and Arjuna and the other between Duryodhana and Karna. Krishna became Arjuna’s charioteer during the war due to his preeminent love for Arjuna. When Krishna and Arjuna are together on a chariot, it is as if they become one in a divine sense. Likewise, there existed selfless love and friendship between Duryodhana and Karna. Even when he learned about his identity, royal lineage, and true right to the throne, Karna stayed loyal to his friend and fought against his own brothers.

Music plays a more important role in portraying the cultural tradition of a place. Traditional songs, commonly known as "folk songs," are passed down from generation to generation within a family, tribe, village, or other close-knit groups. For years, many traditional songs have been sung within the same family or ethnic and regional communities. In India, there are tons of folk songs associated with different cities. For example, we have Bihugeet of Assam, Lavani of Maharashtra, and Bhavgeete of Karnataka. These folk songs paint a picture of my culture in front of my eyes and connect me to my heritage. Furthermore, this shows me that music and culture are closely interconnected. Listening to certain music can transport me to a memory I have connected with it. Similarly, listening to music that goes back centuries, expressing cultures’ and communities' feelings, plays an important role in my spiritual and emotional well-being. 

Each form of media always has something new to teach me, either through words or wisdom, ideas of faith, or life lessons. Sometimes music transports me and connects me to my heritage, sometimes books teach me lessons, and sometimes art opens horizons to my historical perspective. It’s not just media at the end of the day!

In a KidSpirit Interfaith Connections article, teen writer Pahal Bhasin shares how art, books, and music have shaped her interpretations of faith, wisdom, and culture. 

It’s Only Me(dia)

Oryna Bielikova

The leaves are falling and the sun isn’t shining
It starts raining and people are hiding.
But isn’t it wonderful to walk under rain?
I wish I could do it again and again!
Small children run out in rubber boots
How cute they look in their rainsuits!
But adults sit at home and wonder.
Maybe they are just afraid of thunder?
Don’t be so boring — take a walk
It’s exciting to just laugh and talk!
Enjoy any time of the year
And then your problems and troubles will simply disappear!
Winter, spring, summer, or autumn —
Each season is pretty much awesome!

In a KidSpirit poem, teen poet Oryna Bielikova pens an ode to the beauty of the fall season.

Autumn Wonders

Marion Ivy

The words called me to come to them,
“Come!” they called me, “Come!”
The pages were softer than silk, but crisper than ice
And if I had asked someone, they could have given me advice
For I would read all through the day
The almost tangible tale trembled as I tried to tear myself away
The pages I had yet to read, an ocean
My bookmark, a boat
I kept finding the pages in motion
And me reading what the author wrote
I could see the words in the book, some faded
I could hear the rustling of the adventure-laced pages
I could feel the spine stretch as it released its tale
I could smell the smell of the book, but it was dwindling, so frail
I could taste the smell of the book, if just for a moment
And I knew right then, in my life
Books would never meet an opponent

In a KidSpirit poem, teen poet Marion Ivy brings to life her love of literature.

An Ode to Words, Pages, and Books

Dylan Zhang

Simple words can open up the realm of a fantasy world.

Have you ever read a book or heard a story that sucked you into it, as if you were the main character, fighting monsters in an apocalyptic world, being a hero from ancient times, or just living a wacky tacky life?  

That experience is a prime example of how simple words can open up the realm of a fantasy world, leading you to imagine further, to learn all kinds of new stuff better, and to communicate more effectively with the rest of the world. Here, we will explore how our development from young to old goes hand in hand with reading and how reading builds up our cognitive skills in school and even when we get old.      

I remember when I was young, I read a series of books called Wings of Fire, written by Tui T. Sutherland. The book series tells a tale about five “chosen” young adolescent dragons fighting to save the world from a war that has torn the different dragon races apart. It deals with prophecies and character growth, mixed with lots of action scenes as well. You can see the dragons’ inner conflicts as to whether they should follow their “destiny” or stick to their own desires. Now, some of those stories may seem silly or cringy to some people, and they are — even I find it silly that I once enjoyed that book series and that I still enjoy them even now. But it was that very series that opened up my mind to the one and only, my personal infinite world, my world of imagination. I’m being honest here, my imagination was, is, and will continue to be my main source of happiness, ranking well before my hobbies or my friends. It allows me to see things differently, very differently from what my friends can see and what I am used to seeing in the real world — it gives me fantastic sights and perceptions. 

Now you must be wondering, just what does imagination do? Well, let me give you an example: A book in the library that has been sitting there for years without being touched?  It’s actually a secret text that would grant me the power of an ancient hero, and I would have to go on a quest to save our world from destruction. Yes, to me, a book or story is just like that. It ignites my imagination, which will help me make an already fun experience even more enjoyable—it will make the experience seem grander, more purposeful, more fulfilling, and thus more exciting and thrilling. This magic power of imagination books or stories have offered me can also transform simple things, like playing a video game with your friend or exploring a huge theme park filled with rides.   Furthermore, the imagination that we cultivate by reading novels and stories will also greatly increase our capacity to innovate.  Martha C. Pennington and Robert P. Waxler state in their writing “Why Reading Books Still Matters: The Power of Literature in Digital Times,'' posted on the World Literacy Foundation website: “If imagination and magical thinking connected to reason spur discovery, innovation, and new understandings, it can be maintained that literature has a key role in both developing and engaging imaginative and magical thinking.” Agreeing with their ideas, the World Literacy Foundation declares that “imagination has many benefits. It encourages creativity, which brings about new ideas. It also takes a huge part in innovation.” Now, a great inventor called Thomas Edison once said, “To invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk.” 

The act of reading stories and novels doesn’t just open our imagination, it is crucial to our development of language and literary skills. “Storybook reading is a wonderful way to introduce new vocabulary to young students,” shares the Head Start teacher Gareba Ali on the Northern Virginia Family Service website. “Children are also able to practice answering open-ended questions, solve problems and think about what they might do if they were in the story.” These benefits of reading apply not just to kids who are just starting to learn, but also to teenagers like you and me, who may think we don’t have to read much. Reading teaches us new words and perspectives. It helps strengthen our language skills and sharpens our sentence structure. These things are especially helpful when learning a new language; you don’t want to sound like somebody who uses Google Translate for everything you say. In their research conducted in 1988 in reading and school grades, Anderson, Fielding, and Wilson compared the amount students read with their scores on achievement tests. They found students who scored in the 90th percentile on a reading test spent five times as many minutes reading as children in the 50th percentile, and more than 200 times as many minutes per day reading books as children in the 10th percentile. 

I know those who don’t spend much time reading must have other things to do, such as school work, physical activities or lessons — a lot of extracurricular activities added to the amount of homework we have — and all these things can lead to the scarcity of our time and thus worsen our anxiety. However, reading can help us relax and just let go as we sink into the story that we are reading. I don’t mean reading the news or checking social media, which still counts as reading.  Not reading any news or social media can be bad — leaving us ignorant of what is going on around us — but it doesn’t prod us to think surreally, beyond the limits of the world surrounding us, and rather it keeps us contained in the real-world box. Take some time to read a fiction book or a fantasy novel to help yourself grow more in the creative area of your life.

What happens if we pause in the reading we have been talking about here?  When I was in middle school, I had to take the MAP test, a test that measures our progress in school learning, twice every year. One summer I barely read anything at all, as I was preoccupied with summer camps and, for most of the time, I was too “busy” staying on my computer and talking to my friends on social media. When I took the next MAP test the following fall, you could see a significant drop in my scores. This means not reading imaginative works can negatively impact us, which in turn means the opposite is true as well — reading novels and stories can calm us down and keep us focused and our minds sharp. This experience made me realize that I was playing too much on the computer and social media and that doing so caused short-term happiness but a long-term negative effect on my grades and, most importantly, on my habits. Of course, I had to accept that if I want to succeed, I can’t just read fiction or fantasy; I have to read non-fiction and do reading for school work to teach me more real-world knowledge since my imagination can’t just “create” science or invent new things out of thin air.      

Reading doesn’t just help us develop these skills; it also protects the precious skills that we have already gained. Most of us know that reading helps develop our cognitive skills, but many may not know that reading — especially imaginative works like novels and stories — also slows down our cognitive decline.  Our cognitive skills don’t last forever, and they decline as we grow older. Reading books and writing are among the brain-stimulating activities shown to slow down cognitive decline in seniors. Fisher’s Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation has looked deeper into this matter, and their study has found that the rate of decline was reduced by 32 percent in people with frequent mental activity, such as reading, in late life. “This finding potentially addresses a question that all of us ask from time to time—can we do anything to slow down late-life cognitive decline,” write the authors of an editorial accompanying the study. “The results suggest yes,” they go on to say. “Read more books, write more, and do activities that keep your brain busy irrespective of your age.” This shows that the cognitive benefits of reading continue into mid-life and the senior years.  So we’d better keep grabbing books if we want to remain nice and sharp over the years as our hair turns white. 

Now, here we are at the end of our exploration into how books and stories help us in our growth and development.  If I were to sum up the power of literature in one simple sentence, this is what I would say: it’s like your field of view turning from black and white, with an occasional dab of color, into rainbows and sparkles all across the sky. And as the extraordinary Dr. Seuss once said, “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” As I grow up, I want to be able to go where I want to go. And what about you?

“20 Dr. Seuss Quotes about Reading.” Imagine Forest Blog, 29 Nov. 2020, https://www.imagineforest.com/blog/dr-seuss-quotes-reading. 

“Benefits & Importance of Reading to Children.” Child Abuse Prevention, Treatment & Welfare Services, The Children's Bureau, 10 Mar. 2021, https://www.all4kids.org/news/blog/the-importance-of-reading-to-your-children. 

“Expanding Imaginations through the Power of Reading.” Northern Virginia Family Service, 19 Mar. 2018, https://www.nvfs.org/growing-imaginations-reading. 

“Keep Reading to Keep Alzheimer's at Bay.” Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation, 12 Nov. 2014, https://www.alzinfo.org/articles/reading-alzheimers-bay/. 

Akinchina, Alexandra. “Reading Enhances Imagination.” World Literacy Foundation, 4 Aug. 2021, https://worldliteracyfoundation.org/reading-enhances-imagination. 

Anderson, R. C., P. Wilson, and L. Fielding. “Growth in Reading and How Children Spend Their Time Outside of School.” The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign - Center for the Study of Reading, September 1986, https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/bitstream/handle/2142/18003/ctrstreadtechrepv01986i00389_opt.pdf. 

Cullinan, Bernice. “Independent Reading and School Achievement .” School Library Media Research: Research Journal of the American Association of School Librarians, Nov. 2000, https://www.ala.org/aasl/sites/ala.org.aasl/files/content/aaslpubsandjournals/slr/vol3/SLMR_IndependentReading_V3.pdf. 

Stanborough, Rebecca Joy. “Benefits of Reading Books: For Your Physical and Mental Health.” Healthline Media, 15 Oct. 2019, https://www.healthline.com/health/benefits-of-reading-books#takeaway. 

In a KidSpirit Feature article, teen writer Dylan Zhang explores how reading can nurture language skills, imaginative thinking, and cognitive abilities. 

We Read, We Grow, and We Succeed

Taylor Merrett

“It was a pleasure to burn. It was a special pleasure to see things eaten, to see things blackened and changed.” 

These lines have become representative of Ray Bradbury’s famous novel, Fahrenheit 451, in which he explores a future without books. All of America has devolved into a cycle of mindless entertainment, citizens’ attention spans gradually worsening until the government capitalizes on their indifference, introducing “the firemen.” In the novel, we follow Guy Montag, one of the firemen whose job it is to burn books. The book was released in 1953, yet I believe that the novel is still relevant today. Captivating from the start, this book draws you into a world where freedom of thought and imagination is replaced by the rise of technology, and it begs the question: What really is a world without literature?

Over time, Montag starts to collect books as he becomes curious about their contents and begins to question his work. On his return from work one day, he meets Clarisse McClellan, a teenager who, unlike her contemporaries, is sincere and insightful, opposing the wilder norms of her generation.

In many ways, Clarisse is the person responsible for igniting the change in Montag, starting with her simple question to him: “Are you happy?” I like the name Clarisse; it reminds me of the word “clarity,” which is an apt way of describing her defining characteristics — being pure, coherent, and intelligible in her thoughts — which, to some extent, she passes onto Montag.      

Bradbury skillfully shows that, while this is a dystopian novel, to many of those in this world it is more of a utopia. As such, I would describe this as a utopian dystopian novel. Bradbury offers us the choice of whether this future world is a utopia or dystopia by posing the question: Do you want to be free, or do you want to be happy? This is one of the defining aspects of the book and why you should absolutely read it. Everyone will have a different thought on what is more important to them based on personal bias developed through their individual life experiences. This makes the book one of the best pieces of literature ever written as, if you give it just a little thought, you are capable of learning what you value.

I admire how scientifically accurate this novel is. Studies have shown that some technologies, like social media, can permanently damage our attention span, and when Montag is in the forest towards the end of the novel, we see an immediate improvement in his mental health. Again, this is backed by scientific studies that confirm the link between nature and its benefits for human health. This is incredible, as Bradbury is writing well ahead of his time; before social media even existed, he was able to predict its potentially harmful effects and how establishing a connection to nature may be beneficial. This is especially relevant to today’s society as social media has largely taken over the world, damaging many people’s mental health and causing suicide rates to reach an all-time high as people feel obligated to match impossible standards. By reading this book, people may draw parallels between the novel and their own lives and realize just how important mental health is. I personally hope that people are able to read the novella so they are able to take time to reflect on their own lives and how they can grow and develop with the help of their friends and family.

In spite of his loved ones’ suffering under society’s norms, Montag returns to work where he is out again burning books; one time, however, a woman whose books are about to be burned chooses to be burned alive with her books. Her sacrifice elevates her books from inanimate objects to living works of value. 

This traumatic event convinces Montag of the innate value of books and further pushes him to his eventual choice to side with books. Montag decides to seek out Faber, an old man whom he once met in the park and whom Montag believes can help him with his hopes of understanding books. Faber, similar in sound to “father,” may express the idea that Faber will be a mentor to Montag and help him discover who he truly is. This is particularly necessary as Montag lacks the ability to truly express himself and, therefore, most of his ideas are explored by fire since fire is what he understands personally. This is a unique premise, as very few authors are capable of limiting themselves to conveying ideas through one main symbol. For example, Montag uses fire to show his overwhelming rush of emotions, saying: “The fire gushing up in a volcano. All rushing on down around in a spouting roar and rivering stream toward morning.” Here the fire is symbolic of his heightened emotions which are “gushing up” and bubbling to the surface; this is the only way he knows how to say what he’s feeling, as he lacks words to truly express his emotions. This is very inspired, as it matches the world that has been set up and allows Montag to act as a role model. Despite his very limited perspective, he seeks growth and shows us that you can only truly grow by expanding your own knowledge.  

The book ends with a quote from Revelation: “And on either side of the river there was a tree of life, which bore twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.” This is a beautiful way of ending the novel and it tells us that, no matter how bad the circumstances, if you are willing to try, anything can be saved and every ending is a new beginning. This message is crucial to today's society, as everyone has struggled in the past few years, but understanding that we can get better is one of the most important things that we need to remember. To do that, we all have to work together.

I love this novel. I give it 4.5 stars and would absolutely recommend it, though more to people aged 15+ due to the book’s many convoluted themes, which are hard to grasp. The novel utilizes a spectacular blend of history, the present, and the future to engage its reader. It starts with history, being based on the destruction of the library of Alexandria; it reflects the present’s reliance on technology, encouraging the reader to treat every day as a gift, and the potential for this future to come true as we grow ever more reliant on that technology. This is all entwined into a beautiful book that uses wordplay and many biblical allusions with a great deal of scientific accuracy to convey its messages, inspiring readers while warning of potential danger should they continue down this path.

In a KidSpirit Media review, teen writer Taylor Merrett gives his take on Ray Bradbury's classic dystopian novel, Fahrenheit 451. 

The Expressionless World Without Books

Patryk Karpowicz

Journalism is not at its best. Nowadays, all that matters is feeding the public unverified news before the competition. 

Respect for journalistic principles and ethics has been replaced by advertising figures in the accounts of publishing houses. It’s no wonder cinema still yearns for classic, now archaic forms of journalism, especially investigative journalism. We can see that the media is supposed to serve the governed, not the rulers. 

In the U.S., there is increasing talk of media integrity. The hashtag #FakeNews has long been one of the most popular on Twitter. One of the biggest opponents of anti-press political movements, Steven Spielberg, joined the fight for truth in the media by making a film about the Pentagon Papers and the 1970s (considered by many the golden years of journalism). His 2017 film The Post depicts the conflict between the independent and White House press corps after Daniel Ellsberg (Matthew Rhys) steals secret documents from the Pentagon regarding the Vietnam War, thousands of pages that present sensitive and confidential information, revealing lies that the government has told the American people for years. This film is an important statement on the responsibility of the media, born of civic concern, that should be seen by every person who is interested in the fate and history of their country.

The film depicts the moral conflict of the main character Kay Graham (Meryl Streep), the owner and publisher of the Washington Post. Graham is very disappointed after seeing the Pentagon Papers. She cannot believe that for so many years she has allowed herself to be manipulated by politicians gathered in the White House. She is torn between continuing her loyalty to the government and exposing the harsh truth about the Vietnam War’s policy errors. Graham has just taken the paper public, and, while her family still owns the Washington Post, investors will likely back out of their investments over a catastrophic occurrence, such as the publisher being arrested for treason. Her new awareness of many soldiers’ unnecessary deaths changes her attitude about the role the press plays in the life of society. A bystander, learning the details of tragic events presented by eyewitnesses in the Pentagon Papers, expresses that he must start to approach the news presented by the media with skepticism. Graham’s transformation can be seen in her response: “We don't always get it right. We're not always perfect but I figure we just keep on it. That's the job.”

Over the course of the film, we are able to observe how Streep’s character develops from a quiet and reticent figure to an outspoken leader who is both secure and firm in her convictions. As shown in the film, this is a woman who changed the course of American history while wearing a golden dress. Observing Meryl Streep, we get the impression Graham is a good, older woman who is used to many years of male domination and living in the shadow of her own husband. However, this strong and experienced lady is able to forge her kindness and submissiveness into strength and determination in the most critical moments. Observing her transformation, I tried to understand her moral dilemmas and encouraged her to make an appropriate, though difficult, decision. I believe that each of us has the right to learn the truth about the history of a given country, although I know with time it may be associated with unpleasant consequences for some.

Ben Bradlee (Tom Hanks), the editor of the Washington Post, plays an important role as the man who never questions whether or not they should publish the Pentagon Papers. When the Department of Justice temporarily stops the New York Times’ publication of the documents, he senses an opening. After the Washington Post tracks down its own copy, Bradlee and his staff have 24 hours to sort and publish information that the Times has been sitting on for months. But whether or not the Washington Post can publish becomes another matter altogether. Hanks’ performance finds the right degree of gravity for Bradlee, although he occasionally slips up due to a script that too often calls attention to itself. Hanks, with his arrogant elegance like a fish in water, fits into a world covered with tobacco smoke, where crowded offices live in the rhythm of hundreds of fingers tapping on typewriters (of which the actor is a huge fan). He is a true personification of willpower, the invincible guardian of his own beliefs, reflecting the mood of the entire nation.

The film is a multi-layered tale of journalistic triumph over political censure. The Post passes the trickiest tests for a historical drama: It makes us understand that decisions that have been validated by the lens of history were difficult ones to make in the moment, and it generates suspense over how all the pieces fell into place to make those decisions happen successfully. On the other hand, the script forces one character to tell another character something that he or she already knows purely for the benefit of the audience. Watching the film, I had the feeling that I had become a member of the journalistic team. I was very much affected by the plot development and emotional approach to the decisions made by the main characters. By commenting loudly on their actions, I had the impression that I could influence their decisions.

The decision to publish newspapers is nothing less than a guarantee of continued democracy, a guarantee made even stronger when newspapers across the country publish in unity. The Post nostalgically transports the viewer back to the glory days of newspapers, but the film also reminds us of a time when outcomes were uncertain and the freedoms we take for granted hung in the balance. Everyone, and journalists in particular, should pay attention to the court judgment which reads as follows: “The Founding Fathers gave the free press the protection it must have to fulfill its essential role in our democracy. The press was to serve the governed, not the governors.”

We see similar situations today as politicians try to manipulate the media. The lesson that we can learn from this movie is that the challenges to the free press will always continue, and so there are almost certainly lessons for future generations in The Post. In my opinion, this film is undeniably an important work and does a good job warning against political conspiracies to keep citizens in the dark or lacking reliable information, causing them to refrain from action or protest in sensitive situations when citizens' rights and safety are at stake. It also shows how relatively recently public recognition and high professional positions for women was a fresh issue. I would give this film four stars. I believe that every young person should watch this film, especially journalism students, because it shows what problems and dilemmas may meet them in the future. It also demonstrates that the profession of journalism affects not only our working relations but also has a great influence on our personal lives, showing that the journalistic profession requires a lot of physical and mental resilience.

In a KidSpirit Media review, teen writer Patryk Karpowicz explains why Steven Spielberg's film The Post is a standout historical drama. 

True or False?  The Dilemmas of a Good Journalist

Alexandra McPherson

The media may have raised us,
But in the end, 
Will you care 
About likes and shares?
About other people's lives?
Or will it be your memories,
The person you sought to be?
Likes will make you feel like you belong,
But was it a lie all along?
So if today was your last chance,
Make sure your life isn't 
Your stolen dance

In a KidSpirit poem, teen poet Alexandra McPherson compels us to consider what's more important: a screen or our real lives?

Stolen Dance

Rachel Gai

I think we’ve all been there — precious moments of “work” turn into an unproductive session of scrolling on our phones, searching endlessly for any form of distraction and entertainment. 

However, always to our avail, a wave of guilt hits us once we realize that our hopes to escape from reality are only temporary, and we are then left to lament the countless hours we will never get back. As an avid phone user and as a teen, I can confess to falling into the deep abyss of infinite information hidden in my phone; I’m well aware none of the content really benefits me, but my finger relentlessly swipes through the familiar apps of TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter. While constant exposure to social media results in negative effects of addiction and increased loneliness (both of which harm our physical and mental well-being), it also brings benefits of connection and comfort at the same time. 

Especially during the pandemic, many teens, including myself, have felt more connected with peers by interacting positively online. A study of over 700 adolescents taken during the COVID-19 lockdown suggests that teens who “found support online — such as chatting with friends and relatives via WhatsApp or joining multiplayer online video games — reported less loneliness.” By sharing and keeping up with other teens, young social media users experience an increased sense of well-being. So, while it is indeed detrimental to be online for several hours, it’s more important to measure how that time is spent. In short, there might be benefits to promoting positive online experiences instead of stigmatizing the effects of increased screen time. That isn’t to say that social media can’t get in the way of our daily activities — we must still be careful of how it’s used.

To understand social media, we must realize the format behind the apps’ mechanics to hook us and how their billionaire developers so successfully use cunning algorithms to make users dependent. According to a recent Harvard study, “self-disclosure on social networking sites lights up the same part of the brain that also ignites when taking an addictive substance.” Whether it’s scrolling through Instagram or liking tweets, when submerging ourselves within the internet, our brain releases dopamine chemicals that produce feelings identical to those produced while gambling or using recreational drugs. The exact feeling of not knowing what you will see next is what keeps so many people glued to their devices for long periods of time; app designers take advantage of this behavioral flaw to keep consumers on their products. 

Within each like or comment the app also runs several algorithms, searching for “indicators of interest.” For example, on TikTok, a platform for creating and sharing short videos, users that finish watching a specific video from start to finish would show high levels of interest in contrast to a video that is skipped after a few seconds of exposure on a feed. The algorithm then uses this information to expose similar videos with high indicators of interest to, once again, guarantee users’ active engagement with the app. Additionally, this algorithm allows for apps, like Instagram or Twitter, to create an infinite stream of content — that way, your brain continually feels excited as it anticipates the next thing you click on. However, thanks to these witty creators, research shows that our attention spans slowly decrease as we continuously search for entertainment — training our brains to move at faster, more exciting paces.  

Not only do these apps impair our daily activities, but their promise for connection has simultaneously begun to induce mass alienation. We subconsciously follow a constant loop of creating and perfecting a mirage of our false online personas, choosing to show only the mere seconds of happiness to target a greater audience and, in turn, gain more followers. Often, we become so latched on to the idea of perfecting an online persona that we forget our true selves. By pushing away the ugly moments and displaying only the filtered moments, we are creating a much more dangerous society, especially as more teens and children are exposed to this fake reality at a younger age. 

In fact, many experts have proven that social media and texting have in fact resulted in increased anxiety and lower self-esteem. In a survey that asked teens ranging from 12 to 24 how social media platforms impacted their health, the results found that “Snapchat, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram all led to increased feelings of depression, anxiety, poor body image, and loneliness.” The internet is social in the way that it centers on individual identity; however, while connecting communities, it simultaneously brings those viewers apart from their reality. Social media was a place you could turn to for self-expression and find someone you could easily relate to. This, in turn, pulls you further away from your current reality as you indulge in a world in which you have no physical interaction or true grasp of. 

However, while the implementation of parasocial relationships into media users’ lives may seem to impose a greater sense of isolation, it actually provides a greater sense of identity and comfort to viewers. Parasocial relationships refer to a one-sided relationship between a user and an online figure (usually a celebrity), in which one person extends emotional energy, interest, support, and time to the other party, while the online persona is completely unaware. Mainly seen in pop culture, these relationships create the “illusion of a face-to-face relationship” without the factor of rejection. 

Though the normalization of connections between celebrities can be seen as a dangerous social media development, especially to parents who worry that their kid may become too attached to a public figure they “know” solely from videos or photos, studies show these relations actually provide companionship and inspiration, as well as comfort and belonging. I too have felt significantly motivated by watching my favorite music artists document their hard work or cheered up by tuning in to their live chats after a long day; through these heartwarming online interactions, I can attest that the idea of having someone there for you, even if it’s from a distance, can provide entertainment and comfort in our monotonous lifestyles. 

While social media holds a negative stigma around its addictive elements and harmful mental effects, it is proven to just as effectively provide a great sense of comfort and community. So next time you catch yourself in an unproductive scrolling session, think about whether you’re utilizing the positive or negative sides of social media. 

“Parasocial Relationships: The Nature of Celebrity Fascinations.” Find a Psychologist, 11 June 2019, https://www.findapsychologist.org/parasocial-relationships-the-nature-of-celebrity-fascinations/.

Hilliard, Jena. “Social Media Addiction.” Addiction Center. Accessed 5 Oct. 2021.

McGlew, Molly. "This Is How the TikTok Algorithm Works." Later Blog, 23 June 2019, https://later.com/blog/tiktok-algorithm. 

“Wait, What The Heck Is A ‘Parasocial Relationship?” HuffPost, 26 May 2021, https://www.huffpost.com/entry/parasocial-relationships-with-celebrities_l_60a56a18e4b0d45b75248115.

What’s the Science Behind Social Media Addiction? | SiOWfa15: Science in Our World: Certainty and Controversy. https://sites.psu.edu/siowfa15/2015/09/15/whats-the-science-behind-social-media-addiction/. Accessed 5 Oct. 2021.

In a KidSpirit Feature article, teen writer Rachel Gai explores how social media can either pull us apart or bring us together. 

Social Media: Dangerous, Yet Beneficial

Pablo J. Boczkowski

If there are two characteristics that mark today’s media it is that there are massive amounts of options and content at our disposal, and they are available everywhere and all the time.

If there are two characteristics that mark today’s media, it is that there are massive amounts of options and content at our disposal, and they are available everywhere and all the time.

From TikTok to Netflix, from Twitch to CNN, and from Instagram to ESPN, it is difficult to find a situation in which we would not have lots of media to choose from when it comes to expressing ourselves, communicating with others, learning what they have been up to, and watching shows, movies, news, and sports. If we add the fact that many types of activities that we used to do without media are now increasingly technologically mediated — from schooling to dating, and from shopping to exercising — our daily lives take place in a world of information plenty. 

In addition to having lots of media to choose from, the different media carry incredible amounts of information. There are over 100,000 titles of streaming available worldwide, and many of them are shows that have many episodes and many seasons. Of course, the number of titles available in a specific country is much lower than that, but it is still high enough — and mightily growing — that any of us could spend the rest of our lives just sleeping and watching our favorite streaming services and chatting about them on social media.

The abundance of media and content at our disposal is compounded by the fact that they are with us anywhere we go and 24/7. A few decades ago, in an era of much greater media scarcity, there were many situations in which one had to either be in a particular place — in front of the television set, within the movie theatre, accessing a telephone landline — or at a particular time — when the television show started, when the movie was being shown, when a telephone was nearby at home or work—to get media content. Nowadays, we watch shows on our smartphones while we ride the public transit system . . . or even during a boring class at school!

They raise us by challenging the separation between spaces and times that in previous eras were outside of the influence of media, such as home and school. Before, it was much easier for parents and teachers to control the flow of mediated information into the household and the classroom. Today it is very difficult to do that, and even impossible at times. We have all seen the scenes of family members staring at their phones at the dinner table — or the restaurant table during family outings — and of students texting, taking pictures, shooting videos, and posting, interacting, and commenting on social media while at school. This not only diverts attention, but also makes it difficult for parents and teachers to manage exposure to certain content and not others. 

Abundant media also raise us with the expectation that the lives of those surrounding us are going to be visible to us on the screen — not just in-person — and that ours will be visible to them in that way, too. In the before times, we learned about others by either talking to them or hearing about them from a common acquaintance. If we wanted to know something about someone, we had to ask to find out. Nowadays, either the algorithms of our favorite social media platforms already show us posts of the people we care about, or a simple search will yield a lot of information about them in a fraction of a second. The other side of the coin is the expectation that many details about our everyday lives will be available on the screen. This is both exhilarating and exhausting, fascinating and depressing, and sadly it is difficult to have one without the other.

In addition, abundant media raise us to become savvy producers of content and not just educated consumers of it. In the past, having access to the means of mediated content production was something for the chosen few who worked in newspapers, television and radio stations, and movie studies. In contrast, today everybody who owns a smartphone — and even someone who can visit a public library with computer terminals connected to the internet — has the means to produce mediated content potentially available worldwide. The growing list of media personalities who started their careers as social media influencers and became television, film, and music stars is a clear indication of the potential power that each of us has as a producer of media content. And while most of us will not achieve global stardom, the accumulation of our micro-publics of hundreds and thousands of followers  —and the content we post to engage them — are a major contributor to the abundance of information in today’s media environment.

Finally, abundant media raise us by exposing us to greater diversity of people and ideas than ever before while also presenting us with an incredible depth of sameness in all these dimensions. While in the 20th century the media used to include a fairly narrow range of characters and viewpoints — both in news and in entertainment — today we can access a really wide spectrum of positionalities who share their opinions and experiences on social media. In parallel, the algorithms of the different platforms tend to offer us content that resonates with what we supposedly want. That has two main effects. On the one hand, it contributes to polarizing society by making us less knowledgeable about alternative viewpoints. On the other hand, it provides members of marginalized communities  — whose realities had long been ignored by the traditional media system — an opportunity to communicate among themselves, develop community, and share strategies to deal with everyday challenges.

Today’s abundant media raise us by challenging the separation between home, school and work; blurring the boundaries between our private and public lives; inviting us to become not only educated consumers but also savvy producers of content; and exposing us to greater diversity as well as to greater depth of sameness. The intersection of these four trends creates tremendous opportunities for expression, creativity, and change but also significant potential burdens for attention, intimacy, and civility. It is at this very intersection that a major part of our future lies.

In a KidSpirit PerSpectives article, renowned media expert Pablo J. Boczkowski explores the impact of our constant immersion in media. 

The Abundant Media That Raised Us

Clio Leung

Scrolling through all kinds of social media such as Instagram, Tiktok, and Snapchat has become a crucial aspect to most of us, or at least most of the people around me. 

Whether it is to communicate with others through text or to simply voice and articulate different ideas, these interactive technologies have a huge amount of influence on our everyday life. However, the addiction that social media causes is beginning to turn technology and media into something indispensable when, in fact, they are merely tools for entertainment and communication. Many of us deem the excessive use of these technologies something essential without thinking about how their profound impacts can damage our perspectives and the way we think. For instance, they promote and define the standards of beauty, such as how people should dress or what kinds of appearances are considered good-looking. Since we are exposed to those ideal beauty types, we tend to compare ourselves to unrealistic standards, which can be harmful to our mental health. This then led me to a sudden idea: to self-initiate an experiment during the period of my quarantine.

In a KidSpirit Awesome Moments article, teen writer Clio Leung shares what she discovered by abstaining from social media for five days. 

My Five-Day Experiment

Omnipresent: that’s how many teenagers experience media today. From books and movies to Instagram and 24-hour news, a constant stream of information shapes our lives and societies.  In this issue, KidSpirit writers and artists evaluate the benefits, dangers, and everything in between.

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