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The University of Vermont's Independent Voice Since 1883

The Vermont Cynic

The University of Vermont's Independent Voice Since 1883

The Vermont Cynic

The University of Vermont's Independent Voice Since 1883

The Vermont Cynic

Alex's illustration for the performative activism column

Reposting is not activism

Abby Stevens, Opinion Columnist November 2, 2023

As I take another nightly scroll through my social media feeds, I am constantly bombarded with endless posts prying for my time, care and attention.  It pains me, but I keep clicking through: stories,...

Molly's illi for the Instagram roommate selection column

Instagram has ruined the roommate selection process

Libby Frassinelli, Opinion Columnist October 19, 2023

Prospective roommates may believe they have found their perfect match on Instagram, only to realize reality doesn’t quite match up with the facade. People are not who they are on Instagram—at least...

Shea's illi for the phones column

Stop giving your phone so much power

Annabelle Pattison, Opinion Columnist October 18, 2023

With technology's transition into every aspect of life, iPad kids are quickly growing into screenagers.  Everywhere I look, people are glued to their screens or locked into their headphones, whether...

Celebrities are out of touch. Gen Z is catching on.

Celebrities are out of touch. Gen Z is catching on.

Jaya Connor, Opinion columnist October 6, 2023

I am so tired of celebrity apology videos. Last night I rewatched Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis’ formulaic and insincere apology. I couldn’t stop rolling my eyes. Kutcher and Kunis are in hot...

Logging off for now

Logging off for now

Grace Visco, Opinion Editor November 9, 2022

At the end of August, I decided to go off the grid. I deleted Instagram and Snapchat. Social media was just making me sad. During my entire adolescence, I have watched and felt social media function...

Sophomore Ally Wheeler captures content for her nutritional Instagram page @radiantplates on Redstone campus April 29.

Student promotes intuitive eating and wellness on Instagram

Avery DeLisle, Culture Staff Writer May 3, 2022

Sophomore Ally Wheeler promotes nutrition and wellness through social media by sharing her own health journey on her Instagram page, @radiantplates. Wheeler started @radiantplates January 2021 as a...

Fact-check news on social media before sharing

Fact-check news on social media before sharing

Mary Kueser, Opinion Columnist April 14, 2022

When I opened Instagram two months ago and learned about the war breaking out in Ukraine, my first instinct was to send the Instagram post I saw to everyone. It took me a minute, but I slowed down, checked...

UVM has a problem with performative activism

UVM has a problem with performative activism

Sam Nylen, Opinion Columnist April 5, 2022

Students, like myself, would consider themselves activists who advocate, protest and work to dismantle the status quo. The intent behind performative activism stems from the desire to increase social...

OnlyFans ability to ban and repeal sexual content is dangerous

OnlyFans ability to ban and repeal sexual content is dangerous

Emily Johnston, Staff writer September 8, 2021

On Aug. 19, OnlyFans’ creators and users flooded social media with outrage.  OnlyFans is a subscription based service that offers content creators a platform to sell video content. They announced...

Social media needs to stop profiting off of teen insecurity

Social media needs to stop profiting off of teen insecurity

Sam Jefferson, Staff Writer February 22, 2021

Social media will be our generation's cigarettes. Come ten or so years from now, we are going to wonder why we let so many children have free range access to such destructive platforms. I remember in...

TikTok brings young creators to the center

TikTok brings young creators to the center

Emily Johnston January 30, 2020

TikTok, a video-sharing app that is growing in popularity, is exactly what youth culture needs. TikTok is a social network owned by ByteDance and was launched in 2017. Since its initial release, the...

IZZY PIPA

VSCO girls are not embarrassed. Are you?

Sophie Oehler November 13, 2019

Sksksksksk and I oop- If you’re wondering, no I didn’t have a stroke. I’m just trying to fit in with the VSCO girls. A VSCO girl is any teenage girl who wears oversized T-shirts, Crocs, seashell...

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