In a rather embarrassing demonstration of what some called very limited knowledge of the platform, Congress representatives began the hearings on TikTok and the dangers the platform allegedly represents for national security. When questioning the company's CEO, Shou Zi Chew, the legislators didn't present any evidence against TikTok's safety and privacy faults. Instead, they spent 5 hours asking questions that showed how little some of them understood how technology —even something as simple as WiFi— works. Or at least, that was the general online consensus. While the hearings were being live-streamed, the tag #TikTokHearing started tracking some activity and has reached over 44 million views between recaps and mockery.

The shockingly rapid expansion of book banning at public schools and public libraries across the nation in the past year or two and the relentless effort to crush access to education and diverse storytelling is being met with the same fervor in opposition to these measures. The pushback to these acts of censorship has been led by authors and young people that cannot fathom a world where a small group of individuals limits access to diverse, inclusive, and racially conscious literature. From pop-up free libraries to programs that allow digital access to banned titles, Gen Zs —and much, much older generations— are doing everything they can to keep access to information available, even going directly to speak to their representatives. Currently, #bannedbooks has over 89 million views, including a popular clip of Gen Z's favorite congresswoman AOC. This conversation is just beginning!

The neverending war between Florida's Governor, Ron DeSantis, and The Walt Disney Company is taking another turn after the governor's mandate that stripped the company from its autonomy within the premises of its resort was signed. This measure was seen as retaliation after Disney publicly opposed the "Don't Say Gay" bill that prohibits discussing sexual orientation or gender identity in classrooms before the fourth grade. Now, in response, Mickey Mouse's company will defy the conservative governor by hosting one of the most prominent LGBTQ+ summits on gay rights in the country. So it's no surprise that TikTok has A LOT to say, either informing about it or commenting on how DeSantis is so wrong that they're doing the inconceivable: siding with big corporation.