Topic 1: Artificial Intelligence

It is without a doubt that technology has grown at an increasingly rapid rate in only a few decades. Nearly every day there is news of technological advancements and innovations that have the potential to change society as we know it. One such creation is artificial intelligence, a field that has seen much attention ever since it first came into reality. However, given the unknown dangers regarding the creation of an artificial, non-human intelligence, one that could even surpass the human brain, is its development truly for humanity’s betterment?

Article:AI—The good, the bad, and the scary 

• Summary: This article examines the benefits that come with the further development of AI and how the technology could possibly improve certain aspects of our society such as quality of life and transportation. However, the article also lists how artificial intelligence could actually harm our society, explaining how it can strip away at how we decide things as well as the disconnection from others that comes with delving into AI.
• Quote: “While AI promises efficiency and precision, it’s essential to consider the human element – the workers whose roles might become obsolete.”

Topic 2: Violence in Video games—Where the Virtual and the Real overlap

Human society sits on foundations that are made with millennia of violent and bloody history. War and death seem to have followed us throughout our species existence—even into the modern era. Despite murder and violence being on the rather low end when compared to the days of old, violence is still one of our most primal talents. From boxing, to wrestling, to even some sports such as American Football, violence seems to follow us like a shadow, so much so that it even is prevalent in one of the most rapidly growing forms of entertainment—video games. Knowing this, how does the violence and murder in video games affect who we are as people, and should we be concerned?

Article:Violent Video Games can Increase Aggression

• Summary:This article explains how violence in video games can actually affect how we act in the real world. It highlights how games such as Mortal Kombat, which is known for its high levels of violence, actually lead to more aggressive behaviors and reactions from its players, both online and in real life.
• Quote: “Violent video games provide a forum for learning and practicing aggressive solutions to conflict situations”

Topic 3: Social Media and Teenagers

Teenagers and social media seems to be one of th more common parings in our modern society, so much so that some even affiliate the two as closely intertwined. However, is this such a good thing? How does social media affect a teenager’s growth as a person, and is it a growth that society should hope for?

Topic 1: Child Influencers & Parental Control

The rise of child influencers has sparked concerns over the lack of regulation and the effects of early exposure to fame on young children. Parents play a crucial role in controlling their children’s online presence, but without proper guidance, children may face psychological challenges and unrealistic pressures created by the digital world. The article emphasizes the urgent need for protective regulations and the impact of parents’ decisions on their children’s future. It also makes us ask if their parents are making the right decision to put their children on a platform. When should social media be introduced to children in today’s society?

Article 1: ‘We cannot normalize having 10-year-old children working as influencers’: The challenge of controlling underage content creators | Technology 

• This article examines the ethical considerations surrounding child influencers and the responsibility that parents hold in shaping their child’s online image. It touches on the blurred lines between parental management and exploitation, especially when content creation becomes a source of income. The article also discusses the long-term effects of a child’s digital footprint, potentially influencing their self-esteem and identity.
• Quote: “Children learn what we teach them. We are their role models. If parents normalize this online overexposure, then this will be normal for them, although we still do not know the consequences.”

Topic 2: Cultural Appropriation in Fashion

Fast fashion companies, particularly brands like SHEIN, have been criticized for appropriating cultural symbols and traditions without respecting their origins. The industry has commodified cultural identities for profit, raising ethical concerns about exploiting culture and labor. This practice reduces deeply rooted traditions into fleeting trends, and this article emphasizes the need for greater cultural awareness and accountability within fashion. At the same time, many would argue that it’s the easiest way to share culture at affordable prices, even if it’s been modified. When does it become appropriation and how should culture be restricted in this way?

Article 2: SHEIN and the Prevalence of Cultural Exploitation in Fast Fashion – Reclamation Magazine 

• This article explores the ways in which brands like SHEIN profit from cultural appropriation, examining how they repurpose cultural symbols into mass-produced fashion items without giving credit to their origins. It highlights how fast fashion contributes to the erasure of cultural significance, and it also addresses the exploitation of underpaid workers who often come from the very cultures being appropriated.
• Quote: “By reducing aspects of people’s identity to items that exist for the sake of a particular trend or aesthetic, these brands diminish the significance of rich cultural traditions, while simultaneously exploiting those who they so heavily borrow from.”

Topic 3: Digital Nomadism & Countries’ Populations

With the rise of digital nomadism, many countries are experiencing a shift in population dynamics as remote workers relocate to different regions. While this trend offers economic benefits for host countries, it can also lead to concerns about local displacement, rising costs of living, and cultural dilution. Governments are beginning to grapple with the implications of attracting digital nomads while protecting the interests of their citizens. Is it ethical to be living a life of luxury in a country whose population is struggling when you are being paid for a job from abroad?

Topic 1: Debuting minors in K-pop

How young is too young? With the rising popularity of K-pop, especially among teenagers, people debuting in this industry have gotten younger and younger, even as young as 12-13 years old. While these groups may be a hit among audiences within their age range, it raises concerns about the physical and mental conditions that these idols are being trained in.

Article: “A Deeper Dive Into K-pop: The Problems of Minors Debuting”

This article goes over the history of young debuts in K-pop, outlining how it has slowly become a more common practice. While young idols can strike gold if they get lucky and possess true talent, the pressure of keeping up their reputation and facing hate comments isn’t healthy for their young minds. Not only that, many are often forced to choose between education and their dream; even if they had both, they would only be allowed to attend school a couple times a year because of their strict training regimen. Companies should rethink their decisions—exploiting minors as a marketing tactic to gear them towards teenage audiences is not an ethical practice.

Quote: “Even underaged teenagers are being debuted in South Korea, becoming part of a marketing technique and trend. Debuting young means that they will remain in the industry for a longer time, possibly turning from an idol group to singers, actors, soloists, and more. Companies want to make the most out of every idol, so starting young maximizes profits.”

Topic 2: Cancel culture in K-pop

On K-pop forums, it seems like a new person is being canceled every day. Sometimes, it seems reasonable—making racist remarks as a public figure definitely warrants some reflection and education. Other times, it’s over trivial things—since when did having a girlfriend constitute sending death wreaths to the company? Idols canceled in K-pop often have their career ruined for the rest of their lives, but do they deserve that? How far is too far?

Article: “K-pop fans clash over Seunghan’s resignation from Riize: cancel culture or accountability?”

This article describes the controversy behind one idol’s pre-debut pictures of him smoking and having a girlfriend, leading to a massive hate train along with death threats. It reveals the parasocial relationship that many fans have with idols and how damaging it is to an idol’s reputation and lifestyle. Things that are considered normal in regular society are regarded as taboo in the K-pop world because fans feel that they have control over their favorite idol’s life. But no matter how much you love your idol and “want the best for them,” there is no excuse for death threats so severe that it forces an idol to resign.

Quote: ”Within the highly controlled and image-conscious world of K-pop, idols are expected to maintain a clean, wholesome demeanour, and behaviours such as smoking or being seen in romantic situations are often viewed negatively by fans because they contradict the idealised persona that idols are meant to embody.”

Topic 3: Cultural Appropriation

Where is the line between cultural appreciation and cultural appropriation? People often have differing opinions on this topic, leading to arguments over whether someone is just “gatekeeping” their culture or are actually trying to respect its origins and people. Is it wrong to use a language that isn’t yours? Or is it the intentions that matter?

Topic 1: The Fall of American Education

Within the past decade, American students have remained stagnant or regressed in grades and skills. In the name of equity, the American school system has made mediocrity its mission, thus giving rise to anti-intellectualism in the United States.

Article: “40 years ago ‘A Nation at Risk’ warned of a ‘rising tide of mediocrity’ in US schools – has anything changed?”

https://theconversation.com/40-years-ago-a-nation-at-risk-warned-of-a-rising-tide-of-mediocrity-in-us-schools-has-anything-changed-201748

A Nation At Risk was a book from 1983 that gave a bleak look at the future of American education. It lamented that the educational foundations of society would be eroded by a rising tide of mediocrity. This article is about if the book’s prediction truly came to fruition.

Juicy Quote: “The inability of policymakers at higher levels – such as states or the federal government – to meaningfully change school practice partially explains why other major reforms have failed to achieve real results”

Topic 2: Neo-colonialism in Africa(and Jamaica)

Through investment, loans, political influence, and migration, China is utilizing an inventive form of neocolonialism on African nations that continues the cycle of underdevelopment, rendering the citizens of these nations mere pawns for China’s gain.

Article: China in Africa: Soft Power and the Development of Neocolonial States

https://journals.library.cornell.edu/index.php/CURJ/article/view/716/673

China’s colonialism does not mirror the tactics and strategies of the Europeans before, but instead creates the façade of partnership and trust. Instead of China forcefully taking over, the population is giving up their own autonomy.

Quote: “China sees  Africa as a method of shifting the structure of its economy.  It  moves away    from    labor-intensive    and    pollutant industries,  as  labor  costs  continue  to  increase domestically,   and   relocates   those   industries to  Africa  (Hanauer  &  Morris,  2014).”

Topic 3: American Individualism

We live in an era where the phrase “I don’t owe anybody anything” seems to be life’s new motto. However, this mindset seems, not only counterintuitive but destructive to the mission of empathy and community everyone seems to have. While it might have been helpful in the forming of this nation, modern-day American individualism is preventing true unity in this country.

Article: We Have Put Individualism Ahead of the Common Good for Too Long

https://time.com/6269091/individualism-ahead-of-the-common-good-for-too-long

1. Casino Building in NYC
As someone who has lived in Coney Island almost my entire life, I am used to the influx of people flocking in to see new attractions, enjoy the weather, swarm the beach, or just hang out with family and friends nearby. However, there are great drawbacks to the increasing number of people that visit and it makes me skeptical about the new casino being built in Coney Island. Casinos are a powerhouse for money, but also a prime area for crime and no parking (in an already busy area).
https://theconeynyc.com/
This isn’t a juicy article, but it does say that the community will be given “roughly 4,000 union jobs” if the casino is built. This sounds good on paper, but it will definitely damage the surrounding community.
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/22/nyregion/coney-island-casino.html
Mr. Sitt, a wealthy landowner in Coney Island paints this story of a perfect Coney Island that can only be made through a casino. He strongly believes that Coney Island, a place with so much life, needs to be revitalized by something big that forces people to come back (which I find sinister, not innocent, and childlike as he describes it). However, Coney Island is seasonal for many reasons. Besides the obvious fact that its beach brings in the most people, the electrical and sewage systems freeze up during the winter and don’t function properly. The Casino would quite literally have to redo Coney Island and the project would take billions of dollars. To try and understand Mr. Sitt’s side of the story (which many people agree with), Coney Island has ended up as a tale of nostalgia:
“Mr. Sitt argues that Coney Island — which has struggled to regain its footing since its heyday — was the most in need of the economic boost and had the strongest local support.”

2. Textbooks
Throughout my first semester at Baruch, I have probably looked at one of my multiple textbooks a single time. Everyone was “required” by Baruch to purchase a textbook for specific classes in order to get credit for the class. However, the textbooks are rendered useless as the professors don’t use them and if they do, the slides or class already reflects the information we need to know. The Baruch mandate for purchasing these textbooks is scandalous and should be removed.
https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2019/3/6/18252322/college-textbooks-cost-expensive-pearson-cengage-mcgraw-hill
Students are forced to pay upwards of one thousand dollars for textbooks each year, which can be stressful or impossible for some students. Additionally, schools like Baruch who don’t allow you to simply borrow a textbook or get it from an outside source make requirements that place pressure on families. Scholarships that cover tuition tend to not include the real money makers for these schools, which lie in textbooks and subscriptions. As a Macaulay Honors student, this is an uncomfortable reality that can be seen through Hannah’s experience:
“Hannah’s tuition and housing is covered by scholarships, but she has to use student loans to pay for her health insurance; she pays for other necessities, including textbooks, out of pocket. In other words, her generous financial aid package isn’t enough to cover the essentials.”

3. Online Betting
As someone who has witnessed it firsthand, online betting can do serious damage to people who aren’t visually able to see their cash disappear before them. What is worse is when children are able to build their gambling addiction at a young age through online casinos that contain flashy slots, simplistic betting systems, and content creators that are paid with boosted odds to advertise their “easy wins”. However, it is hard to remove a certified business that doesn’t break the law in any way. The ethics of the situation is the real problem, and it is extremely hard to make concrete changes without brute force under the law.

Idea #1: AI Takeover of Jobs, How will this affect my life or the lives of future generations?

As I and so many other people start our college careers, we all plan to one day find a job from what we learned in college to support ourselves in our endeavors of life. But in this day and age where artificial intelligence has the potential to do so many great things, the fear that this AI will take over many of the jobs that we are studying for is starting to grow. What will we do with ourselves when all that we have learned becomes practically useless as the robots can do it all more efficiently than we can? But a good question is if this will actually matter in our lifetimes.

Article for Idea #1: https://www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2024/05/15/hype-or-reality-will-ai-really-take-over-your-job/

Although, yes it is true that AI is getting much stronger year by year, it is important to understand how AI works and how it will be used in jobs for the future. Artificial Intelligence can specialize in augmentation and automation for many jobs. Taking over the role of automation will allow humans that work the very menial jobs of inputting data without actual contribution to said data to find jobs where they are able to be creative and make impactful contributions. The use of augmentation in jobs by AI is able to help humans in their field by quickly analyzing scans or doing the mathematical calculations for companies, allowing to increase efficiency of production by most workers. AI has capabilities to eventually take over many jobs, but for now and the near future, it will only be used as a tool that helps the job world.

Juicy Quote: “Understanding this balance between automation and augmentation is crucial to understanding the impact that AI will have on jobs in the future.”

Idea #2: At what point does overworking become dangerous?

In our current economy, people need to make a lot more money than they ever have needed to in order to live a stable life. But to make this money, it requires people to overwork themselves very much. Of course, seeing a lot of money in your bank account is great, but at what point does overworking yourself for that money worth it. How much time are you missing out on doing better things? And how does the stress of needing to keep up affect you mentally and physically? At what point do all of these factors of overworking cause dangers to the human body?

Idea #3: Is there a point where the supply of drinking water will run out?

As climate change and global warming start to take a true effect on the Earth and its environment, the first question that comes to most people’s minds isn’t how to stop it, but rather how it will affect us as humans. With rough droughts in many countries as well as constantly growing populations, the supply of water in the world is starting to decrease, at what point will this supply become dangerously low?

Article for Idea 3: https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/interactive/2023/water-scarcity-map-solutions/ 

With climate change and global populations on the rise, water is becoming much more of a scarce resource across the world. Many big countries and areas that are highly population-dense have started to use more water than ever before to keep people healthy and hydrated as well as to combat the lack of rain that has been heavily affecting these countries’ agriculture. Although the average amount of water per year is somewhat normal to what it was in the past, droughts and flood have become much more common, meaning that farmer’s cannot rely on average rainfall as the rain will come all at once at unpredictable times after a drought. This isn’t necessarily healthy for crops to not have a more spread out water intake, so farmers are forced to take water from the clean drinking supply in order to grow their food.

Juicy Quote: “we’ve taken [water] for granted. We’ve undervalued it. And that has to change.”

Topic 1: Desensitization

Rather than focusing on the common desensitization of violence, I want to focus on how media influences children, especially young girls, who are adopting adult-like behaviors such as wearing makeup and dressing more provocatively at a younger age. Many of them look far older than I did at their age, and it’s heartbreaking because I believe this is part of a deeper desensitization cycle. This shift impacts not only their physical appearance but also, their mental development since they’re exposed to societal pressures at an early age. The internet shows them the “best versions” of people, leading to constant comparisons which can be damaging over time.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-crime-and-justice-doctor/201905/exposure-media-violence-and-emotional-desensitization

Article 1 Summary:

The article revolves around the increasing desensitization to hatred, intolerance, and violence, especially children due to social media being easily accessible nowadays. School shootings might be one of the unfortunate outcomes of this desensitisation culture. Additionally, even though social media is a platform for reconnecting and sharing positive moments, it has transformed into a platform of hate, cyberbullying, and depictions of violence. The author further discusses how society is more likely to share their political, social, beliefs, and religious thoughts on social media without considering the viewpoints of others. Due to these mass outrage of opinions and violent news, children today are exposed to violence as school shooting drills like the ALICE training are a part of their daily school life these days. Students are so desensitized that school shootings no longer surprise or shock them anymore. 

Quote: “ “My position is that today’s children, adolescents, and young adults are being exposed to too much violence and negativity to the point where another school shooting simply becomes another school shooting without evoking the emotions we would expect.” “

Topic 2: Parenting Styles

When it comes to parenting, I wonder if there’s a method or formula to raise a “perfect” child. I question whether two families that use the same parenting style will produce children with similar behaviors and values. Some might say that siblings are already raised by the same parents and under the same conditions but isn’t there always a favorite child for each parent?  With all the parenting styles taught in AP psych including authoritative, authoritarian, permissive, and neglectful, I want to dive deeper into how each type produces each product. 

https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Family/parenting-style-significantly-influence-childs-mental-health-new/story?id=98266998

Article 2 Summary:

This article highlights the effects of hostile parenting through a study where over 7,500 children in Ireland from 9 months old were observed until they turned 9 years old. Hostile parenting, which involves physical discipline and overcontrol was discovered to have a negative impact on children, increasing the risk of developing mental health issues. Further, it is observed that a warm parenting style did not show any effects while consistent parenting where rules and regulations are often taught showed a positive light. 

Quote: “Our findings suggest that hostile parenting should be avoided as much as possible in early childhood if we want to prevent children from developing increased mental health symptoms,” said lead author Dr. Ioannis Katsantonis, a doctoral researcher at the University of Cambridge.”

Topic 3: Cancel Culture

What is the line between holding someone accountable and going too far? As a big user of media, I’ve noticed that the cancel culture has gone out of hand during these years. It seems like public figures and everyday individuals are under constant inspection, with social media calling for accountability in numerous ways that can feel overwhelming. I know that it is necessary to hold accountable for harmful actions, but not to the point where individuals receive death threats or face harassment. 

Topic 1:

Bipolar disorder – How bipolar disorder affects daily life 

Topic 2:

Schizophrenia – Exploring the potential stigma patients with schizophrenia endure and the treatments available to them. Also summarizing what schizophrenia is in general.

Schizophrenia article – https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/20/health/schizophrenia-name-change.html#

Summary – This article covers the concern surrounding changing the name schizophrenia to a different term in order to lower stigma when diagnosing patients. It speaks on the potential negatives of doing so, one of the negatives being the delayment to receive proper treatment. Another argument that rose against the favor of changing the name was focusing on actual medical ways to force schizophrenia into remission, rather than just “rebranding” the disorder. 

Quote – “The idea is that replacing the term “schizophrenia” with something less frightening and more descriptive will not only change how the public perceives people with the diagnosis, but also how these people see themselves.”

Topic 3:

PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) – The different instances PTSD can be induced and how it affects your way of thinking/ adult life. 

PTSD article – 

https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd

Summary – This article covers the meaning of PTSD and the fact that anyone can obtain it at any age, and the fact that you don’t necessarily need to go through a traumatic experience to obtain it. The article also covers signs and symptoms, risk factors, treatment examples, and a list of sources to expand knowledge on the topic. 

Quote – “Not everyone with PTSD has been through a dangerous event. Sometimes, learning that a friend or family member experienced trauma can cause PTSD.”

Idea 1:

1.Misinformation(false advertisement)/Transparency- 

Misinformation can be an extremely harmful act to coarse and manipulate those around you, but do I have the ability to force you to remove this? On one hand it’s free speech/press and who are you to tell me what to do, but on the other hand this spreads toxicity into our community. Where do we draw the line?

Start essay with false advertisement then lean into misinformation regarding pictures, articles and more

OSCE article

Quote 1:

“The human right to impart information and ideas is not limited to statements deemed “correct” by authorities but extends to information and ideas that may shock, offend and disturb.”

Brookings article

Quote 2:

“without undermining the benefits of digital media”

OSCE article-https://www.osce.org/representative-on-freedom-of-media/319286

Freedom of expression is a right that everyone has. The article says it is the Government’s job to make sure it is safe and for people to speak freely. It also says that people have the right to share whatever they want although it may be offensive. This is proven when the article says “The human right to impart information and ideas is not limited to statements deemed “correct” by authorities but extends to information and ideas that may shock, offend and disturb.” Also it says that “states may only impose restrictions on the right to freedom of expression and freedom of the media in accordance with international law”. The government can only take charge when this violates international law. One of the laws states that one may not publish propaganda for war and hatred. Although there is propaganda that does necessarily go against international law. The OSCE Representative says that we should not shut down media outlets because “it leads to arbitrary and politically motivated actions”.

USC study reveals the key reason why fake news spreads on social media

This article speaks about a study made by USC speaking about why misinformation spreads. They said that people who lack critical thinking are typically the spreaders. They also derived from their study that “Our findings show that misinformation isn’t spread through a deficit of users. It’s really a function of the structure of the social media sites themselves”.

How to combat fake news and disinformation

This article talks about the ways in which we must combat the issue of disinformation. The article says one option is that “Governments should promote news literacy and strong professional journalism in their societies.”. Another option is that “Technology companies should invest in tools that identify fake news, reduce financial incentives for those who profit from disinformation, and improve online accountability”. The last option it introduces is that “Educational institutions should make informing people about news literacy a high priority”. These are ways to uproot the issue of disinformation but the article also goes on to say we must do this “without undermining the benefits of digital media”.

At what point does the government and companies have to be transparent with its citizens and employees? Too much information can cause chaos and panic, but a lack of information can cause confusion and distrust.

Idea 2:

2.Phones in schools- Should Phones be banned in schools? Some New York schools have already taken action and banned them, but the parent bodies are scared in case of an emergency such as a school shooting. Also some teachers incorporate phone usage during class time for educational purposes.

The Nation

Quote 1:

“Of course, past generations of teenagers survived without devices and parents never worried, but they also did not grow up in a world where frequent school shootings were a reality.”

Bloomberg

Quote 2:

“students even covertly thanked her for instituting the ban, which made it easier for them to focus.”

The Nation-https://www.thenation.com/article/society/public-school-cell-phone-ban-new-york

​This article argues that a phone ban should not be placed in schools. The author reflects back at her own school experience dealing with cell phones. For her they were a tool used for education purposes, rather now they are viewed as disruptive. She further explains later in the article other reasons for her support and points out their importance.

Bloomberg-https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-07-17/new-york-schools-that-banned-mobile-phones-see-student-grades-rise

Unlike the first article, the author describes the productive outcomes which occurred when the ban was placed. “At KIPP NYC College Prep high school, AP test scores increased and grades bounced back to pre-pandemic averages”. Also “Attendance at sporting events and other activities jumped by 50%” and “The lunchroom got a lot noisier as the kids switched to playing card games instead of watching TikTok videos.”. These are just a few examples of the benefits of banning phones.

Idea 3:

3.Education- The typical classroom setting has not changed in over 100 years. Is this because of our learning styles? Over covid we experienced a different type of classroom, one over zoom. Generally speaking it accomplished its goal, but has not become a long term solution. Our education system is lacking due to the issue of static lectured classrooms with high student to teacher ratio, but is this even an issue?