Eman Ghacham/The Cougar

Ahead of the 2021-2022 academic year, the University of Houston launched the Scholarship Universe, a directory aimed to simplify the scholarship search and application process by accumulating internal and external aid in one place.

Strangely, the helpful tool suddenly disappeared at the beginning of the Spring 2025 semester. On Jan. 7, a pop-up box stated the portal was no longer available and the icon disappeared from AccessUH pages.

The sudden closing and lack of explanation left users confused. A proper warning should have been issued by the school, preparing students for the closing rather than taking it away overnight.

“The new contracts annual cost was the primary reason we did not renew the contract,” said Bryan Luhn, Director of Media Relations.

The renewal terms, which were not disclosed, exceeded the original contract and were deemed not cost-effective. This judgment led to the shutdown.

Understandably, departments must adhere to budgets; however, there seems to be a growing trend in financial aid getting the short end of the stick. Students are facing the worst of this, from allegedly receiving less aid over time to having resources taken away.

Financial hardships for college students is nothing new. However, in a time when the cost of living is discouragingly high and one class alone is over $1,200, the University owes it to students better support.

Luhn says updates were posted in MyUH to notify students of the Scholarship Universe’s termination, but a singular notice only available upon logging in is ineffective. It is even less helpful when the notice does not explain the decision or provide alternatives.

Emails or posts on the University’s social media pages would have been a better way to inform students. Further, notices should have been distributed days before the service ended. The communication rollout was overall poorly done and inconvenient; external scholarships remained active and many continued to search for aid before the start of the semester.

Though the Scholarship Universe is gone, a replacement is in the works. A new application, and accompanying campaign, will launch ahead of the following academic year.

“Students will have sufficient time to submit applications before the 2025-2026 review process commences,” said Luhn. 

Details of the new service and when it will be available are unknown, but in the meantime, students are encouraged to continue searching for scholarships on their own. The alumni association opened several last month, and external applications can be found year-round. That being said, students should apply to unaffiliated awards with caution, though, as some can be scams.

Searching and applying to scholarships can be a time-consuming, complicated process. The Scholarship Universe eliminated many hurdles and students can only hope that its replacement will do the same. While students continue to manage tuition costs, the university should seek to improve supportive services and maintain transparency, keeping students up-to-date.

Anaya Baxter is an integrated communications junior who can be reached at opinion@thedailycougar.com

—
“The Scholarship Universe shutdown was handled poorly” was originally posted on The Cougar

Lily Huynh/The Cougar

Being in one’s twenties is arguably one of the messiest parts of life. Navigating adulthood, college, potential careers and other changes are overwhelming. This era is further complicated when it’s shared with a romantic partner.

Love in early adulthood looks different for everyone. Some are hung up on their high school ex while others are planning to walk down the aisle. Each path has its struggles, and it is important to refrain from judging others and letting them judge you, too harshly.

Romance is a beautiful thing that gets muddied with expectations, of which young people have many. From Hollywood movies to romance novels, people have learned to dream of a partner that caters to their every need. Unfortunately, people are not one-dimensional beings who exist only to satisfy their significant other.

Fictional stories often gloss over hard times such as conflicting schedules, values and life plans. If they are mentioned, they are resolved by the end of the story and normalize a rare happy ending.

The twenties are the decade of self-exploration and growth. An interest at twenty-one may be boring by twenty-three. Likewise, the future one envisions after graduating college may starkly contrast their goals as one approaches thirty.

These changes can feel liberating, individually, but straining to a shared connection. Outgrowing a partner is common and might be for the better, and relying on support from others and sharing one’s heartbreak can help ease sadness.

Whether single or taken, bonds outside of romantic partners are essential. Not only are they a safety measure, but they also create a stronger sense of well-being.

Friendships serve as another space to share memories, feelings and love. One’s love for their friend, though, can create unfavorable opinions towards their friend’s significant other.

It is worth considering what friends need to know about one’s romantic life. A small disagreement with a partner may be excusable, but friends, may not be forgiving. News of a fight could serve as evidence that the pairing is not meant to be.

Not having friends and partners on the same page can cause a divide between all parties. Friends judging significant others can make a partner feel uncomfortable and isolated. Likewise, disapproving friends can create judgment and secrecy in once-loving bonds.

People must also be cautious to not become the person responsible for harsh opinions. It is all too easy to assign definitive labels to fragments of a story.

If one hears of an incident that paints a relative stranger in an unfair light, then advocating for breaking up may seem like the right answer. However, only focusing on bits and pieces ignores any nuances and complexities.

Relationships are ever-changing, and no era reflects that more than one’s early adult years. From struggling to accept love to unintentionally hurting people, many mistakes come from close bonds. 

Being hurt and hurting others is inevitable. While this does not excuse harm, it does give room for understanding. Judgment can easily be passed, but it is possible to offer opinions without damaging other relationships.

Anaya Baxter is an integrated communications junior who can be reached at opinion@thedailycougar.com

—
“Dating is messy enough without judgement” was originally posted on The Cougar

Jose Gonzalez-Campelo/The Cougar

In November 2022, OpenAI launched ChatGPT, a language model chatbot that generates dialogue and answers to virtually any question. Two months later, the platform reached an estimated 100 million monthly users. The platform’s explosive growth captivated individuals and companies alike, but it was particularly appealing to students.

With ChatGPT, homework questions can be answered in seconds and lines of code or essay paragraphs are written with even the most vague instructions.

As a result, global companies have shown a growing interest in artificial intelligence. According to the National University, 77% of companies are implementing or exploring the possibilities of AI in their organizations. From Google and Microsoft to Spotify and Instagram, AI assistants and chatbots are popping up everywhere.

These services come with a price, however. Generative AI has a substantial environmental footprint that will only worsen with increasing demands. Data centers consume 3-4% of America’s energy, with the heart of Silicon Valley seeing 60% of its city’s electricity going towards these structures.

The extensive electricity usage, which increases carbon dioxide emissions and adds strain to electric grids, is used to train AI models. Every time a prompt is entered, more power is used. When millions of users input multiple prompts per session, this quickly adds up.

The computing infrastructure and servers must be temperature-controlled, and to offset this heat, water is needed. According to a 2024 study, ChatGPT requires about 18 ounces of water to produce a 100-word email. It is estimated that the platform would use over 435 million liters of water to run this function for around 16 million people.

The estimated figure is likely understated and the true damage is unknown. However, an exact number is not needed to understand generative artificial intelligence is a threat to the environment. In the wake of frequent natural disasters, rising temperatures and scarce resources, people need to analyze their consumption and identify habits that can be changed or eliminated.

AI is not a necessity. Simple tasks such as summarizing an article or revising a paragraph are outsourced to bots and many students have found themselves relying on it. Not only is this a threat to basic thinking skills, it uses water that could be used to fight raging fires.

There seems to be a large attitude-behavior gap when it comes to climate change. It is recognized as a problem but few actively strive to reduce their environmental footprint and hold others accountable. If signing a petition or donating to organizations is too big of a request, the least people could do is stop using generative AI. 

86% of students use AI in their studies, with nearly one-fourth using the tools daily. Students are a key demographic of users and potential audiences.

Often in activist conversations, people feel they have no power to change outcomes. This is not the case. Companies know the power of students and, if they commit to not using such sites and applications, students could significantly decrease consumer demand and halt further environmental damage.

Anaya Baxter is an integrated communications junior who can be reached at opinion@thedailycougar.com

—
“AI is not worth the environmental destruction it causes” was originally posted on The Cougar

Lily Huynh/The Cougar

Months ago, American women, algorithms and publications turned a curious eye toward South Korea’s feminist 4B Movement. Many sought an outlet for their fears following the presidential election and the movement offered an answer to their questions surrounding self-defense and even revenge against harmful men.

As the inauguration of the 47th president approaches, interests have gone silent. There seems to be no mainstream commitment to previous passionate callouts.

The 4B movement, which emerged in South Korea in the late 2010s, has four principles: do not date, marry, bear children or have sex with men. It seemed like a catch-all for women who experience or witness violence at the hands of men, as the logical way to avoid harm is to reduce interactions with perpetrators. But such complex issues cannot be solved in simple terms.

Many, in their fury, underestimated the severity of implementing such an intense lifestyle change. Verbally swearing off companionship is simple in concept, but in practice, rejects ingrained conditioning and, arguably, human nature.

From casual dating to long-term romance, people are societally urged to pursue partnerships. Women especially are encouraged to desire relationships and may feel alienated when they do not desire them.

Even if individuals do commit to blocking men out of their lives, there is a clear collective push against the cause. South Korean feminists themselves struggle to organize offline and receive backlash for “deepen[ing] societal divisions,” says Minyoung Moon, a lecturer of sociology at Clemson University.

It is hard to police what people do in private, which is largely where the principles of this movement occur. Outcomes are not as tangible as other efforts that demand legislative change or public accountability, adding to its difficulties in attracting supporters. 

Additionally, discouraging sex goes against many liberation progressions that have been made throughout feminist history. Only contemporarily have women found freedom in discussing and partaking in various sexual acts. For some, the 4B movement appears more regressive than helpful.

The unfortunate truth is that women limiting who they romantically and sexually involve themselves with does not resolve deeply cemented misogynistic systems. Change requires intense reflection and analysis of people’s and organization’s participation in patriarchy. 

It is understandable why women would reject holding men’s hands through this laborious process, but celibacy is not an exemption from sexual assault, workplace violence and other threats. Sex strikes have also received valid criticisms for following outdated patriarchal ideas of women’s bodies being their most valuable currency.

The 4B movement may not be realistic, but that does not mean women are not entitled to being selective with their partners.

The Decentering Men movement may provide the personal security women are looking for. Rather than choosing to reject romance and sex altogether, it encourages women to proclaim their identity, feelings and needs without fear of male judgment.

In practice, this may look like reaching contentment in oneself rather than waiting for a partnership to complete their life or not changing for approval. Healthy companionship with men can exist in this dynamic, and there is the added benefit of self-acceptance.

Gender divisions seem to only be worsening in recent years and marginalized people desperately need protection. There is no singular action that will fix every injustice, but that does not mean complacency is the answer.

In such times, women should prioritize their safety and livelihood. Some methods, however, may be more beneficial and sustainable than others. Likewise, men and women in privileged positions should do their best to support those most attacked by the ever-present patriarchal system.

Anaya Baxter is an integrated communications junior who can be reached at opinion@thedailycougar.com

—
“The 4B Movement will not save American women” was originally posted on The Cougar

Stephanie Santos/The Cougar

As Americans grapple with tensions after this year’s divisive election, democrats are seemingly expected to spearhead peace-making efforts.

Conceding is a natural part of the political cycle, and there is no doubt that the country needs unity. Still, it is unrealistic to expect people to accept a candidate with a criminal record intent on stripping marginalized people of their rights.

Hate speech and blatant discrimination have drastically increased in the days leading up to and following Nov. 5. From visible offensive language on college campuses to online spaces seeing a surge of misogynistic speech, people are adopting and repeating the hateful rhetorics used on the campaign trail.

Citizens are rightfully scared about their own and their loved one’s livelihood. It is hard to have a civil conversation with someone who voted against women’s right to govern their bodies or in support of giving police immunity that could result in the terrorizing of black and brown communities.

Under the cheers and celebrations, thousands prepare for the worst and tend to the wounds of betrayal. Nearly 75 million voted red, reinforcing America’s individualist attitude. When those ballots were cast, women, people of color and members of the LGBTQ+ community were not considered.

Community is necessary among vulnerable communities, but allies in power are needed to make structural change. In the next administration, these allies are nowhere to be found.

Trump and his supporters avoid accountability by placing the burden of unifying the country on the losing party. In a literal sense, the criminal charges against him, including allegedly falsifying public records and disrupting the 2020 election, will likely be dropped. His exemptions will only worsen upon re-entering office and being supported by his largely influenced Supreme Court.

Following the example of the highest elected official in the nation, many now feel free to openly attack others under the guise of “freedom of expression.” Tolerance for this behavior continues a cycle of harm and fear.

The majority of Americans told future citizens and historians that an incompetent extremist is fit to govern the nation. Future students may accurately learn about it, if a future president overturns the upcoming one’s plans to censor academia.

Individual and collective reconciliation is hard. No simple solution exists to ease America’s division and the proposed ones do not seem fitting at this time. 

Both parties and all citizens, once rage simmers, must deeply reflect on their biases and decisions. While not a pleasant activity, it is necessary to prompt change.

As citizens await the future, advocacy and protective efforts must continue. Many are vocal about their concerns during election years and should continue the momentum. Local activism may be more hopeful, where effects can be seen more easily at a smaller scale and decision-makers are accessible. Speaking to school boards, council members and state officials is just as impactful as voting. 

Citizens need to be aware of their resources and rights, as state and national governments reform legislature that affect them. From education to healthcare access, people need to look out for themselves if governing bodies will not.

Anaya Baxter is an integrated communications junior who can be reached at opinion@thedailycougar.com

—
“It’s not fair to expect the left to keep the peace post-election” was originally posted on The Cougar

Jose Gonzalez-Campelo/The Cougar

This year, UH proudly boasts a record-breaking freshmen class. The enrollment of over 6,000 highlights the university’s growing momentum, but the glimmering spotlight is leaving upperclassmen in the dark.

“Our commitment to transfer students remains strong,” said President and Chancellor Renu Khator in the 16th annual State of the University address. “However, with the rising reputation of the university and increasing financial aid to freshmen, students seem more inclined to join us straight from high school.”

It seems the school is most interested in assisting freshmen, and in turn, reducing aid for upperclassmen who struggle to pay for schooling.

Several financial aid resources are available to students, including scholarships, loans, grants and work studies.

11 internal scholarships are allocated to freshmen, as well as 11 for upperclassmen. Transfer and international students both have 2 each and all undergraduate students are eligible for 17.

When considering this list, transfer and international students are severely disadvantaged. In addition to internal aid, the university has a scholarship portal that connects students with external donors.

Despite available aid, numerous students struggle with costly bills every semester. Many find themselves overwhelmed after factoring in tuition, parking and potential housing and meal costs. 

For upperclassmen whose aid decreases, the thought of payments is particularly jarring.

One’s aid may change due to no longer meeting eligibility criteria, but others are receiving less help despite maintaining their GPA and other requirements. 

Expecting a certain amount of aid and seeing that reduced can leave students and their families scrambling, especially when support changes on short notice.

These sudden changes can force upperclassmen to take a gap semester or year, forgo living on campus or even reduce their credit hours which can slow progress in their degree completion.

According to a national survey, 61% of students are negatively impacted by financial stress.

Constantly thinking about money or choosing between college expenses and basic needs is incredibly daunting and carries over into academic performance and extracurricular efforts.

The president’s speech can be interpreted as freshmen prioritization, however, the financial aid office denies this.

According to the executive director for scholarships and financial aid, “priority is given to students who apply early.”

The director, further, said that aid is generally awarded on a first-come first-serve basis, and, “once available funds are depleted, there may be fewer resources for later applicants.”

There is no explicit withholding of funds to non-first-year students.

UH has high aspirations for itself and incoming students, from new dorms to plans of becoming a top 50 school.

These goals must include support for existing students. Tens of thousands of students need resources, and it is unfair to watch new applicants receive exclusive benefits while others struggle.

Finances are one of the largest stressors for students and largely influence the outcome of their college years.

It is hard to have a healthy personal and academic life when worrying about how one’s classes will be paid for.

Insufficient financial aid is an overwhelming issue to tackle at a campus-wide level, but students may find relief in doing their best to optimize their aid.

By applying early, constantly seeking out scholarships and speaking with the financial aid office, stresses could be remedied.

Anaya Baxter is an integrated communications junior who can be reached at opinion@thedailycougar.com

—
“Financial aid should prioritize every student, not just freshmen” was originally posted on The Cougar

Jose Gonzalez-Campelo/The Cougar

Lyle and Erik Menendez, brothers who brutally murdered their parents in 1989, have recently re-entered the spotlight with footage of their initial trial re-airing in 2021.

New eyes are on the pair after Netflix released a documentary and drama series detailing their case.

Searching the brother’s names on social media will produce thousands of videos, several accumulating well over a million views.

Users are voicing strong opinions, many sympathizing with the killers and even taking an affectionate tone that exceeds defending them.

Allowing sympathy to transcend to infatuation downplays the severity of their crimes and disrespects those impacted.

Anyone who hears the brothers’ court testimonies is sure to feel powerful emotions. The two revealed their father and mother allegedly physically, emotionally and sexually abused them for years, recounting such in great detail. 

Supporters of the two also cite unfair treatment from the legal system and media. Their alleged sexual abuse was largely dismissed, even so that the judge refused to let them speak about it during their second trial.

Many speculate that the county used the case to rebuild credibility after losing several high-profile cases, including OJ Simpson’s which closed eight days prior.

Beyond defending and believing the brothers, people have begun to speak about them as if they are celebrities; making fan pages for them, using doting nicknames such as “poor baby” and creating fan edits with clips from their court appearances.

Admiration for killers is not uncommon, nor new. Infamous criminals such as Ted Bundy and Jeffrey Dahmer have received their fair share of fanmail and donations despite confessing to horrendous acts.

But these are not celebrities. Whether they are innocent or not, the Menendez brothers murdered their parents.

Acknowledging them in the context of their crimes, no matter how insensitive doing so may seem, portrays the nuance of their trial and lives.

In response to online support, Erik Menendez says he hopes “the seriousness of my crimes not be minimized or diminished,” as it has deeply impacted him and his family.

The trauma of incarceration, losing family and killing are disregarded when they intersect with fan culture.

Speaking about the brothers in an infantilizing manner minimizes the growth both men have undergone over the past 30 years.

Both have participated in rehabilitation programs and sought healing that are wonderful personal accomplishments, along with helpful evidence in a possible rehearing.

Societal progressions are often mentioned in regards to the Menendez’s case, particularly concerning the understanding of male sexual abuse victims. Likewise, society’s attitude has changed regarding how criminals are viewed.

Increased access to information and true crime content allow audiences to engulf themselves in cases.

Educating oneself about the legal system and victims is beneficial; however, viewing these events as entertainment is exploitative and harmful.

On October 3, the Los Angeles District Attorney said new evidence is in review that could warrant a retrial or resentencing for the brothers. This update gives hope to them and their supporters alike.

While young people can inspire great change, they can also be tone-deaf.

Media influences should not be understated. In the event of a retrial, only productive information should be circulated rather than inappropriate fan behavior.

Anaya Baxter is an integrated communications junior who can be reached at opinion@thedailycougar.com

—
“There is a limit to empathizing with criminals” was originally posted on The Cougar

Jose Gonzalez-Campelo/The Cougar

Last month, Instagram introduced new features aimed at protecting teenage users. The “teen accounts,” which will automatically enable upon sign-up and to existing profiles, will be private, enforce messaging and content restrictions and filter out offensive words and phrases in comments and message requests. To change these settings, parental supervision must be enabled and approved.

Child safety has been debated since the rise of the internet and discussions have only increased as social media grows in popularity. However, increased restrictions do not ensure kids are kept safe in digital spaces.

Companies and governing bodies alike struggle to find a balance between freedom and safety. Legislations protecting children exist, but they are easy to bypass. It is far too simple for children to pretend to meet the age requirements to access a website or use the internet without their parents knowing.

Stricter limitations come at the risk of being unconstitutional. Violating the First Amendment is an argument often cited in courtrooms, making it difficult for the government to further any legislation.

Concerns regarding teenagers on social media platforms are understandable. Young users’ curiosity and unpolished literacy may hinder them from thinking critically about what they see. Navigating inappropriate content, interactions with others and internalizing common messages surrounding body image threaten their ability to use social media healthily and may negatively impact their mental health.  

However, writing off social media as entirely evil is a misguided and misinformed decision. Excessive online usage can worsen teens’ mental health, but it is not the cause of it. Offline factors such as home life, exposure to harm and identity exploration are more likely to lead teenagers to struggle.

Assuming all content is inappropriate is wrong as well. Social media allows people to learn about current events and discover a wealth of new information. For teenagers whose worlds are limited to their sometimes restricted environment, this can be eye-opening.

Community building and social interactions – the core of these apps – benefit young people. Marginalized kids, especially those who cannot safely express themselves, have the opportunity to form support systems and explore their identity. These interactions affirm that teenagers are not alone and that there is more beyond the close-mindedness of their offline reality.

Instagram’s proposed solution assumes all parents are fit to govern their children’s accounts, but this is untrue. Social media usage is extremely nuanced and older generations often do not understand that. The generally negative attitude towards children online overshadows its usefulness.

Granting parents excessive access to teen accounts further harms those in unsafe households. Allowing parents to see viewed topics puts teens at risk of having interests or aspects of their identity forcefully outed. The escape and community that was once found on the site will be taken away.

Implementing strict “sensitive content” restrictions also calls for concerns. This vague umbrella term can potentially block content related to bodily autonomy and functions, such as menstruation education, as well as LGBT+ posts that are notoriously flagged as inappropriate.

Social media companies should strive to protect young users, but Instagram’s rollout is deeply flawed. It does little to improve the larger issue of teenagers knowing how to protect themselves in online spaces. 

Social media is not going away, and it is unproductive to hide teenagers from it. A more efficient approach would be to increase online literacy. Teaching teenagers how to filter out unwanted content, identify misinformation and protect their privacy will yield long-term, positive results.

Anaya Baxter is an integrated communications junior who can be reached at opinion@thedailycougar.com

—
“New Instagram features will not keep children safe online” was originally posted on The Cougar

Jose Gonzalez-Campelo/The Cougar

Students wear multiple hats as degree-seekers, employees, organization members and more. Ambition and dedication are admirable qualities, however, they can lead students to push themselves too hard.

For some, being labeled as “average” is an insult. It undermines their hard work and suggests that they are wasting their time if they are not pushing themselves to achieve more. Despite this, allowing oneself to be less than perfect in their roles can help students protect their well-being while exploring numerous interests.

By the time college comes around, many are conditioned to strive for nothing less than perfection. During high school, students are encouraged to maintain high GPAs, take on leadership positions and be active in their communities to cultivate unique admissions profiles. Familial and personal expectations increase pressures to exceed.

The root of such desires runs deeper than a need to collect achievements. Getting into a good university, for example, is seen as the first step towards a fruitful career and economic stability. Acceptance into a top school is a means of survival, not just validation.

Nearly 89% of students experience things like emotional, mental and physical exhaustion in the pursuit of perfection. Far too many students are pushing themselves beyond their limits, creating a culture where exhaustion is normal and even necessary. The destructive cycle continues, brushing off unhealthy obsessions as determination. 

Distancing oneself from perfectionism is no easy feat, especially when it has been prevalent in one’s life for years due to social pressures. One potential solution to this is finding comfort in being ordinary. People should not abandon their pursuits of high standards but take care to remember that time and energy are limited resources.

To begin to combat burnout, students must evaluate how they allocate their efforts and the importance of each commitment. Taking on fewer, more targeted responsibilities may allow more efficiency within schoolwork, for example.

Further, it is important to develop a personal metric of success. Often, this is informed by outside opinions from family, society or peers. One may find that the things important to others aren’t important to them, and it’s vital to define what success means as an individual rather than striving to the standards of others.

For decades, success has been measured by academic and professional achievements. Everyone should strive to attend a prestigious university, excel in a white-collar career and start a family, according to traditional markers of achievement.

The cookie-cutter idea of a good life is not only unobtainable for some but also undesirable. A white picket fence can symbolize restriction rather than security when the means of achieving it discourages individuality.

A simple, average life isn’t a bad thing, but rather the result of prioritizing peace rather than eye-catching ideals. Working a 9-5 as opposed to fulfilling CEO ambitions and other lofty achievements provides the stability needed to explore personal interests. Saying no to some opportunities in spite of pushing oneself to unachievable standards leaves time to nurture personal relationships. 

Allowing a list of accomplishments to define one’s self-worth ensures an endless cycle of fatigue. There will always be more to achieve and improve, and chasing perfection will lead to discontent and feelings of inadequacy.

Victories are not guaranteed. Perseverance improves the likelihood of success, but loss and rejection are inevitable. In placing one’s self-worth in winning and defining oneself by their societal role, defeat cuts even deeper. The initial sting is worsened by daunting thoughts that the outcome reflects who they are.

Abandoning traditional success and daring to be “mundane” is no easy feat in a world obsessed with status and results. Despite this, undergoing that challenging mental shift could bring great payoffs, or at the very least alleviate the perpetual stress that exhausts students.

This is not to say that hard work should be abandoned, but it should not take priority over one’s health.

Anaya Baxter is an integrated communications junior who can be reached at opinion@thedailycougar.com

—
“It’s okay to be average, not strive for perfection all the time” was originally posted on The Cougar

Eman Ghacham/The Cougar

Nowadays, Americans are as likely to turn to TikTok for news updates as they are to CNN. Nearly half of U.S. adults reported consulting social media for news, creating a new demand for informative content creators.

At last month’s Democratic National Convention, over 200 creators were treated to a private lounge, up-close seating and VIP access to government leaders. Attending journalists, contrastingly, were welcomed with unsafe seating and scarce interview opportunities.

As shown by tensions between reporters and content creators that arose due to such differing conditions, there is a need for a balance that accommodates both traditional journalism and social media.

Despite special treatment and sponsorships, content creators struggle to gain respect. They are not as prominent as celebrities nor, at first glance, as knowledgeable as those who studied journalism before working in the field. They are often reduced to internet personalities with a camera.

While not always the case, there is some truth to this assumption. Social media makes it far too easy for anybody to appear as an expert. If a well-articulated point has a substantial number of likes, some perceive it as factual without thinking twice. Short-form videos and attention-grabbing algorithms, additionally, allow misinformation or blatantly false news to reach large audiences.

News presented on social media does not meet the same editing and distributing standards organizations impose. Content creators are often their own researchers, editors and publishers. As a result, biases and sometimes insufficient knowledge influence their messages. 

This is not to say that all social media reporters are unqualified. Many focused primarily on news and political content come from journalist and activist backgrounds, such as Hasan Piker or Tim Pool. Sometimes these creators will even work at or find more traditional news sources alongside their social media presences, as is the case with Ameer Al-Khatahtbeh’s Muslim, a publication centered on Muslim news and content.

Whether through education, volunteering or professional pursuits, these creators often understand the issues they are discussing.

Social media can be a preferable alternative to formal news outlets as it provides creative freedom and can bring better compensation. Despite keeping citizens informed daily, journalists battle unstable working conditions, censorship and distrust from the public. Their job is far from easy, and it is understandable why frustrations come from witnessing content creators being, for lack of a better term, spoiled.

Journalists, similar to influencers, are not always greeted with respect. It takes years of investigating, writing around the clock and producing numerous stories a week to establish oneself. Outside of their office, they also fight against negative perceptions from audiences and potential interviewees who villainize the press.

Technology continues to impact the journalism industry, often bringing consequences. The rise of digitalized publications greatly reduced the demand for physical print, along with resources and financial security for workers. Now, AI poses a threat to journalism alongside other art mediums. 

Content creators and journalists, despite personal feelings from either, will continue to work alongside each other. People will continue to consult social media for information and news coverage will always be needed.

The division is only the tip of the elitist industry iceberg. Content creators are making news more accessible and diverse and they are hated for it. Journalists are often exploited and overworked, fueling feelings of resentment and misdirected animosity. 

While they clash, the events and companies fostering these conflicts fly under the radar. Conversations surrounding what box either party should fit in are counterproductive; it is more important that organizers provide comfortable working conditions to all coverage providers.

Anaya Baxter is an integrated communications junior who can be reached at opinion@thedailycougar.com

—
“Changes in the landscape pit journalists against each other” was originally posted on The Cougar