This November we are looking at the Netflix phenomena that is Squid Game as well as the songs, movies and events that took place when 11- and 16-year-olds were born. Furthermore, we’re looking at some leaked research about Instagram and of course, our word of the month!
HOT TOPIC: The Rise Of Squid Game
Squid Game, a Korean Netflix show, has taken the world by storm. Chances are that you’ve heard about it and how it’s about 456 people who participate in gory and violent games in the hopes to win some money. Within its first month it garnered over 110 million views –the most ever for a streaming programme- and in early October it was the top of the ‘Top 10’ list in 94 countries.
Beyond being an enigmatic and virally watched programme, Squid Game’s popularity has inevitably influenced popular culture. Variety reported sales of the particular Vans shoes the players wear has gone up by 7800 percent, whilst Roblox, Minecraft and Fortnite all have nods to, or minigames about, Squid Game.
The wider influence seems somewhat inevitable in the digitally connected world that we live in (even to the point where Universities are setting up their own – thankfully less deadly – version of the games). However, it has been reported that children have been acting out scenes on the playground and schools have even had to e-mail parents asking them not to let their children watch it. Praised for its cinematography, nods to art, soundtrack, plotlines and great acting, it is also known for its depictions of violence and depth – which surprisingly only rate it at a 15.
POP CULTURE: The Year They Were Born…
We all love to reference and include things that young people love when we interact with them. However, we thought we’d do a little research into what were the cultural events and moments the year that 16 year olds and 11 year olds were born. We wonder which will surprise you (some of them feel like they only just happened!)
Born in 2005 (16 year olds)
- Films released: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, the first Narnia film, Star Wars Episode 3, Madagascar and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
- Songs: James Blunt – You’re Beautiful, the Crazy Frog, Since You’ve Been Gone – Kelly Clarkson
- Events: Hurricane Katrina, London bombings, The UK version of The Apprentice premiered, Dr Who returns to the BBC after 16 years
Born in 2010 (11 year olds)
- Films released: Toy Story 3, Inception, Despicable Me, Tangled, Twilight: Eclipse, Iron Man 2, Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows – Part One
- Songs: Tiktok by Kesha, California Girls & Teenage Dream by Katy Perry
- Events: Haiti Earthquake, the One Direction boys auditioned on the X Factor, Apple released the first iPad, Angry birds was the most popular game app
DIGITAL WORLD: Leaked Reports From Facebook
As those who are with young people on a regular basis, it’s probably no surprise to hear the line of thought that social media can have a negative impact. What probably is surprising, however, is that Facebook (who also owns and runs Instagram) did research that backed up such opinions. The reports about Instagram have been leaked from internal presentations, and collated from focus groups, online surveys and diary studies in 2019 and 2020 the presentations said things:
“We make body image issues worse for one in three teen girls,”
“Thirty-two per cent of teen girls said that when they felt bad about their bodies, Instagram made them feel worse,”
“Teens blame Instagram for increases in the rate of anxiety and depression. This reaction was unprompted and consistent across all groups.”
Despite the internal findings, Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook’s chief exec., believes social media is more likely to have positive mental effects. However, it is interesting nonetheless to see what the platforms themselves have found out about their own creations.
Word of the month:
‘Lives Rent-Free’
Something living rent free in your head means you can’t stop thinking about it. Depending on what the thing is, you’re either happy or unhappy about the fact you can’t stop thinking about it.
For example “That TikTok video lives rent free in my head.”
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