Latest news with #SpeakYourMind
Gulf Weekly
6 days ago
- General
- Gulf Weekly
Stepping into the real world
Screens have dulled our ability to truly feel and connect, writes GulfWeekly's columnist Preety Praveen as she explores this month's Speak Your Mind topic 'how overexposure to gadgets especially social media affects mental health'. There was a time when real friendships, quality time with family, and taking breaks from work were considered the most valuable aspects of life. Today, these meaningful moments are often overshadowed by phones, laptops and other gadgets. Charging a phone seems more urgent than talking to the person next to us. We are more concerned with checking the online status of someone we barely know than asking a loved one how they're doing. Somehow, knowing a celebrity's daily schedule feels more satisfying than planning our own goals or spending time with those who truly matter. How did this virtual world take over our reality? Or are we the ones who gave it permission to invade our lives? What should matter more, chasing 'likes' on social media or sharing a hot cup of coffee with someone who genuinely cares about us? The truth is, this digital shift hasn't just changed our routines, it has reshaped our emotions. The depth in our bonds, the grief of losing a friend, the sorrow of a breakup, or the pain of parting with a loved one has lost its emotional impact. Screens have dulled our ability to truly feel and connect. Those late-night heart-to-heart conversations have now been replaced by scrolling through reels or gaming on our phones. Our excessive workloads have chained us to laptops, denying us moments of physical warmth and connection. And yet, without guilt or awareness, we've comfortably adapted to this digital lifestyle — we even seem happy about it. But we must pause and reflect: our real world should be built around real people and relationships. In moments of crisis, it's our loved ones who will stand beside us, not our phones or social media apps. A warm hug, a reassuring touch, a caring glance, or a few kind words will always offer more support than any screen ever could. We must remember gadgets and apps were created to serve us, not the other way around. Let's ensure they remain tools we control, not forces that control us. Make time not just for yourself, but for your family and friends too. Be present in the real world. Cherish the laughter, warmth and comfort that come from genuine human connection. After all, we are human and with that comes a social responsibility to care for each other with compassion, attention and love.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
What's the USC Ice Bucket Challenge? The viral video series, explained
Welcome to FTW Explains: A guide to catching up on and better understanding stuff going on in the world. You may have seen videos of people getting buckets of ice water dumped on their heads and had some deja vu, and also wondered what the heck is going on. That's OK! We're here to help. That's right, the viral ice bucket challenge is back, and this time, it's for a different cause. When I started seeing these videos go viral again, I wondered if it was 2014, when we wrote a whole bunch of posts about celebrities and athletes getting water dumped on them. But, nope! It's 2025! And it's back. Let's break down the whole thing: It's simple. You turn on your phone to shoot a video and someone takes a bucket filled with ice and water and dumps it on your head. You then challenge other people to do it, and they do the same, and it goes on and on. Also, you include a link for donations on your social media post. I was nominated for the USC Speak your mind ice bucket challenge!But on a serious note… please, if you ask for help — it doesn't make you are loved — and this world wouldn't be complete without you in it. 🤍 — Angelina Marie Tamez (@AngelinaTamezTX) April 23, 2025 Back then, it was to bring awareness to ALS. This time, per USA TODAY: "The #SpeakYourMIND ice bucket challenge was created by students at the University of South Carolina's 'Mental Illness Needs Discussion' club, which first posted about the challenge on March 31." Nearly $300,000 to Active Minds. There have been discussions about how this is overshadowing the original cause, with the ALS Association posting this: View this post on Instagram A post shared by The ALS Association (@als) I wouldn't call it a controversy, but there's discussion online. This article originally appeared on For The Win: What's the USC Ice Bucket Challenge? Speak Your Mind videos go viral
