Latest news with #UniversityofAlabama


The Sun
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Ring girl Sydney Thomas turns heads in stunning bikini as fans fall for viral sensation all over again – ‘good heavens'
VIRAL ring girl Sydney Thomas has caught the attention of boxing fans once again - this time far away from the boxing ring. Sydney, 21, shot to fame during Jake Paul's high-profile bout against Mike Tyson in November 2024. 11 11 Since that fight Sydney has become a social media superstar, boasting over TWO MILLION followers across X, Instagram and TikTok. Now she's travelling the world and sharing picture of herself enjoying her new globetrotting lifestyle. She recently kept her fans in the loop with her travels as she posted a photo of herself soaking up the sun on vacation. Sydney wore a bikini top and matching trousers as she posed on a boat. Her fans didn't waste any time lauding her upload in the comments section. One fan labelled the influencer as "beautiful". While another wrote: "good heavens". And a third commented: "Oh my goodness". 11 11 11 Sydney hasn't just been focusing on her new career online, but has also earned a degree amid all the mania surrounding her rise to fame. Sydney graduated from the University of Alabama one year early in May. Sydney Thomas stuns in daring ring girl outfit and is branded 'so perfect' by awestruck fans In an Instagram post celebrating her graduation, she wrote: "As I look back and reflect on my college experience, I can't help but acknowledge how monumental each of these years has been in shaping me into who I am today. "From navigating the loss of my mother to the whirlwind of unexpected overnight fame, Alabama has been the one constant through it all- continually welcoming me with open arms and keeping me grounded in who I am. "Though my college journey was far from typical, I've found such beauty and comfort in the abnormalcy of it all, trusting that everything unfolded in alignment with Gods divine timing. "This has been such a beautiful chapter in the story of my life—one I'll look back on often. "And while it's bittersweet that it's come to an end a year early, I know that wherever my path leads next, Alabama will always be sweet home to me." Sydney's wild new life has thrown some amazing opportunities her way, including attending the Grammys and spending her summer at events such as Coachella.


NBC News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- NBC News
Gen Z is staring at you. It may be more than just a quirk.
When professor Jessica Maddox asks her University of Alabama students a question in class, she is sometimes met with blank, deadpan looks from the Gen Zers in the room. The look has become so prevalent that Maddox occasionally resorts to begging her students for a response. It was only recently that she learned this behavior had a name: the 'Gen Z stare." 'When I first started hearing talk about the 'Gen Z stare,' and people were kind of explaining what it is, I was like, 'Oh, my God, this is what happens to me as a college professor,'' said Maddox, an associate professor of digital media. While there are several definitions for the stare, the most common meaning is a vacant expression a Gen Zer gives in response to a question. The stare occurs in classrooms, restaurants, at work and more settings. It often appears judgmental and on TikTok, many Gen Zers — typically defined as those ages 13-28 — have claimed it's because those who doing the staring are dumbfounded or disinterested in engaging with, what they call, 'stupid questions.' 'I don't think it's a lack of social skills. I just think we don't care,' said Dametrius 'Jet' Latham, a TikTok creator and Gen Zer who recently picked up more than 1.4 million views on a video about the topic. The hashtag #GenZStare, which has been used in about 8,000 videos on TikTok, began picking up steam earlier this month and hit its peak Monday. A search for the term on TikTok revealed videos showing millennials calling out Gen Z, and more videos of Gen Z firing back at the term they appear to find insulting. Maddox has a theory as to why the "Gen Z stare" has become so pervasive now. 'This [look] very much accelerated after we returned to campus after Covid protocols,' Maddox said, adding that she noticed an "increasing amount of silence" after posing questions to her class in the wake of the global pandemic. Due to social isolation during the pandemic, many students faced increased mental health challenges, such as anxiety and depression. Face-to-face interactions became less common amid social distancing protocols and many schools temporarily switched to remote learning. Because Gen Zers were socialized during a pandemic, they came of age building relationships on social media, Maddox said. This may have led to the development of unique types of communication skills among those who are 27 years old or younger. Additionally, because most members of the generation don't remember a time without social media, they fear anything they say or do could end up being mocked online — or worse, get them canceled. Some experts say young people deadpanning their elders can be observed as far back as the 1950s and 1960s, with the rise of youth culture around rock and roll, Elvis and The Beatles. The blank stare and other forms of defiance can also be seen in 1980s films, such as Howard Hughes' 'Pretty in Pink' and 'Sixteen Candles.' The latest iteration of this defiance is likely not just a hallmark of dissent, but also a response to social anxiety developed during formative years in isolation. 'I think we are starting to really see the long-term effects of constant digital media use, right?' said Jess Rauchberg, an assistant professor of communication technologies at Seton Hall University. 'We think of the phone as an appendage to our bodies.' Gen Zers also fear being "cringe," a term they often use to describe other generations that came before them. Intergeneration feuds have long been a core part of platforms like TikTok, and they're often spurred on by Gen Z. One of the most famous instances of intergenerational spats was the rise of ' OK Boomer,' a phrase used by Gen Z and millennials alike to belittle the older generations who they see as out of touch. It doesn't stop there. Gen Zers have criticized Gen Alpha, their younger counterparts, for their ' blue light stare,' a disengaged nonchalant look those born between 2010 and 2024 use. They also have mocked boomers for what they call the ' lead paint stare," a look that is described as being confused or befuddled by a response to a question. At one point, there was no greater sin to a zoomer than 'millennial cringe.' While some Gen Zers have embraced the label, others still fear it being applied to them. On TikTok, compilations of 'millennial cringe' have received millions of views and thousands of comments from young people mocking what they perceive as millennial behaviors, such as calling dogs 'doggo,' or making things like Disney or 'Harry Potter' their whole personality. Psychotherapist Robi Ludwig suggested that the "Gen Z stare" reflects the gap in social skills between members of Gen Z and millennials. 'If it's a processing thing, it's hard to imagine someone wouldn't know how to nod or respond with a smile or just say 'OK,' but we may take for granted some of the social skills we have developed over the years because we didn't have technology to deal with and we didn't have to be isolated from our peers," she said. As people of other generations mock the 'Gen Z stare,' many zoomers have grown defensive, posting videos calling out people for their criticism of the trend. Some younger users online have also clarified what exactly the "Gen Z stare" is and isn't. TikTok Santana, who is a member of Gen Z and works as a bartender, said in a video that "the customer service stare is the stare a worker gives somebody for asking someone something f---- stupid." Whereas, "the 'gen z stare' is the lead paint staring that customer service workers receive instead of response to anything." Maddox, of the University of Alabama, said that this type of reaction online be exactly what some are hoping for, adding it could be posted as a form of 'rage-bait' from creators to farm engagement. 'Internet culture loves a generational feud,' she said.


Scotsman
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Dance explores time's relationship to memory in The Weight of Then
The Weight of Then explores how we remember and interpret life's most memorable moments. Whether it's recalling the joy of childhood games, coming to terms with one's gender and sexuality, or coping with the pain of loss, Yonder explores the relationship between time and memory. The Weight of Then is more of a question than an answer. Just as they did in their previous performances Co/lapse, IRL, and Unstuck with You,Yonder is using contemporary dance as a medium to think through an idea. It's a refreshingly engaging and conceptually powerful way of connecting with their audience through movement. The Weight of Then is not for the passive observer. Rather, Yonder invites the audience to actively question not just what is happening on stage, but when it is happening. Yonder Contemporary Dance Company is composed of top students from the University of Alabama's Department of Theatre and Dance, and their work defies expectations for university-level choreography. Each concept-heavy piece is created collaboratively over the course of three months, with a focus on crafting dances that are as thought-provoking as they are entertaining. After a tour across the Southeastern United States, where the company considers audience feedback and refines the work, they travel to Edinburgh to share the work with international audiences at the Fringe. 'We're excited to be returning to the Fringe this year,' said Yonder's Artistic Director, Sarah Barry, 'The personal stories that inspired this work have created strong bonds within the company and with our audiences, and we're excited to extend that connection to a global community at the Fringe.' This is Yonder Contemporary Dance Company's fourth time bringing a show to the Fringe and their third time performing with Greenside Venues. Listings Information Venue: Greenside @ George Street, Lime Studio (Venue 236) Tickets: £12 Full, £10 Concession Previews: 2-3 Aug 2025 Dates: 4-9 Aug 2025 Time: 5.30pm (40 min) 1 . Contributed University of Alabama junior, Kenzie Greer, exploring the concept of time through contemporary dance. Photo: Submitted Photo Sales 2 . Contributed Micah Courtland, MFA student, examining the sense of self coming of age. Photo: Submitted Photo Sales 3 . Contributed Dancers coming together to explore the common themes that connect strangers through time. Photo: Submitted Photo Sales 4 . Contributed Artists displaying the discovery of nostalgic memories through creative movement. Photo: Submitted Photo Sales Related topics: DanceTickets


CTV News
7 days ago
- Health
- CTV News
Parents' social media use could affect their kids even after they log off, new research warns
FILE - This combination of photos shows logos of X, formerly known as Twitter, top left; Snapchat, top right; Facebook, bottom left; and TikTok, bottom right. (AP Photo, File) Many people try to limit the time they spend on social media when they're with their kids. But new research suggests social media use has a significant effect on interactions with children — even when adults aren't looking at their screens. Mothers who were in the habit of spending more time on social media talked much less to their kids when they played with them than did moms who spent less time on social networks, and that difference carried over when they weren't using their devices, according to a study to be presented Tuesday at the Digital Media and Developing Minds International Scientific Congress in Washington, DC. While past research has focused on how kids are affected when parents or guardians are on their screens, this study looked at the impact of cell phone use on parent-child interactions even when parents were offline, said Liz Robinson, a doctoral student at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa and lead author of the study. Mothers who used social media extensively spoke 29% less to their kids while playing with them — without their phones — compared with the moms whose social media use was low. Moms in the low-use category used social media an average of 21 minutes per day, while moms in the high-use category used social media an average of 169 minutes per day. Other uses of screens, including checking email or the weather, weren't associated with talking less to kids, according to the study of 65 toddlers ages 2 through 5 years old and their mothers in Alabama. Although Robinson's research has not yet been peer-reviewed or published in a journal, it doesn't surprise me. In my own research, people often say they still think about what they see on social media long after they log off. Although the moms in this study were physically present with their kids, it's possible their minds were elsewhere. 'Often our minds wander to activities that are more pleasurable naturally, and we know social media is that experience for most people,' said Kris Perry, executive director of Children and Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child Development, a nonprofit to help kids lead healthy digital lives and the organizer of the Congress. Perry, who was not involved in the research, pointed out that social networks show us tailored content that is intensely interesting to us, so 'it makes you want to experience it longer.' Whatever the reason, kids need their parents to be mentally present when they play. Thankfully, there are things we can do to make sure our social media use doesn't interfere with our parenting. Talk to your kids even as they get older One of the most important things parents can do is to talk to their children all the time. Learning language is 'a major feature of optimal child development' and it's 'dependent on children expressing and receiving language from birth through (age) 18,' Perry said. Greater exposure to language tends to improve kids' brain development, academic outcomes, communication skills and language, she said. The interactions parents and kids have when they play are also important to children's socioemotional development, Robinson said, to help them develop their executive functions and attention spans and learn how to regulate their emotions. Interacting with adults is also one of the ways children learn what to prioritize. 'Kids are acutely aware of where a parent is looking,' Robinson said, 'and they learn what's important. So, when our gaze is constantly going towards a device, towards a smartphone, well, we're communicating to our children what's important in that moment, too.' Carve out kids-only time That's why parents should make a conscious effort to be mentally present when interacting with their kids. 'Our attention is one of the best things that we can give to our children,' Robinson said, noting that this conveys to them that we love them. Robinson recommended that parents set aside certain times of the day to give their kids undivided attention. That's advice I also give when I speak to parent groups and at schools about how to handle kids' social media use. Of course, finding this time isn't easy. 'None of us can give our kids undivided attention all the time, but it can be helpful to think on a smaller scale,' Robinson said. 'Though I have many things to tend to today, I can give my child undivided attention for the next 15 minutes. That focused time goes a long way from the child's perspective.' When we're with our kids, we can remind ourselves 'there is nowhere but here, and there is no time but now in your child's mind,' Robinson said. 'And so, you have many other thoughts and many other priorities that are floating around in your head. But we can compartmentalize those and be fully present with our child, who knows only this moment, and only our attention.' Use social media less often Parents should also pay attention to how their social media use is affecting them and their children, Perry said. 'Understand what the impact of using social media is on you personally, and make sure that you're mitigating what those impacts are when you go to interact with your child.' A simple way to do that? Limit the number of times you check it per week and how long you spend on it each time. 'Reduce the amount of time you're on social media to prevent the likelihood that you would even inadvertently speak less' to your child, Perry said. And, of course, using social media less could also free up more time for parents to spend playing with their kids. Robinson said the biggest limitation of the research is that it's correlational — the authors couldn't establish whether social media was making parents more passive or whether more passive parents were using social media more. In addition, the study couldn't account for factors such as parents' mental health, income and education. I'd also love to see this study replicated with fathers, who should also be taking responsibility for playing with their kids and using social media responsibly. Still, the study suggests using social media more could reduce our conversations with our children, and that got me thinking. Next time I play with my daughters, I'll be checking in with myself on whether I'm talking to them or my thoughts are elsewhere. I'll also be more conscious of how much the content I'm seeing on social media is continuing to play out in my head even after I'm done scrolling. I might even talk to my kids about the changes I make as a result.


NBC News
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- NBC News
Livvy Dunne says co-op board rejected her bid to buy Babe Ruth's old NYC apartment
A New York City co-op board rejected influencer Livvy Dunne's bid to buy Babe Ruth's one-time apartment, turning aside her nearly $1.6 million offer of cash, the social media star and former college gymnast said Tuesday. Dunne, one of the first major stars of college sports' "Name, Likeness and Image" marketing, said she was all set to close on 345 W. 88th St., apartment No. 7B, when she got the bad news. "Guys, I'm so upset," the seemingly still cheerful Dunne told her 8 million Tik Tok followers. "So a few months ago, I decided I was going to make my first real estate purchase, which is so exciting. And I was going to get an apartment in New York City. But the gag was, it was Babe Ruth's apartment." The Upper West Side three-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom unit was listed for $1.595 million. Dunne said both she and her boyfriend, Pittsburgh Pirates star pitcher Paul Skenes, were both looking forward to the cash purchase. "I got an interior designer because I didn't want to bring my college furniture to Babe Ruth's apartment," she said. "That would be, like, criminal." The purchase was scuttled by the building board, Dunne said. "Then the week that I'm supposed to get my keys to my brand new apartment, I get a call: The co-op board denied me, " she said. "So pretty much the people in the building voted to not have me live there, which is fine. Like, honestly, it wasn't financial. " Dunne seemed to have a good attitude about the rejection and laughed it off, joking that she might have been victimized by a tide of University of Alabama fans. "It could have been, for all I know, they could have been Alabama fans and I went to LSU. Like, I have no clue," she said. "Maybe they didn't want a public figure living there." Real estate agent Miryam Tesfaegzi, who represents the owner of 7B, declined to discuss specifics of aborted sale. But Tesfaegzi did not dispute any of Dunne's allegations. "When a co-op does a rejection, they don't have to share any information with us," she said. "We never know why a co-op would reject any buyer." The unit was last sold for $1.585 million in 2016, according to real estate records that Tesfaegzi confirmed. "Obviously, they wanted to sell it, so that's the only thing that's gonna make them happy," Tesfaegzi said of her clients. Ruth lived in that unit from 1920 to 1940 before moving to another Upper West Side unit. The Hall of Fame player was the Shohei Ohtani of early MLB, swatting 714 career home runs and excelling on the mound for several years. The New York Yankees icon's homers are third all-time, trailing only Barry Bonds and Henry Aaron. As a pitcher, Ruth was 94-46 with a 2.28 ERA. His 35 complete games in 1917 with the Boston Red Sox was tops in baseball while his nine shutouts and 1.75 ERA in 1916 were both No. 1 in the American League.