Latest news with #WeAre8
CBS News
19-05-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Minnesota Aurora FC tackling mental health this season
Aurora Football Club is gearing up and expecting another undefeated season with a deep playoff run. While winning is always top of mind for this team, so is something even bigger than them. "A lot times, especially as women, you're told just to come and get the job done, don't be emotional and just do the work," said Aurora rookie defender Elizabeth Overberg. Overber is used to playing under pressure with the Gophers. But she's grateful now to be continuing her soccer career at a higher level with a team focused on destigmatizing mental health. "The whole reason we're out here playing soccer is because we love it and it's something that's supposed to add to our lives, and a lot of times sports can become negative and take from our lives," Overberg said. New this season, Aurora FC is partnering with NAMI Minnesota and a group called "We Are 8" that focuses on building a healthy digital space. Dani Young, a former professional soccer player herself, is leading this partnership. They're not only providing the players with mental health resources, but fans too. Before every game, players will warm up in jerseys sharing the 988 suicide crisis hotline to remind people watching that free help is available. WCCO "Then at the end of the year we're going to sign those and auction them off and the proceeds are going to go to NAMI," explained Young. There will also be a "mindful moment" before every home game where fans are encouraged to put down their devices and connect with other fans through high fives, hugs, or words of kindness. New Aurora FC head coach Jen Larrick is a big supporter of this new initiative. "Sports is a stressful, crazy thing to go into and if we're going to ask them to do that and play in front of thousands of people, we have to have the support so they can take care of themselves," said Larrick. It's a consistent reminder that as we watch a sport we love together, we are not alone. If you or someone you know is in emotional distress, get help from the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988. Trained crisis counselors are available 24 hours a day to talk about anything.
The Independent
16-04-2025
- Business
- The Independent
The difference between ‘hate speech' and ‘freedom of speech'
Recent trade negotiations between the US and the UK require the government to make a tough decision. At a time when the British economy is in crisis – and its citizens in dire need of a boost – will Sir Keir Starmer choose to put economic value over and above the protection of British values such as truth, tolerance and diversity? As reported by The Independent, sources close to vice president JD Vance have indicated that the British government will have to repeal its hate speech laws and protections for LGBT+ people in order to get a trade deal over the line – in the name of the Trump administration's quest for 'freedom of speech'. To my mind, this begs the bigger question of whether we are now in a position of accepting 'hate speech' as 'freedom of speech' – and whether this is really the only path to economic sustainability. I hold big tech's greed and exploitation of people accountable. We are not really living under the laws of our countries, but the directly imposed laws and control of big tech – who control the daily lives of more than 2bn people. They – deliberately or not – have conveniently disguised the perpetuation of the former in the name of the latter. Why? Because they know that when people are angry, they stay on their platforms longer – and this enables them to serve more ads in people's feeds. They can make more money, no matter the cost to our relationships and mental health. It's that simple. 'We the people' have become the largest unpaid workforce in human history – and we've sacrificed some of our humanity and freedom in the process. Freedom of speech and hate speech are not the same things. One is the right to express opinions and ideas freely, without censorship or fear, as long as it doesn't violate the law. The other is abusive or threatening language that expresses prejudice directed at another person. Tech platforms may have brainwashed us by telling us all that hate speech is free speech, but it doesn't have to be this way. Sadly, the online safety act is a toothless tiger in the face of big social media control – and I believe the answer is not pointlessly lobbying social platforms to change, but giving people an alternative that supports them. Eradicating hate speech on social media can be done at scale. I know, because at WeAre8 we have built the social platform and the AI engine that does just this. We have spent the last four years building and training AI models to detect and block directed hate while amplifying freedom of speech. And one of our most fascinating discoveries was that blocking directed hate actually amplifies freedom of expression, fuels conversation between people – and creates a safe environment for people to express themselves, ask questions and have challenging conversations without the fear of being abused or 'cancelled.' People are tired of being judged, of not being heard – and above all, of fighting. We've forgotten how we should be treating each other – and have mistakenly replaced curiosity and learning with fear and judgment. Somewhere along the way, we surrendered our freedom and values to those who have the ability to control, amplify or silence our voices online – and now we see governments following their lead and calling for the removal of citizen protections in trade agreements. We are weak when we are divided and disconnected. The big question for us now is: Do we choose a better way for ourselves, our families and our communities – or surrender to the laws and economic control of big tech?
The Independent
22-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Music Venue Trust teams up with ‘people's social media platform' WeAre8
The Music Venue Trust has teamed up with social media platform WeAre8, which is sponsoring five gigs at independent music venues around the UK between now and the end of May 2025. The partnership comes amid dire warnings about the future of grassroots venues in the UK. In January, a damning report found that almost a quarter of MVT member venues (810) face a threat of permanent closure. Meanwhile, one grassroots venue closed its doors every two weeks in 2024, MVT figures found, while a further 80 had stopped hosting live music events and over 200 had been forced to seek emergency help. The partnership between the MVT and WeAre8 aims to promote both local artists and the venues they're performing at, in the wake of a separate report that found 84 per cent of UK independent artists cannot afford to tour this year. WeAre8 is supporting the following venues: Aatma in Manchester, Little Buildings in Newcastle, The Asylum in Newcastle and The Fox & Newt in Leeds. The Music Venue Trust has also been listed in WeAre8's 'wallet', which means that users can choose to send funds generated from adverts to the organisation. The platform is structured so that money from advertisers is shared with people, publishers, non-profits and planet projects. Laura Chase, UK managing director of WeAre8, said: 'WeAre8 has created a safe and positive place for us all to connect, share and create. We want to support the creative industries, the grassroots venues and the smaller bands and artists - who are being lost to algorithms on other social platforms - and not being recognised or rewarded for their talent and content. 'Our mission is to help elevate and support the amazing artists we have in the UK and help them find a viable economic path forward. Essential to this is supporting independent music venues, which the Music Venue Trust has ploughed passion and resources into protecting and promoting over the last ten plus years. By including Music Venue Trust in our wallet, we're also hoping music lovers will support the charity by helping to fund its fantastic work.' Denzil Thomas, partnership manager of Music Venues Trust, said: 'There are so many amazing venues up and down the UK that have played a crucial role in the development of British music over the last 40 years; nurturing local talent and providing a platform for artists to build their careers and develop their music and their performance skills. Yet they're battling each week to stay alive. We believe our partnership with WeAre8 can help keep these special places alive.'
