In an interview with the magazine Allurethe singer Shakira shared her impressions of the film “Barbie”, revealing that her children, aged 11 and 9, didn’t like it. They considered it “emasculating”, that is, it would attack the value of masculinity and virility.
The Colombian artist expressed her partial agreement with her children’s opinion, highlighting the importance of raising boys who feel powerful, respecting women at the same time.
Shakira, who has already won three Grammys, highlighted her support for feminism and mentioned the Wonder Woman like her childhood idol. For her, it is essential that pop culture seeks to empower women without, however, stripping men of their masculinity.
“I like pop culture when it tries to empower women without robbing men of the possibility of being men, of also protecting and providing”explained the singer during the launch party for her album “Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran”.
The film “Barbie”, directed by Greta Gerwig, achieved great success, surpassing US$1 billion at the box office within a month of its release. The production, starring Margot Robbie in the role of the doll, presents the director’s vision of the character, inserted in a universe where women dominate prominent positions, leaving the “Kens” marginalized.
Shakira defended the coexistence of complementary roles for men and women in society, highlighting that sharing responsibilities between genders should not be seen as a loss.
“I believe that men and women have different purposes in society. We complement each other, and this complement should not be lost.”stated the artist.
Generation Z, the “disappointed generation”
Young adults, born between 1996 and 2009, express concerns about financial security. They complain about the impossibility of being able to buy their own home, exorbitant student debts and late entry into adulthood. Those born after 2010 are known as Generation Alpha.
Distrust is not limited to economic issues. Gen Z demonstrates marked skepticism toward politicians and the policies of both parties. There is a widespread perception of voting ineffectiveness.
Gen Z is faced with credit card defaults and a significant proportion of their income going towards rent. There is a drop in confidence in democratic institutions among young people, a trend that contrasts with the disposition of previous generations in the same age group. The less optimistic vision of the professional future and the success in surpassing the parents’ achievements is notable.
With two octogenarian candidates, the parties will have a great challenge to engage Generation Z in November.
US senator questions TikTok about illegal immigration
Republican Senator Eric Schmitt demanded explanations from TikTok and its parent company, China-based ByteDance, regarding videos on the platform that instruct Chinese citizens on how to illegally cross the US southern border.
The senator cited a CBS News story that details how migrants are instructed to hire smugglers and find loopholes at the border, especially near San Diego. This investigation comes at a time when there is a significant increase in the number of Chinese citizens illegally crossing the US southern border, with more than 24,300 cases recorded in fiscal year 2023, a significant increase compared to the previous year.
Senator Schmitt expressed concerns about national security with the lack of moderation of criminal content. He requested detailed information about when ByteDance began noticing the presence of videos promoting illegal immigration on its platforms and what efforts were made to mitigate the spread of this content. Additionally, he questioned the company’s communication with Chinese government officials related to illegal crossings.
The controversy surrounding TikTok in the US is nothing new, with the app facing scrutiny due to its Chinese origins. The US House of Representatives recently passed a bill requiring ByteDance to divest from TikTok unless the company is acquired by a non-US adversarial entity.
In response, TikTok said it strictly prohibits human smuggling on its platform, removing such content and reporting it to authorities when necessary. The company also highlighted its commitment to providing a space for survivors of human exploitation to share their stories and for migrants to document their journeys, stating that 93% of content related to human trafficking has been proactively removed.
US House approves bill that could ban TikTok
The US House of Representatives voted this Wednesday, 13, to approve a bill that could lead to a nationwide ban on TikTok, one of the most popular social media applications in the world.
The bill would prevent TikTok from being available in U.S. online app stores unless the platform, used by approximately 170 million Americans, spins off from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance. It is still unclear what the future of the project will be in the Senate.
Supporters of the project argue that TikTok poses a threat to national security, as Chinese intelligence laws could force ByteDance to hand over data on American users.
The move has met resistance from several political fronts: former President Donald Trump, who previously supported banning the platform, is now hesitant in his stance, while Democrats face pressure from young people for whom TikTok is the go-to social media platform preferred. TikTok and Beijing reacted with outrage to the vote, with China’s foreign ministry calling it an “act of bullying.”
TikTok launched an action campaign, urging its users to contact representatives in Washington to oppose the bill, leading to a tsunami of calls to several congressional offices. The project would give ByteDance about five months to sell TikTok. If it is not sold within that period, it would be illegal for app store operators such as Apple and Google to make it available for download.
In a rare moment of bipartisanship, the measure advanced unanimously through the influential House Energy and Commerce Committee, and President Joe Biden indicated he would sign the bill if it reached his desk.
Trump, despite having supported calls to ban the app during his presidency, shows signs of having retreated from that position. In a post on “Truth Social” last week, Trump expressed opposition to the ban, arguing that if TikTok were to leave the scene, Facebook would benefit, while attacking Facebook and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg as an “Enemy of People”.
