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Source: The Washington Post / Getty
Donald Trump has been named TIME Magazine’s Person of The Year for the second time, and social media users displeased at the choice made their opinions known.
On Thursday (December 12), TIME Magazine announced that President-elect Donald Trump would be its Person of The Year for the second time. He had graced the cover of the publication after winning the presidential election back in 2016. To commemorate the occasion, Trump was at the New York Stock Exchange in lower Manhattan to ring the opening bell as his family stood nearby. Chants of “U-S-A!!” could be heard during the moment. “He has reshaped the American electorate, activating young male voters who propelled him to a decisive victory that saw him win the popular vote for the first time and turn every swing state red,” the outlet wrote in the issue.
“His 2024 win is history-making in multiple ways: he will be the oldest President in U.S. history, and he was convicted earlier this year by a New York jury of 34 counts of fraud, making him the first convicted felon to be elected President.”
Time’s editor-in-chief Sam Jacobs praised Trump in the magazine, writing: “On the cusp of his second presidency, all of us — from his most fanatical supporters to his most fervent critics — are living in the Age of Trump.” Trump himself has unsurprisingly had a turbulent relationship with TIME Magazine – while he praised TIME as a “very important” publication and said being named person of the year in 2016 was a “tremendous honor”. But he would sour on the outlet’s description of him being “president of the divided states of America.” He also blasted the magazine in 2011 for leaving him off a list of influential people, claiming it had “lost all credibility”. In 2013, upset over another snub, he stated that TIME would soon go out of business. He’s also criticized other Person of The Year choices, including pop superstar Taylor Swift who nabbed the honor last year.
The news of Trump’s becoming TIME’s Person of The Year was met with disbelief by many, including those on social media. Democratic presidential nominee and current Vice President Kamala Harris was on the shortlist for the honor, as well as Catherine, Princess of Wales and tech billionaire Elon Musk, who is a close advisor to Trump and poised to be head of the Department of Government Efficiency.
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Source: Jeff Swensen / Getty / Luigi Mangione
Following the arrest of Luigi Mangione, the alleged killer of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, things have been quite interesting on social media.
After it was confirmed by law enforcement that Luigi Mangione was a suspect and subsequently arrested in connection with the targeted killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, Mangione’s social media accounts became a hotbed for attention.
Like most people his age, the 26-year-old was active on social media platforms like X, Facebook, Instagram, Goodreads, and others. Social media detectives didn’t take long to find his accounts.
At the time of this writing, his accounts on Facebook and Instgram were taken down, his Goodreads account is private,e and his X account is hilariously still active, which should tell you everything about the Elon Musk-owned platform and just how poorly run it is.
Since being pinched (arrested for those who are not hip), Mangione has gained cult-like status among those who feel he is a “hero” and has even gained 100K followers on X.
The Hypocrisy Is Loud On Social Media
There has even been a debate sparking with those on the right, yes, the same people who propped up Kyle Rittenhouse and now recently acquitted Daniel Penny, claiming that leftists are celebrating Mangione allegedly killing Thompson.
One post on X spoke on the hypocrisy going on, saying, “Conservatives condemning Luigi Mangione and calling leftists crazy for supporting him, yet they turned Kyle Rittenhouse into a celebrity after he drove to a BLM protest with an AR-15 and killed 2 people…the math isn’t matching.”
Mangione’s posts on social media have also gone viral, like a post about one of his fish being sucked into a filter and another one about his last log for Goodreads being Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax.
We are truly living in some strange times.
We don’t know if this man did the crime, but if he did, we don’t see him as no John Q either, even though we agree the United States healthcare system and insurance companies are a hot mess.
You can see more reactions in the gallery below.
1. Y’all are very unserious
3. Interesting observation
4. Interesting
5. Of course there are jokes
6. Britney Spears gets him hyped
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Source: The Washington Post / Getty
Donald Trump’s first post-election network interview with NBC News’ Kristin Welker was widely trashed for his numerous false claims and Welker’s apparent lack of pushback on his answers.
The first network interview for President-elect Donald Trump, which was recorded to be aired on NBC’s Meet The Press on Sunday (December 8), was derided by observers who tuned in, noting that he repeated many of the false claims that were a hallmark of his campaign with re-election. Trump was interviewed by the news program’s host, Kristin Welker, being combative with her as he has been in the past, reacting to her questioning of his proposed policies in his return to the White House. “You have such potential. If you could be just non-biased… you hurt yourself so badly,” he remarked as Welker’s frustration could be seen.
Trump maintains his composure as “Meet the Press” host Kristen Welker grows frustrated.
“You have such potential. If you could be just non-biased… you hurt yourself so badly.” pic.twitter.com/YYQmniPH4h
— Julianna Frieman (@JuliannaFrieman) December 8, 2024
Trump made false claims again about migrants in the United States, misusing an Immigration and Customs Enforcement statistic to say 13,000 immigrants who had committed murder were “released into our country over the last three years.” When asked about his proposal to remove so many undocumented immigrants, he replied: “Well, I think you have to do it, and it’s a hard – it’s a very tough thing to do,” Trump said. “But you have to have rules, regulations, laws. They came in illegally. You know the people that have been treated very unfairly are the people that have been on line for ten years to come into the country. And we’re going to make it very easy for people to come in in terms of they have to pass the test.” He also lied about the United States being the only nation granting birthright citizenship – 30 other nations also do so.
Trump also claimed that he “was able to get hundreds of billions of dollars put into NATO just by a tough attitude.” The false claim refers to NATO countries agreeing to put more money into boosting their military forces but The New York Times noted that the agreement was in place since 2014. Trump also falsely claimed that “just prior to Covid coming in, I had polls that were the highest.” In truth, at that point in 2020 he had a 48% approval rating, placing him lower than all but three presidents dating back to Harry S. Truman.
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TV personality Dr. Oz is Donald Trump’s choice to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, leaving social media users horrified.
On Tuesday (November 19), President-Elect Donald Trump announced that he was selecting Dr. Mehmet Oz, the former celebrity heart surgeon who became a television personality before getting into politics. The move garnered a slew of responses from social media onlookers who were appalled at the choice, which aligns with Trump’s prior picks of television personalities to fill the cabinet for his incoming presidential administration.
In a statement, Trump wrote that Oz would “work closely with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to take on the illness industrial complex, and all the horrible chronic diseases left in its wake.”
Oz’s reputation grew after being featured on media mogul Oprah Winfrey’s long-running talk show numerous times, which led to a spinoff, The Dr. Oz Show, in 2009. That show lasted for 13 seasons, earning him an Emmy Award.
He’s also written several books, and while he stopped performing surgeries in 2018, he is still licensed as a doctor in Pennsylvania. He lost to the current Democratic Senator, John Fetterman, in that state in 2022. Fetterman claimed in a post on X, formerly Twitter, that he’d support Oz’s nomination: “If Dr. Oz is about protecting and preserving Medicare and Medicaid, I’m voting for the dude.”
Oz and Trump have a distinct bond, with Oz being on the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition in Trump’s first term. The response on social media to the choice of Dr. Oz left many concerned. One user on X, formerly Twitter, wrote, “America is once again the laughingstock of the world.”
Others pointed to his extensive history of his ties to companies pushing false medical cures and of his push to privatize Medicare. That stance is aligned with the Republican Party’s previously expressed aims of gutting Medicare and Medicaid. More pointed out how he was promoting hydroxychloroquine as a drug to combat COVID-19 during the early days of the pandemic, which was proven false.
“CMS is a critical agency & we need serious leaders to protect Americans’ health care and bring down costs—not TV hosts whose main qualification is their loyalty to Trump,” wrote former Senator Patty Murray of Washington in a post on X.
Dr. Oz has zero qualifications, pushes alarming pseudoscience, & holds extreme anti-abortion views.
CMS is a critical agency & we need serious leaders to protect Americans’ health care and bring down costs—not TV hosts whose main qualification is their loyalty to Trump. https://t.co/QgbaIHV9AJ
— Senator Patty Murray (@PattyMurray) November 20, 2024
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Photo: Getty
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Source: Anna Barclay / Getty / Bluesky
Hey Elon, you hear those footsteps? That’s Bluesky coming for your spot.
Spotted on Engadget, Bluesky has officially crossed 20 million as its growth shows no signs of slowing down. This latest milestone for X, formerly Twitter’s direct competitor, comes on the heels of the platform crossing 15 million users less than a week ago and tripling its user base in only three months.
While boasting 20 million users is impressive, Bluesky is still far behind X and Meta’s Threads platforms. However, if Bluesky can maintain its popularity and the mass eXodus continues, there is no reason it can’t be up there with the big boys.
Per Engadget:
Though it’s still far smaller than its rivals Threads and X, Bluesky’s current momentum is notable. The app has had several days over the last week where it added a million new users in a single 24-hour period. That’s similar to the growth rate of Threads, which has been getting a million new sign-ups a day for “going on three months,” according to an update last week from Meta’s Adam Mosseri. Threads reached 275 million monthly users earlier this month and has added at least 15 million since the start of November.
Bluesky Tops Both Apple and Google’s App Stores
Bluesky still has some ground to make up, but all signs point upward for the social media platform. It’s been the number one app in Apple’s App Store for the last six days and the top non-gaming app in the Google Play Store for the previous four days. Threads is holding down the second spot in the App Store.
Meanwhile, X continues to bleed subscribers following Musk’s ridiculous changes to the platform, and many users are complaining about how much Trump/right-wing propaganda has taken over timelines since Musk got in bed with sweet potato Hitler.
Celebrities like Gabrielle Union, Stephen King, Mark Hammill, and more have also said goodbye to X for Bluesky’s greener pastures.
Journalists and other organizations also have left X in large numbers for Bluesky.
Consider us on board for Elon Musk taking an L.
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Source: Anadolu / Getty / Instagram
For years, people have been complaining about their recommendations on Instagram, and finally, the photo/video-sharing platform is now allowing users to take action.
As spotted on The Verge, Instagram is testing a new feature that will allow users to “completely refresh” the content that is being recommended to them.
Meta says the recommendations reset feature will “soon roll out globally” and allow users to completely clear their algorithm recommendations on their Feeds, Explore, and Reels.
Per The Verge:
The new feature will be available to users of all ages, including Teen accounts. “We want to make sure everyone on Instagram – especially teens – has safe, positive, age-appropriate experiences and feels the time they’re spending on Instagram is valuable,” Meta said. “We want to give teens new ways to shape their Instagram experience, so it can continue to reflect their passions and interests as they evolve.”
Meta states the whole process can be done in “just a few taps,” and resetting your recommendations will “start to personalize again over time” based on the content you routinely interact with on the platform.
So, if you spend time on Instagram looking at “baes and baddies,” the algorithm will keep that kind of content coming. Now, if you want some wholesome stuff featured on your timelines, start double-taping and sharing it so you can clean up the timeline.
But wait, there’s more. During the reset process, you can also review who you are following and decide to hit the unfollow button to change your recommendations further.
We need other social media platforms like X, even though it’s dying a slow death, to introduce a similar feature.
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Source: The Washington Post / Getty
Donald Trump nominated Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to be the Health & Human Service Secretary, causing observers and those on social media to be outraged at the potential danger he poses.
President-Elect Donald Trump is filling out his cabinet, and his latest pick has ratcheted up worry among the public, as he nominated Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as his Health & Human Services Secretary. “I am thrilled to announce Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as The United States Secretary of Health and Human Services,” Trump wrote in a post on his Truth Social website on Thursday (November 14). “For too long, Americans have been crushed by the industrial food complex and drug companies who have engaged in deception, misinformation, and disinformation when it comes to Public Health,” Trump added. Kennedy accepted the nomination in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
The pick of Kennedy is another controversial choice for Trump, inspired by the former Democratic and independent presidential candidate’s support of him after dropping out of the race in August. Trump even touted Kennedy’s potential in his Election Night speech, saying: “I’m gonna let him go wild on health. I’m gonna let him go wild on the food. I’m gonna let him go wild on medicines.” In a recent NBC News interview, Kennedy said that Trump wanted him to “clean up corruption” within federal health agencies and stated that “there are entire departments, like the nutrition department at the FDA, that have to go.” He recently suggested that he’d fire 600 employees at the National Institute of Health.
Kennedy has been a staunch vaccine denier for decades, claiming that vaccines were the source of childhood autism. The environmentalist even falsely claimed that the COVID-19 pandemic was designed to “attack Caucasians and Black people,” but cause less harm to “Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese”. The controversial eldest son of the late Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy has also cozied up to noted Hip-Hop icons in the past and was the center of a scandal that saw him accused of having an affair with former New York Magazine journalist Olivia Nuzzi.
The pick was met with sharp rebuke online. Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren wrote in a post on X, formerly Twitter, that RFK Jr. “wants to stop parents from protecting their babies from measles and his ideas would welcome the return of polio.” Dr. Uche’ Blackstock, a prominent author and healthcare advocate, wrote that “this decision pushes us backward.”
We need leadership that strengthens public trust and stands firmly on the side of science. RFK Jr.’s views are incompatible with the mission of safeguarding health equity for all. This decision risks pushing us backward.
— uché blackstock, md (@uche_blackstock) November 15, 2024
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1. Max Fawcett
2. Nick Mark, MD
3. Esjesjesj
4. Mehdi Hasan
6. Phillip Klein
7. Kyle Griffin
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Source: Ramsey Cardy / Getty / MKBHD
MKBHD is feeling the wrath of social media for feeling the need for speed and filming the moment for which he is now apologizing.
Popular tech YouTuber MKBHD, real name Marques Brownlee, has hit a speed bump. The Verge reports Brownlee is facing severe backlash after sharing a sponsored video for DJI titled “How My Video Gear is Changing!” featuring himself torching the speed limit in a suburban area while driving an expensive sports car.
Commenters immediately expressed their disdain for the sponsored segment. “This can’t even be considered a sponsored video anymore. It’s literally just a ten-minute advertisement,” one commenter said.
MKBHD quickly responded to the backlash by editing the video and removing the footage showing him hitting 95 mph in a 35 zone, zooming past a sign warning drivers to slow down for children.
In a pinned comment, he acknowledged the removal of the footage. In a comment pinned to the video, he admits to editing out the “unnecessary driving clip,” adding that he “hears everyone’s feedback on sponsored videos.”
On X, formerly Twitter, he called the lapse in judgment “Absolutely inexcusable and dangerous,” adding that “All I can do is apologize and promise never to do anything close to that stupid again. That’s a terrible example to set and I’m sorry for it.”
This isn’t the first time MKBHD has apologized to his fans on X. He also apologized to fans after launching his expensive wallpaper app, which led to changes to fix the biggest complaints.
Still, that hasn’t stopped people from criticizing MKBHD. The gallery below shows some of those reactions.
1. Everyone has down years
3. Very True
4. Don’t be a hater
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Source: NurPhoto / Getty / Elon Musk / X
Elon Musk might have definitely screwed himself big time. It’s looking like the migration to other social media platforms like Bluesky isn’t a fluke; even journalists are bidding farewell to X, formally Twitter.
The cesspool that is X is now experiencing a mass exodus of not just regular folks but journalists and other organizations who have finally had enough of Elon Musk and the dumb changes he made to the once uber-popular platform.
The Daily Kos reports that the main reasons people deactivate their X accounts are the forthcoming changes to the terms of service that will take effect on Nov.15 and the platform’s poor quality.
Per The Daily Kos:
X’s new service terms require users who wish to sue the company to file in specifically the “U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas or state courts located in Tarrant County, Texas.” These courts are a favorite of conservative activists as they are stocked with Republican appointees.
The Washington Post reports that new terms of service is a red flag to many who believe its a move to bring cases to Musk and conservative-friendly courts.
One of the courts that Musk is pushing for features Judge Reed O’Conner, who just so happens to own between $15,000 and $50,000 worth of Tesla stock. He also refused to recuse himself from Musk’s lawsuit against Media Matters.
We reported that The Guardian took the massive step of announcing it would no longer post on X but will not stop users from sharing their stories on the platform.
“Social media can be an important tool for news organisations and help us to reach new audiences,” The Guardian writes, “but, at this point, X now plays a diminished role in promoting our work.”
Don Lemon, who is currently embroiled in a lawsuit with Musk for an alleged breach of contract, also announced he was done with X, writing in a statement, “I once believed it was a place for honest debate and discussion, transparency, and free speech, but I now feel it does not serve that purpose.”
The departure from X also comes Bluesky saw its memberships skyrocket in the wake of Musk fully endorsing Donald Trump and seeing ridiculous amounts of right-wing propaganda flooding timelines.
Musk was also appointed head of a new agency, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which is something else he is pumping into his personal X account.
The second Trump presidency already reeks of corruption.
Streaming music isn’t much of a social experience, but Hangout, a new music service that debuted Wednesday (Nov. 13), wants to change that.
Calling itself a “social platform,” Hangout, which is available on the web, iOS and Android, launched globally with more than 100 million songs available to stream thanks to licensing deals with the three major labels — Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment and Warner Music Group — and indie rights group Merlin.
“With our broad global partnerships across the music companies in place, Hangout begins its journey to redefine the intersection of music and social media,” founder/CEO Joseph Perla said in a statement. “Our vision has always been to create a platform that celebrates the joy of music but also helps support the music industry. Today marks a monumental step toward that goal.”
The idea is simple: People set up listening rooms and play music for guests. The DJs are represented by avatars on stage, standing aside turntables and moving to the rhythm of the music, while listeners’ avatars face the stage, only the back of their bobbing heads visible. The platform has two business models: Like Spotify and YouTube, Hangout will offer premium subscriptions that eliminate advertisements, while an avatar store will be another source of revenue, the company tells Billboard.
If Hangout looks familiar, that’s because the concept, look and feel is borrowed from Turntable.fm, a website that charmed listeners with its cartoonish and communal approach to streaming music. Perla was a co-founder of Turntable.fm and later worked at Facebook and Lyft before reviving the idea and raising capital from the likes of Founders Fund (an early investor in Spotify), Elizabeth Street Ventures and 468 Capital.
Trending on Billboard
Turntable.fm exploded onto computers in 2011 and quickly attracted a following. YouTube and the just-launched Spotify had more financing backing and secured licenses with record labels, but they weren’t as engaging for users as Turntable.fm. Imitators soon appeared, showing that entrepreneurs recognized that people wanted more options to stream music.
The early ‘10s was a different era, though. Good ideas were plentiful but countless startups either failed to build momentum or secure the necessary licenses to reach a large audience. Turntable.fm shut down in December 2013 after it ran into licensing problems, was forced to exclude users from outside the U.S. and nixed the ability for users to upload unlicensed tracks. Now, nearly any track people want to hear is readily available, and Hangout faces a friendlier licensing climate.
“We’re pleased to support the continued growth of opportunities for fans to experience and listen to Sony Music artists in shared social spaces that fairly value their work,” Mark Piibe, executive vp of global business development & digital strategy at Sony Music, said in a statement. “We’re pleased to support the continued growth of opportunities for fans to experience and listen to Sony Music artists in shared social spaces that fairly value their work.”
“Social listening continues to become a key component of the fan experience, driving loyalty and conversation amongst engaged artist communities and Hangout will help power these fan experiences in a unique and compelling way,” added Kristen Bender, senior vp of digital innovation strategy & business development at Universal Music Group.
“We’re thrilled to partner with Hangout to bring our diverse catalog of artists to this innovative music platform,” said Rachel Scarpati, vp of business strategy & business development at Warner Music Group. “This partnership underscores WMG’s commitment to pioneering new avenues for music discovery, fostering community, and providing fans with dynamic ways to engage and share their love for music.”
And at Merlin, Ryan McWhinnie, vp of business & legal affairs, said, “Community is at the center of independent music. This partnership with Hangout brings new opportunities for our global membership and their artists to connect with fans and broaden their communities.”