"Who Has My Face?” 

  By: Stephanie Monsanto  

Have you ever used a filter on social media? Well you should know that social media platforms use biometric data to scan and shape that filter to your face. And if you ever used AI to change your face or put a filter on, that is another factor of using biometric data. While using biometric data for a filter sounds harmless it shows the lack of restrictions and limits on biometric and facial recognition technology. And by opening your phone and putting your face in the camera you are actively contributing to biometric data analyzation and collection. Facial recognition and biometrics is in use in daily life a lot and these are some of the few examples of how biometric is being used in an under supervised way.

As of now The United States has no federal laws protecting people from facial recognition. This means any and all companies have access to collect, store, or use facial recognition data. 

But in Illinois 2008, the Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) was passed to monitor and regulate gathering and use of biometric data and information. It also makes sure that companies with this information are unable to sell it. Notably, the act does not apply to government organizations which are known to heavily use facial recognition and biometric data. So far only Illinois, Texas, and Washington have a law for data protection. But states like California, Colorado, Connecticut, Virginia, Oregon, and Utah require consent when it comes to biometric data. This is shockingly a low number especially with the amount of AI that is slowly becoming intertwined into every aspect of American society. Laws about facial data should become more prevalent due to the climate of politics and the surplus in use of AI and technology in so many matters.

At the time of me typing this there are 137,173 license plate readers in the United States. And to the public's knowledge these cameras are not actively using facial recognition and biometric technology, it still poses a threat. License plate cameras are not just an unwanted violation of privacy by many, it's also unwarranted. Meaning that there are no laws that allow the tracking of your location. Some counties and towns have had cites against Flock cameras but it barely makes a dent in the large number of cameras around the US that's actively growing. 

Private companies like Flock are not to be trusted with sensitive data. Flock has a federal contract within Border Patrol, and Flock logins were deemed unsafe after being found on sale by a Russian hacker. Flock should  be watched with a judging eye by the public because it was reported that over 6,000 undisclosed agencies have access to Flocks systems.

As October approaches the call for public action on deflocking has seen an uptick. Instead of writing emails and petitions- Online people are encouraged to destroy and take down Flock cameras themself. On Halloween night people are being asked to participate in “DeFlock Night” to target and destroy flock cameras. But the destruction of flock cameras has already started. Nationwide people have already destroyed cameras. And law officers have been involved in Flock camera misuse. 50 officers were reported for using a flock camera to stalk women they dated or had personal affiliations with. In Texas, a cop was using license plate cameras to look for a woman who is getting an abortion. Cops were also tracking someone who was trying to buy weed, legally. I am curious to see if the number of Flock cameras does decrease a lot after Halloween night. While people have already started destroying block cameras, Halloween night does give them better cover as everyone will be in costumes and outside. People are being asked to leave items that can track you at home like credit cards, debit cards, cell phones and any technology products.  I'm not sure if this is an internet craze or something that will actually have validity. But one thing I know is that Flock cameras are unlawful and need to be regulated by the government. Tracking someone is okay for good lawful purposes and valid investigations. But tracking someone without any regulations or any rules to who and what the reason for it allows people who are unstable, prejudiced, and bad to have access to extremely fragile data. 

"Rest Was Never on the Résumé”

By: Aima Usman

Most teenagers are familiar with the feeling of being tired. After a long school day, homework, sports, clubs, and other responsibilities, exhaustion can seem unavoidable. For many teenage girls, however, being tired is not simply the result of going to bed too late. It can become a constant feeling of exhaustion that follows them throughout the day, even after they have had time to rest. 

Teenage girls today are expected to do a lot. They are expected to succeed academically, participate in extracurricular activities, maintain friendships, think about their futures, and somehow still appear organized and productive. At the same time, social media creates an environment where it can seem as though everyone else is accomplishing more. The result is a generation of young people who may feel pressure to constantly keep up. School is often one of the biggest sources of exhaustion. A typical student may spend more than six hours in schools before going home to complete homework, study for exams, or prepare for future assignments. For students taking advanced or multiple challenging courses, the workload can continue late into the evening. Academic success has also become increasingly connected to the pressure of preparing for college and the future. Good grades may no longer feel like enough. Students can feel expected to join clubs, volunteer, play sports, take leadership positions, and for some get a job to help save for college and build a list of accomplishments. 

For teenage girls, this pressure can be especially difficult because productively is often treated asa measure of success. There is a expectation to always be doing something. Rest can begin to feel unproductive, and taking a break may creat guilt instead of relief. A student may finish one assignment only to immediately think about the next text, activity, or responsibility waiting for her. Social media can make this feeling even stronger. Platforms filled with “productive: routines, academic achievements, fitness goals, and carefully presented lives can create the impression that everyone is constantly improving themselves. A teenage scrolling through her phone may see someone studying for hours, participating in multiple activities, maintaining a perfect appearance, and still appearing happy and successful. What is often hidden, however, is the stress and exhaustion behind those images. 

There is also another form of work that is more difficult to measure: emotional labor. Emotional labor can include supporting friends, managing conflicts, remembering important details, comforting others, and worrying about how other people feel. Many teenage girl are expected, either directly or indirectly, to be emotionally available to the problem while dealing with their own stress privately. Friendships themselves can also require constant attention. Unlike previous generations, teenagers are  not always able to leave social situations behind when the school day ends, Group chats, social media, and messaging can make social interaction feel almost continuous, a disagreement at school can follow someone home through their phone. There can also be pressure to respond quickly, stay informed and remain connected. The expectation to be always and productive leaves little room for genuine rest. Rest is often misunderstood as simply sleeping. While sleep is important, exhaustion can also come from mental overload. Someone can spend an entire weekend in bed and still feel tired if they are constantly worrying about school friendships, family responsibilities, or the future. 

Research has shown that adolescents face significant pressures related to academic performance and mental well-being. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention jas reported growing concerns surrounding the mental health of high school students, particularly among girls. Feelings of persistent sadness and hopelessness have been reported at higher rates among female students, demonstrating that the challenges young people face cannot always be explained by a lack of sleep alone. 

The solution is not to tell teenage girls to become more organized or managed their time better. Time management can be helpful, but it does not solve a culture that often rewards constant productivity. School, families, and communities should organize that young people are more than their grades, accomplishments, and activities. Being successful should not require being constantly exhausted. Teenagers also need spaces when rest does not have to be earned, taking a break should not feel like falling behind. Choosing not to join another club, responding to a message later, or spending time doing nothing should not automatically be viewed as laziness. Teen girls are often told that these years are supposed to prepare the for the future. But preparation should not mean teaching them that exhaustion us the normal price of achievement. If young people are constantly overwhelmed before they even reach adulthood, it may be time to question not how they are managing their time, but why they are being expected to do so much i the first place. Being tired is not always about needing more sleep. Sometimes, it is about carrying too much for too long. And if teenage girls are constantly exhausted, perhaps, the question should not be why they cannot keep up, perhaps the question is why they are expected to.

  References

CDC. “2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey Results.” Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS), 23 Mar. 2026, www.cdc.gov/yrbs/results/2023-yrbs-results.html.

 “Mental Health.” Adolescent and School Health, 18 Mar. 2026, www.cdc.gov/healthy-youth/mental-health/index.html.

Generation, Z. “STRESS IN AMERICA.” Apa.org, www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/2018/stress-gen-z.pdf?/index.html Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

"The Beauty Standard Got Sneaky" 

By Carmen Sanchez

Why Are Women Expected to Look “Natural” in Extremely Unnatural Ways?

For years, women have been told that they should not care too much about their appearance. At the same time, they are constantly expected to look put together, attractive, and effortless. This contradiction has created a beauty standard where women are expected to look “natural” while still putting a lot of effort into how they look. The rise of no-makeup makeup, clean beauty, effortless hair, and the “I woke up like this” aesthetic shows how being natural has become a carefully planned look of its own.

The idea of natural beauty sounds simple. Instead of wearing obvious makeup or spending hours getting ready, women are encouraged to look fresh and effortless. However, achieving this look is not always effortless at all. No-makeup makeup can involve concealer, foundation, blush, mascara, lip products, and highlighter. Hair that looks naturally perfect may require curling, straightening, products, or a carefully planned hairstyle. The result is supposed to look like someone did not try, even though they probably did.

Social media has made this expectation even stronger. Platforms like Instagram and TikTok are filled with influencers showing skincare routines, “get ready with me” videos, clean girl makeup, and effortless hairstyles. These trends can make beauty routines seem normal and easy, but they often leave out how much time and money goes into creating the final appearance. A person may look like they simply woke up looking that way, while the reality includes hours of preparation, products, good lighting, and editing.

The phrase “I woke up like this” is a good example of this contradiction. Beyoncé famously used the phrase in her song “Flawless,” and it became connected to confidence and natural beauty. However, the idea can create another expectation for women: not only should they be beautiful, but they should make their beauty look effortless. Looking like you tried too hard can sometimes be judged just as much as not trying at all. Women are placed in a situation where they are expected to put effort into their appearance while making sure nobody can tell how much effort they put in.

This standard can also create unrealistic expectations about what natural beauty actually looks like. Clear skin, shiny hair, perfect eyebrows, and a fresh appearance are often presented as naturally occurring traits. In reality, skin has texture, hair can be messy, and people do not always wake up looking ready for a photoshoot. When social media repeatedly presents a polished version of “natural” beauty, it can become difficult to tell where reality ends and the beauty standard begins.

The beauty industry also benefits from this trend. Products marketed as “clean,” “natural,” or “your skin but better” still encourage consumers to buy something to improve their appearance. The message becomes less about accepting how someone naturally looks and more about buying products that help them look naturally better. This creates an endless cycle. A woman can be told to embrace her natural beauty while also being shown dozens of products that supposedly help her achieve it.

This does not mean that women should stop wearing makeup, styling their hair, or taking care of their skin. There is nothing wrong with enjoying beauty and fashion. The problem is when these choices stop feeling like choices and start feeling like requirements. Women should be able to wear a full face of makeup, no makeup at all, or anything in between without feeling like they have failed some kind of beauty test.

The “natural” beauty trend shows that society has changed the way it expects women to look, but it has not completely removed the pressure to look beautiful. Instead, the standard has become harder to recognize because it is disguised as effortless. Being “natural” has become something that can be planned, purchased, photographed, edited, and recreated. Maybe the goal should not be teaching women how to look naturally perfect, but allowing women to decide for themselves what they want to look like, even when it is not effortless.

Referentes

Fardouly, J., & Rapee, R. M. (2019). The impact of no-makeup selfies on young women’s body image. Body Image, 28, 128–134. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30665030/

Lu, F., & Chia, S. (2025). Real versus ideal: How selfies drive young women’s endorsement of beauty ideals to enhance cosmetic surgery intentions. Social Media + Society. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/20570473251334841

Politte-Corn, M., & Fardouly, J. (2020). #nomakeupselfie: The impact of natural no-makeup images and positive appearance comments on young women’s body image. Body Image, 34, 233–241. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32717625/

Tiggemann, M., & Zinoviev, K. (2019). The effect of #enhancement-free Instagram images and hashtags on women’s body image. Body Image, 31, 131–138. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1740144519300981

Beauty ideals on social networking sites: A systematic review of experimental studies. (2022). Adolescent Research Review. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40894-022-00179-4