Support Women-Founded Companies When You Shop For Gifts this Holiday Season

By Ryan Hammel

As the holiday season approaches, it is always important to think about what companies and brands you are supporting while you shop, like whether the company is sustainable or not. This year, in addition to other factors, consider supporting women run businesses when purchasing gifts. Here are FIVE great options!

1. REFORMATION: a clothing company founded by Yael Aflalo in 2009.

2. BIRCHBOX: a monthly beauty product subscription box company that was co-founded by Katia Beauchamp and Hayley Barna. 

2. BUILD A BEAR: a company that has stores for children to create their own teddy bear or stuffed animal and was founded by Maxine Clark in 1997.

2. PRO ACTIV: an acne care product company founded by Katie Rodan and Kathy Fields.

2. TURBIE TWIST: a company that creates hair towel wraps that absorb water extremely fast that was founded by two college friends: Angela Carr and Christina Cummings.

Instagram Without “Likes”?! How This Change Will Affect the Social Media Platform

By Reese Wolfe

In November, Instagram began hiding content “likes” for some users in the United States. Instagram has not only conducted trials like this in the United States, but they have also hid likes in countries such as Australia, Brazil, and Canada. Adam Mosseri, the current head of Instagram, took to twitter to announce the news on November 8th. Mosseri explained during a Wired25 panel that their goals are to depressurize Instagram, transitioning from a competitive environment to one that focuses on connecting and inspiring people. Mosseri explains how hiding “likes” means that Instagram is “going to put a 15-year-old kid’s interests before a public speaker’s interest. When we look at the world of public content, we’re going to put people in that world before organizations and corporations.” Instagram has made it clear that they  will not be prioritizing the small percentage of corporations and organizations that use their app to market, gain customers, and make sponsorship deals. Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey praised Instagram’s steps in creating a more loving environment for teens as he retweeted and left encouraging comments on Mosseri’s tweet. Last year in an interview with Wired25, Dorsey contemplated whether having a big like button was contributing to public conversation or merely incentivizing its users to try and gain followers. Since Instagrams big announcement, Twitter has suppressed rumors that they will also be killing the like button, however the Twitter team has also announced that it is their goal to promote healthier conversations on social media. Instagram has created a stir and has raised conversations surrounding the practicality and advantages or lack thereof of likes on social media.