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Navigating the Digital Divide: China’s New Restrictions on Online Gaming and the Implications for Surveillance 

Introduction 

Critics argue that China’s recent move to restrict online gaming for minors has sparked global discussion about the potential consequences of such measures. While the intentions behind the regulations may be commendable, the implementation and potential outcomes raise concerns about individual privacy and the expansion of surveillance. This blog delves into the intricacies of China’s new gaming restrictions, exploring the potential consequences and their implications for surveillance.

China’s Online Gaming Restrictions: A Closer Look

According to (World Economic Forum 2021), in August 2021, China’s National Press and Publication Administration (NPPA) issued a notice imposing new restrictions on online gaming for minors. The regulations stipulate that minors are prohibited from playing online games during the weekdays, with a maximum of three hours of playtime permitted on weekends and holidays. Additionally, gaming companies are mandated to implement strict identification verification procedures and adopt real-name registration systems to ensure compliance. It was mentioned by (Inocencio 2021), that only on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and national holidays - from 8pm to 9pm were kids allowed to play video games. On top of that real-name verification and log-in systems are now necessary for access to online games and gaming businesses are only able to provide three hours of service to young gamers during those short windows of time (Inocencio 2021).

Potential Consequences of the Restrictions 

The implementation of these restrictions has the potential to impact various aspects of Chinese society, particularly among the young generation. One significant consequence is the potential for increased surveillance. To enforce the gaming restrictions, gaming companions may need to implement more stringent monitoring mechanisms, such as tracking playtime, game content, and user interactions. This increase in data collection could re=aise concerns about privacy and the potential for misuse of potential information (Xiao 2022). Restricting gaming for those under the age of eighteen can prevent addictions from forming, which some experts believe has serious ramification for the gaming business (Brooke 2021). Due to what research showed that gaming habits frequently develop in children, this may have an effect on China’s tech companies’ future earnings (Brooke 2021).

Impact on Individual Privacy 

The expanded surveillance measures associated with the gaming restrictions could have a chilling effect on individual privacy. The constant monitoring of online activities could lead to self-censorship and a reluctance to engage in open and unfettered online interactions. This could potentially hinder the free flow of information and ideas, particularly among younger generations (Yaqoub, Jingwu & Ambekar 2023). This would ultimately be the same technological framework that shields kids from danger, restricts speech on the internet, and gathers a ton of personal information (Yang 2023).

Implications for Social Cohesion 

The restrictions could also have implications for social cohesion. By limiting minors’ access to online gaming, which has become a significant social platform for rmany young people, the regulations could potentially fragment social connections and hinder the formation of online communities. This could lead to a sense of isolation and disconnection among younger generations (Yue, Teresiene & Ullah 2021). This would in turn make children become socially apprehensive and find it difficult to communicate with adults or their classmates (Shoppe 2021). It is also mentioned by (Shoppe 2021) that because humans are social beings that share knowledge with one another, social isolation can impede social and emotional development in addition to slowing intellectual progress. 

Alternative Approaches 

Instead of imposing strict restrictions, amore balanced approach could involve promoting healthier gaming habits and encouraging parental involvement in monitoring their children’s online activities. Educational programs could be implemented to teach minors about responsible gaming, cyberbullying prevention, and online safety. Additionally, promoting alternative leisure activities and encouraging physical and social interactions could help reduce excessive gaming among minors. One of the methods include to set a limit to one self. For example, setting timers for how long one plays a certain game and become conscious to the amount of time spent playing in a day even if one does not stop immediately after the timer goes off, awareness is still essential (Allan 2017).

Conclusion

China's new restrictions on online gaming for minors raise concerns about individual privacy, surveillance, and the potential impact on social cohesion. While the intentions behind the regulations may be to promote healthy habits and protect minors, the implementation could have unintended consequences that require careful consideration. A more balanced approach that focuses on education, parental involvement, and alternative leisure activities could be more effective in addressing the underlying concerns while minimizing potential negative impacts. 

List of References

Allan, P 2017, ‘How to cut back on playing video games’, Lifehacker, 22 June, viewed 23 November 2023, <https://lifehacker.com/how-i-cut-back-on-playing-video-games-1796340031>.

Inocencio, R 2021, ‘What’s behind China’s new online gaming restrictions for kids?’, CBS News, 2 September, viewed 23 November 2023, <https://www.cbsnews.com/news/china-gaming-restrictions-online-crackdown-digital-technology/>.

Shoppe, S 2021, ‘Effects of social isolation on children’, Soul Shoppe, 5 October, viewed 23 November 2023, <https://soulshoppe.org/blog/2021/10/05/effects-of-social-isolation-on-children/#:~:text=It%20can%20make%20children%20anxious,hinder%20social%20and%20emotional%20growth.>.

World Econmic Forum 2021, What’s behind China’s video game restrictions, Media, Entertainment and Sport, viewed 22 November 2023, <https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/09/what-s-behind-china-s-video-game-restrictions/>..

Xiao, L 2022, ‘Reserve your judgement on “Draconian” Chinese video gaming restrictions on children’, Journal of Behaviroal Addictions, vol. 11, no. 2, viewed 22 November 2023, <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9295219/>. 

Yang, Z 2023, ‘China is escalating its war on kids’ screen time’, MIT Technology Review, 9 August, viewed 23 November 2023, <https://www.technologyreview.com/2023/08/09/1077567/china-children-screen-time-regulation/>.

Yaqoub, M, Jingwu, Z & Ambekar, SS 2023, ‘Pandemic impacts on cinema industry and over-the-top platforms in China’, Media International Australia, 3 January, viewed 22 November 2023, <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9816632/>.  Yue, X, Teresiene, D & Ullah, I 2021, ‘How COVID-19 pandemic affect film and drama industry in China an evidence of nonlinear empirical analysis’, Economic Research-Ekonomska Istrazivanja, vol. 35, no. 1, viewed 22 November 2023, <https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/1331677X.2021.1937262>. 

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Are gaming communities becoming less about play and more about monetisation?

In an age where entertainment and technology are developing at a neck-breaking pace, gaming communities have seen a metamorphosis that goes beyond conventional play. What was once a large leisure activity has developed into a vibrant hub of entertainment and business, posing fascinating queries about how these digital communities are changing. The entire foundation of gaming communities finds itself at a crossroads as the industry observes the integration of monetization tactics, from in-game purchases to the thriving sphere of esports and content production. In exploring the changing dynamics, we dive further into the topic of whether these communities are becoming less about the pure joy of play and more about the complex web of commercialization that now permeates virtual worlds. 

These days, microtransactions and on-game purchases are common in contemporary games, enabling users to purchase in-game cosmetics, virtual goods, or other upgrades. Both platform providers and game creators will benefit from these transactions. Older generations can now afford more expensive games on different digital distribution platforms and can afford to pay for in-game microtransactions or to support their favourite streamer or online celebrity, playing video games has become an increasingly important social activity for young people (Bankov 2019). Through the streamer, gamers would be more likely to purchase the in-game item due to how good it looks on the streamer’s interface so they get an idea of how it works. As an example, in a simple mobile game like, ‘Subway Surfers’, most of the characters require the user to spend the in-game currency to buy the characters. Most of the time people would not be pros at the game and would end up buying the in-game currency to buy the character. Even though it is a free game, players would spend extra money to purchase the extra things in the game.

There is a heated argument about how these trades affect what play is really about. While some contend that these transactions provide gamers a way to customize and enhance their gaming experience, others are worried that they might lead to an unfair playing field where those with larger wallets have a clear edge. The problem of commercialization in AAA games is one that both consumers and developers must consider equally as regardless of how well a game is designed, the financial influence that players believe they may have on creators supports the continued use of monetization strategies (Ahmadu 2023). 

The growth of esports is another aspect of the trend toward commercialization. What started out as amicable buddy competitions has grown into a multibillion-dollar business. Esports competitions draw enormous viewership, and their financial appeal is bolstered by lucrative sponsorship and advertising partnerships. One topic that comes up is whether the competitive scene or gaming communities are more important to the spirit of play, or if money is the primary motivator. According to (Rauth 2023), esports are now so popular that they compete with regular sports for price money and viewership that professional gamers can compete in competitions for millions of dollars, or they can broadcast content on websites like Twitch. Similar to conventional professional sports, esports teams are valued at a total of $1 billion because of their owners, franchises, endorsement deals, cash rewards from tournament wins, and other factors (Shalabi, 2023).

For gaming communities, the emergence of game streaming websites like Twitch and YouTube has opened up new horizons. These days, gamers may create their content by sharing their gameplay experiences with hundreds, perhaps millions, of viewers. This phenomenon has elevated gaming to a new level of popularity among internet users, but it also begs the question of how monetization affects the process of creating original content. A major factor in opening up Esports to a worldwide audience has been the emergence of internet streaming services like Twitch and YouTube gaming (Sponsored Post, 2023). Most gamers earn a large sum of cash from competing in esports competitions while others would livestream their pro-gaming on media sites such as Twitch and YouTube.

It’s important to understand that there is a positive link between play and monetization even as gaming communities struggle with these changes. Many contend that revenue generation gives game creators the means to produce and support top-notch games. The money made may go towards further content development, enhancements, and upgrades, which will enhance their entire game experience. Finding the ideal mix is crucial. People run a risk of offending the same people who helped to make the game popular in the first place when you tilt the balance too much in favour of commercialization. It is a challenge for developers and the gaming community to carefully traverse this terrain while maintaining the primary focus of the enjoyment of play.

List of references

Admadu, J 2023, ‘Consumer perspectives towards monetization and its impact on AAA game designs’, Master Thesis in Game Design, Uppsala University, Sweden, <https://uu.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1769625/FULLTEXT01.pdf>.

Bankov, B 2019, ‘The impact of social media on video game communities and the gaming industry’,  Information and Communication Technologies in Business and Education, viewed 13 November 2023, <https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2018/07/03/the-positives-of-digital-life/>.

Rauth, R 2023, ‘The rising popularity of competitive esports’, Job Skills, 21 February, viewed 15 November 2023, <https://www.jobskills.org/the-rising-popularity-of-competitive-esports/>.

Shalabi, C 2023, ‘Esports: what is it and how it benefits marketers’, Insider Intelligence, 11 October, viewed 15 November 2023, <https://www.insiderintelligence.com/insights/esports-ecosystem-market-report/>.Sponsored Post 2023, ‘The rise of esports: a digital revolution in competitive gaming’, Channel Television, 28 July, viewed 15 November 2023, <https://www.channelstv.com/2023/07/28/the-rise-of-esports-a-digital-revolution-in-competitive-gaming/#:~:text=The%20rise%20of%20online%20streaming,analysis%2C%20enhancing%20the%20spectator%20experience.>.

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Do toxic fans in some online spaces (eg. Twitter) make it difficult to become or identify a fan?

The digital era has given rise to a paradoxical dilemma as fandoms grow exponentially. While social media sites like Twitter provide people never-before-seen chances to interact, express their enthusiasm, and celebrate the works they love, a more sinister and pernicious phenomenon has also emerged. A lengthy and depressing shadow of toxic fan behaviour has been cast over these communities, making it harder and harder for new fans to join or for long-time fans to publicly identify as members of a treasured fandom (Pan 2022). Since fandoms have moved to more open platforms over the past ten years, such as Twitter and TikTok, fan culture has been widely available to a wider audience, enthusiasts of many kinds of things nowadays connect freely and publicly, as opposed to forming primarily obscure groups of people who were all enthusiasts of a certain subject (Zubernis 2022).

As it highlights issues regarding the nature of fan culture, the impact of online spaces, and the psychological toll it takes on people who want to show their respect and excitement, this complicated subject is a viral challenge. Today, we discuss the convoluted realm of toxic fan behaviour in this blog, as well as how it hinders people’s ability to participate in, enjoy, and appreciate fandom in the digital era.

What makes a fandom toxic? There are three main components to making a fandom toxic according to (Lefler 2023), which are possessiveness, entitlement, and a feeling of superiority. Due to possessiveness, toxic fans believe they are the owners of the material they enjoy and they would behave as though it is exclusively theirs (Lefler 2023). Possessiveness goes hand in hand with entitlement, the creators are entitled to demand anything they want since, in their minds, they own the thing or persons they like (Lefler 2023). Then there’s the sense of being better than, fans who are toxic feel better about themselves than less intense or obsessive fans, who are usually referred to as ‘casuals’ (Lefler 2023).

Journalists, news organizations, and others have used the term ‘toxic fandom’ in recent years to describe popular culture enthusiasts who exhibit actions deemed undesirable and harmful (Vinney 2022). It is without a doubt that negativity permeates unhealthy fandoms already take place in different forms but the members who exhibit a lack of regard for others – becoming confrontational and aggressive when faced with opposing viewpoints – may be the primary indicator of a toxic fandom (Moore 2023). These behaviours might include making harsh online remarks on the revival of a certain pop culture icon, mistreating other fans or those involved in its creation, or doing antisocial behaviours such as doxing – sharing someone else’s private information – or making threats of rape or murder (Taylor 2023). People would essentially be discouraged from freely expressing their passion or thoughts due to their fear of such reaction (Arouh 2020).

Online venues, including social media platforms, may become hostile places where rude remarks and abusive behaviour are the norma due to toxic followers and this would lead to new fans being reluctant to participate if they are constantly exposed to this animosity because they fear being singled out or made fun of (Huesmann 2007). Peer pressure is particularly strong when it comes to prospective new fans because of the worry of not fitting in or being shunned by the fan community (Cohen & Sherman 2014). Peer pressure is already a big issue as it is in the real world, what more to say about how it would be an issue online. According to (Pan 2022) who highlights that toxic fans reject artistic interpretations or fan works that differ from their opinions, discouraging from expressing original ideas and contributions to the fandom.

Fans that are toxic often have strong, inflexible beliefs about the fandom, its characters, or the plot’s course and within the fan community, these strong viewpoints may cause polarisation, with some ardently supporting the toxic behaviour while others fiercely reject it (Turner & Smaldino 2018). The toll toxic fandoms can have on a person’s mental health is among their most detrimental effects because when becoming a fan of a show you adore, but when you join a fandom and are rejected for who you are or what you think, it may make you feel alone and inadequate (Moore 2023).

To conclude this, toxic fans really do make it difficult to identify as a fan. Due to how possessive, entitled and a feeling of superior that the toxic fans possess it makes it difficult for those new fans to come in because these toxic fans have dominated the site. New fans who do come into the fandom would eventually have the fear embedded within them because they know they knowledge is not as much as those who have been there since the very beginning.

List of References:

Arouh, M 2020, ‘Toxic fans: distinctions and ambivalence’, Ex-centric Narratives, viewed 6 November 2023, <https://ejournals.lib.auth.gr/ExCentric/article/view/7917 >.

Cohen, G, L & Sherman, D, K 2014, ‘The psychology of change: self-affirmation and social psychological intervention’, vol. 65, no. 1, pp. 333-371, viewed 6 November 2023, < https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/10.1146/annurev-psych-010213-115137 >.

Huesmann, L, R 2007, ‘The impact of electronic media violence: scientific theory and research’, Journal of Adolescent Health, vol. 41, no. 6, viewed 6 November 2023, <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2704015/ >.

Lefler, R 2023, ‘What’s toxic fandom and what creates it?’, Reel Rundown, 18 March, viewed 6 November 2023, <https://reelrundown.com/misc/5-Factors-that-Can-Cause-Toxic-Fandom-to-Arise>.

Moore, B 2023, ‘Toxic fandoms: when passion turns to poison’, Agents of Fandom, 28 March, viewed 6 November 2023, <https://agentsoffandom.com/toxic-fandoms-when-passion-is-poison/#:~:text=Characteristics%20of%20toxic%20fandoms,-The%20negativity%20that&text=Arguably%2C%20the%20main%20sign%20of,engage%20in%20bullying%20and%20harassment.>.

Pan, Y 2022, ‘Analysis on the motives being a fan or fandom and the possible factor that some fans performed sasaengpaen/fanatical behaviour’, 2021 International Conference on Social Development and Media Communication (SDMC 2021), 17 January, viewed 6 November 2023, <https://www.atlantis-press.com/proceedings/sdmc-21/125968493>.

Taylor, V 2023, ‘Toxic fandom: what is it?’, Medium, 31 January, viewed 6 November 2023, <https://medium.com/change-becomes-you/toxic-fandom-what-is-it-c8c1520beb06#:~:text=These%20actions%20might%20include%20posting,sharing%20someone%20else's%20personal%20information). >.

Turner, M, A & Smaldino, P, E 2018, ‘Paths to polarization: how extreme views, miscommunication, and random chance drive opinion dynamics’, 1 November, viewed 6 November 2023, <https://www.hindawi.com/journals/complexity/2018/2740959/>.

Vinney, C 2022, ‘What is toxic fandom?’, Verywellmind, 19 January, viewed 6 November 2023, <https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-toxic-fandom-5214499>.

Zubernis, L 2022, ‘How fandom turns toxic’, Psychology Today, 16 July, viewed 6 November 2023, <https://www.psychologytoday.com/nz/blog/the-science-fandom/202207/how-fandom-turns-toxic>.

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The Impact of Fake News on Crowdsourced Information

#MDA20009 #week8

Introduction

In today's digital age, the proliferation of fake news has become a concerning issue. This deceptive information can have a profound impact on crowdsourced data and the communities that rely on it. This blog explores the implications of fake news on crowdsourced information, shedding light on the challenges it poses and offering real-world examples (Dhiman 2023).

Crowdsourcing: The Backbone of Information

Crowdsourcing involves harnessing the collective knowledge and contributions of the public to gather, curate, and share information. It's a powerful tool for everything from Wikipedia to open-source projects. Crowdsourced data has revolutionized the way we access information and has become a valuable resource in a variety of fields. The power of crowdsourcing lies in its ability to tap into the collective wisdom of diverse individuals, leading to richer, more comprehensive information (Hargrave 2022).

The Rise of Fake News

The internet has given fake news an unprecedented platform to spread. False or misleading information, often disguised as legitimate news, can quickly go viral, causing confusion and distrust among online communities. Fake news can take various forms, from fabricated stories to manipulated images and misleading headlines. The ease of sharing information online, coupled with the increasing polarization of digital communities, has made fake news a persistent problem (Aimeur, Amri & Brassard 2023).

Impact on Crowdsourced Information

Challenge in Verification

One of the most significant challenges posed by fake news is the difficulty in verifying the accuracy of information on crowdsourced platforms. When fake news infiltrates these platforms, it becomes challenging to separate fact from fiction. Take, for example, a crowdsourced map of disaster areas. If it contains information derived from fake news reports, it could lead to misallocation of resources and even put lives at risk (Ludvik 2020).

Disrupt and Polarization

Fake news doesn't just cloud the accuracy of crowdsourced data; it also erodes trust within communities. When information becomes tainted by false narratives, it can lead to division and polarization among users. For instance, a heated discussion on a platform like Reddit or Stack Exchange can escalate when fake news is introduced, undermining the collaborative nature of these platforms (Dizikes 2021).

Real-World Examples

Wikipedia Editing Wars

Wikipedia is a prime example of crowdsourced information. It relies on the contributions of volunteers to maintain an extensive and continuously evolving encyclopaedia. Fake news can disrupt this delicate balance, leading to what are known as "editing wars." These wars occur when contributors with conflicting beliefs and biases edit articles on controversial topics to reflect their viewpoints. For instance, articles on climate change have been battlegrounds for editing wars due to the influence of fake news and misinformation (Haviland 2018).

OpenStreetMap and Misplaced Crowdsourced Data

OpenStreetMap, a collaborative project to create a free and open map of the world, relies on contributors to provide accurate geographic data. Fake news can mislead contributors into adding inaccurate or misleading information. In one instance, fake news regarding the location of a prominent landmark led contributors to place it in the wrong place on the map, causing confusion for users and travellers (Novack, Vorbeck & Zipf 2021).

Combining the Impact

Media Literacy

Educating individuals about media literacy is crucial in combating the effects of fake news on crowdsourced data. Encouraging critical thinking and teaching individuals how to fact-check information can help users distinguish between credible and false information. Promoting media literacy not only empowers individuals to discern the accuracy of information but also contributes to a more informed and discerning online community (Lord & Vogt 2021).

Platform Policies

Crowdsourced platforms can play a vital role in mitigating the impact of fake news. They can implement stricter content policies and fact-checking measures to prevent the spread of false information within their communities. By setting clear guidelines and enforcing them rigorously, these platforms can help maintain the quality and credibility of crowdsourced information (Ng, Tang & Lee 2022).

User Vigilance

Empowering users to report suspicious content can be an effective means of maintaining the quality of crowdsourced information. Many platforms rely on vigilant users to help identify and address fake news. By encouraging users to flag misleading or false content, platforms can more effectively address the problem and maintain the trust of their communities (Zewe 2022).

Collaborative Fact-Checking

Promoting a culture of fact-checking among contributors can be a proactive approach to mitigate the impact of fake news on crowdsourced data. Crowdsourced platforms can encourage users to verify information before contributing it. This can help prevent the spread of false information, improve the accuracy of data, and enhance the overall quality of the shared knowledge (LI & Chang 2023).

Conclusion

In an era filled with fake news, the effects on crowdsourced information are significant and complex. The examples provided highlight the challenges that communities face when trying to maintain the accuracy and integrity of their shared knowledge. However, by fostering media literacy, enforcing platform policies, promoting user vigilance, and encouraging collaborative fact-checking, we can collectively combat the negative impact of fake news and ensure that crowdsourced information remains a reliable resource in the digital age. Crowdsourcing has the potential to be a powerful force for good, and by addressing the challenges posed by fake news, we can harness its full potential in building a more informed and connected world.

List of References

Aimeur, E, Amri, S & Brassard, G 2023, 'Fake news, disinformation and misinformation in social media: a review', Soc Netw Anal Min, vol. 13, no. 1, viewed 1 November 2023, <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9910783/>.

Dhiman, B 2023,, 'The rise and impact of misinformation and fake news on digital youth: A critical review', University of Science and Technology, YMCA, 1 May, viewed 1 November 2023, <https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4438362>.

Dizikes, P 2021, 'Study: Crowds can wise up to fake news', MIT News, 1 September, viewed 1 November 2023, <https://news.mit.edu/2021/crowd-source-fact-checking-0901>.

Hargrave, M 2022, Crowdsourcing: Definition, how it works, types, and examples, Investopedia, viewed 1 November 2023, <https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/crowdsourcing.asp#:~:text=Crowdsourcing%20is%20the%20collection%20of%20information%2C%20opinions%2C%20or,skills%20or%20thoughts%20from%20all%20over%20the%20world.>.

Havilland, E 2018, 'Competing with or against crowds', Digital Innovation and Transformation, 19 March, viewed 1 November 2023, <https://d3.harvard.edu/platform-digit/submission/wikipedia-the-ultimate-crowdsourced-knowledge-tool/>.

Li, J & Chang, X 2023, 'Combatting misinformation by sharing the truth: a study on the spread of fact checks on social media', Information Systems Frontiers, 11 June, viewed 1 November 2023, <https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10796-022-10296-z>.

Lord, KM & Vogt, K 2021, 'Strengthen media literacy to win the fight against misinformation', Stanford Social Innovation Review, 18 March, viewed 1 November 2023, <https://ssir.org/articles/entry/strengthen_media_literacy_to_win_the_fight_against_misinformation#>.

Ludvik, E 2020, The impact and role of crowdsourcing in the information age, Crowdsourcing Week, viewed 1 November 2023, <https://crowdsourcingweek.com/blog/the-impact-and-roles-of-crowdsourcing-in-the-information-age/>.

Ng, KC, Tang, J & Lee, D 2022, 'The effect of platform intervention policies on fake news discrimination and survival on empirical examination', Journal of Management Information Systems, vol. 38, no. 4, viewed 1 November 2023, <https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/07421222.2021.1990612>.

Novack, T, Vorbeck, L & Zipf, A 2021, 'An investigation of the temporality of OpenStreetMap data contribution activities', Geo-spatial Information Science, 7 October, viewed 1 November 2023, <https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10095020.2022.2124127>.

Zewe, A 2022, 'Empowering social media users to assess content helps fight misinformation', Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 16 November, viewed 1 November 2023, <https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/11/221116150648.htm>.

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What are the dangers of reliance of social media for public health campaigns? Suggest some methods of overcoming that problem?

Introduction

With the rise of social media usage, which has shown significant growth since its inception in 1997, users connect into their preferred social media platforms worldwide and spend hours there (Woodward 2023). Social media offers a practical and approachable medium for disseminating health information to a broad audience as it is used by health groups and experts to provide information on a variety of subjects, such as illness prevention, healthy lifestyles, and treatments (Rajshri & Malloy 2023). According to (Leung 2022), this is a potent instrument that allows us to quickly communicate targeted health messages to significant portions of the public but with it, it develops into a powerful platform for the mass broadcast of false information, creating a risk to public health. However, to every problem, there is a solution.

The Dangers of Reliance of Social Media

For current monitoring efforts, organizations like the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network of the World Health Organization (WHO) rely on online sources because data were not acquired using any conventional technique (Muacevic et.al 2023). According to research by (Eysenbach & Fagherazzi 2020), the majority of underdeveloped nations struggle mightily to stop the spread of infectious illnesses because of poor medical infrastructure and a lack of funding and in people’s knowledge of infectious illnesses causes behavioural changes among the people, which represents partial therapy given the seeming lack of these nations’ health care systems.

According to (Austin 2022), users of social media frequently worry about the possibility of their personal data being taken and at the start of 2018, social media-related problems accounted for over 4.5 billion or more than 56% of the compromised data records. Violations of patient privacy, the use of obscene or discriminating language, pictures of sexual suggestiveness or drunkenness, derogatory remarks about patient, a workplace, or a school are all examples of conduct that might be viewed as unprofessional and these public blunders by healthcare professionals have been reported, including doctors releasing “tweets” that are damaging to a person or the profession or taking digital photos while doing surgery (Ventola 2014).

One of the other problems faced in 2018 is that almost three-fourths of the most popular health stories had inaccurate or misleading material in result of majority of users on social media only reading the title and skip over the content due to worry of false information (Austin 2022). According to (Gisondi & Strehlow 2022), fake news has been claimed to encounter social media by almost 60% of Singaporeans and as a result of this, during COVID-19, people in Singapore would have been exposed to a lot of false information.

It is without a doubt that negative comments are one of the problems faced by people and this is a serious issue, sure that people may want to say something bad but it doesn’t necessarily make it true. According to (Austin 2022), the lack of control one has over social media in healthcare is another disadvantage whereby negative comments will inevitably appear on the content one publishes, and everyone’s social media page will display them.

Ways to Overcome the Problem of the Public’s Reliance on Social Media

The establishment of social media usage policies for employees might be advantageous for healthcare organizations and discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, disclosure of private or proprietary information, harm to organization’s reputation, productivity and other concerns should all be covered by policies (Ventola 2014). According to (Ventola 2014), a variety of worries about online publication of images or other patient information that would violate federal or state privacy laws or might interfere with patient treatment could be allayed by the implementation of such procedures. This is to ensure that the healthcare providers would protect the patient’s privacy and confidentiality.

Another research by (Ghahramani et.al 2022) shows that minimising the spread of false information and raising public awareness of reliable health-related information are a few examples of the functions that can influence the outcomes important to the assessment of the effects of social media on public health. In order to convince individuals that the evidence supporting the issue is valid and to gently sway them away from copying their preferred social media model, social media in public health concerns must be addressed delicately (MPH online 2023). Another way is to improve real-time disease surveillance, disease control and mitigation and screening or treatment interventions (Ghahramani et.al 2022).

Journals and conferences are popular resources for medical practitioners to stay current on new research and they can make use of social media to spread this knowledge to the students (Beveridge 2023). The WHO has consequently urged for the proactive use of social media platforms to distribute information on health concerns, especially on emerging infectious illnesses, to unspecialized individuals and the general public (Eysenbach & Fagherazzi 2020). The method of combating the negative comments is to educate of the public on how to cite the resources from the correct sources.

Conclusion

In a nutshell, there are many problems faced when trying to digitalize the public health campaigns. This includes the violation of the public’s private information, spreading of false information and lack of control from the healthcare professional. With that there are also solutions to combating the problems faced when it comes to all these problems which includes enforcing policies in the healthcare industry to ensure the safety of the public, and educating the public on how to get reliable sources and not taking it directly from a site that hasn’t been approved by the institution.

List of References

Austin, M 2022, ‘Pros and cons of social media in healthcare (2022 guide)’, Digitalis, viewed 23 October 2023, <https://www.mphonline.org/social-media-and-public-health/>.

Beveridge, C 2023, ‘How to use social media in healthcare: examples + tips’, Hootsuite, 14 September, viewed 23 October 2023, <https://blog.hootsuite.com/social-media-health-care/>.

Eysenbach, G & Fagherazzi, G 2020, ‘Influence of social media platforms on public health protection against COVID-19 pandemic via the mediating effects of public health awareness and behavioural changes: integrated model’, PubMed Central, 22 August, viewed 23 October 2023, <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7439806/>.

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How might fake news and propaganda factor into the use of social media for activists and protesters (e.g. 5G technology causing Covid-19, US’s anti-lockdown protests, Trump using the term ‘Chinese virus’)?

Introduction

The arrival of social media in the digital era has completely altered how information is exchanged, consumed, and distributed. These platforms have given activists and protestors unheard-of tools for advocacy and mobilization, but they have also become a breeding ground for false knowledge and misinformation. This contradiction has given birth to nuanced and frequently tense interactions between knowledge sharing and how it is manipulated within the manipulated the context of activism. Social media may be used by activists and protestors to disseminate false information or conspiracy theories in an effort to support their cause. For instance, misleading statements attributing 5G technology to the Covid-19 pandemic’s spread disseminated rapidly on social media, causing confusion and concern.

Impact of fake news on the society

According to (Olan et. al 2022), the core principles in flowing news and private information are deeply rooted in truth notions and communication accuracy theories. As SM platforms, particularly Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, enable the widespread sharing of information and news, the influence of SM, particularly on political issues, has been drawing greater attention (Vosoughi et. al 2018). The main components of those social websites, according to (Hwang, Yuan & Weng 2007), include users creating or contributing material, users annotating content with tags, users evaluating content, and adding friends or contacts who have similar interests.

5G Technology causing Covid-19

When Covid-19 spread to cities in Europe and America, countervailing claims towards the accepted belief about the virus’s origins immediately surfaced (Flaherty, Sturm & Farries 2022). Covid-19 hasn’t led to any fresh conspiracy theories, but rather improvisations on many existing ones, which in this case, researchers relate Covid-19 to mobile electromagnetic frequencies and employ many of the faults in reasoning and methodology to “prove” its validity. Of the numerous Covid-related false information stories, this one has arguably had the biggest, most noticeable effects and as of early April 2020, followers of rumour attacked a number of mobile towers in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and other nations as well as some of the technicians who maintain them (Osborne 2020). The researchers noticed that for six of the nations, searches for the novel coronavirus and 5G surged in the same week of April 5 although beginning at separate times (Moreira 2021). A peak was seen the prior week in South Africa and the United Kingdom, and additionally, 5G searches increased in size more quickly than other search phrases (Moreira 2021). The trend of inquiries for hydroxychloroquine was distinctive and included three separate peaks which was probably a reflection of the months-long talks on the potential advantages of the medicine (Moreira 2021).

US’s anti-lockdown protests

According to (BBC News 2020), although there are indications that infection rates are reducing in some regions, the United States had over 761,000 infections and moreover 40,000 fatalities, and the numbers are gradually growing in April 2020. The stay-at-home restrictions enforced by state governments to stop the spread of Covid-19 are criticized by protesters as being excessive and since gun rights organizations were among the organizers and pointed to violations of civil freedoms, several attendees also arrived (BBC News 2020).  According to cell phone location data, protesters at anti-lockdown demonstrations, some of which have been linked to Covid-19 instances, frequently travel hundreds of kilometres to events, then return to all areas of their states and even pass into neighbouring ones (Wilson 2020).

Trump using the term ‘Chinese virus’

According to (Rogers, Jakes & Swanson 2020), President Trump defended dubbing the coronavirus the “Chinese Virus”, despite mounting accusations that he is doing so in a racist and anti-Chinese manner. The consequences of this made people in America to become Anti-Asian, which led to a series of assaults against Asian populations in the United States, including a serial of shootings in Georgia that claimed the lives of six women of Asian origins (Reja 2021). Trump’s intention in using the term “Chinese virus” is to to deflect wrath towards China and avoid accepting responsibility for the outbreak and politicians have long attempted to disavow responsibility (Moynihan & Porumbescu 2020). When politicians attempt to avoid responsibility, research frequently shows that they point the finger upon other politicians or public or commercial service providers (Moynihan & Porumbescu 2020).

Extra References

Moynihan & Porumbescu 2020, Trump’s ‘Chinese virus’ slur makes some people blame Chinese Americans. But others blame Trump., viewed 11 October 2023, <https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/09/16/trumps-chinese-virus-slur-makes-some-people-blame-chinese-americans-others-blame-trump/>

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Is social media a threat to traditional Asian government?

What are some examples of countries with traditional Asian governments? Some examples include North Korea, China, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Indian, Vietnam, and Iran. However, I am going to focus on the three Asian countries with how social media has an effect on the Asian country’s governments, which are China, Saudi Arabia and Japan.

China

China is mostly known for its traditional governments which are more bent towards cultural values with harmony being the fundamental value. Harmony is defined as “proper and balanced coordination between things” and this includes propriety, compatibility, and logic (Zhang 2013). According to (Zhang 2013), the main goal of contemporary Chinese society is to preserve harmony between the mind and body, between people and society, and between diverse cultures. This is one of the more traditional mindsets of China’s government, which still follows the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). There have not been any signs of any online candidacy for China because most of the independent candidates end up losing the election due to it being rigged while some others were defrauded of the chance (Elizabeth C. Economy 2011). (Elizabeth C. Economy 2011) also stated that Beijing is under even more pressure to change its policies in response to the fact that the country’s citizens are increasingly supporting these independent candidates.

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia still uses olden ways of running the country as it still uses monarchy which is the main system rule of the countries (GOV.SA 2023). Arabs make up the bulk of the population, who are mostly descended from the nomadic tribes who have historically roamed the area and fundamentally traditional and conservative is in the Saudi culture (Evason 2019). According to (Evason 2019), Islam has a significant impact on society, influencing how people live in terms of social, familial, political, and legal matters. There has been no evidence of online candidacies in Saudi Arabia thus far because there are only certain types of elections that the citizens are allowed to participate in, for example the ‘Municipal council elections’ (GOV.SA 2023). As for the monarchy, the nation’s rulers have to be a descendant of the founding monarchy, King Abdul-Aziz Al-Saud, the most upright among them will be obligated to submit the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad, may peace be upon him, and Allah’s book, the Quran.

Japan

In Japan, the emperor only has little authority in its constitutional monarchy, which restricts his role to mostly ceremonial functions (Sawe 2019). The executive, legislative and judicial branches make up the three parts of the government (Sawe 2019). Consequently, the prime minister serves as the government’s leader and since it was enacted in 1947, the Japanese constitution has not been altered (Sawe 2019).  With the rising of people going online, it is still apparent that Japan still does most of the technical things like polling is still done face to face is so that there would be a lower level of voter polarization in Japan (Swope 2021). There however a voting conducted by The Asahi Shimbun and a team led by a professor of political science at the University of Tokyo, Masaki Taniguchi, which shows that majority of the candidates that consist of 96% of Komeito’s candidates for the junior coalition partner still preferring face to face meetings for the party (Ogi 2022). Even though the rest of the world is evolving and letting the internet take over most of the functions, it is apparent that Japan still stands firmly on the fact that face-to-face meetings are the best approach to the polling system because that way there would be no false votes or there would not be any rigged votes.

Conclusion

In a nutshell, it is rather problematic for those traditional Asian governments to face the modern era of using social media. This is because there will be a lot of problems in the long run as the politicians or rulers in these countries continue their traditional governments. The most common reason why these ancient-believing governments would choose to take political matters face-to-face is mainly to avoid any rigged votes or other problems such as people trying to rule over the country’s political matters. Even though these traditional Asian governments are not taking matters like voting to online platforms, I think that it wouldn’t be an issue even though they do not use social media because most platforms can easily be hacked.

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Is blogging still relevant in the age of TikTok and Instagram?

I, as a student still blog from time to time, and it is a way for people to express themselves in ways that they can never express themselves in face-to-face communications. Blogging is a fantastic approach to inspire students to express their thoughts, be imaginative, gain writing confidence, communicate, and work together with their peers as well as their instructors (Poth & et.al n.d).

Blogging

It includes producing articles, images, and other types of content and posting it on a website. Its traits include casual language, an informal setting, frequent changes, lifehacks, and suggestions, as well as a substantial amount of user collaboration. Platforms for social media offer ways to develop and improve interpersonal connections as well as help people communicate with their loved ones, especially those who are living abroad.

Blogging offers a wide variety of content types, in contrast to TikTok and Instagram, which concentrate on short-formed video and image-based material, and while bloggers may use text, photos, videos, infographics, and others to communicate themselves making blogging a flexible medium. Blogs also provide an in-depth topic investigation. Long-form materials, lessons, in-depth analysis and narrative, which may be difficult to express in brief video snippets or photographs, are ideally suited for them

Instagram

Instagram is one of the social media platforms that most bloggers go to when they want to rant about their day. It does not necessarily have to be bloggers, it could just be normal users ranting about their day through one of the Instagram features; Instagram-story, whereby users do not need to worry about over posting but instead, users can contribute as much as they like throughout the day (Instagram 2016). (Botticello 2022) stated that users can upload a photo or video to Instagram and this platform is also a well-liked platform for bloggers.

Instagram made it easy for people to blog on their Instagram story which was also made user-friendly for people to learn. People of this era are more drawn to these types of social media platforms which have been made more interactive over the years.

TikTok

TikTok is a fantastic platform for blog promotion since it enables you to expand your audience, reuse your material, and develop your brand (Cummings 2021). According to (Cummings 2021), 60% of TikTok users are between the ages of 16 to 24. When I first started using TikTok, it felt like it was so much fun because it had all kinds of dances and what not and people being in plays written by themselves. People also tend to blog on the ‘For you page (FYP)’, which is where most of the videos can be seen first, the first thing one opens the app. It is a user-friendly app that most youngsters like me use to express their emotions through the videos they make. This would then allow them to engage in a series of creative and interactive methods as nowadays TikTok allows people to react or duet videos. However, there was a problem with TikTok over the years which was that it was revealing confidential information such as people’s location information (Maheshwari & Holpuch 2023). Then again people still post whatever they want on TikTok regardless of their location being revealed.

Conclusion

In a nutshell, blogging is still relevant even in the era of Instagram and TikTok because people do still blog in their own ways through both social media platforms. It is just in a different format in comparison to the olden era of just writing paragraphs of text, in this modern era, people do blogging through using Instagram and TikTok and this allows them to further express themselves through whatever means possible. Through blogging, people can express their emotions in the form of writing, posting up images or videos. This increases the user’s imagination, writing confidence, communication, and working together with their classmates in various ways. Aside from that, there are other things that can be further summarized about in-depth topic investigations which may just be too complex for some people to comprehend because of the short video clips or pictures so they turn to blogs that the related topic has already been summarized in the form of text for people. As for the usage of Instagram and TikTok for blogging, it is apparent that it is still in use, although that some people no longer put their videos under the FYP as it was a few years ago.

[fantasyfactorxx]

Broken Chains

THE WEDDING

It had been about 2 weeks since Skylar had last seen Cody, it was rather strange that he could just so easily vanish just like that. But then she took his advice to avoid living in the past which really helped as now she could live her life a little more normally. Her mother’s spirit would always remain in her heart. Though it was very hard to say goodbye to her but then she needed to move on. The person who had shot Kate was high on drugs and could only think of breaking into people’s house to rob them. The guy had a gun and immediately shot anyone he saw as a threat. The police had finally found him, and he was sentenced to life in prison.

Skylar was out with her friends again. Luckily this time they could think properly as they were not drunk. The two of them still suspected that something had happened to her and Cody, but she could only tell them that he just sent her home and that was it.

“Are you sure that nothing happened between the two of you that night?” Alexa was still not buying it and all she wanted to know was whether Skylar had at least gotten his number but then she had not which was why she had not contacted him at all.

Just then an unknown number popped up on her phone. It was a text which read, “Sorry for intruding your privacy. It’s Cody. I got your number from Jackson. Forgive me again. Meet me outside Hershey’s Chocolate World, Times Square, around 2pm today.” She was in utter shock that a guy would go to such great lengths to get her number. Though she was quite used to having guys attempting to ask her out but then this was someone that she had just met and yet he was treating her as if she was someone he had known for a long time. The chocolate shop that he told her to go to was only a short walk away from where they were. The three of them were still reading the message, when Brooke said, “Do you want us to tag along?”

“I think I am capable of handling him alone. You two can just continue going shopping without me,” Skylar said in a firm tone. Since there was still time, Skylar continued walking with Alexa and Brooke by her side. She quickly sent a message to Cody; Alright I’ll come. I’m already here anyways so you don’t have to come and pick me up. and continuing walking with her friends.

They went to Forever 21 to look for some new cute tops for Skylar. Most of the clothes there could not fit Skylar’s small body as their sizes were too big, but Alexa and Brooke managed to find some that could fit her.

 ***

Cody was rushing out of the mansion as he was sneaking out the place without his mother’s acknowledgement. He had to speed up so that he could get to that planned date with Skylar which she had agreed to go to. He rushed out as quietly as possible yet again he had been caught by his mother again.

“Cody, where do you think you are going?”, Zaylee started which startled him for a little bit because he had not noticed that she was right behind him.

“Nowhere mom...”, his voice trailed off. Trying to fake that he was going out to meet up with his best friend, Carson. “Just going out to meet up with Carson.”

“Don’t lie to me Cody. I know it when you are lying, especially when I know you too well that you would not sneak out with your friends like that.” Her eyes were shooting daggers at his hair that was gelled, not in a mess like when he was rushing to meet up with a friend and his clothes were the one that were straight out of the wash, as if he were going out to meet a certain someone. “Now tell me where you are going.”

He surrendered as Zaylee had already known something, “Fine! I’m going to meet up with the girl I met the other night.”

“Alright, you may go but then come back as soon as possible because we have a dinner to attend tonight.”, she sounded rather happy for some reason.

“Another meeting with your manager?”, he questioned. He knew that Zaylee had been having online meetings with a certain someone for a week now but had no idea who it was. It could be her manager or someone else, couldn’t it, he thought.

“You’ll see - well anyways go on now, you don’t want to miss that date with this mystery girl of yours. Just be back by 5pm, alright?”

On the way there, he was still rushing as he had only minutes before he was late.

 Skylar waited outside Hershey’s to find that Cody was not there yet. “Are you sure that he didn’t just set you up?” Alexa asked to clarify with Skylar whether she had just been stood up.

“Dunno, maybe he’s just like other guys,” Skylar looked a little down. Daniel, her father, had informed her that tonight they had a dinner and the time she spent at Times Square was limited. I thought he was different especially since he went to such great lengths just to get my phone number which was not even from me. She thought to herself.

Just then, Cody who seemed as if he had been running, came into Hershey’s panting. “Sorry I’m late.”, he caught Skylar in his embrace just as she was about to leave the shop.

Whilst still in his embrace, she looked at him with a look that read What took you so long? but then she also felt that her heart was pounding like a drum as he caught her by surprise which would have usually caused her to faint. But this time it did not have that effect on her.

Cody released Skylar quickly, because Alexa and Brooke were teasing her, for she was as red as a tomato displaying both surprise and shock. “Alright see you later. Or is he sending you home too?”

Before she could reply, Cody was already telling them, “I can send her home. So, you two can enjoy your shopping spree.” They left still giggling over Skylar’s supposed new boyfriend who was not official yet but then they still shipped the two of them as a couple. Cody walked her to Dunkin’ Donuts. He held the door open for her before heading in with her. He went to the barista to order some drinks and asked Skylar what drink she wanted.

“Sorry again for dragging you all the way out here and being late,” he apologized again. “My mom was just being a little overprotective.”

“So, why would you suddenly want to meet up?”

“I just wanted to get to know you better. Since the other night till now, I could not stop thinking about you.”

“Oh- Really?”

“Yeah. Plus, it is not every day that my mom is in such a great mood to let me out. So how have you been since- well you know?”

“I’ve been better. I took your advice and now I don’t really feel that much of a loss anymore especially when my dad started online dating. He claimed that I needed someone as nice and loving as my mom to be that mother figure that I need. He has a date with someone he had met online tonight.”

“Wait - did you just say that you have a dinner to attend tonight?”

“Yea an uptown restaurant called-”

“La Grenouille?” He finished her sentence.

“Yea, how did you know?”

“My mom has been texting this guy that I do not know. Is your dad’s name, Daniel?”

“Yes.” Her answer was short but then it was precise enough for him to put two and two together.

“Do you think-”

“That our parents are seeing each other?”, she finished his sentence.

“The only way to find out is to see for ourselves.”

 ***

 After a long time of chatting with one another, they left to go home to get ready, Cody dropped her home before heading home. When she got home, she quickly got ready as if she was getting ready for prom.

She wore a scarlet red dress that showed her curves, which her mother had left for her and wore soft makeup, blusher, nude eyeshadows, a little eyeliner, highlights, and lipstick. Her hair was up in a messy bun with some sparkly pins. For jewelry, she wore the necklace her mother had left her. It was not every day that she wore makeup, so her father was stunned and almost mistaken her for her mother, Kate, when he saw her walking down the stairs and claimed that she looked like a goddess.

To Daniel, his daughter always looked pretty that she actually did not need to wear any makeup. She had her mother’s bluebell eyes and reminded him so much of her. Kate may be gone but he had a surprise for Skylar that did not really turn out as a surprise anymore as she had already known something about it.

When the two of them entered the restaurant, Skylar was so mesmerized by the chandelier, that she did not see where she was going and bumped into someone. Because of how clumsy she immediately tripped and fell but before she could fall, she was caught in an embrace. A familiar voice spoke, “Well this is a surprise,” Cody said with his arm under her waist to help her up. He pulled her up into an upright position and continued, “I guess you and I are having dinner together now.”

Cody was wearing some designer clothes with a designer overcoat. He was forced to comb back his hair.

He offered to walk her to the table and Zaylee was shocked that Cody had already met his step-sister-to-be, which changed everything. Cody felt a soft spot for Skylar but if she was going to be his sister, he had to let it go and let it be her choice.

But still the choice was up to her and not his, it would be selfish to force her into a relationship when it was not her choice. So, he tried to imagine loving her.

“Care to dance?” he asked Skylar and reached out his hand for hers.

She placed her hand in his and then, as beautiful music started playing, they began dancing. It was a bittersweet moment. The realization that both of them had feelings for one another that they knew was forbidden but then they knew that they had to hide it from their parents.

“So, I see that you two have gotten to know each other already...”, Zaylee’s voice trailed off as she saw that the two of them were so close. Tyler sat quietly beside her. He had not spoken to Skylar yet as he was still shocked that the same girl, they had sent home was going to be their sister. It was too good to be true too much of a coincidence, yet it happened. “So, Skylar, your father tells me that you play the piano and love to write?”, she seemed so interested to talk to her as she could finally have a daughter, someone whom she was able to talk to about her own problems. Skylar nodded and Zaylee continued babbling off until the night ended.

But she also allowed her children to talk to her. Though Tyler did not have much to talk about, he was obviously the shy one between him and his older brother as it would take him a while to open up to new people. Though they had already met but then he and Cody knew that they had to treat her as if she were their sister.

It was rather weird for the two boys as they never had a sister before. This made them have to tone down their wild side especially when Skylar and her father were the ones moving in. Then again Skylar was not like other girls she was already used to the way guys were and could tolerate a little bit of adventure in her life.

 ***

 While packing up to move to Cody’s mother’s place, she was helped by Cody. She also had to deal with having to help her parents to design their invitation for their wedding which was scheduled to be in about a week. Everything was kind of new to her as she had not expected to see a mansion when she got to Zaylee’s place. She knew that Cody lived rather far from town, but this was really too much for her to take in. She used to only wish to one day live in a mansion after going to Alexa’s place but then this was like living a dream come true.

When they got to the mansion, they settled their things on the ground, Cody brought Skylar to her room which was kind of conjoined to his by a door. They shared a study area. As she explored the place, she was mesmerized by just about everything; the dining area had a chandelier so big, and everything was just as she had imagined in her own mind. The kitchen was much bigger than the one in her old house and there was also an outdoor and indoor swimming pool. The interior was amazing but so was the exterior of the house. She had made it a point not to rush into her temptations, exploring the whole mansion.

Her room was as big as the master bedroom in her old place, and she now has enough space for everything. It was like living out of a fairytale that she could have a room fit for a princess. After putting her things in her new room, she toured the whole mansion all by herself. There was even an indoor basketball court that Cody and his team could practice in whenever they were in New York. She soon learnt that Cody wasn’t from her school or any schools in New York but instead he was from a school in a town called, Crystal Cove, somewhere in Houston, Texas.

Cody needed to go out to meet up with some of his teammates for lunch and asked if Skylar would like to tag along. Though at first, she refused to go but then the thought of being at home all alone made her go with him; Zaylee and Daniel had their own things to do while Tyler was also out with some friends. So, she went along with him.

Though she was quite used to being alone but then she was not used to the new place that had too much space. Upon entering the car, Cody started talking about some of his friends, Carson and Ashton. They were two of his friends who were very close to him. Carson had been friends with him since the beginning of high school.

 ***

When they got to the mall, all the guys were about more than a head taller than Skylar. She was small in comparison with them. They all towered over her but then she got used to it quite easily.

“Guys, this is my sister, Skylar”, Cody started to introduce Skylar to the rest of the guys, and they were all rather friendly towards her as it was rather rare to find Cody bringing any girls out with him to hang out with the guys.

Though Cody had said that they were going to have lunch only but then it turned out that he took her to the karaoke in the mall. They had fun while some of the rest who could not stick around had to go home. This left Skylar with Cody, Carson and Ashton.

Despite being short, she managed to prove to the guys that she had an amazing voice which would even make an angel jealous. Even Cody was impressed with how she had sung the songs that she had chosen. She had never been to a karaoke before, not even with Alexa and Brooke as they would always want to go to the cinema or shopping.

It was actually rather surprising that she could get along with the guys so well. Of course, they were her brother’s friends but still it was weird at how they were treating her so nicely.

“Hey Skylar. How did you find the passion in singing?”, Carson started after she finished singing Halo. Her voice was so similar to the singer that they thought that the actual singer was in the room with them.

“I don’t know. Maybe because I always enjoyed singing since I was young. My mother would always say that my voice sounded like an angel especially when I sang.”

“I think that it is a hidden talent that you don’t even know about.”

“You aren’t such a bad singer yourself.”, Skylar complimented Carson which made him blush. This made him rather cute.

 ***

 After singing until they almost lost their voices, they parted ways and Skylar followed Cody home. When they got home, Cody brought her to the pool for a quick swim while waiting for their parents to come home.

Skylar went to get change into her bathing suit which consisted of a turquoise crop-top with black shorts. When she got to the pool, she could feel Cody’s eyes on her bare midsection but then she just brushed it off by splashing the water at him. She regretted it though as she unintentionally started a water fight with Cody. He got out of the pool to get the water guns, one for her and one for himself. The guns were the ones that Tyler and himself used to fight with when they were young.

“Here. Gear up,” he said while tossing the water gun into the water for Skylar to fill up with water. She quickly got the gun filled up with water and started shooting Cody. Before long, they heard slow hand claps coming from the side of the pool. It was Tyler.

“Wow. It’s been like what a couple of weeks, and we already have you two having a water gun fight without me. Classic Cody.”, he said whilst clapping his hands. “Oh, yea Cody, there’s someone here to see you. Oh, wait he’s right over here already.” Tyler stepped aside and a hooded figure stepped forward to talk to Cody who was getting out of the pool. And because Cody did not want Skylar to hear the conversation, he brought him inside to talk.

The hooded figure spotted Skylar and asked about who she was but before he could get an answer as he was dragged into the mansion by Cody. The figure looked as tall as Cody. From afar the shadow inside the hood seemed to have glowing eyes similar to a cat. Skylar was still in the pool with a puzzled look on her face.

“Who is that?” she asked Tyler, but he just helped her out of the water and brought her to the side to dry off.

After she was seated at the side of the pool, Tyler sat beside her and told her, “That is one of Cody’s friends, Coyote.” It was a lie but then he could not tell her anything about it yet.

She was stunned by the name of the mysterious person who had just showed up at the house uninvited, “Why is he so creepy?”

He just shrugged it off, “Cody just has weird friends...” his voice trailed off.

 ***

 “What are you doing here?” Cody asked the figure while drying off.

The hooded figure continued to put his hood down to reveal his face which had cuts at every angle and a scar that stroked right down his right eye. When he opened his mouth to speak, words just poured right out “Before I state my purpose may I ask who is she? Your new girlfriend?”

“What makes you say that?”

“Because when I saw her, I saw the vision of the two of you being together in the future. Anyways, Prince Nicholas seeks your presence in the high court-”

“He isn’t a prince in my eyes. And I do not take orders from him.”, Cody interrupted.

“But you were the one who forfeited the throne to him-”

“I know what I did then, but it was for my own good. Now go back to wherever you came from, or I’ll make you.”

“Alright, I’m leaving.”

“Before you go, make sure to help me wish Nick good luck on his coronation.”

Coyote nodded before leaving in the eternal flame – one of the many ways to portal to Hell.

Just then Skylar entered the mansion to find that Coyote was gone already. Luckily, she had not heard the conversation as she was always very curious, and this meant that she would ask questions until she got the answer.

They all went to get ready to attend something that Cody had not informed them about. Cody just said that there was something important that all of them had to attend to and that this excludes mom and dad being part of it.

Cody went through her closet to find clothes for her. “Too plain...Too short...Too princessy...Ah just right...”, he was flipping through her clothes until he found a crop-top which she rarely wore and skinny jeans. He tossed the clothes to her and said, “Here, wear this and I’ll go get my leather jacket for you.”

And with that he left while Skylar went to get ready. It had barely been a day, and everything was still rather new to her as she had to find her way around the mansion. She was surprised to find the bathroom to feature the theme of a mermaid’s cove. Beautifully decorated with shells and even the soap dispenser was covered with real seashells. She was so caught up and mesmerized by how beautifully decorated the bathroom was that she did not realize that Cody was calling her name from the locked door. “Yes?” she answered the knocking door in shock.

“You almost done? We’re leaving soon...”, he said, “My jacket is on your bed, okay?”

“I’m almost done.” She was lost in her thoughts that she did not realize that she had been in the bathroom for about 30 minutes.

Cody just asked her to speed up as he did not know how long it would take a girl to get ready. Because it usually took him and his brother a couple of minutes to get ready.

Soon after, Skylar stepped out of the bathroom, her hair was matted to her head by water and all the ends were parted. She came out saying, “Where are we going anyways?” It was as if she knew that Cody was in her room waiting for her already.

“You wouldn’t believe me even if I told you.”, he walked up towards her and instructed her to speed up and dry her hair which was still dripping with water from her shower. He grabbed her by her wrist and brought her to the dresser. After that he left the room to find Tyler.

That’s strange. She thought.

 ***

 “What should I wear? The leather or denim?”, Tyler asked Cody while holding up two jackets. Cody, who was seated on his bed, deep in thoughts was not paying attention to what Tyler was saying.

“Look, I get that you are worrying about everything that has happened and yet you have to attend his coronation slash engagement. But what is done is done-”

“That’s not what I’m worried about, it’s just that I’m just scared that Skylar would not get used to talking to us especially after finding out about you know. She will probably be uncomfortable to even talk to us.”

“Then why bring her? It could just be the two of us like always.”

“Then again she deserves to know the truth though but not this soon.”

“Why not we just ditch the coronation thing and hang out like how siblings are supposed to hang out?”

“How am I supposed to explain to her about rushing her?”

“Let me handle the small talk with her, alright? Now about that other thing though.”

“What?”

“Why the hell are we dressed so fancy?”

“Oh that, we could probably take her out on a drive to a nice place I know of-”

“Don’t you think that is a little too obvious?”

“No, we could always get the guys to tag along”

“Put her needs before yours, would you? Wouldn’t she be the only girl there?”

“That I can handle too. We could call her friends out to join us. That way, she would not feel too uncomfortable especially with Alexa and Brooke around.” With that Cody quickly took up his phone to call Skylar’s friends.

“Aren’t they a little busy?” Tyler asked while Cody was still on the phone “Christmas is rolling by sooner than we think it is you know? They would probably-”

Before he could finish his sentence, Cody said, “It’s all set, we’ll surprise her with a movie with her friends.” He wasn’t paying attention to a word Tyler said.

Skylar came into the room to find the brothers still in an argument about something but since they seemed not to notice her, she scrambled out of the room. But by the time she reached the door frame, she heard someone say her name which made her stop in her tracks. The voice was firm, “Skylar, wait.” It was Cody. He continued, “What do you say if we ditch whatever function that we were supposed to go to and go watch a movie instead?”

“Ss..sure”, she shuddered.

 ***

 Carson drove to the mall as instructed by Cody. Some of the guys were already there. “Guys what’s up the urgent call? And why are we all here again?” Apparently being the first person that Cody called was really inefficient.

“Cody said that we are all here to watch a movie. Didn’t he tell you?”, said Ashton

“Sometimes having to tolerate his half messages is really a pain in the head but then that son of a-”

“Watch your language, Carson, we’ve got company” Ashton said while directing Carson’s head to what seemed like a line of girls approaching their way. Carson tried to jerk his head away from Ashton’s grasp and managed to do so.

“If you want to stare at girls all day, why not you get someone else to do it with you.”

“Because you're my bro, man and this is what bros do with one another.” Ashton said coolly.

“Quit staring,” a familiar voice came from behind. It was Cody. The guys directed their head to Cody’s direction. As their future captain they respected him for his duty as captain of the basketball team. “Those are just some of Skylar’s friends.”

“So why the urgent call.”, Carson said sarcastically. “You obviously have almost everything under control,” he noted while staring down at Cody’s fingers laced with Skylar’s. Cody took realized what was going on and took his hand away from Skylar. He did not want to make Skylar anymore uncomfortable than she already was. Skylar was shocked as she had been dragged from the car all the way to the entrance of the mall but then she still managed to keep her composure.

“Sorry to drag you all out here but we just wanted to hang out and get to know each other better,” Cody started, “So, we’re all here to have a good time.” This time he was looking over at Ashton and Carson, who seemed like they were not getting along.

“So are you guys like an official now,” Alexa suddenly asked which made Cody and Skylar really uncomfortable.

“N...no”, Cody shuddered and continued, “For those who have been living under a rock, our parents are getting married and everyone here is invited.”

“Are you inviting us to your parent’s wedding without their permission?” Carson raised an eyebrow.

“Technically not. Since we were helping with the design of the invitation, we are allowed to invite whoever we wanted to,” said Skylar helping to answer.

They all entered the cinema; Cody, Carson and Ashton went to buy the tickets for the movie leaving Skylar with the rest of his friends and her friends too. “Sky, why didn’t you tell us that your parents are getting married? I thought you trusted us more than anyone else.”

“It all came to me as a surprise as well. But then the truth is that I am developing feelings for Cody sooner than I thought and now thanks to the two of you, I can’t sleep at night as my mind is always on him,” Skylar replied.

 ***

 It was already so close to the wedding and Skylar was rushing to the bridal shop for a scheduled dress fitting which she had completely forgotten about. Zaylee personally asked her to be her maid of honor. When she got to the bridal shop, Zaylee was already there in a white dress, backless and tailor made to fit her hour-glass body.

“What do you think? Too much?”, Zaylee sounded insecure.

“You look beautiful, mom,” Skylar just said to lessen her insecurities. She realized what she said and corrected what she said, “I mean, Zaylee.”

“It’s alright Sky, you can call me mom if you are alright with it.”

“Enough chit-chatting, we have to get you fitted in a dress.”, said the salesgirl. And in that moment, Skylar was whisked away into the fitting room which was filled with dresses to get dressed.

The first dress that was given to her was a dress design similar to the one that Zaylee was wearing, but the only difference was the color. It was in a ball gown style. The back part was like a corset which needed to be tied as tight as possible. That was the only thing that supported the whole dress. She liked it but she had to make sure that whatever she was wearing was alright with the best man which just so happened to be Cody.

When she stepped out of the fitting room to look at herself in the full-length mirror. She saw how her hair was pinned up into a messy bun with glitter hair pins. Just right there and then, Cody came up behind her and kind of startled her for a bit. She stumbled as she was in heels and almost fell back but then Cody broke her fall by catching her before she fell.

“You better not fall when you are walking down the aisle in front of mom.” Cody joked with her while she was still in his arms. She tried to gain back her strength to get back on her feet which were kind of jelly at that time for reasons that she could not explain.

“I wouldn’t have fallen if you had not snuck up on me,” she said in her defense.

“You know, you are cute when you’re angry,” he complimented.

Then Zaylee walked in to check on Skylar, she had not expected Cody to be at the fitting with Skylar. “Cody what are you doing here? I thought you were supposed to be at the-”

“Yea, I know the fitting ended early, so I came to check on the two of you-”

Before he could finish his sentence Skylar interrupted, “Cody, what do you think of this look on me? A bit too much?”

“You look beautiful just the way you are. You’d be the next beautiful lady in the room besides mom. The wedding is tomorrow after all.” With so little time left, she agreed with whatever Cody said. Zaylee bought the two dresses which made Skylar feel a little bad as it cost quite a lot.

 ***

 The day of the wedding finally came, Daniel was already at the church with his best man while Zaylee and I were on our way to the church. No one thought anything could go wrong. When Zaylee and I reached the church, we were stopped by a sudden rumble from the ground. Suddenly, the ground parted and fire came out from the opening, along with something that emerged from it.

Zaylee immediately knew what it was. There were about several of them. “Run!”, she exclaimed at me before she was almost crushed by one of them. Demons! I ran through the backdoor to seek shelter. I had never seen anything like this before. Before I could even scream after she felt a hand reach out and she turned around to see Cody and Tyler looking like the things she saw. I could not even scream upon seeing their true form.

 ***

 “Skylar! Wake up,” she heard a voice call out.  And she immediately woke up from her slumber to see Cody sitting next to her, but he was nothing like the demons in the dream. She was so relieved that it was just a dream that she hugged him without thinking or any hesitation. He was in shock too but then he hugged her back as he felt that she must have had a nightmare just by looking at how scared she was when he woke her up. Their eyes were still locked when Skylar pulled away. “Think it’s about time you got ready, I’ll see you at the event later. Save me a dance?”

She nodded as she watched him swing the jacket of his tuxedo over his shoulders as he left her room. She quickly scrambled to her closet to get herself dressed, but she realized that she needed someone’s help to tighten the back part of her dress. So, she left her closet still holding the chest part of her dress looking for anyone who could help her. Tyler came into her room at just the right time, “Skylar are you ready-”, he asked before he saw his sister standing there helplessly holding the dress up with her hand. He got ready to help her tie the back of her dress, “-There...” and his voice just trailed away.

She thanked him and went on to put on her high heels which made her about 3 inches taller but then still not as tall as her brothers were. In comparison with Tyler, she was still about half a head shorter. She was already quite used to being the shortest amongst her friends.

When she got out of the mansion, she was shocked to find that they were taking a limousine to the venue of the wedding which was obviously not at a church. They wanted the wedding to be held at a bigger venue as they were inviting not only friends and family but also some extended friends. It was quite unexpected as the number of guests were so many that Skylar herself could not count.

All families were united. After she marched down the aisle with her mother behind her; she was one of the eight bridesmaids together with the rest who were Zaylee’s friends and cousins, they remained standing there at the altar waiting for the priest to make his announcement before letting the guests take their seats.

Cody could not keep his eyes off her as she looked so much like a goddess in the gown and her hair up in a bun. But then he tried to avoid staring, reminding himself that she was his sister, and he could not possibly be dating her at any cause.

 After the wedding ceremony, there was an after party for the newlyweds. Skylar was talking to her friends when Cody came to her and said, “May I have this dance?”, when the beautiful music started playing. Skylar placed her hand gently in his and he led her to the dance floor. He put one of her hands at the lower part of her back and the other laced with hers. The two of them swayed with the music.

She started feeling her cheeks burn as he held her closer to him as the crowd came to join the dancefloor, but she knew that she could not possibly be falling for Cody. Though Cody was literally a complete package for any girl; handsome, kind, generous and smart. She realized that it was forbidden to fall in love with him but the feelings she had for him were getting stronger than before.

Yet again she still had many questions in her mind set to ask him such as things about his interest. In a sisterly manner of course, as she did not want him to know about her true feelings towards him as it would be awkward if he already had a girlfriend.

She also did not want to destroy the mood, so she decided to leave the questions for another day.

[fantasyfactorxx]

Broken Chains

THE REPLACEMENT

5 months ago

“How did this happen?”, Skylar asked her father, upon seeing him standing in a pool of blood. What she came home to see was beyond her expectations as there was never a day that she would expect to see her mother dead on the floor. Her father had called the ambulance but by the time they got there, it was already too late. Her mother had been shot and due to the major blood loss from the gunshot straight to the heart it was indeed too late for her mother.

She watched as her mother was whisked away by the paramedics to the ambulance. It was so tragic to see her dear mother lying motionlessly on the stretcher. She could not do anything. After cleaning the blood of her mother, she went to her room to grieve for her mother. Her father, Daniel was a cop and though he had promised her to make sure that he would find the person who had murdered her mother, Kate, she knew that it wasn’t enough. She wanted to make the person who had killed his mother to feel how she felt the moment a daughter was separated from her mother.

 Present time

Daniel had the part of the New York Police Department (N.Y.P.D.), searching for this mass murderer for months but to no avail he was still in the unknown.

Skylar on the other hand, had been diving into study for the past few months and tried to assist her father in the search for the murderer. It was just one random day that, Skylar was still busy studying that Daniel came to knock on her room door asking her, “Sky? Are you alright? I know it’s been a rough couple of months but, your mom wanted me to give you this-” Skylar went to open her room door to reveal her father who was standing there holding the necklace her mother owned. “Look, if it’ll make you feel any happier you can go out with Alexa and Brooke tonight. You’ve been diving into work for the past few months. I think you deserve a break.”

With that he stood aside to reveal her friends who were standing behind him. Skylar came out of her room - eyes welled up with tears of sorrow - to hug her friends. It had really been a long day. She never imagined that the day would turn out this way. She had been hell bent on finding the murderer that even Daniel couldn’t get her out of her room. They brought her to the living room to calm her down, but her tears would not stop falling as if it was like a faucet. She too knew that she could not do anything about it.

“I’ll go out with you guys but who else is going?”, she said when she finally calmed down. Despite still being a little reluctant to go. She knew that her friends wanted what was best for her and didn’t want to push her into doing something she didn’t want to.

“Just some of the guys - have you forgotten that tonight we were supposed to attend Jackson’s party?”, said Brooke.

Skylar stepped forward still having her head buried in the reports from the N.Y.P.D. “I don’t think it is such a good idea because I am this close to unveiling the face behind my mother’s murderer.”

Brooke, who towered over her said, “You need to get your mind off what had happened and stop blaming yourself for it. What could you have done to save her anyways?” while snatching the papers from her hands and putting it on her bedside table. “When was the last time you came and hung out with us? It’s been months and if none of the people in the N.Y.P.D. could find him, what makes you think you will have any luck finding this mysterious person?”

Alexa finally sat down beside her, “Brooke is right, Sky - you need a something to cheer you up. Get some fresh air. And forget about what had happened.”

“Alright.” Skylar finally agreed to go though she was rather reluctant about it. Skylar thought as she picked out her outfit to wear to the party that night. “I don’t have anything to wear!”, she exclaimed as she was flipping through the dresses in the closet.

“Don’t be so down in the dumps”, Alexa was right next to her helping her choose her clothes. “Think of the bright side, you might find a new boyfriend.” Alexa always pushed Skylar to find a boyfriend. She seemed like she would never need a man and that was another reason why she never wanted another boyfriend especially after the last one which happened while she was still young and did not know what it was like. After that relationship, she was just as stubborn as a mule to not fall for another guy.

Skylar ended up wearing a black T-shirt that said, ‘WHAT DOESN’T KILL YOU MAKES YOU STRONGER’, a pair ripped jeans and her hair tied up into a messy bun. She didn’t see the need to dress up for anyone in particular especially when it was right after her mother’s death.

 ***

 When they got to the party, the song that was playing in the background was Dark Horse. Though most of the people that Jackson’s brother had invited were older than they were. But they didn’t really care as they were always around people who were much older than they were in school. “Hey, so I’m glad that you girls could make it.”, said Jackson while passing them the drinks. It was his brother’s party but since there was room, he had asked his brother whether he could invite some friends over. The seniors were getting wasted on tequila that was supposedly illegal for them but since his parents weren’t the ones supervising the party because they were on a business trip. Jackson’s brother, Noah had planned this party out with his friends.

“We’re just glad we could make it”, said Skylar. He could hear the sarcasm in her voice, but he did not really care that much. “Hey, let’s go and join the rest inside”, said Brooke while pulling Skylar by the wrist to the living room of Jackson’s house.

“Do I have to?”, Skylar protested.

“Yes - now come on,” Brooke was still grabbing her by the wrist.

“I’ll just stay by the snack table. You guys have fun.” Skylar never felt so down before and yet she couldn’t do anything about it. She wasn’t looking where she was going and bumped into someone whom she had not met before. “I’m sorry” both of them said while he helped her up to her feet. “I wasn’t looking where I was going”, she continued. He didn’t look that much older than she was. His blonde hair matched his blue eyes. He wore a white T-shirt with a leather jacket and jeans.

“Sorry” she apologized again. “I’m Skylar,” she started the conversation. But before he could reply, there was a voice from distance, “Cody, you coming?”.

“Sorry, I got to go,” he said politely, leaving to find his friends. Skylar was left all by herself.

“Who’s your new friend?” said Alexa, who had been eavesdropping on their conversation, her eyes were that of the Cheshire Cat. “He’s hot. Did you manage to get his number?” She was really curious about the deeds, but Skylar let her down.

“I didn't even get his name, but I think his name is Cody,” Skylar admitted, and she continued to chomp into the pastry she had been holding on.

“This is worse than I thought, she won’t even socialize with anyone.”, Alexa said to Brooke, who had just come to her side. “She is more depressed than Dumbo when he lost his mother.”

“I’ll go and talk to Jackson about it. He probably knows what to do in this type of situation.” Brooke left to find Jackson.

 ***

 Brooke sashayed away to find Jackson but not to ask about what the girls had talked about.

“Say, Jackson, do you happen to know who that hot senior is?”, said Brooke while pointing at Cody.

“That is Cody Frost. One of Noah’s friends from the recent basketball tournament. Why? And who's asking?”

“Oh, I’m just doing Skylar a favor - Do you also happen to know who’s his friend over there?”, she was now indicating the person who was beside him whose hair was a light brown and somewhat similar to Cody’s but just a little darker.

“That’s not his friend. It’s his younger brother; Tyler.”

Brooke was stunned as Tyler looked as tall as his brother that it made him look about his age plus, there was no family resemblance. After watching them while still trying to keep the conversation going with Jackson. She knew that Jackson was still trying to get Skylar to be his girlfriend but then she was playing hard to get.

“Do you happen to still have a crush on Skylar?” she started to interrogate him.

“Is it really that obvious?”

“Yes, the way you tried to hug her just now before you notice the tears in her eyes. Look, my point is that you could probably get her to finally be your girl if you do precisely what I say. You know how she is very depressed now? Well, you can probably be that shoulder for her to cry on. You could probably get her some flowers since Christmas is coming in a month.”

“I don’t think that is such a great idea. I mean like I really do like her but what would happen if your plans backfire, she may reject me just like the last time I’ve tried.”

“Just try. You might just brighten up her day.”

“Fine. I’ll think about it.”

“Do you know anything else about - about the two brothers I mean.”

“Cody plays basketball and Tyler, I don't really know, he’s a freshman but he probably plays basketball too, to be able to grow so tall. Anyways, why are you suddenly taking interest in the people that you’ve haven’t met.”

“Just curious. You know how Alexa and I are just like the Cheshire Cats in our friendship. Anyways, I got to go back to save my BFFs before she falls back into her depressing stage again.”

 ***

 Cody was still staring at Skylar from a distance, he seemed to not be able to keep his eyes off her. The first time he saw her, he had already gathered all the information about her instantly. “Who was that girl you were talking to just now? And why are you just staring at her?”, a familiar voice came from behind him. It was Tyler.

“You say that as if you always come to these sorts of parties every day. - Her name is Skylar. Any other information - I’m not that sure because you interrupted my conversation with her.” Though he was the oldest, there was nothing to prove it as Tyler was the only one who thought logically.

“You can’t blame me that mom wants me to keep an eye on you. Wasn’t it Noah who invited you to this party? Why don't you try to enjoy the party with everyone else?” They had never actually been this close until their father’s death which was about 2 years ago. The day of their father’s funeral was embedded in their memory forever. Then again, the two of them spent most of their lives together like two peas in a pod.

“Why don't you just go and enjoy the party without me? I’ve been to too many of these sorts of parties already. I have better things to do anyways.”

“You mean talking to her-” Tyler was facing where Cody was staring at; Skylar. “I’ll go along with you if you like. She seems like she needs some cheering up anyways.”

“No. I’m good. You can go and join the rest if you like.”

Cody went over to where Skylar was. She was still beside the snack table. Skylar as always was not really paying attention to her surroundings and did not even notice that Cody was standing right beside her until he started talking.

“Hey Skylar, sorry about earlier-”, Cody started. “Was caught up by my brother.”

“Wait-” Skylar, tried to connect the two faces and then interrupted, “the two of you are siblings? I initially thought he was your friend. Why are you here and not mingling with the rest of the people?”

“I’ve been to enough parties already and plus you seem a little down. Are you alright?”

Skylar started explaining the whole story of how her mother had been shot.

“I’m sorry for your loss. I know how it’s like to lose someone you love that you treasure dearly. I also lost my father a few years back. Why did you end up coming to this party anyway especially when your mother had just recently passed away?”

“My father thought that if I came out with my friends, then I would keep my mind off the problems I’m facing right now - and look where that has gotten me. I am just blaming myself some more now that I am out of the house.”

“Then stop blaming yourself. It was not your fault that your mom had been shot in the heart because you weren’t there when all that had happened.” Cody reassured her, “You can’t live in fear forever. You will soon need to find a way out of that fear circle.”

“How did you get over it? Losing your father, I mean? Like it is really that easy to get over losing someone that you loved so dearly.”

“I didn’t. I just accepted fate and continued living life to the fullest. What I mean is that there is no point dwelling on the past if you are in the present right?”

“Thanks Cody. I feel better already.”

“Anytime Skylar, anytime.”

 ***

 “Hey. Have you seen Skylar anywhere?” Alexa asked, turning to Brooke.

“No - I think that she should be still where we left her.” Brooke replied while still peering around to find her. Though the two of them were already kind of drunk, they were still looking around for Skylar. They were enjoying themselves so much that they had forgotten about the main reason that they had come to this party; to make Skylar stop blaming herself for her mother’s death.

“Oh, there she is -” Alexa was pointing at Skylar who appeared to look like she was talking to someone while still dragging Brooke. The two of them appeared out of the crowd, out of nowhere and startled Skylar.

“Sky...Who’s this hot guy that you are talking to?” Though Alexa interrupted her conversation, she still answered because she knows that they were too wasted to listen to whatever she said anyways.

“This is Cody - a new friend of mine.”

“Are these two friends of yours?” Cody asked curiously.

“Apparently-” she responded sarcastically while rolling her eyes. She was still ignoring their presence, “How am I going to get home now that these two are too drunk to walk me home?” she said under her breath.

“I could give you a ride home if you like. - I need to get Tyler home anyways.”

“Really?” Skylar clarified with Cody.

“Yeah, I mean like of course there was no way that you are going to attempt to walk home all by yourself especially this late at night.”

“Are you sure that the two of you will be alright?” Skylar was turning to Alexa and Brooke but the two of them were too drunk to understand anything that she was saying. The two of them were always the most rebellious in their friend circle.

“I think they’ll be alright. Shall we go?”, he was holding out a hand to Skylar and she saw it was just like in the fairytale where the prince was being so gentleman-like. Cody really reminded her of the prince from all the movies that she had watched. She put her hand in his. Was this a start of a new relationship? This question went through her mind when she left the party.

When she was outside where Cody had parked his car, there was a Lamborghini Urus waiting outside and she was shocked to see that he could even afford such a car.

“Come on.” a voice came from the driver’s seat.

She scrambled to the backseat of the car. The interior of the car was padded with cushion but then the smell of leather was still there. Skylar was surprised as the fanciest car she had ever been in was only Alexa’s mom’s Honda Civic but then this was really unexpected especially from teens.

Though Skylar was usually talkative but these were two people she did not know, and they offered to drive her home- technically it was Cody who offered.

She tried to think of a way to talk but her mouth was stuck shut like a clam. To break the thick ice that was between them, Cody said, “You know that you don’t have to stay quiet right?”

“Oh sorry - It’s just that I barely even know the two of you and yet the two of you are treating me so nicely.”

“Well, it was Cody’s-”, Tyler was saying before he got elbowed by Cody. “Habit of treating-every-stranger-you-meet-kindly.”

Before they knew it, they had already reached Skylar’s place. Her father was worried sick as he did not know why there was a Lamborghini parked outside his house until Skylar came out from the back seat of the car. Skylar thanked Cody and Tyler for sending her home.

Daniel somehow recognized the license plate number but put in behind all the rest of his thought as he was just glad that his daughter was home in one piece. “Who were those two boys?”, her father asked when they finally drove away.

“Oh, just some new friends that I met at Jackson’s brother, Noah’s party.”

As she entered the house, she wondered how they knew where she was staying even though she did not tell them anything of where she stayed. She just assumed that Cody had probably asked Alexa or Brooke before leaving. But then she could not keep her mind off Cody. Was she in love? She asked herself but then she was delirious about it and chose to set her feelings aside as she knew that she could not possibly be in love with someone she had just met.

 ***

 “Why did you want to send her home?” Tyler finally had the chance to question his brother. “I mean like it is not every day that you offer a girl a ride home so why her? What will mom say?”

“I was just being nice. There was no way that we were letting her walk home alone. Her friends were too wasted to walk her back. And mom won’t know about it unless someone told her.”, Cody was giving his brother a cold stare.

“Why are you saying that as if she is your sister? Doesn’t mom always have her way to figure things out even without us telling her?”

“Let’s just hope for the best. I mean like she trusted me enough to let me drive dad’s car out anyways.”

“Just keep driving.”, ordered Tyler who seemed to be pissed off for certain reasons. For a while there was nothing but silence between the brothers until Tyler noticed that they had passed the curfew given by their mother and informed Cody who then started stepping on the accelerator to get them back home as soon as possible.

When they got to the driveway of their mansion, their mother, Zaylee, was already outside waiting for the two of them. She wore a silk robe and slippers. Her hair was tied up in a messy bun. One of her feet was tapping the ground in both rage and annoyance that the two of them had disobeyed her and went past their curfew. It was difficult raising two sons on her own especially when they went out for parties together. Zaylee had always wanted a daughter but then she was stuck with sons. At least their father had taught them well on the proper ways of being a gentleman before he passed away.

Before she could even say anything, Cody apologized, “Sorry mom, we had to send someone home just now and we know we’ve gone past the given curfew. Promise that this would not happen again.”, he knew he was the one to blame for his mother’s rage.

“All is forgiven but make sure that next time you want to go to these types of parties make sure to come home before the curfew. You had me worried for a while there when you came back so late.” she let the two of them into the mansion and continued to ask Cody questions, allowing Tyler to go to his room, “So a little birdy told me that you offered to send a girl home. Who is she?”

Cody glared at Tyler and muttered under his breath, How did she find out? which seemed to be pointless as Tyler had already gone up the grand staircase. “Mom, it’s not what you think?”

“Before you start blaming your brother, I would like to clarify that I did not get the information from Tyler. Let me ask you again, who is the girl you sent home earlier?”, her voice was firmer now.

“She was a friend we met at Noah’s party. She needed a ride home as her friends were too drunk to walk her home and I could not possibly let her walk home all by herself. But how did you find out?”

“I have my ways.” Zaylee went off to her room to watch a movie leaving Cody still clueless of how she had found out.

Now Cody was more worried as if she knew so much already and how he was going to get to see Skylar again. Does mom not like her? This question ran through his mind as he was getting to bed. It was actually impossible for him to sleep that night especially when his mother was really chill about him.

[fantasyfactorxx]

Reaction to Chat Blanc

In this episode, Adrien finally uncovers the truth about Ladybug’s identity and is planning to keep it a secret. As much as secrets may go, it is apparent that this was bound to happen. 

After dropping off the gift to Adrien’s room, Ladybug was met with Bunnix (from the future). She tells her that something that Ladybug has done would trigger mass destruction in the future. Bunnix brings her into the burrow (her super power to manage the timeline and make sure that nothing goes wrong) and covers Ladybug’s head with a bowl so that she doesn’t know too much. She tells her to enter another burrow where the destruction had already happened in the near future. She is met with Chat Blanc who was obsessed with wanting to get her miraculous to grant his one true wish which was to live a happy life with her.

Again, this is in the near future. So if the Ladybug of this time doesn’t know about Chat Noir’s identity, then it makes it more complicated for Ladybug (from the past). 

A day before the whole Chat Blanc situation

Knowing her true identity made Chat Noir vulnerable because while saving Marinette from the akuma that Hawkmoth had released after getting her to break up with him. Adrien knows that he doesn’t have a choice but to transform in front of everyone because he had to save the love of his life. And because Natalie was monitoring the whole situation and talking to Hawkmoth at the same time, she knew and of course she reported it to Hawkmoth. This is when Hawkmoth finds out about Chat Noir’s identity so he uses all this to his advantage. 

It was by the time that Ladybug put two and two together and realizes that Hawkmoth was closer than they had anticipated. The next day, when they managed to corner Hawkmoth, Hawkmoth reveals to Chat Noir that he was his father and this made him have second thoughts of the whole situation - especially when Hawkmoth reveals the main reason why he was doing all that he was doing. In his state of vulnerability, Chat Noir is thrown out of the Agreste Mansion. Hawkmoth saw his vulnerable state as an opportunity to akumatize him, turning him into Chat Blanc. He ends up setting off a cataclysm that leaves him that leaves the whole universe destroyed. She goes up to him and tries to put his guard down, realizing when she called him Chat Noir, he replies by saying, “I am not Chat Noir anymore, I’m Chat Blanc.” and rings his bell that was part of his suit. While almost leaning in for a kiss, she takes the bell and releases the akuma. 

Back to the present time

Ladybug finds out that Chat Blanc knows her civilian form and she knows she has to find his akuma and fast, but when she uses her lucky charm, it gave her an eraser. She tries taking little things that the akuma could be in and ends up falling into the water to learn the painful truth that Chat Blanc had destroyed the whole world. She emerges from the water asking Chat Blanc what he had done to them. This causes him to almost trigger the end of the world with his cataclysm before she was finally willing to give up her miraculous

There are a lot of controversies going around especially after this episode was released. 

Is Adrien a sentimonster?

There are a lot of evidence that points to Adrien being a sentimonster.

1. He doesn’t listen to Gabriel after his ring was taken by Felix 

From the ‘Felix’ episode, we are introduced to Adrien’s wicked cousin; Felix. Towards the end of the episode, we see Felix leave with his mother, Amilie. Here is the theory, did anyone realized the moment the ring was out of Gabriel’s reach, Adrien completely disobeys him. This is just a theory but it seems to be so that without the ring, which probably the Amok is in the rings and that was why Adrien was so obedient towards his father. 

2. The fact that he doesn’t turn to dust the moment he uses his cataclysm on himself

From the ‘Chat Blanc’ episode, we see a glimpse of the future if Ladybug and Chat Noir should reveal their identities to each other. Just as Mister Bug (Adrien version of Ladybug) had said in the Reflekdoll, that “The cataclysm is like a bee sting on a bull. It riled it up without even moving it.” Exactly like what happened to Chat Blanc, he might have cataclysm himself and ended up causing himself to go crazy. 

[fantasyfactorxx]

Miraculous Ladybug

Brief write up on the characters and where they’ve come from

Miraculous Ladybug has come so far to entertaining viewers of all ages. This TV show has made viewers see the light of various characters. From the ones who come from a rich and well-off family to the ones who live a simple life. Despite being from two different worlds, both Marinette and Adrien had shown to be kind-hearted people who (according to Master Fu) are made for each other. 

As the story progresses, both Marinette and Adrien finds themselves getting stuck in situations that Master Fu had put them into when making the the holders of the Cat and Ladybug miraculous. Though, Adrien (being Chat Noir) had made it perfectly clear of his feelings for Ladybug, Marinette (Ladybug) made it perfectly clear that their relationship was just a partnership. Despite multiple attempts to try to get Ladybug to love him, Chat Noir is always on square one because Ladybug is in love with another boy who just so happens to be his civilian form. This makes this relationship very complicated because Adrien was in love with Ladybug who was Marinette’s heroin form. 

Though he tried convincing her that he wouldn’t care who she was under the mask, she still refused to show her identity because if anyone should know their identity, it would end in the end of the world. 

For more information on this, you can read my reaction to Chat Blanc.

[fantasyfactorxx]

After We Fell (Movie Recap)

HEAVY SPOILERS AHEAD!!!

YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!!

SHORT SUMMARY

Finding out that Tessa was leaving him again to go to Seattle to work, he was upset. Despite Tessa’s efforts to get him to come with her, he immediately refuses because there was nothing for him in Seattle and he also despises the flashy lifestyle in Seattle.

Hardin can’t seem to stay away from Tessa, not even for a minute. The relationship is up to the point that Hardin can’t even let Tessa have guy friends because he’s afraid that she would leave him for any of them. It got up to the point that Hardin even had a nightmare of Tessa cheating on him with Robert who was just a friend. 

While Hardin was in London, he contemplates on whether he should be bringing Tessa to his mother’s wedding because he didn’t want her to see his past and where he came from. 

Despite everything, he still brings Tessa to London. However, that night before the wedding, Hardin finds out the ugly truth that aside from getting married to Mike(Trish, Hardin’s mother’s fiancé), she was cheating on him for Vance. In rage, he shouted at his mother and throws a fit at Vance.

After the wedding, which he had to control his anger, Vance ask him to come to a bar so that he could explain something to him. At the same time, Kimberly(Vance’s current wife) explains to Tessa that Vance was Hardin’s biological father. Learning this, Tessa goes off leaving Kimberly, to comfort Hardin who should have known by then about his family heritage.

Though we are met with a cliff hanger of the couple, letting out their vulnerable side. I would say that this movie had us reaching for our tissues. 

While watching the franchise, the characters have really grown and it is something that is really important in a relationship. 

Would I suggest this to a friend? - Maybe. It all depends because of the adult content which some people are not really comfortable with.