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Timed with back-to-school season, Instagram has launched a new feature just for students. The social media platform announced “Schools” on Tuesday, August 26. Students should now see an option to Add your school directly on their profile if they so wish. After verifying their enrollment through the student verification platform UniDays, they will then have the option to add their school or college name as a badge on their profile. Students can choose whether the badge is visible to their fellow schoolmates or all followers, or opt out of the feature altogether. Once confirmed, they can browse a directory of their fellow students, filtered by year, or browse the entire student body. [Image: Instagram] As Instagram noted, the verification process is necessary to maintain a safe environment for active students to connect with other active students. At UniDays, we’re committed to creating safer, more rewarding digital experiences for the next generation. We do this by making verification and digital identity a foundation, not a barrier, for young people, UniDays CEO Jon Hawley said in a statement. We’re proud to partner with Instagram to champion digital trust and online safety. This new feature, underpinned by our world-leading verification technology, enables students to build more authentic, meaningful, and secure connections online. [Image: Instagram] The launch comes a week after TikTok rolled out a feature, also with UniDays, called Campus Verification. This lets users add their school to their profile and connect with other students on campus. Sound familiar? It also comes over a decade after Facebook launched as an online directory for Harvard students to connect with one another. As journalist Taylor Lorenz wrote on X: Get in, folks; were doing 2005 Facebook again. Instagram was spotted developing the college-based feature last year. It comes at a time when young people are prioritizing IRL experiences amid app fatigue and reports of loneliness. Social media platforms have taken note and are rolling out a wave of new features to attempt to facilitate connection. Through Schools, Instagram aims to make it easier for students to connect and build community at this formative time in their liveswhether thats seeking out a study buddy, linking up with new friends, or stalking a crush you crossed paths with in the hall.
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E-Commerce
Charlotte-based pet food brand Viva Raw has voluntarily recalled two lots of raw pet food due to a risk of contamination with Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes. Animals that eat the contaminated products can become ill, and pet owners who handle contaminated pet products are also at risk. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published a notice of voluntary recall on Monday. According to the notice, the North Carolina Department of Agriculture identified the potential contamination during routine testing. Samples tested positive for Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes. To date, no illnesses in dogs, cats, or humans have been reported. Which products are affected? Viva Raw recalled the following products: Viva Ground Beef for Dogs (Lot 21495) Viva Beef & Turkey for Puppies (Lot 21495) Viva Ground Chicken for Dogs (Lot 21975) Viva Chunked Chicken for Dogs (Lot 21975) Viva Chicken for Cats (Lot 21975) Viva Pure Chicken (Lot 21975) Only products from these lots are at risk of contamination, according to the company. You can find full product images on the FDA website. Per the FDA, the products were distributed between July 2 and August 21, directly to consumers nationwide and also to a “small number of select retailers” in the following states: Arizona California Florida Illinois Kansas New York South Carolina The products come as frozen 1-pound bricks in clear vacuum packaging. Each product has a lot number printed on the packaging. According to an FAQ page published by Viva Raw, customers who received affected products were emailed direct notices. Although the brand is largely direct to consumer (DTC), its products are also available at a number of retail outlets around the country, according to Viva’s store locator. Fast Company reached out to Viva Raw for more details about which retailers might have carried the impacted product. What should I do if I have this pet food? If you have these products, dispose of them. You should also wash and sanitize pet food bowls, cups, and storage containers, as well as wash your hands after handling the recalled products. For refunds, or if you have additional questions about the recall, you can contact Viva Raw by email at info@vivarawpets.com or by phone at 919-371-8882 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET, Monday to Friday. People and pets can become sick Dogs and cats can become infected after eating products contaminated with salmonella and listeria. Pet owners can also become infected by an animal that shows no symptoms. People who havent washed their hands thoroughly after coming into contact with surfaces that have been exposed to these pet food products are especially at risk. Young people, pregnant women, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems are most vulnerable to infection. According to the Mayo Clinic, people infected with salmonella or listeria may experience the following symptoms: nausea vomiting diarrhea abdominal cramping fever If you have symptoms lasting more than a few days or have a high fever, bloody stools, or other complications after coming into contact with the affected products, consult a medical provider. While rare, salmonella and listeria can cause more serious health ailments, including: arterial infections endocarditis arthritis muscle pain eye irritation urinary tract symptoms The FDA notice notes that pets infected with salmonella or listeria may become lethargic and exhibit symptoms such as diarrhea, bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets may experience only decreased appetite, fever, and abdominal pain. However, healthy pets can be carriers and infect humans and other animals. If your pet has consumed the recalled products and has symptoms, contact your veterinarian.
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E-Commerce
Many of us indulge in a day of bed-rotting every now and then. For younger generations, its becoming less of a guilty pleasure and more of a habit. According to a recent Morning Consult report, young people are increasingly spending time in bed scrolling social media or streaming shows instead of engaging in more energetic or social activities. Roughly half of Gen Z (49%) said they bed rot often or sometimes, and 41% of millennials said the same. While not a new term, gaining mainstream traction in late 2023, the act of “bed rotting” describes an entire day spent under the covers, doomscrolling, and avoiding all other responsibilities for as long as possible. Its rise coincides with a shift in how young people use the internet, from active to passive. TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts introduced the infinite scroll to our attention spans, making it easier than ever to switch off our brains and cycle through hundreds of short, highly stimulating clips every few minutes in the name of relaxation. For bed rotters, YouTube comes out on top as the most used and most trusted social platform, according to Morning Consult, as well as the platform Gen Z finds the most fun. Unsurprisingly, X and Facebook both came out at the bottom with Gen Z and millennials. Young people are also adding reading AI-generated search summaries to their bed-rot rotation, the survey found. At a time where young people are crashing out at work, reporting high rates of burnout and screen times are higher than ever, with Gen Z spending an average of nine hours a day looking at either a monitor, TV, or phone, it makes sense that many are retreating back under the covers. Lying horizontal for hours on end might sound relaxing, but too much time sleeping or spent in bed can end up having the opposite effect. Plenty of research has shown a link between social media use and increased feelings of anxiety and depression, while spending time outdoors with friends, socializing, and creating meaningful connections is the ultimate form of self-care. A bed rot once in a blue moon is an indulgent treat. Back-to-back bed rotting might indicate a bigger problem at hand.
Category:
E-Commerce
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