TikTok

WALT: Write an explanation

Success Criteria
*Has correct structure
*Relates to the topic
*Ends with a concluding statement

Intro
What is it? - Definition

Tik Tok (previously known as Musical.ly) is one of the most popular apps ever, it is a platform designed for creating, sharing and discovering 15-60 second long videos which people use to express themselves. It is known for the use of popular songs being lip-synced to, dancing, comedy acts, story-times and POV’s (point of views). 

Body
Description

Where did it come from and who created it?

The app Musical.ly was bought in November 2017 by Chinese developer ByteDance, for markets outside of China. In August 2018 they merged with the app VideoStar and rebranded the app to TikTok. TikTok is not available in China however the app Douiyn is the TikTok equivalent app in China, and its servers are based in countries where the app is available. TikTok owner ByteDance is a $75 billion Chinese tech giant. At the beginning of 2019 it had 188 million new users.

Who uses it and how did it become successful?

TikTok is available in 154 countries worldwide with 500 million users. 41% of users are aged between the age of 16-24, 55.6% of users are Male and 44.4% are female. India has many users (which is interesting because it is banned in India), and accounts for approximately 25% of app downloads. TikTok is intended for 13+ users according to the app's community guidelines. The app can be safe for teens with proper parental guidance. It is successful because social media is a big thing these days and young people are embracing it because it is easy to use and entertaining.

It became successful due to the rise of social media through the use of phones and devices. TikTok’s success is largely due to the popularity of Musical.ly. It is currently the most popular app in the USA with over 26 million monthly active users. There are many famous people that use the app such as; Britney Spears, Will Smith, Gordon Ramsay and The Rock. These famous celebrities bring attention to the app from their reputations and fan following.

Where and why did it get banned?

TikTok has been banned in two different countries; India and Indonesia. In both countries the governments felt that it encouraged inappropriate content and was targeting youth and children. Both countries rescinded the bans after TikTok implemented safety protocols and age verification policies. Currently TikTok is not banned in any countries.

How do you use it?

1. Download the app and sign up.

2. Set up your profile.

3. View the video feed.

4. Like, comment, or share videos you enjoy.

5. Search for videos.

6. Follow users via videos. search, or TikCode. (Every profile has a code that can be used to copy and paste and it will take the user to their profile.)

7. Set up your shot and pick out special effects.

8. Record the video.

9. Post the video (to the public or to your friends) or save it to your drafts.

Conclusion

TikTok is an educational and entertainment app and you can learn from the videos and enjoy them. TikTok is one of the most popular and most used social media apps currently in the world. Give it a try and see if you like it.

It had only been what felt like several years of standby before my curly haired head succeeded in the daunting task of getting a haircut. Leaving the house was difficult on its own, however nothing could compare to the trauma of approaching the old hag seated right behind the reception desk. If it hadn’t been for the name badge, the deathly pale woman would have easily been mistaken for a demonic force

            Having been lead to an adjacent seat, I remained obedient to the woman and what she instructed me to do regardless of the ceaseless feeling of scepticism. I sat there momentarily, as she continued to stare holes into me from behind the mirror. At the time I could’ve sworn to have seen equipment not to be used by hairdressers let alone an average citizen, however without sufficient evidence, nothing was to be done. 

             As the tugging of hair lingered on for several centuries longer, the less human the woman appeared. I sat there for a while longer awaiting for the completion of the supposed "haircut", however to no success in the nearing hour. The minute the human-devil had lifted the comb from my head and planted back into its rightful place, I managed to escape and get back to the safety of home. 

The origins of the Rosary Beads

This month, October, is the month of Mary so we pray the Rosary beads each day. Here is a slideshow explaining the history of the Rosary beads.

The Telegram

The Telegram         

For the past two weeks, several students have been preparing for the Literature quiz by reading a few books each and memorising crucial information about the stories. One of those particular books is called The Telegram, written by Phillippa Werry and published in 2019 by Piri Press.

                                                                                                       

Revolving around the leading heroine, Beatrice Thomas at the young age of 14, the story takes place during WWII and focuses on the lifestyle of the not so wealthy families and how they manage the stress of awaiting the arrival of loved ones returning from the front lines or a letter addressing fatal injuries or death from said relatives. The story strongly addresses issues around sexism in workplaces and the stress of the women, children and other people left behind, as they work in place of connections that have left for war and continue their everyday life.

The story begins introducing Beatty (Beatrice) and her family which includes her younger sister, Tilly, her mother and herself. Their daily lifestyle is very consistent and practically repetitive. While sending, receiving and awaiting letters from close friends out on the front lines, Beatty continues to do her normal house work and go through proper education, at least until the mothers financial difficulties grew to the point where Beatty would have to drop out of school and find a job that accepted girls of her age group.

Beatty’s early days in the telegram business consisted of an excessive amount of information, training and teasing from some of the older boys. She undertook many jobs throughout her time in the job, sometimes she would be the deliverer of good news, but more often as  the war progressed, the courier of melancholy. Despite having to bike for miles and miles each day, Beatty only had one major problem with the job she had signed up for: delivering the news about the loss of a loved one to people and how to help them manage their grief. The feeling of nausea and stress of handing over such depressing news and how it’s not typically a job for young girls such as herself, is constantly being mentions and blatantly spelled out.

Another important aspect of the story is how character driven it is. With each of the characters having been impacted by their own unique burdens, have their own flaws, and have different views and ways to handle situations, the author has created a realistic approach to them. One example would be Daniel, a young boy slightly older than Beatty, who had returned from the front lines having achieved hardly anything, apart from offering his dismembered leg. From the minute of his arrival, his bitter attitude and lack of empathy had caused his life to fall into anguish and melancholy for not only himself but also his family and the people that used to be close to him. Later in the story however, his gradual development and change in perspective had proven beneficial.

Overall it was a very well written book and a good read.

How to ask what something is in Te Reo Maori

Sleep Hygiene

Sleep Hygiene

WALT: understand what factors promote good sleep

Today we learnt about what factors help us to sleep well and what factors impede sleep. We made a table to show what we had found.
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Habits & behaviour to promote sleep:
Drink milk before bed
Read before bed
Draw before bed

Listen to soft music

Relax and do something calming
Have the right lit room
Have a regular schedule for sleeping
Leave door open to let heat in
Have a shower or bath before bed (warm/hot)
______________________________________
Habits & behaviour that hinder sleep:
Drinking caffeine
Having a lot of light in your room
Using technology before bed
Full or empty stomach
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Watch this Youtube clip to learn more.

Christchurch City Council visit