Initial observations suggest that 2025 could be quite chaotic. The year is still in its infancy, yet there are already reports of youth abandoning TikTok, accusations against Elon Musk for unsportsmanlike gaming, and individuals sampling glacier water!

TikTok Refugees Seek New Haven in Red Note

A collective referring to themselves as “TikTok refugees” is rapidly adopting an app known as RedNote in anticipation of a potential TikTok shutdown. ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, has announced plans to phase out the application in the United States as early as next week, putting 170 million American users in a situation where they can no longer indulge in popular dance videos or share their personal data with the Chinese government.

As this shutdown looms, many young users are on a quest for alternatives. A prominent choice seems to be 小红书 (Xiaohongshu in Mandarin), or “RedNote” in English, which is currently leading the charge among downloads on Apple’s App Store, even though it lacks an English version.

Proponents of RedNote are already sharing their experiences on both TikTok and RedNote, offering each other guidance on maneuvering through a platform that speaks a foreign language to them. Take, for instance, TikToker xlvxlv1, who candidly admits, “I’m here and I’m scared.”

Some enlightening crossposts between TikTok and RedNote reveal users explaining their reasons for migrating to a Chinese platform despite the presence of alternatives like Instagram and Facebook. A surprising motivation appears to be the app’s Chinese origins. The government’s move to ban TikTok is perceived as an act of censorship, leading many to suspect that the underlying motive for the ban isn’t merely “national security” but has more to do with a certain individual: Mark Zuckerberg.

RedNote user Candacce summarizes it well: “I’d choose to decipher a foreign language over using a social media platform owned by Zuckerberg. His efforts to present TikTok as a threat and push everyone toward his platform feels reminiscent of his college years when he tried hard to make friends.” What a roast!

While it’s uncertain if Zuckerberg’s lobbying played a role in TikTok’s impending ban, a significant number of users seem to believe it does. The demographic of TikTok is predominantly under 30, and they often view Facebook and Instagram as outdated and uncool. It seems that once an app earns that unwelcome label, changing its reputation is nearly impossible—just ask anyone who was labeled a geek on their first day at high school.

Viral Sensation of the Week: Is Elon Musk Cheating in Video Games?

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In another update regarding “immature billionaires,” Elon Musk has become a hot topic this week. Musk recently shared a video furthering his image as a gamer, featuring gameplay from Path of Exile 2 on X. Though he claimed this was to showcase the platform’s streaming capabilities, it appears more of a chance to flaunt his in-game achievements along with the dazzling gear adorning his character, humorously named “Percy_Verence.” He even boasted about conquering a “maximum difficulty” setting.

While initially amusing, it didn’t capture public attention until seasoned players dissected Musk’s stream, suggesting that the wealthiest person on the planet may not be who he claims in the gaming realm. They assert he likely hires other gamers to play on his behalf to maintain his cool appearance among actual gamers.

As noted by YouTuber Quin69TV, “He clearly has no idea. It’s 100 percent certain someone else handles this account for him.”

While it’s hard to ascertain the veracity of Quin69 and others, the evidence is amusing. It’s almost surreal that Elon Musk is a real person rather than a character in a mediocre Adam Sandler film from the early 2000s.

Unpacking the Debate Surrounding ‘TS’ in Online Communities

Keeping pace with trendy slang is essential, and while preparing to explain that “TS” means “this” online, the reality is a bit more nuanced. “TS” originates from African American Vernacular English, where it signifies “this shit” or “that shit.”

In essence, “this shit” serves a similar purpose to simply saying “this.” However, its journey emphasizes the appropriation debate surrounding AAVE slang, which has also impacted terms like “rizz” and “gyatt.” (Conversely, “skibidi” isn’t rooted in AAVE but comes from a different trend.)

Is the rise of TS a sign of linguistic appropriation? Most likely, according to various opinions circulating online. However, halting this linguistic progression is a complex dilemma since language often morphs independently of individuals’ preferences.

Caution: Avoid Drinking Melted Glacier Water

In yet another chapter of the ongoing series titled “Avoid Everything You See on the Internet,” attention turns to people sampling melted glacier runoff. If this particular trend sounds intriguing, it deserves a reconsideration—it’s a poor idea.

This peculiar trend has gained traction, especially among those with the resources to travel to remote locations for a sip of ice melt, including rapper Ludacris, who recently recorded himself trying Alaskan glacier meltwater.

While the glacier water certainly appears tempting, it’s essential to realize that unseen contaminants may lurk within. Researchers have examined glacier ice and discovered it teeming with microbial life. This includes bacteria, phages (viruses that infect bacteria), and other organisms that have found a home within our glaciers over millennia. There may even be unknown, risky entities in there, biding their time. As glaciologist Lonnie Thompson conveyed to Forbes, “Our understanding of viruses and microbes in these extreme environments is still quite limited.”

Until further notice, one might humorously speculate that Ludacris has been overtaken by the creature from John Carpenter’s The Thing, and our current version of him is a dangerous extraterrestrial mimicry. On that note, feel free to drink as much glacier water as you desire; even the potential consequences likely pale in comparison to enduring life in 2025.