In the aftermath of the Black Lives Matter protests that took place globally following the death of George Floyd, BYU–Hawaii students discuss how these protests opened the doors to widespread conversations about racism in America and how the media aided the movement.

From actress Barbra Streisand to singer-songwriter John Legend to motivational speaker Prince Ea, celebrities and influencers have shared their thoughts surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic with the world through social media.

Ke Alaka'i is an award-winning student media group that publishes a website, social media, weekly podcasts and up to eight printed magazines a year at BYU–Hawaii. Its mission correlates with the mission of the university to prepare students of Oceania and the Asian Rim and around the world to be lifelong disciples of Jesus Christ and leaders in their families, communities, chosen fields, and in building the kingdom of God.

Depression is especially prevalent among college students. According to research by the Center for Collegiate Mental Health, roughly 1 in 5 students have either anxiety or depression. BYU–Hawaii students and faculty said they believe social media is one of the culprits of depression.

Most people know Thanksgiving as the holiday of gratitude, where families can gather together and reconnect with one another, explained Dr. Kelli Mosteller, the Citizen Potawatomi Nation’s Cultural Heritage Center director on the Potawatomi Nation website. However, she said the Indigenous population of America does not view Thanksgiving as such. On the website, Mosteller said, “[Thanksgiving] just disregards (the centuries of brutality) against Native Americans and chooses to take this one tiny snapshot, and in the world of social media, it puts all the pretty filters on it so that it doesn’t look the way it truly did.”

For the second time, President Russell M. Nelson invited members of the Church to participate in a social media fast. Whether having accepted the challenge or not, all interviewed students admitted that social media can interrupt their studies and can be unhealthy for your mental health.

BYUH students from different parts of Asia share how love is demonstrated in their homes and communities

In his presentation at the FAC forum, Assistant Professor Mason Allred discussed how technology expanded the roles and vision of women in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints between the years of 1890 and 1920. Sharing a chapter of his forthcoming book, titled, “Spiritual Technologies,” Mason explained how women in the early days of the Church used media to get out of the cultural norms of reproduction to share their own perspectives.

Manase Aida Tetuanui, a newlywed and sophomore majoring in human resources from Saitama, Japan, said being married taught him how to manage his money. He admitted, “I hate counting how much I have, how much I can use and how much I should save.” But now being married, he said, he and his wife need to save and spend their money wisely.