Official Student Newspaper of Henry M. Gunn High School

The Oracle

Official Student Newspaper of Henry M. Gunn High School

The Oracle

Official Student Newspaper of Henry M. Gunn High School

The Oracle

Preteens’ use of social media promotes unhealthy behaviors, damages interpersonal development

Preteens’ use of social media promotes unhealthy behaviors, damages interpersonal development

Bryan Xiao, Lifestyle Editor, Assistant Business Manager March 12, 2024

When TikTok videos of preteens showcasing their product hauls from beauty store Sephora went viral in January, the tweens were met with widespread criticism. Sephora employees flocked to social media to share their experiences with young customers, recounting encounters with rude children and jumbled...

Finding the Middle Ground:  Rethinking family technology policies

Finding the Middle Ground: Rethinking family technology policies

Ya-An Xue, Social Media Editor September 23, 2023

Growing up in the digital age, Gunn students are constantly surrounded by technology — it opens up a seemingly infinite world of entertainment, information and opportunities. For many parents, however, the online world adds another dimension of worry to the already arduous process of raising children....

‘Hot girl summer’ fosters unhealthy standards, toxic dating culture for students

‘Hot girl summer’ fosters unhealthy standards, toxic dating culture for students

Diya Bose-Malakar, Features Editor May 19, 2023

When I first announced that I was destined to be single this summer, I was met with congratulatory remarks from my friends because that meant that I could participate in “hot girl summer” for the first time in two years. Yet I couldn’t share the same excitement that made my friends’ faces glow,...

Summer break exacerbates social media-induced fomo

Summer break exacerbates social media-induced “fomo”

Anne Dong, Forum Editor May 19, 2023

As summer arrives, Instagram feeds grow cluttered with images of extravagant vacations and beach trips, along with posts about pool parties and picnics that one could only wish to be invited to. The pressure to have a “fun” summer can push people to change their plans to feel less excluded, and cause...

The weight of gym culture: Student gym-goers experience ugly side of exercise

The weight of gym culture: Student gym-goers experience ugly side of exercise

Dan Honigstein, In-Depth Editor May 17, 2023

The rise of fitness-centered social media, the sheer number of local gyms and the popularity of school athletics have all contributed to the growth of fitness culture among Palo Alto teens. Some students workout together after school, turning their fitness ventures into social gatherings, while others...

Social media exacerbates body image issues in young women

Social media exacerbates body image issues in young women

Safina Syed, Features Editor March 10, 2022

In the age of Instagram models and Pinterest influencers, social media users are constantly bombarded with images of the “perfect” girl. She’s confident, naturally beautiful and posts colorful photos of fruit bowls and yoga sessions on her stunningly curated feed. When adolescent girls see these...

Online boom spaces provide community, exposure

Online boom spaces provide community, exposure

Vivian Studdert, Sports Editor March 10, 2022

In the digital age, many may believe that the joys of classical literature have been lost among iPhones and social media. And yet, reality disproves this assumption since nothing screams books like social media in 2022. A niche community of book lovers has established itself on several social media...

The Dark Side of Social Media Activism

Jessica Zang and Mia Knezevic November 2, 2020

On May 25, George Floyd was pinned to the ground and suffocated by a police officer. As a result of a video taken at the time and news coverage, thousands of people flocked to social media to voice their outrage. Since the release of the video onto Instagram, many users, accustomed to the traditional...

Students should practice awareness, caution when consuming media

Students should practice awareness, caution when consuming media

Paul Garofalo, Reporter September 22, 2020

Reading through countless articles and opinions can be headache-inducing and often leaves you more confused than before. When scouring the internet for news, whether that be celebrity gossip or political debates, be skeptical of what is written and keep a keen eye on biases from each source.  Some...

Students should limit outings, be responsible on social media

Students should limit outings, be responsible on social media

Julianna Chang and Catherine Chu September 16, 2020

Santa Clara County has been held in suspense for more than half a year while facing multiple surges of COVID-19 cases. The months of social isolation and constant caution have been draining for us all. Fortunately, Santa Clara County moved from the “purple” to the “red” tier of California’s...

Social Comparisons Result in Unhealthy Beauty Expectations

Social Comparisons Result in Unhealthy Beauty Expectations

Dori Filppu, Reporter March 5, 2020

Instagram, Snapchat, Tik Tok and countless other social media platforms alldisplay similar images: flawless skin and tiny waists. Yet what was initially considered to be the world of the internet has now broadened into the world of you and me. I see it here at school, within myself and among...

Graphic by Shannon Lin

Stan culture helps foster friendships

March 5, 2020

Super fans have been around for decades, but in the age of social media, a new term has arisen to describe the people who dedicate their lives to supporting different celebrities: stans. Since it’s rise, the Internet has cultivated a culture where teens can be who they want to be and find their voice...

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