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Dylan Mulvaney, a transgender creator known for her "Days of Girlhood" TikTok series, posted her "face reveal" on Friday following her recent facial feminization surgery. Mulvaney, who has 10.3 million TikTok followers, said she had facial feminization surgery on Dec. 16. In recent weeks, Mulvaney has shared updates regarding her healing process, while also teasing her "reveal." “I’m so happy, and it’s still me, it's just a little bit softer of a version,” Mulvaney said in an Instagram Reel on Friday. In Friday’s posts, Mulvaney thanked her followers, many who shared their support and excitement for the creator in the comments section.

YouTube, Arizona State University and "Crash Course" — the popular educational YouTube channel founded by vloggers Hank and John Green — on Tuesday announced the launch of Study Hall, a pathway to college credit and higher education resource. Study Hall provides guides about the college selection and admissions process, as well as foundational courses that students can receive college credit for. Hank Green said the idea for Study Hall came after years brainstorming solutions for the student loan debt crisis. Study Hall provides free access to four YouTube courses that cover subjects that are typically taken during early college years. YouTube wants to improve on the experience for learners on the platform without "breaking the magic" of informal YouTube education content, Kurtz said.

After controversy following its mascot refresh last year, M&M's announced Monday it is taking an "indefinite pause" from using its candy-coated mascots, saying the "last thing M&M’s wanted" was to be "polarizing." M&M’s said in a tweet that it is instead tapping actor Maya Rudolph as its spokesperson, someone the brand said "America can agree on." He made similar complaints about the candies last January after M&M’s announced a new, inclusive look. “But now we get it — even a candy’s shoes can be polarizing," the brand wrote. Others speculated the announcement could be a publicity stunt made ahead of the Super Bowl, which takes place on Feb. 12.

Bills to block the app on state devices in California, Massachusetts, New York and Vermont have also been proposed. University of IdahoSchool’s policy: TikTok must be removed from university equipment "regardless of funding source," according to the school's help page. South Dakota University SystemSchool’s policy: The South Dakota Board of Regents, which governs six universities including Black Hills State University, University of South Dakota, Northern State University, Dakota State University, South Dakota State University and South Dakota Mines, told employees they could not use, download or access TikTok on university devices. University of Texas — AustinSchool’s policy: On Dec. 16, university officials announced that TikTok would be banned on state-issued devices. Texas Tech UniversitySchool’s policy: University employees are prohibited from using TikTok on school-issued devices and official university TikTok accounts must be deactivated.

Now, over the past two months, videos showing Borzois, and inanimate objects that look like them, have taken over TikTok. Jacob Chattman, a longtime Borzoi owner and content creator, said Borzois "embody the existential crisis of being way too aware of everything." Sad Borzois, Kambourian said, have recontextualized “Cellophane,” a devastating song in its original form, for many people. Like Chattman, Kelly said many sighthounds have a “magical” quality to them. “They just have such a different personality than other dogs,” Kelly said.

YouTube star Andrew Callaghan apologized and said he’d be seeking treatment Sunday after two women came forward accusing him of sexual coercion and sexual assault. Callaghan, an independent journalist known for YouTube shows “All Gas No Brakes” and “Channel 5,” spoke for over four minutes in a video on his Instagram page. He told followers that he had some “serious work” to do on himself in light of the allegations against him. “Also, not to blame alcohol, but I truly believe that alcohol was a contributing factor to my poor decision making. “I thought that, you know, going home from the bar alone made you a loser,” he said Sunday.

The posts made their way to Twitter, YouTube and Reddit, where fans of Callaghan expressed shock and disappointment regarding the allegations. YouTube did not respond to NBC News’ request for comment. A spokesperson for A24 did not respond to a request for comment on Thursday. Her four-part series discussing her alleged experience with Callaghan received over 140,000 views. "I believe it’s up to Andrew to address these allegations and do so openly and honestly.

TikTok creator and curve model Remi Bader said when she went off Ozempic, a drug used to treat Type 2 diabetes, she "gained double the weight back." Ozempic is used to help people with diabetes manage their blood sugar levels. However, in recent months, it has become a popular drug for weight loss. The influencer, who has 2.2 million followers on TikTok, and has become known for her advocacy for size-inclusive fashion. With limited access to Ozempic, patients have had to check multiple pharmacies, accept lower doses or even switch medications all together.

Instagram announced on Monday that it would put its Create button back in the center of its main navigation bar and remove the Shop tab. While the dedicated Shop tab will disappear, Mosseri said in his Reel that “you’ll still be able to shop on Feed, in Stories, in Reels and in ads.” Instagram also stated on its help page that it would “continue to invest in shopping experiences that provide the most value for people and businesses across feed, stories, reels, ads and more.”The Shop tab, along with the Reels tab, was introduced to the in-app navigation bar in 2020, according to TechCrunch. The decision to redesign the navigation bar to include these tabs instead of the Create or Activity functions was controversial, sparking backlash from users who felt the platform was prioritizing businesses and influencers. The Reels tab, which is currently in the center position of the navigation bar, will move a space to accommodate the Create tab. In recent months, high-profile users like Kylie Jenner and Kim Kardashian have called out Instagram for overpromoting Reels.

Morphe Cosmetics, a makeup brand once synonymous with YouTube beauty culture, confirmed Thursday it was shutting down all its U.S. stores — a move that shocked its employees, outraged customers and left some experts questioning the brand’s future. Morphe employees sounded alarm for weeksSome of Morphe's retail employees said it was shocking that the company had laid them off so abruptly — with several employees telling NBC News that they received a day’s notice before losing their jobs. TikToks under the hashtag #justiceformorpheretailemployees have received more than 7.5 million views, although some viral videos about the store closures have been deleted. As of Friday, Morphe employees who spoke with NBC News said they hadn’t received their severance packets yet. The store closures indicate that sales were continuing to flail, Ben-Shabat said.

A chaotic travel experience for a United Airlines passenger ended this week after she used an Apple AirTag to help track down her lost luggage. “I’d just like everyone to know that @united has lost track of my bag and is lying about it," she tweeted Sunday. Out back by the dumpsters, I have found other emptied United Airlines bags." The delivery service, Couriers United LLC, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. AirTags were used in tracking lost luggage before, when a woman used hers to track her luggage near an airline subcontractor’s home.

Some of their daughters echoed that reminder, adding that they think the trend has helped counteract ageism on TikTok, which has become more commonplace. She thinks younger generations view this trend as a glimpse into the future and what they could look like as mothers. “I think this has to be one of my favorite trends on TikTok that I’ve participated in,” Ramirez said. Her video, which has over 721,000 views, shows her mom in high-waisted jeans, a white cropped corset and heels. “That made me feel excited because I feel like it kind of boosted [her] confidence in a way,” Morris said.

☆ Their colleges banned TikTok over security fears. These students vow it won't stop them from scrolling.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-28 | by ( Daysia Tolentino | Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Kahlan-Rosenblatt.Jpg | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +7 min

But a handful of students at the affected universities who spoke with NBC News say the newly enacted policies won’t stop them from scrolling their For You pages. Kay Ivey banned TikTok on state-owned devices and networks on Dec. 12, citing cybersecurity issues and fears over Chinese spying. Lawmakers in the U.S. House and the Senate also proposed a bipartisan bill to ban TikTok federally on Dec. 13. A University of Oklahoma spokesperson said the school is complying with Stitt’s executive order. Texada said he felt that TikTok, beyond helping with marketing, has also been a resource for the university community, particularly international students.

☆ Black creators say they ‘have to be perfect’ to get promotional products from brands. They want that to change.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-27 | by ( Daysia Tolentino | Daysia Tolentino Is A Culture | Trends Reporter For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +12 min

Black creators, like Bumba, have been vocal about how the lack of gifting to creators of color demonstrates the inequity in influencer marketing. Black creators say they still feel they have to work twice as hard as their white counterparts. Nimay Ndolo, a Black comedy creator with 1.9 million TikTok followers, said Black creators are often excluded from such opportunities, which limits their success. Black creators have to be “extraordinary” to get what white influencers appear to get with ease, Ndolo said. “I want to see, like, these creators that I’ve been watching — these Black creators, these queer creators, these Hispanic creators, these Asian creators — get more opportunities," she said.

☆ 'It’s corn!,' 'Dark Brandon' and 'girl explaining': A look at the most notable memes of 2022
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-23 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Kahlan-Rosenblatt.Jpg | Kalhan Rosenblatt | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +8 min

Here's NBC News' roundup of the 10 most notable memes of 2022. 'Dark Brandon'The meme, which started on Twitter in early 2022, depicts President Joe Biden as a laser-eyed edge-lord. 'Girl explaining'The "girl explaining" meme actually began going viral in 2019 in Spanish-speaking circles, according to Know Your Meme. Whether it's explaining what the Inflation Reduction Act is or why the Brooklyn Library is "fine free," the most shouty memes of 2022 were conveyed through the "girl explaining." That's because the corn kid, a 7-year-old named Tariq, became one of the year's most viral memes.

He lost a Twitter poll asking whether he should remain as CEO. Musk reinstated a handful of banned journalists Saturday after he conducted a Twitter poll asking users whether he should uphold the ban. Following backlash, Twitter also quickly rolled back its decision to ban users’ promotion of links to Facebook, Instagram, Mastodon, Truth Social, Tribel, Nostr and Post accounts. Won’t happen again.”But after all that, some users are skeptical that Twitter is a platform they want to remain on. “Should I run Twitter ?” Snoop Dogg wrote in a Twitter poll Sunday.

Fans of Megan Thee Stallion are trying to shift the public’s attention away from what they believe to be a misogynistic narrative around the current trial against Tory Lanez, who is accused of shooting the rapper in the foot. Digital alchemy is the practice of Black women and women of color using the internet to combat and counter misogynoir. “Especially for Black women, violence against women in our community is very common.”She noticed that online a lot of fans are calling out people who are highlighting Pete’s sexual history. “People have called it the Meg and Tory trial when she’s not on trial for anything,” Lindsey, who is author of “America Goddam: Violence, Black Women, and The Struggle for Justice,” said. “When people talk about Megan Thee Stallion getting shot, all the headlines are Megan Thee Stallion is on trial and I’m not on trial!”Hernandez said supporters recognize that slut shaming is being used to discredit Pete and paint her as an imperfect victim.

While no dating app has taken up the suggestion yet, TikTok users started making and sharing their own “Dating Wrapped” slideshows this year. However, Dating Wrapped videos blew up this year, and the hashtag #DatingWrapped has amassed more than 10.3 million views on the platform. McLean said she initially made her video because she is a fan of Spotify Wrapped and enjoys sharing her dating stories with friends. Dupone added a slide for “multi-night sleepovers” in their Dating Wrapped, which they felt was more common in queer relationships. In addition to being a source of entertainment for viewers, McLean said preparing her Dating Wrapped video allowed her to reflect on what she wants and needs romantically.

☆ Viral TikTok shows group of strangers taking a 12-hour road trip together after Frontier canceled their flight
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-08 | by ( Daysia Tolentino | Daysia Tolentino Is A Culture | Trends Reporter For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

This is what happened to 13 strangers who booked a Frontier Airlines flight from Orlando, Florida to Knoxville, Tennessee on Sunday evening. Alanah Story, a media manager and van passenger, documented the journey on her TikTok account. While the road trip brought new friendships, the group are still having troubles resolving issues with Frontier. Miller said that she was able to request a refund from Frontier, but others in the group had trouble doing so. Jennifer De La Cruz, a senior director of corporate communications at Frontier Airlines, said customers had the option to receive a full refund or wait for the next available Frontier Flight.

Actor Johnny Depp topped Google’s list of trending people in 2022. Heard was the third top trending person on Google Search this year. The Depp-Heard trial also took a prominent spot in users’ search history this year. Andrew Tate, the self-described “success coach” who has been criticized online for what many see as misogynistic advice, topped Google’s 2022 category for trending “who is …” questions. In the gaming sphere, the popular online puzzle Wordle was the top trending game worldwide and in the U.S., according to Google Search.

“After the Infowars interview, we were disgusted by his behavior,” CalmYe said. “We didn’t want to give a platform to what he’s saying anymore.”After the Infowars interview, we were disgusted by his behavior. The subreddit became increasingly difficult to moderate, and Ye’s praise of Hitler was the tipping point. CalmYe said most fans seem “disgusted” with Ye’s recent behavior, and this latest interview caused many to ditch the artist for good. Other Ye-focused creators have tried to steer their followings through the aftermath of the Infowars interview.

A 20-year-old TikTok creator was reportedly hit with a $285 fine after hitting a golf ball into the Grand Canyon. The video showed her hitting a golf ball into the canyon and throwing her golf club off the ledge, according to the official Instagram account for the Grand Canyon. "Do we really need to say, ‘don’t hit golf balls into the Grand Canyon?’" the Grand Canyon wrote in a Facebook post on Oct. 27 and on Instagram on Oct. 28. Golfing in the Grand Canyon???" The Grand Canyon National Park has publicly called out misbehaving visitors in the past.

☆ Some YouTube creators are dropping their sponsorships with Established Titles after company accused of being a ‘scam’
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( Daysia Tolentino | Daysia Tolentino Is A Culture | Trends Reporter For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +11 min

Established Titles said it stands by its conservation contributions, citing its donations to One Tree Planted and TREES. A spokesperson for TREES confirmed its partnership with Established Titles. Some creators are keeping their sponsorshipsSome creators, including equestrian content creator Raleigh Lilith and commentary channel Paige Christie, said they’ve kept their Established Titles sponsorships. In an effort to understand what happened, Christie interviewed Established Titles CEO Katerina Yip and made a video “debunking” Shafer’s video. She said she received harassment over her association with Established Titles.

Fishtopher, a 5-year-old cat, was reportedly "sad and depressed" as he sat at the Homeward Bound Pet Adoption Center in New Jersey waiting to be adopted. While there's only one Fishtopher, the shelter and Folts have been encouraging people to adopt other animals in need of new homes. The Homeward Bound Pet Adoption Center also asked the people interested in Fishtopher to save its other rescues. The Homeward Bound Pet Adoption Center reported a 96% save rate in 2021. In addition to Fishtopher, the shelter shared on its Facebook page 16 other animals that were adopted this past weekend.

A handful of creators are in Qatar, or heading there in the next few weeks, to help capture the best moments from the 2022 World Cup. This year’s World Cup, which has been shrouded in controversy, kicked off Sunday. In a Short posted earlier this week, de la Haye captured his dad's reaction when he told him they're going to the World Cup. "Every World Cup ... faithfully, we sit and home and support our team." He will be filming from the semifinal and final matches, but made a comedic Short with his World Cup predictions.

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