文章大意:这是一篇议论文,文章主要讲述当今社交媒体平台已经从一种让人们保持联系的工具变成了赚钱工具的现象,并呼吁青少年用户群体正确使用社交媒体和树立正确的价值观。
Social media is taking over our lives: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and now, TikTok. These social media platforms have changed from a way to stay connected to an industry where even kids can make money off their posts. While this may seem like another opportunistic innovation, it’s really full of hidden false realities.
The median income (中位收入) recorded in the United States of American was about $63,000 in 2018. TikTokers can make anywhere from $50,000 to $150,000 for a TikTok brand partnership, and TikTokers with over a million followers can make up to $30,000 a month—$360,000 a year. They are making more than the average person simply by posting a 15-second video.
This is mad in more ways than one. Not only is it an overpaid “job”, it promotes a false sense of reality. Many of these famous TikTokers are still teens and the effects of fame at such an early stage in life might cause issues later in life, such as mental illness. Teens between the ages of 13 and 17 make up 27% of TikTok viewers, who can be easily influenced by what they are watching. They can put a false sense of self-value into who they look up to and what they represent: money, fame, being considered conventionally attractive.
While TikTok has become a great tool for marketing, it’s important to understand how this content affects young viewers. If we’re constantly consuming content that shows us all we need to do to be successful is be conventionally attractive and post a 15-second video featuring a new dance, it will challenge our knowledge of what really makes someone successful and will in turn affect our individual work ethnics (伦理).
Richard Colyer, president and creator of Metaphor, Inc, had his own view on this issue. “It sounds great that kids can make money for doing the latest dance moves in a 15-second video, but we should feed the minds of kids and not just their bank accounts. TikTok can be great if used properly. Money alone is not good; technology alone is not good and connectedness can be bad if it is only online.”
Again, as a fellow consumer of TikTok, I do enjoy the app when I have some time to kill and need a good laugh. I’m not against someone making a living on entertainment, but what does getting famous off of a 15-second video teach young people?
32. What does the underlined word “this” in Paragraph 1 refer to?
A.Social networking. | B.Making money on social media. |
C.A job offered by TikTok. | D.Staying connected to the Internet. |
33. Which is the possible influence of TikTok on its young users?
A.They tend to live an adult life too soon. |
B.They are forced to pay for certain services. |
C.They are likely to develop false values. |
D.They may stop believing other social media. |
34. What can we infer from Richard Colyer’s comments?
A.TikTok can be a positive influence if teens make good use of it. |
B.Young TikTokers should be banned from making money. |
C.It is better to involve education on investment in TikTok videos. |
D.Contents of videos need checking before their release online. |
35. What’s the author’s attitude towards making money on social media?
A.Positive. | B.Favorable. | C.Negative. | D.Cautious. |