My challenge is called “ Love Is Blind “. It is a communication-based obstacle course where one member of each couple is blindfolded while the other must answer spicy questions to guide them through the course. The challenge arena is retro arcade-themed, with the islanders dressed in metallic swimsuits or swim trunks, matching shoes, and the blindfolded partner wearing a blindfold decorated with googly eyes. The partner who can see, or the “GPS,” stands in a booth while directing their blindfolded partner through the obstacle course. To successfully guide them, the GPS must answer rapid fire spicy questions at three different gates. If they answer too slowly, their partner gets slimed. Gate 1 features a question about another islander, such as, “Who is the most untrustworthy?” After answering, the blindfolded partner must slide down a large hill into the next section of the course. Gate 2 is a maze filled with swinging foam obstacles. Here, the GPS is asked relationship-testing questions, such as, “If your partner left tonight, who would you pull for a chat?”. Gate 3 consists of a split path with trap doors. At this stage, the GPS answers rating-style questions about their partner, such as, “Rate your partner’s dressing style.” At the end of the challenge, the GPS gets to choose whether their partner takes the safe path or the shortcut. The shortcut leads to six brand new islanders of the opposite sex, revealing the Casa Amor lineup, where each new islander shares a kiss with the contestant. After the challenge, all of the islanders return to the villa. The winning couple or the couple that was slimed the least wins a night in the Hideaway, while the remaining islanders are sent to Casa Amor. The following morning, the winning couple is separated and asked individually whether they would like to remain together in the main villa or head to Casa Amor. If both choose to stay loyal, they remain together in the main villa. However, if either partner chooses Casa Amor, they are separated and sent to experience Casa like everyone else.

Social Media silently eats away at mental peace, leaving people to feel unseen, unheard, disconnected and not enough in a world that is advertised to support them. As a younger child, I never understood why my mother felt so strongly against social media and why she wouldn't allow me to make my first profile. One day I finally convinced her to allow me to get Instagram and TikTok which is where my journey started. Originally, I would scroll for hours watching funny videos, dances, and various food videos, until I began to get older and start to look at how I looked versus every other girl I saw on these platforms. This is when social media began to change how I looked at myself forever. Being a young and impressionable pre-teen I wondered how girls got their bodies to look so perfect on camera and why mines didn't look the same. I would go to school and see how other kids would have on latest trends while I didn't and would beg to get them, unknowingly losing my own identity. Little by little I began to become obsessed with making myself look and act like others online, I thought it would make me popular. I now notice these things didn't bring me joy at all, just increased sadness that I didn't look a certain way. Social Media provokes an addictive nature in teens and young adults in their most formative stages. People spend hours scrolling and comparing themselves rather than experiencing meaningful, face-to-face interactions. This exposure to idealized images can distort self esteem and contribute to feelings of inadequacy. This has contributed to a greater loneliness among young people. Loneliness is a disease in itself, sitting alone in your thoughts, with no escape except running to the exact thing that got you there. Cyberbullying is an element of social media that causes intense harm to the world. Social Media is a mean and harsh place that has caused many to lose their lives due to the intense mental harm from being bullied. People are constantly shamed, bullied, and hated for simply being themselves, the internet encourages cruelty without consequence. To make social media a media and better place and address the impact it is essential for users, communities, and platforms to promote empathy, accountability and kindness online. Users should be educated on digital literacy and recognizing mental distress. Social media platforms should begin to reduce exposure to harmful content and promote mental health resources and platforms. As a society, together we must shift our online culture to promote kindness. Taking these steps together will lessen the harmful effects of social media and make it a healthier place for everyone.