On Monday September 27, 2021, Facebook decided to pause the development of Instagram Kids, an app geared towards children aged 13 or younger, because of concerns about it contributing to mental health issues. The scandal has caused many to think carefully about how social media affects teens and preteens. There seems to be a consensus that social media companies should be more careful when it comes to children.

Lori Loughlin decided it was finally time to return to acting since the college admissions scandal back in March of 2019. The college scandal she was involved in was a huge incident for a while and almost cost Loughlin her career.

On September 17, 2021, a new show, Squid Game, was released on Netflix. This show skyrocketed from there on out. People all across the world are watching this show and raving about it. It is a South Korean-based show, but it is still very popular in the United States. Two out of every three Netflix subscribers around the world have watched the show for at least two minutes, the company says.

Saturday Night Live alumnus, Norm Macdonald recently passed away on September 14, 2021. His friend, Lori Jo Hoekstra, told CNN that Macdonald had battled cancer for the past few years, but it was always kept very private. He was loved for his comedic words and personality, so this loss was devastating to many.  

Ellen Degeneres, one of the most successful daytime talk show hosts, has made the decision to end her show after a 19-season-long run. The 63-year-old is wrapping up the show in 2022 after a years-long decision making, claiming that: “I need something new to challenge me” in an exclusive interview with The Hollywood Reporter. Her famed show has interviewed many, from big-time celebrities to young children who have made a difference in someone else’s life.

Many people have been aware of the many movie sequels that are coming out soon. From The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, to The Boss Baby: Family Business, the industry knows what the audience wants. The Hotel Transylvania series is one that started in 2012, and they continued the adventures of Dracula and his crew, in an animated design. This is Sony Pictures’ highest grossing animated series. 

As recognition of gender diversity has become more widespread, the need for inclusive spaces has increased. Notably, social media platforms have strived to make their spaces supportive of all existing people, regardless of how they define themselves. In an effort to create a more gender-inclusive platform, Instagram has created a new feature for users’ profiles that allows them to express their gender identity. 

On May 15, 2021, American Pop and R&B singer and actress, Ariana Grande and luxury real estate agent Dalton Gomez got married at a small ceremony in Montecito, California, in their shared home. After being engaged for five months, the happy couple were able to bring their close friends and family together and enjoyed their celebration all as one. The intimate ceremony was kept private and simple.

On November 8, 2019, media and entertaining streaming service, Disney+, released a continuation of High School Musical, a romance and comedy drama movie trilogy first released in 2005. Actors featured in this new TV series include Joshua Bassett, Matt Cornett, Sofie Wylie, and Olivia Rodrigo, rising songwriter and singer. This past May, season 2 was released and was loved by millions all over the world.

On March 7, 2021, Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, spoke with Oprah Winfrey in an interview that aired on CBS. Meghan Markle opened up about the many struggles she has faced after becoming a part of the royal family, including her struggle with mental health. Recently, Prince Harry has come forward to discuss his own mental health. 

On Sunday, April 25th, the 2021 Oscars took place.  COVID affected many events, including last year's award shows. This year, however, with everything going on in health news, the Academy decided to take a chance and continue this tradition a slightly different way.

When the global pandemic ate away at peoples’ way of life from the start of 2020, many musicians were stuck, with almost no way to interact with fans, let alone earn money. But with a little surge in creativity and the utilization of today’s modern technology, digital concerts/live streams have taken over the music industry.

I have been working with Nutley Library’s Teen Volunteering since June 2019, and since then have watched the program blossom into an excellent way for teens, grades 9-12, in Nutley to give back to their community as a whole. Ms. Lucia Alvarez, Nutley Librarian and Coordinator for Teen Volunteering, has been running this program since 2018, creating more opportunities and involvement for all.

Some pop stars and rock stars recently had a worldwide broadcasted special to support equal vaccine distribution. On May 8th artists like Eddie Vedder, Foo Fighters, J-Lo, J-Balvin and H.E.R came together with Selena Gomez and the Global Citizens Recovery Plan for the World campaign to help end the pandemic and help people recover.

If you’re a Marvel fan, get ready for more movies in the making! After her debut in Iron Man 2 from 2010, Black Widow officially has her own movie coming soon.

Godzilla vs. Kong is one of the most highly anticipated films of the year. It really hasn’t had much competition, but still. The rematch between Godzilla and King Kong has been highly anticipated by both fans and general audiences alike, and it was brought simultaneously to theaters and HBO Max on March 31st, 2021.

Taylor Swift is a world record artist that grew up in the music industry, starting her career while only 14.  In 2004, Swift was the youngest to sign the company, Sony/ATV, where she then moved to Big Machine Time Records in 2006.

On March 20, 2020, Broadway suddenly closed its doors. The pandemic hit Broadway hard and the community has been trying to recover ever since. Now, there seems to be a bright light at the end of the tunnel. 

On March 14, 2021, the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards took place at the famous Los Angeles Convention Center, in Los Angeles, California. The beloved Award show was broadcasted 8:00pm EDT, on CBS, for virtual audiences across the world.

Nutley High School's annual Spring Play, Edges, is to be performed at 7pm on April 23rd and 24th in the NHS auditorium. A recording will also be aired the weekend after this performance for those watching virtually.