🛢️ Are “sludge” videos harming our brains?

It’s Monday, January 15 — people are talking about how weather in Iowa may impact voter turnout, the potential danger of sludge videos on TikTok, and more.

As always, we’ve summarized and organized the different shades of perspective, so you can see the big picture quickly. Here at Shades we believe that seeing multiple points of view is the best way to stay informed.

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- Jeff (co-founder of Shades)

❄️ Will Iowa’s deep freeze impact voter turnout?

Iowa's chill may ice voter turnout, sparking debate on its impact on elections. Some worry it'll skew results — but others are delighted by that possibility.

❄️ As Iowans brace for a severe cold snap, NY Magazine questions whether frigid temperatures will reduce voter turnout in the upcoming elections. If so, it’s unclear how it would affect the race.

❄️ WaPo says the freeze could very well tamper down turnout and skew results. Hardest hit will probably be the smaller campaigns.

❄️ CBS agrees: Turnout could be really low. But candidates are charging ahead anyway, bundling up and braving the cold to rally last-minute support.

❄️ The Dispatch loves all the drama — and the fact that weather can be so powerful in politics and democracy.

🛢️ Are “sludge” videos harming our brains?

Sludge videos are all the rage, but are they reshaping our brains and reducing our ability to focus?

🛢️ Scientific American says “sludge” videos — which are TikTok videos showing multiple smaller videos at the same time, in a grid — may be reshaping attention spans.

🛢️ Here’s an example of a sludge video.

🛢️ Bloomberg agrees: Viral split-screen TikToks kill people's ability to focus. This is a real issue!

🛢️ But a Reddit on r/UnpopularOpinion sees it differently: Sludge content isn't frying our brains; it's just digital multitasking.

🛢️ Polygon isn't worried, either: There's no proof that sludge videos harm our attention spans. It might just reflect our media-mixing habits.

Quick hits

🇺🇸 Biden said he'll be volunteering with Philabundance to honor Martin Luther King Jr. Day. (CBS News)

🏛️ Leaders in Congress announced a stopgap plan that would keep the government funded and avoid a shutdown until early March. (The Hill)

🏈 The Detroit Lions beat the Los Angeles Rams to secure their first playoff victory in 32 years. (Detroit Free Press)

📺 The Dolphins-Chiefs wild card game was "the most-streamed live event in US history", according to NBC. 23 million viewers streamed the game on Peacock. (CNN)

Thanks for reading. If you have any feedback or want to share your thoughts or ideas, please email me at [email protected].