College Speaks is a UNLV student podcast diving into social media culture, TikTok addiction, dating apps, hard launching relationships, and what it means to be authentic online in 2026. In this episode, the hosts debate whether Thursdays are the new Fridays, unpack Instagram vs. TikTok identity, and discuss how social media shapes modern college relationships.

From screen time confessions to the TikTok ban panic, this episode captures how Gen Z navigates digital life — including influencer culture, AI tools like Grok, deleting Instagram for mental clarity, and the social pressure of posting your boyfriend online.

Topics Covered:

• Hard launching your relationship on Instagram
• Social media breaks: do they actually work?
• TikTok vs. Instagram Reels engagement
• AI in everyday scrolling (Grok, ChatGPT summaries)
• Online persona vs. real-life identity
• Meeting your boyfriend on TikTok
• Dating apps vs. meeting in real life
• Is Thursday the new Friday on campus?

College Speaks features UNLV journalism students discussing real campus culture, relationships, digital identity, and student life.

📩 Questions or comments? Email: collegespeaksradio@gmail.com

📸 Follow on Instagram: @collegespeaksradio

Available for syndication to college stations worldwide.

In the debut episode of College Speaks, UNLV students get real about what college is actually like — beyond the brochures and TikTok highlight reels.

From gap years and changing majors to student loans, financial literacy, confidence, and career uncertainty, this conversation explores whether college is truly “worth it” in 2026. The cast shares honest reflections on navigating adulthood, advisor experiences, pandemic interruptions, pressure to succeed, and the disconnect between students and friends who chose different paths.

You’ll hear perspectives from business majors, aspiring voice actors, broadcasters, and first-generation thinkers wrestling with debt, ambition, and independence. Is college necessary? Is it a business? Does it build confidence? Or are there alternative paths to success?

If you’re a Nevada high school student, a current college student, or someone debating whether higher education is right for you — this episode is for you.

🎓 Real talk. No filters. Just students figuring it out in real time.