meanwhile Singapore It may be a small country, but its online drama capabilities are surprisingly large. From comedians canceled for offensive jokes to TikTok’s Singaporean CEO given the title of ‘freak’, here are some of the most hotly debated topics that took Singapore’s social media by storm in 2023 .
Comedian Jocelyn Chea infuriates Malaysians
After the infamous 89 second clip, Jokes about MH370Malaysia Airlines flight with 239 people on board goes missing in 2014went viral, and Singapore-raised cartoonist Jocelyn Chia found herself completely canceled and even faced unwarranted threats. tracked by interpol.
Jocelyn Chia in a still from a TikTok video of her performance at a comedy club in New York. Photo: TikTok/@ComedyCellarUSA
Not only that, but her vulgar joke at a New York comedy club prompted Singapore’s Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan to say: apologize to malaysiansIn it, he said: “She certainly does not speak for Singaporeans.”
MalaysiaMeanwhile, then-Foreign Minister Zamburi Abdul Kadir criticized Cheah’s “lack of consideration and empathy” for the victims’ families and Malaysians in general.
But on the other side of the world, the controversy has given Chia a new level of fame. Americafrom which she said she composed her own television special in Asia this week.
Her joke was aimed at the sensitivities surrounding politics, nationalism and identity in Singapore and neighboring Malaysia. In these two countries tied together by history and culture, jokes can sometimes turn into stereotypes and discrimination.
‘Crossing the line’: Jocelyn Chia’s story shows the limits of Asia’s sense of humor
TikTok CEO names Gen Z’s ‘zadi’
Other famous people who have been crowned “Zadi” include: Pedro Pascalthe 48-year-old star of the American television series the last of us.
During the hearing, Mr. Chu, who turns 41 on January 1, fielded questions from U.S. lawmakers on a wide range of topics, including the safety of young users on apps, data privacy and U.S. national security.
TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew testifies during a committee hearing at the Capitol in Washington, March 23. Photo: EPA-EFE
He quickly reached his first million followers on TikTok and took to the stage to thank his fans. “I read the comments and I want to thank you for your support,” he said in the video clip.
Here’s some praise for Chew on social media: TikTok gains wider acceptance across AsiaThere, claims that China-linked apps pose a national security threat due to the amount of user data they collect and their alleged ties to Beijing emanate far less anxiety from Washington and its allies. ing.
Big ‘zadi’: How the TikTok CEO became a star among Singapore’s Gen Z
Bondi’s brief moment in the sun
Bondee, an avatar-based app from Singapore-based tech company Metadream, was downloaded about 2 million times within two weeks of its launch on Apple’s App Store this year and is seen as promising. Ta. metaverse Convert.
Many of the app’s early users were drawn to the cute avatars, personalized rooms, and picnic spaces reminiscent of games like Habbo Hotel and Animal Crossing.
However, the novelty quickly wore off, with users telling this week’s issue of Asia that they found the app’s functionality limited.
Just a month after topping charts across Asia, the app had dropped to number 19 in downloads on the Singapore Apple Store. Experts said Bondi’s brief moment in the sun reflected the hard-earned loyalty of digital natives.Most of them are already on TikTok and Instagram.
Is it already “game over” in the Metaverse for Singaporean Bondi?
Shoppers browse through products at a shopping center on Orchard Road in Singapore on December 23.Photo: Reuters
“Women’s Mathematics” to deal with the cost of living crisis
Some people in Singapore and the region have adopted the logic of “Girl Math,” a financial calculation system that justifies spending thousands of dollars on frivolous but uplifting purchases. taylor swift concert tickets As costs rise, even luxury Van Cleef necklaces.
A Singapore-based content creator used “girl math” to justify spending S$140,889 (US$106,600) on a license to purchase a large car (also known as a title certificate). used. It hit a record high earlier this year..
Will ‘Girl Math’ help Singapore’s Gen Z ‘find joy’ or waste recklessly?
Much of this trend is rooted in humor and “paranoia,” but author Darshen Kunaseharan said it’s also a “coping mechanism” for many young people struggling with the pressure of rising living costs in the city-state. .
Some criticize it for encouraging reckless spending and poor savings habits, while others argue it perpetuates the idea that women are bad at managing household finances. Many also defended it as satire and argued that it shouldn’t be taken too seriously.
