As a result of the mobile betting market’s explosion, 90% of bets are now placed on phones. A 2026 report from Common Sense Media recently revealed some noteworthy trends in regards to sports betting. In their survey of 1,017 adolescent boys ranging in ages 11-17, they found that 36% of boys reported gambling in the past year. 64% participated in gaming-related online activities, 34% engaged in sports-related gambling, and 27% reported experiencing negative effects from gambling. Because everything has switched online, anyone and everyone has access. Ten years ago, eleven year-olds were rejected by harsh in-person age restrictions and general attitudes towards anything gambling related. Now these underage teenagers who have been manipulated into the promise of fast money, are their largest demographic.
In the coming weeks, I plan to finalize my interviews and determine how I will seamlessly incorporate my infographic and multimedia elements into the project. I’ve reached out to several potential interviewees and expect to hear back soon. I’m particularly eager to begin speaking with Professor of Psychology Jean Twenge, whose understanding on generational behavior and mental health might provide valuable insight into the brain’s relationship to addiction. Understanding how the advent of online gambling has changed or impacted traditional gambling patterns/habits is an integral part of this story.
Screening Circle
What resonated with me the most during this screening circle was the emphasis on how little support and how much harm officials and people in power create for unhoused individuals. I also appreciated how they touched on certain cruelties and tactics used by government bodies that are framed as being beneficial but actually cause more challenges for the people facing housing insecurity. Street sweeping in particular is something I've been aware of for a while. In many of my past JMS classes I've either written stories or heard from unhoused people about the lie that is street sweeping. How it is presented as a safety and sanitary measure but in reality it causes more displacement, and often strips people of their already very few belongings including things like necessary medications or eyeglasses. Street sweeping is an optics strategy in several ways. It might remove the appearance of homelessness, but it does nothing to address the issue institutionally. The given area they've decided to sweep may appear to have treated homelessness, but ultimately nothing has been done for the cause. During the circle they also included photos of Gavin Newsom where he's seen “picking up trash.” To uninformed people this looks good for Newsom's campaign, he appears to care about the crisis and he's actually out there being a hands on helper. In reality, destroying or moving belongings and encampments does nothing to combat things like a lack of affordable housing or provide helpful services or mental health support.
In my experience, growing up in California made me more empathetic and understanding of unsheltered people. This is not just because I understand that rent is high and wages are low, but because I have been exposed to how massive and unjust the crisis is. I also think being raised in a family who made it a point to understand the inhumanity in pretending that homeless people don't exist or that they are inherently bad had a big effect on my perception of these communities. For the most part, unhoused individuals are portrayed by mainstream media as criminals, a cautionary tale, uneducated, etc. Most narratives I see are based on the idea that this person made one huge mistake or many little mistakes which ultimately caused their life to fall apart in some dramatic way. Another common trope I see are stories that follow the life of someone who likely grew up in poverty, or traumatic environments and was never able to overcome their “misfortune” and “get out.” The problem with this is that these tropes make homelessness the fault of the individual entirely, rather than explain how we live in a system that intentionally harms certain people and is built to be unhelpful. Other media representations present homelessness as something that is guaranteed to be avoidable if certain steps are followed, and “good” decisions are made. This narrative enforces the idea that being homeless is a choice, and when it's framed as a conscious decision people feel better about their lack of empathy.
A comic like Sweeps Kill has the potential to explain institutional and society issues regarding homelessness that may be perceived by the public as complex, in a simple and easy to understand way. Just by nature of being a comic book, Sweeps Kill also creates an opportunity to appeal to different demographics. Comic books can feel fun and interactive, so I imagine younger children or adults who are interested in illustrations and cartoons might also be more inclined to sit down and read. Sometimes the medium makes all the difference especially on issues that can feel heavy or impossible. It is understandable that certain people would not be extremely excited to read a lengthy article about how sweeping is harmful and how we need to dismantle the current system in order to solve certain crises. However, it is likely that if presented with a colorful and satirical political cartoon style comic book they would. By breaking seemingly complicated issues down in basic language and conversation, and by appealing to fans of art and creatives, Sweeps Kill could have an endless impact on the public and mainstream perception of the housing crisis and those who suffer at the hands of it.
As journalists covering homelessness and the unhoused population, leading with empathy and choosing to write about the institutional flaws that play the major role is highly important. It is not enough to just state that the crisis is bad and how things like sweeping often do more harm than good. Journalists have a responsibility to seek and report truth and dig deeper on complex issues. Interviewing people who are within the community, not just the opinions of those who view homelessness as a nuisance that they have to step over. Culturally we extend so little compassion to unhoused individuals, so attempting to change the opinions held by so many feels like trying to rewire a brain. By going against the mainstream narratives of why homelessness happens and who it happens to feels like another priority and positive approach that journalists could take.
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