Episode 115: Biden Better on the Border than Trump, Mormon Views on the Pope, App Control, Lottery Wins, & Money Dysphoria

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In this episode of Latter Day Lens, hosts Matt and Shawn delve into various topics including the contrasting deportation rates under Presidents Biden and Trump, the significance of the Pope's death, and the political dynamics involved in church leadership. They also discuss Utah's recent App Store Accountability Act aimed at protecting children online. The conversation highlights the complexities of immigration statistics, the role of the Pope in Christianity, and the balance between government regulation and free market principles. In this conversation, Matt and Shawn delve into the complexities of data privacy, the role of social media in shaping perceptions of wealth, and the ethical implications of gambling strategies. They discuss the challenges parents face in monitoring their children's online activities and the psychological effects of social media on self-worth, particularly the phenomenon of money dysphoria. The dialogue emphasizes the need for awareness and proactive measures in navigating the digital landscape.

Topic 2: Utah recently passed a law called The App Store Accountability Act. It would make app stores give apps real age ratings. It would also stop kids from making deals to buying or downloading apps without their parents' okay—like how things work in the real world. And it would let parents sue if apps lie and hurt their kids. IS this a good idea or government overreach?

Topic 3: Bernard Marantelli and his partners planned to buy almost every lottery ticket to win a huge jackpot in Texas. They usually use math and data, like Wall Street investors, to find good betting chances and win a lot of money each year. Their Texas lottery plan worked, and they won millions, but it made many people angry, with one politician calling it a huge "theft" from the state. They did not break any laws. Is this clever behavior that should be rewarded, or underhanded theft?

The Big Question:  Seeing endless posts of fancy lifestyles on social media can create money dysphoria when the news talks about economic worries. It makes young people question how others afford such things, leading to feelings of inadequacy. One person in marketing notices many tempting online purchases while everyone else discusses financial hardship, highlighting this disconnect. This constant exposure to seemingly lavish lifestyles contributes to money dysphoria and can sometimes lead to impulsive spending followed by guilt as young people struggle to reconcile their own financial reality with curated online portrayals. The big Question, is money dysphoria some kind of mental disorder, or is it just a fancy word for the love of money, which is the root of all evil?

Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Listener Feedback
01:51 Deportation Rates: Biden vs. Trump
05:05 The Impact of the Pope's Death
09:49 Politics in Church Leadership
16:03 Utah's App Store Accountability Act
20:28 The Dilemma of Data Privacy
23:50 Parental Control in the Digital Age
26:36 Clever Gambling Strategies and Ethics
34:10 Money Dysphoria: The Impact of Social Media on Self-Worth