Women in NYC are sharing stories about getting punched in the face.

On Alert

The Story

Women in NYC are sharing stories about getting punched in the face.

Wait, what?

Yup. In recent weeks, TikTok has been flooded with videos of women saying they were randomly attacked in broad daylight while walking in NYC. The videos have racked up over 10 million views. Many of the women said they were looking at their phones when a man punched them in the head. New York police are investigating and said they arrested a male suspect yesterday, but it's unclear if he's connected to any other incidents. The NYPD has not indicated whether these attacks are part of an increase in violent crime against women in the city. Still, women are now adding ‘walking in broad daylight’ to the laundry list of things they have to worry about.

Tell me about it.

It's not just NYC-based women who are concerned about their safety. Women across the US have shared their stories on social media, expressing how they feel the need to stay hypervigilant at all times — and how it's exhausting. They're also swapping safety tips...which really shouldn't have to be a thing. Women who travel solo have gone viral for their tips on staying safe at a hotel. Others have said they put men's work boots at their door to deter invaders. Even exercise requires being on high alert — a survey from Adidas found that 92% of women feel some concern for their safety while on a run.

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The recent incidents in NYC have reminded many that women take on the undue burden of ensuring their own personal safety at all times — and not enough measures are taken to protect them.

What could be a win-win for business…

Child care benefits. A new report found companies that offered child care benefits to their employees saw up to a 425% return on their investment. Researchers looked at five companies of various sizes, including UPS and Etsy, that provided benefits like emergency onsite daycare and stipends. They found that for every dollar spent on child care benefits, companies earned between roughly a dollar and $4.25 back through reduced absences, lateness, and lower rates of attrition. Still, experts have described the report as limited and said more research is needed. The findings come as child care costs continue to climb, while the government drags its feet on universal child care legislation — leaving it up to the private sector to step up for working parents.

Who found their happy place…

Disney and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R). Yesterday, Disney and DeSantis formally settled their years-long dispute over control of the Orlando theme park. In 2022, Disney publicly opposed DeSantis’ so-called “Don’t Say Gay” law. In response, the Florida governor ended Disney’s decades-long control of its district and appointed a board to oversee theme park operations. Since then, the two have hit each other with a couple of lawsuits. Now, as part of their settlement, DeSantis’ board will stay in place and Disney stands to expand its parks and resorts in the state.

What’s the latest meme stock on the block…

Truth Social. After making its stock market debut on Tuesday, former President Trump’s social media platform surged to an $8 billion valuation on Wall Street. That’s an increase of $2 billion since “DJT” began trading. Truth Social has an estimated 1 million monthly active app users in the US and lost $49 million in the first nine months of 2023. But experts say Trump’s supporters are propping up the valuation. Whether Truth Social becomes the next GameStop remains to be seen, but betting on meme stocks is a risky game.

What’s gatekeeping…

Costco.

Who's getting called out for having dupes...

Kim Kardashian.

Where divorce papers are being filed…

“Selling Sunset.”

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