YouTube is launching a “supervised” version, which is essentially a middle-ground between YouTube Kids and the main site. This is to let parents offer an age-appropriate YouTube experience to children who outgrow the content in YouTube Kids.
The new supervised mode will be available to children over 13, and will come with content settings and limited features.
The various access tiers would allow parents to control what their children can watch.
“In the coming months, we’ll launch a new experience in beta for parents to allow their children to access YouTube through a supervised Google Account,” YouTube said.
Content options of parents
(Image credit: YouTube)
Youtube said it understands that every child is unique and reaches different developmental stages at different times. It also said different people have different parenting styles.
Hence, the supervised Google account gives parents a choice of three settings for children. These are “Explore”, “Explore More”, and “Most of YouTube”.
Explore: For children ready to move on from YouTube Kids and explore content on YouTube, this setting will feature a broad range of videos generally suitable for viewers ages 9+, including vlogs, tutorials, gaming videos, music clips, news, educational content and more.
Explore More: With content generally suitable for viewers ages 13+, this setting will include an even larger set of videos, and also live streams in the same categories as “Explore.”
Most of YouTube: This setting will contain almost all videos on YouTube, except for age-restricted content, and it includes sensitive topics that may only be appropriate for older teens.
It is a work in progress
In the new mode in-app purchases will be disabled, as well as creation and comments features, though parents will eventually have variable controls for each element.
YouTube said its moderation system will use “a mix of user input, machine learning and human review” to determine which videos are suitable based on age ratings, but also says that it “will make mistakes and will continue to evolve over time.”
YouTube said it will be rolling out the new experience over the coming months.
It also said it would launch an ongoing campaign that features creators discussing themes like bullying and harassment, misinformation, digital well-being and more.
Colin Kaepernick (in number seven jersey) and teammate Eric Reid kneel during the national anthem on Sep. 1, 2016. Source: Josh Levin, “Colin Kaepernick’s Protest Is Working,” slate.com, Sep. 12, 2016
People who support refusing to stand for the national anthem argue that athletes are justified in using their celebrity status to bring attention to important issues, and that refusing to stand for the national anthem is an appropriate and effective method of peaceful protest. People who disagree argue that football games are an inappropriate place to engage in political protest, and that not standing for the national anthem shows disrespect for the country and those who proudly support it, some with their lives.
Is Kneeling during the National Anthem an Appropriate Form of Protest?
Pro 1
When one believes the United States is not living up to its ideals of freedom, liberty, and justice for all, kneeling during the national anthem is appropriate and justified.
Colin Kaepernick said, “I’m not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color… To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.” Many other athletes have since refused to stand for the national anthem for similar reasons. Denver Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall, who also has knelt during the national anthem, said, “the message is I’m against social injustice… I’m not against the military or police or America at all.” NASCAR official and Army veteran Kirk Price, who kneeled during the anthem at a June 2020 race, stated, “I fully respect the flag… That’s not what the issue is here. The issue is African Americans being oppressed for so long under the flag… But to be honest with you, I know what the flag stands for and I know about Black people being oppressed because I am one.”
Pro 2
When a national figure such as an NFL player kneels during the national anthem, it shocks people into paying attention and generates conversation.
Many people were shocked and offended when Colin Kaepernick refused to stand for “The Star-Spangled Banner,” and the resulting debate has continued as additional players joined the protest. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell originally disagreed with those actions, but later praised what he called a movement from protest to progress: “I truly respect our players wanting to speak out and change the community… We want them to use that voice.” Social media has given a voice to strong opinions on both sides, including members of the armed forces who express support Kaepernick’s right to protest by posting under the hashtag #VeteransForKaepernick.
Pro 3
Kneeling during the national anthem is a legal form of peaceful protest, which is a First Amendment right.
President Obama said Kaepernick was “exercising his constitutional right to make a statement. I think there’s a long history of sports figures doing so.” The San Francisco 49ers said in a statement, “In respecting such American principles as freedom of religion and freedom of expression, we recognize the right of an individual to choose and participate, or not, in our celebration of the national anthem.” A letter signed by 35 US veterans stated that “Far from disrespecting our troops, there is no finer form of appreciation for our sacrifice than for Americans to enthusiastically exercise their freedom of speech.”
Con 1
Kneeling during the national anthem shows disrespect for the flag and members of the armed forces.
The national anthem pays respect to the people who have risked their lives, been injured, or died defending the United States. Carole Isham, a great-great-great-granddaughter of the writer of the national anthem (Francis Scott Key) stated that “it just blows my mind that somebody like (Kaepernick) would do what he does to dishonor the flag of this country and the national anthem when we have young men and women overseas fighting for this country, people that have died for this country.” Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints quarterback, supported Kaepernick’s message but disagreed with the delivery: “[I]t’s an oxymoron that you’re sitting down, disrespecting that flag that has given you the freedom to speak out.” Brees reiterated his position on June 3, 2020 in the wake of the George Floyd killing. However, in light of the backlash that followed, Brees retracted his statement. In reaction, on June 5, 2020, President Trump tweeted, “OLD GLORY is to be revered, cherished, and flown high… “We should be standing up straight and tall, ideally with a salute, or a hand on heart. There are other things you can protest, but not our Great American Flag – NO KNEELING!”
Con 2
Kneeling during the national anthem is an ineffective and counterproductive way to promote a cause.
Clemson University football coach Dabo Swinney said in a press conference: “I don’t think it’s good to be a distraction to your team. I don’t think it’s good to use your team as the platform.” President Obama expressed concern that not standing for the national anthem can get in the way of the message: “As a general matter, when it comes to the flag the national anthem and the meaning that holds for our men and women in uniform and those who’ve fought for us — that is a tough thing for them to get past to then hear what his [Kaepernick’s] deeper concerns are.” Malcolm Jenkins, safety for the Philadelphia Eagles, supported Kaepernick’s message but said, “My grandfather served [in the military]. And this is a country that I love. So, me not standing for the national anthem isn’t really going to get me the results that I want.”
Con 3
Kneeling during the national anthem angers many and sows division in our country.
Kaepernick and others who have refused to stand for the national anthem have caused division among their teams, their fans, and across the country. The Santa Clara police union hinted they would boycott providing security at games after Kaepernick revealed his reasons for protesting the national anthem and wore socks depicting pigs in police uniforms. Fans have been burning Kaepernick’s jersey to show their distaste for his actions. One video of a jersey on fire posted on Facebook was captioned, “He says he’s oppressed making $126 million. Well, Colin, here’s my salute to you.”
Some Cleveland Browns fans expressed their dissatisfaction on the team’s Facebook page. One commenter posted, “Pray before or pray after. Taking a knee during the National Anthem these days screams disrespect for our Flag, Our Country and our troops. My son and the entire armed forces deserve better than that.” [22]
Twelve Cleveland Browns players kneel in prayer during the national anthem on Aug. 21, 2017, with the support of four other players who stood. Source: Satchel Price, “Cleveland Browns Players Kneel During National Anthem,” sbnation.com, Aug. 22, 2017
On Friday, Sep. 22, 2017, President Donald Trump stated his opposition to NFL players kneeling during the anthem: “Wouldn’t you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say ‘Get that son of a bitch off the field right now. Out! He’s fired. He’s fired!” [23] The statement set off a firestorm on both sides of the debate. Roger Goodell, NFL Commissioner, said of Trump’s comments, “Divisive comments like these demonstrate an unfortunate lack of respect for the NFL, our great game and all of our players, and a failure to understand the overwhelming force for good our clubs and players represent in our communities.” [23]
The controversy continued over the weekend as the President continued to tweet about the issue and others contributed opinions for and against kneeling during the anthem. On Sunday, Sep. 24, in London before the first NFL game played after Trump’s comments, at least two dozen Baltimore Ravens and Jacksonville Jaguars players knelt during the American national anthem, while other players, coaches, and staff locked arms, including Shad Khan, who is the only Pakistani-American Muslim NFL team owner. [24] Throughout the day, some players, coaches, owners, and other staff kneeled or linked arms from every team except the Carolina Panthers. The Pittsburgh Steelers chose to remain in the locker room during the anthem, though offensive tackle and Army Ranger veteran Alejandro Villanueva stood at the entrance to the field alone, for which he has since apologized. [27] Both the Seattle Seahawks and Tennessee Titans teams stayed in their locker rooms before their game, leaving the field mostly empty during the anthem. The Seahawks stated, “As a team, we have decided we will not participate in the national anthem. We will not stand for the injustice that has plagued people of color in this country. Out of love for our country and in honor of the sacrifices made on our behalf, we unite to oppose those that would deny our most basic freedoms.” [25]
The controversy has jumped to other sports as every player on WNBA’s Indiana Fever knelt on Friday, Sep. 22 (though WNBA players have been kneeling for months); Oakland A’s catcher Bruce Maxwell kneeled on Saturday becoming the first MLB player to do so; and Joel Ward, of the NHL’s San Jose Sharks, said he would not rule out kneeling. USA soccer’s Megan Rapinoe knelt during the anthem in 2016, prompting the US Soccer Federation to issue Policy 604-1, ordering all players to stand during the anthem. [28][29][30][31][35]
The country was still debating the issue well into the week, with Trump tweeting throughout, including on Sep. 26: “The NFL has all sort of rules and regulations. The only way out for them is to set a rule that you can’t kneel during our National Anthem!” [26]
On May 23, 2018, the NFL announced that all 32 team owners agreed that all players and staff on the field shall “stand and show respect for the flag and the Anthem” or face “appropriate discipline.” However, all players will no longer be required to be on the field during the anthem and may wait off field or in the locker room. [32][33] The new rules were adopted without input from the players’ union. [33] On July 20, 2018, the NFL and the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) issued a joint statement putting the anthem policy on hold until the two organizations come to an agreement. [34]
During the nationwide Black Lives Matter protests following the death of George Floyd, official league positions on kneeling began to change. On June 5, 2020, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell stated, “We, the National Football League, condemn racism and the systematic oppression of black people. We, the National Football League, admit we were wrong for not listening to NFL players earlier and encourage all players to speak out and peacefully protest.” [39] Before the June 7, 2020 race, NASCAR lifted the guidelines that all team members must stand during the anthem, allowing NASCAR official Kirk Price to kneel during the anthem. [40] On June 10, 2020, the US Soccer Federation rescinded the league’s requirement that players stand during the Black Lives Matter protests following the death of George Floyd. The US Soccer Federation stated, “It has become clear that this policy was wrong and detracted from the important message of Black Lives Matter.” [35] In the wake of the 2020 killing of George Floyd and the protests that followed, 52% of Americans stated it was “OK for NFL players to kneel during the National Anthem to protest the police killing of African Americans.” [41]
Indiana Fever players kneel during the national anthem before their Sep. 22, 2017 WNBA playoff game against the Phoenix Mercury. Source: Stephen Douglas, “Indiana Fever Kneel for National Anthem before WNBA Playoff Game,” thebiglead.com, Sep. 21, 2017
Discussion Questions
1.Should professional athletes be allowed to kneel during the national anthem in protest? Why or why not?
2. Should student athletes be allowed to kneel during the national anthem in protest? Why or why not?
3. What forms of protest are acceptable in which venues? Which are not acceptable? Explain your answers.
2. Delve into the Albert Einstein Institution’s list, “198 Methods of Nonviolent Action.”
3. Consider Marc A. Thiessen’s opinion that kneeling during the anthem is a protest against America.
4. Push for the position and policies you support by writing US national senators and representatives.
Sources
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Steve Wyche, “Colin Kaepernick Explains Why He Sat During National Anthem,” nfl.com, Aug. 27, 2016
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Telegraph Sport, “NFL Player Brandon Marshall Gets Dropped by Sponsor for Anthem Protest,” telegraph.co.uk, Sep. 10, 2016
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Athena Jones and Tom LoBianco, “Obama: Colin Kaepernick ‘Exercising Constitutional Right,'” cnn.com, Sep. 5, 2016
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Bria N. Felicien, “Clemson Professor Writes Open Letter to Dabo Swinney,” greenvilleonline.com, Sep. 14, 2016
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Jennifer Lee Chan, “#VeteransForKaepernick,” ninerstation.com, Aug. 31, 2016
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Democracy Now!, “More NFL Players Join Colin Kaepernick In National Anthem Protest,” democracynow.org, Sep. 9, 2016
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Telesur, “Kaepernick Kneels Again, This Time on Monday Night Football,” telesurtv.net, Sep. 12, 2016
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Tessa Berenson, “Entire San Francisco High School Football Team Kneels for National Anthem,” time.com, Sep. 16, 2016
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Nunzio Ingrassia, “Athletes Who Have Joined Colin Kaepernick’s National Anthem Protest,” foxsports.com, Sep. 12, 2016
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CNN, “US Navy Sailor Sits During National Anthem,” cnn.com, Sep. 9, 2016
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Zuri Davis, “Ben Carson Explained Why He Thinks Colin Kaepernick Was Wrong to Sit through the National Anthem,” rare.us, Aug. 28, 2016
12.
Veterans for Kaepernick, “An Open Letter of Support for Colin Kaepernick from American Military Veterans,” medium.com, Sep. 2, 2016
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Josh Peter, “Descendant of National Anthem Songwriter Rips Colin Kaepernick,” usatoday.com, Sep. 15, 2016
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CSN Philly, “Police Union: Officers May Boycott 49ers over Colin Kaepernick,” csnphilly.com, Sep. 3, 2016
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Tom Pelissero, “Vikings’ Alex Boone Rips Ex-Teammate Colin Kaepernick for Lack of Respect,” usatoday.com, Aug. 29, 2016
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Tom Pelissero, “Roger Goodell Praises Player Demonstrations for Going from ‘Protests to Progress,'” usatoday.com, Sep. 19, 2016
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Cindy Boren, “Colin Kaepernick Protest Has 49ers Fans Burning Their Jerseys,” washingtonpost.com, Aug. 28, 2016
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Mike Triplett, “Drew Brees ‘Wholeheartedly’ Disagrees with Colin Kaepernick’s Method of Protest,” espn.com, Aug. 29, 2016
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Ryan Wilson, “NFL Players: There Are Better Ways for Kaepernick to Affect Change,” cbssports.com, Aug. 29, 2016
20.
Satchel Price, “Cleveland Browns Players Kneel During National Anthem,” sbnation.com, Aug. 22, 2017
21.
Pat McManamon, “12 Browns Players Kneel in Prayer over Racial, Social Injustice,” espn.com, Aug. 22, 2017
22.
Courtney Danser, “Angry Fans Take to Cleveland Browns Facebook Page over National Anthem Protest,” News 5 Cleveland website, Aug. 22, 2017
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Brian Armen Graham, “Donald Trump Blasts NFL Anthem Protesters: ‘Get That Son of a Bitch off the Field,'” theguardian.com, Sep. 23, 2017
24.
CNN Wires, “Jaguars, Ravens Kneel During Anthem as NFL Sunday Kicks Off,” fox2now.com, Sep. 24, 2017
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Brian Hoffman and Lance Booth, “What Every N.F.L. Team Did During the National Anthem on Sunday,” nytimes.com, Sep. 24, 2017
26.
Donald Trump, Twitter post, twitter.com, Sep. 26, 2017
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Tribune Media Wire, “Alejandro Villanueva Apologizes for Throwing Steeler Teammates ‘under the Bus,'” fox8.com, Sep. 25, 2017
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Susan Slusser, “A’s Bruce Maxwell First MLB Player to Kneel for Anthem,” sfgate.com, Sep. 25, 2017
29.
Chuck Shulman, “WNBA’s Indiana Fever Players Kneel Together During National Anthem,” latimes.com, Sep. 22, 2016
30.
Satchel Price, “Joel Ward Considers Becoming 1st NHL Player to Kneel During National Anthem,” sbnation.com, Sep. 27, 2017
31.
Tom Ziller and Mike Prada, “The WNBA Has Been at the Forefront of Protesting Racial Injustice,” sbnation.com, Sep. 24, 2017
32.
NFL Communications, “Statement from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell,” nflcommunications.com, May 23, 2018
33.
Victor Mather, “N.F.L. Teams Will Be Fined for Players’ Anthem Kneeling,” nytimes.com, May 23, 2018
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Motez Bishara, “NFL Anthem Policy Shelved as Talks with Players Association Continue,” cnn.com, July 20, 2018
35.
Vanessa Romo, “U.S. Soccer Lifts Ban on Kneeling during National Anthem,” npr.org, June 10, 2020
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Chris Cwik, “Drew Brees Addresses NFL Players Kneeling in 2020: ‘I Will Never Agree with Anybody Disrespecting the Flag,'” sports.yahoo.com, June 3, 2020
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Alicia Victoria Lozano and Gwen Aviles, “Drew Brees to Trump: ‘We Must Stop Talking about the Flag,” nbcnews.com, June 5, 2020
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Donald Trump, Twitter.com, June 5, 2020
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Alicia Victoria Lozano, “Goodell Says NFL Was Wrong Not to Encourage Players to Protest Peacefully,” nbcnews.com, June 5, 2020
40.
Dustin Long, “NASCAR to Allow Peaceful Protests during National Anthem,” sports.yahoo.com, June 10, 2020
41.
Jay Busbee, “Yahoo News/YouGov Poll: Majority of Americans Now Support NFL Players’ Right to Protest,” sports.yahoo.com, June 11, 2020
42.
Michelle R. Martinelli, “NASCAR Official Opens up about Taking a Knee for National Anthem, Prayer,” ftw.usatoday.com, June 8, 2020
A modern business simply cannot afford to be without an online presence – and our list of the best website builder options will show you how easy it is to get yourself set up. The best website builders provide organizations with the tools they need to create a first-rate online portal, regardless of the industry they inhabit. Like the best web hosting services, they have become essential to business success in the digital age.
Modern website builders provide a multitude of features tailored to each individual’s or organization’s needs. Some are relatively straightforward affairs that value simplicity above all else, while others come with so many customizable elements that it’s hard to know where to begin. The good thing is, there is such a huge variety of builders available that there is bound to be one that can bring your online vision to life.
The first step to choosing the right website builder comes from you – do you have a plan for what you want your website to look like? Is it an e-commerce store, some other type of business or simply a way to publicize your hobby? Whatever your online strategy and whatever your budget, we’ve put together a comprehensive list of the 40 best website builder services in the world right now.
These are the best website builders of 2021
1. Wix – a top-notch website builder Wix is top dog when it comes to free website builders, but it also offers some powerful paid plans. These start from as little as $8.50 per month for the Combo plan, which gets you 3GB of storage space, a free domain and free SSL certificate.View Deal
2. Gator – a superb value website builder service Gator Website Builder from HostGator offers a superbly cheap Starter package which comes with free hosting and a domain name included, plus a free SSL certificate: all with 55% off meaning prices start from just $3.46 per month.View Deal
3. Zyro – a serious, high-quality site builder Hostinger-owned Zyro offers a website builder which is very easy-to-use and ideal for novices, allowing anyone to get their site up swiftly. You’ll pay very little for the privilege too and even the premium ‘Unleashed’ plan costs just $3.09 monthly.View Deal
Wix is a top-notch website builder (Image credit: wix)
1. Wix website builder
Best overall website builder
Specifications
Ecommerce functionality: Yes
Site Booster and Visitor Analytics: Yes
Free domain: Yes
Unlimited bandwidth: Yes
Reasons to buy
+Huge range of powerful features+Yet still highly user-friendly
Reasons to avoid
–Question marks over support
Wix claims the title of best website builder overall due to the way that it combines ease of use and great design flexibility. It offers users a range of plans, and a drag-and-drop editor that allows them to tweak and customize every aspect of their site without requiring them to be a coding expert.
Today, Wix is one of the most popular online website builders in the world with more than 180 million users across 190 countries and it is easy to see why.
One of Wix’s biggest strengths is the breadth of features it offers. It comes with more than 500 industry-specific themes, so whether you need a website to advertise your new café or want a place to show off your photography skills, it’s easy to create a website that’s right for you.
At the start of your Wix journey, you’ll be given the choice of two options: WixADI or WixEditor. WixADI uses answers to a few short questions to design the site for you – great if you’re indecisive, but not so good if you want total control. WixEditor, on the other hand, is a drag-and-drop process that will take longer but lets you create a website that’s completely customized for your needs.
In terms of downsides, Wix doesn’t have many. The fact that it imposes data limitations for each of its plan tiers could be an issue, particularly for sites which have a lot of visual content. Also, some users have complained that its tech support is somewhat lacking.
Nevertheless, its smart design, brilliant SEO and first-rate marketing tools mean that Wix is our number one pick for anyone who needs a website builder. There is a free version available (more on that later), as well as Business Basic, Unlimited and VIP pricing plans. Whichever one you opt for, all Wix premium plans come with a free two-week money-back guarantee, so there’s no risk involved.
HostGator’s Gator Website Builder has some powerful features with a great price tag (Image credit: hostgator)
2. Gator website builder
The cheapest and best option for small businesses
Specifications
Ecommerce functionality: Yes
Free SSL: Yes
Free domain: Yes
Unmetered bandwidth and storage: Yes
Reasons to buy
+Powerful yet simple drag-and-drop builder+A good number of features
Reasons to avoid
–Blog features are lacking
Another popular choice comes courtesy of HostGator, whose website builder solution, Gator Website Builder, has been commended for its simplicity and price, both of which should appeal to small businesses.
Gator is available in three versions. The Starter plan costs $3.84 a month and comes with free hosting, website analytics, free domain name registration for a year and unmetered storage. The Premium plan comes with all that plus priority support for $5.99 a month. The e-commerce plan, meanwhile, costs $9.22 a month and offers additional features like inventory management, a shipping and tax calculator, and the ability to create coupons.
Whatever plan you choose, you’ll gain access to an easy-to-use drag-and-drop interface that lets you employ commonly used design elements such as images, videos, text boxes, columns, maps and contact forms. Each of Gator’s 200+ web templates is fully customizable, so it’s easy to get your website looking just right. There are also a sizeable number of mobile-friendly themes available to ensure that your online portal looks good on all devices.
For small businesses that might not have access to top-quality photography equipment, Gator comes with its own built-in stock photo library and a number of video tutorials are on hand if you are in need of extra support with anything.
If there’s any real downside here, it would be the lack of functionality for larger, more complex websites. There are no built-in email marketing features, for example, and blog building options are relatively basic.
Still, for small businesses or anyone starting their first online project, Gator’s quick, professional and well-designed sites should work perfectly. And with 24-hour tech support on hand for all users, and free analytics solutions to let administrators know how their site is performing, there are plenty of reasons to choose Gator for website building.
Zyro’s web builder is perfect for beginners (Image credit: Zyro)
3. Zyro website builder
The easiest and most intuitive site builder
Specifications
Free domain: Yes
Mobile optimization: Yes
Free SSL certificate: Yes
Ecommerce functionality: Yes
Reasons to buy
+Simple to use+Easy to draw your own ideas+Great for beginners
Reasons to avoid
–Not as professional as other builders–Not as many features
Zyro stands out for its simplicity – this really is the perfect site builder for businesses or individuals who may not have much experience creating their own website. A great drag-and-drop editor makes it easy to select design features, and the platform’s unique AI writer can even create some of the text content for you, potentially saving you hours of time.
The web builder interface is also easy to use and setting up an account is straightforward. The relatively small number of templates – compared to some other website builders, anyway – may be limiting, but that only plays to Zyro’s strengths in some respects. Rather than wading through countless designs, the smaller range of punchy options should help speed up the web building process for novices.
Zyro comes with a number of pricing options. The free plan comes with 500MB of storage and monthly data transfers, but users will have to put up with a few adverts. The paid tiers start with Basic which includes 3GB of bandwidth, 1GB of storage, AI business branding and SEO tools, for $1.89 a month.
The Unleashed plan, meanwhile, provides unlimited bandwidth and storage, as well as a free domain for a year, for $3.09 a month. Ecommerce plans that facilitate online payments, order tracking and tax management are also available.
With Zyro, some of its strengths could also be seen as its main weaknesses depending on what you are looking for in a website builder. The small range of templates could frustrate more experienced users, and others may notice a few bugs here and there.
Given that Zyro is a relatively new player in the website building space, however, updates and improvements are coming all the time. For now, though, Zyro still makes a great option for anyone looking for a simple, intuitive website builder that delivers excellent uptime, 24/7 support, and doesn’t overwhelm with unnecessary extras.
The Constant Contact website builder is great for email marketing (Image credit: Constant Contact)
4. Constant Contact website builder
The best for email marketing
Specifications
Ecommerce functionality: Yes
Social marketing analytics: Yes
Email tracking tools: Yes
Reasons to buy
+Unlimited free option+Established and trusted platform+Great stock photo portfolio
Reasons to avoid
–Automation tools could be better–Lack of editing tools
Although Constant Contact delivers an impressive website builder, it is best known for its email marketing solution. The site builder is a straightforward affair where users simply start by describing their business. In response, Constant Contact will automatically generate homepage previews to choose from, each of which come with high-quality royalty-free images to give your site a professional feel.
The website builder costs $10 a month and comes with ecommerce features, unlimited storage, an SSL certificate and SEO tools. Constant Contact’s website builder plan also provides analytics, app integration and the option of adding a blog to your site.
For businesses that want access to more email marketing features, however, Constant Contact’s standard website builder may not be what they are looking for. Instead, the Email plan provides all the features that modern companies need to build customer relationships and drive cutting-edge insights. Starting at $20 a month, it enables businesses to send an unlimited number of emails to up to 500 contacts.
It boasts customizable templates, automatic re-sends to contacts that did not open first time round and subject line A/B testing. The Email Plus plan, which starts at $45 a month for up to 500 contacts, includes advanced marketing features like polls, surveys and dynamic content, in addition to everything that comes with the basic Email plan.
Evidently, Constant Content has incorporated some of the helpful features that are now commonly included in traditional site builders into its email marketing platform. A drag-and-drop editor, for example, allows businesses to create slick campaigns, even if they don’t possess design or coding skills. The built-in campaign analytics also enables businesses to interpret which marketing campaigns are performing well, allowing marketing managers to keep return-on-investment in mind at all times.
All this, combined with robust security and several support channels, means we’d definitely recommend Constant Content as an email marketing solution.
Weebly is a great choice for anyone selling online. (Image credit: Future)
Weebly is a great choice for individuals looking to set up a website quickly as it launches you straight into the action. While some builders waste time with welcome emails and confirmation links, Weebly simply asks you to provide a name, email address and password, then away you go.
The service starts by asking you a few questions about your prospective website, such as what sort of theme you want, what your domain name is going to be and what sort of pricing plan you are interested in. Regarding the latter, there are three options (Personal, Professional and Performance) that each come with a range of features.
Where Weebly really stands out, however, is with regard to ecommerce. When starting out, users can select to build a “website with an online store” which will unlock a number of powerful features. Among them are a fully integrated shopping cart and secure checkout experience, an inventory tracker and a filtered product search tool.
The drag-and-drop interface that is a sought after feature with so many website builders also makes an appearance within Weebly’s ecommerce platform, allowing businesses to showcase their products with a range of display and merchandizing options. Social media integration is also included, allowing shoppers to share products via Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.
Another major benefit of Weebly’s ecommerce platform is the support it offers users. Live chat, email support and a number of other resources, including several step-by-step guides, provide users with everything they need to get their store up and running.
The variety on offer here is also seriously impressive. Online store managers can sell physical goods, digital products or services, and retailers are able to set their own price and define their own configurable product options.
It’s true that the lack of an Artificial Design Intelligence option may mean that setting up an online store takes a little longer than you want, but once you’re up and running, there’s no shortage of great features available for you and your customers to enjoy.
Jimdo is another new website builder well worth looking at
6. Jimdo website builder
The best option for a portfolio for designers and photographers
Specifications
Professional templates: Yes
Social media integration: Yes
SEO tools: Yes
Mobile optimization: Yes
Reasons to buy
+Free plan has some unusual extras+Good tech support
Reasons to avoid
–Less features than some rivals
Since 2007, more than 25 million websites have been created using Jimdo, with its simplicity receiving plenty of praise. Another area of strength is the way that it looks, with a range of clean, flexible templates on offer. The professional and modern styles available make Jimdo a great website builder for designers, photographers or anyone else who wants to display their portfolio online.
The platform even comes with its own Logo Designer to help make your brand recognizable. All you need to do is enter your business and select a starting point for your logo design. Then, you customize your icon and layout, choose a color and font, and that’s it! Your logo is ready to adorn your business cards, social media pages and your website.
Another useful design feature that Jimdo users will appreciate is the way that website colors automatically harmonize with an uploaded logo or image. This means that garish color clashes become a thing of the past – that’s great for businesses where looking good is part of the brand.
Furthermore, Jimdo comes with a host of tips and support documents to help you create the right website for you. This includes a number of examples of existing photography websites created using the platform, along with tips to build a successful site.
Other pros of using Jimdo include its speed as well as simplicity. First off, users have a choice between going with Jimdo Creator or Jimdo Dolphin. Creator has more than 100 templates broken down into four categories (Business, Store, Portfolio, and Personal) and there are plenty of customization options. Dolphin, on the other hand, gives you an AI-created website.
In terms of price, there is a free plan that comes with no time limit but will force you to have a Jimdo sub-domain and advertising. Some Jimdo users have complained about a lack of fancy features, but if you want a quick, straightforward way of launching a great-looking site, you’ll struggle to find a better website builder than this.
IONOS offers a decent website builder
7. 1&1 IONOS MyWebsite website builder
The best choice of themes
Specifications
Mobile-optimized: Yes
Free SSL: Yes
Free domain: Yes
Multilingual: Yes
Reasons to buy
+Really well-designed editor+Some nifty bonus features
Reasons to avoid
–No free plan
Europe’s largest web hosting provider, 1&1 IONOS, currently hosts more than 12 million domains and represents a great choice if you are looking to create a serious, professional website to promote your business.
While the lack of a free plan is disappointing (although you do receive the first month free), the paid options are reasonable enough, starting at just $60 for the full year. For that price, customers can gain access to the MyWebsite Now or MyWebsite Creator packages. MyWebsite Now comes with a domain, email address and an expansive image library, but lacks some of the more advanced functionality that you get with the Creator plan.
Where IONOS really comes into its own, though, is with regard to its choice of themes. Inspirational templates are organized by industry and type, so it’s easy to find the right layout for your website, regardless of whether you are based in the retail, tourism or real-estate sectors. Some of the templates are more image-focused, while others cater to text-heavy sites. Regardless, they are all easy to implement; no coding knowledge is required whatsoever and templates can be adjusted easily using a drag-and-drop editor.
Small businesses are also likely to be enticed by IONOS’ multilingual translation, which can translate a site’s content into 62 different languages. It is even possible to have up to 25 different languages on a site at any given time. This makes IONOS a great choice in terms of its scalability: as a business grows, this website builder is more than equipped to facilitate international expansion.
Targeted content is also an option – so businesses can set up their website to present special offers to new visitors, for example. So if you’re looking for a scalable website builder with a great selection of themes, then IONOS is definitely worth considering.
Sqaurespace is another established website builder (Image credit: Squarespace)
8. Squarespace website builder
The best choice for bloggers and writers
Specifications
Ecommerce functionality: Yes
Free SSL: Yes
Free domain: Yes
Unmetered bandwidth and storage: Yes
Reasons to buy
+Amazing templates+Loads of features
Reasons to avoid
–Editor interface is a bit unusual
Squarespace is one of the slickest and best-known website builders around, and it has built this reputation, partly at least, on a fantastic range of features for bloggers. The platform comes with a host of built-in functions to support bloggers and writers, including multi-author functionality, AMP support and the ability to schedule posts.
Even better, Squarespace’s Blog App allows you to manage your blog from your smartphone, which is great for publishing and editing content on the go. Tools that publish to, sync with, and import from social media outlets, including Twitter, Instagram, Vimeo and others, also provide a great way of ensuring your posts receives the attention they deserve.
Squarespace’s drag-and-drop interface works a little differently to that used by some other website builders because it is section-based. This might take you a little bit more time to get used to, but doesn’t really provide a lesser experience.
Another benefit is the fact that deleted pages and posts can be restored up to 30 days after they’ve ended up in the trash. And if your online connection fails while you’re editing a post, it will still be there when the internet is back up and running (although it is worth noting that there is no autosave functionality).
In terms of drawbacks, it’s true that Squarespace may not be quite as easy to use as some of its competitors, and it can be difficult to find where certain features are located. It’s probably worthwhile reading a few of the support guides provided before jumping straight in. That said, setting up a new website remains relatively straightforward and there’s also an artificial intelligence-powered builder if you’d rather let Squarespace do most of the work.
The platform comes with four pricing plans, ranging from $12 to $40 a month, but whatever tier you choose, Squarespace is bound to deliver a great-looking website or blog.
The GoDaddy Website Builder offers great support (Image credit: GoDaddy)
GoDaddy may be one of the most straightforward web builders around, boasting a hugely intuitive publication process and simple editing tools. This means that even if you’ve never built a website before, setting one up should only take a few minutes.
For individuals looking for a more in-depth experience, the GoDaddy Websites + Marketing solution provides a detailed analysis of how your site is performing. The analytics tool delivers a comprehensive set of metrics that compares how your online presence is performing against other websites in your field. So far, the tool has certainly proved successful, with customers experiencing an 18% increase in business revenue within 12 months of using it, GoDaddy claims.
Of course, challenges arise with even the most impressive online platforms and the GoDaddy Website Builder is no exception. Fortunately, GoDaddy’s support is among the best around. Extensive PDF guides cover a multitude of questions and troubleshooting topics, and 24/7 tech support is also available. Moreover, the community forums are a great resource and it’s likely that someone there will be able to respond to your query. A live chat feature is also available on weekdays.
In terms of pricing, GoDaddy is very competitive, offering four website builder pricing tiers. The prices range from $9.99 a month for the Basic plan, up to $24.99 a month for the Ecommerce tier. As you would expect, the Ecommerce plan comes with everything you need to start a full-featured online store, with the cheaper plans offering slightly reduced functionality as you work your way down.
Some people have complained about the lack of an app market, which can leave some of the site builder features lacking depth. It does mean, however, that all features are built in-house and so are fit for purpose. If you’re on the lookout for a website builder that is both affordable and boasts great support, then GoDaddy may be the right choice for you.
A great website builder for mobile sites (Image credit: Network Solutions)
10. Network Solutions website builder
The best builder for creating mobile websites
Specifications
Ecommerce functionality: Yes
Mobile optimization: Yes
Free domain name: Yes
Stock image library: Yes
Reasons to buy
+Easy to use drag-and-drop features+Good ecommerce tools+Professional service
Reasons to avoid
–Confusing interface–Can seem a bit dated
Network Solutions is a great website builder for any businesses that remain unsure of what direction they want to take their website in. There are a huge number of options on offer here, so there’s bound to be one that’s right for you.
With Network Solutions, you can choose to build a website yourself or instead opt for professional website design services. The DIY plan comes with a personalized domain name and matching email address, point and click editing, as well as a well-stocked image library. The professionally designed option is more extensive, however, and comes with SEO tools, web analytics, and unlimited changes in the first 30 days.
Network Solutions has more experience than most when it comes to providing online services, first getting involved with DNS registration back in 1991, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t able to deliver more modern touches.
One of the best aspects of the Network Solutions website builder is its mobile-friendly approach. The builder comes with thousands of design options to choose from, and with the professionally designed plan, you will receive guidance to ensure that your website loads as fast as possible. Given that 53% of mobile users abandon sites that take more than three seconds to load, speed is an absolutely vital consideration for a successful mobile site.
Although the website designer interface can seem a bit dated in places, and some users have complained about persistent upselling, there’s a lot to admire about Network Solutions website builder. The prices are competitive and there’s just enough customization to provide a good amount of flexibility without things becoming overwhelming. Furthermore, all ecommerce plans come with a fully customizable storefront along with a mobile version.
It can be a bit no-frills at times, but for any business looking to craft a simple, professional-looking mobile site, Network Solutions is well worth a look.
A good choice for big organizations (Image credit: Zoho)
11. Zoho Sites website builder
The best website builder for big business
Specifications
Ecommerce functionality: Yes
Responsive templates: Yes
Free SSL: Yes
SEO tools: Yes
Reasons to buy
+Free trial+Built on HTML and CSS+Good range of in-house add-ons
Reasons to avoid
–Limited integration with third-party apps–Only just over 190 templates
As with most website builders on offer these days, you do not require any technical knowledge to get the most from your Zoho Sites experience. The platform offers an impressive range of features, including more than 190 template options, an extremely well-organized interface, and a user-friendly code editor. In terms of price, it’s worth noting that Zoho does not offer an unlimited free option, but you will be able to trial the platform for 15 days before committing. After that, there are two different plan options, Starter or Pro, both of which come with custom domain hosting, mobile optimization, and SSL certification.
One of the major advantages of using Zoho Sites is its flexibility, which means that it is perfect for businesses experiencing rapid growth. With the Pro plan, there are three separate add-ons you can purchase as your company expands. If you need capacity for more members, more web pages, or more contributors, there are appropriately priced add-ons for each. What’s more, many of the other products within the Zoho family are well suited to larger organizations. For example, Zoho Projects, a project management suite, is perfectly suited to workplace collaboration, regardless of how large and spread out your organization is. Other tools like Zoho Books, Zoho Reports, and Zoho Creator are likely to prove equally useful.
In terms of downsides, Zoho Sites offers fairly limited integration with third-party features, including some of the main social networks. While it does offer a pretty extensive list of in-house applications that you can integrate with, including a CRM and marketing hub, the inability to simply plug-in external apps may be an issue for some. Still, with a huge range of design options, newsletter support, e-commerce features, and analytics tools, Zoho is a great option for any fast-growing business or, indeed, any company that has already acquired a large customer base.
A great choice for big brands (Image credit: BigCommerce)
12. BigCommerce website builder
The best website builder for big stores
Specifications
Ecommerce functionality: Yes
Mobile optimization: Yes
Free SSL certificate: Yes
Plug-in POS integration: Yes
Reasons to buy
+Ability to sell through Facebook, Pinterest, eBay, Amazon+Scalable+Good choice of themes
Reasons to avoid
–Can be overly complex at times–No native mobile app
No business can afford to be without a website these days and that remains particularly true for retailers. The ecommerce share of total global retail sales has continued to increase steadily in recent years and is only likely to continue growing. When looking to build a new website, therefore, finding a web builder with the right ecommerce features can prove critical to business success. While many website builders offer some form of ecommerce functionality, some are certainly better than others – and BigCommerce may just be the best around.
Offering great scalability, a host of built-in features, fantastic SEO tools, and the ability to sell across multiple channels, BigCommerce is geared towards big brands that have plenty of customers to satisfy. First of all, the platform makes it easy to build a store that looks good, with a drag-and-drop visual editor, fully-customizable themes, mobile optimization, and checkout customization. There’s also plenty of support once you are ready to start selling. BigCommerce lets users sell physical, digital, and service-based products without needing to use an app and doesn’t lock sellers into a single payment plan, giving them more than 65 different payment gateways to choose from.
In terms of drawbacks, BigCommerce can use complex terminology at times that might make it a little confusing for inexperienced website builders and its design interface can take some getting used to. Having said that, it’s still not a bad choice for smaller retailers, as it has a staggered pricing plan dependent on how many sales your site generates. There’s also a free15-day trial available, with no credit card details required. Overall, with more built-in sales tools and more scalability than its competitors, BigCommerce is a great choice for online retailers that have significant sales figures or smaller brands that are planning for major expansion.
The most customizable website builder around (Image credit: Fasthosts)
13. Fasthosts website builder
The best builder for businesses that want to customize their site
Specifications
Free SSL certification: Yes
Free domain registration: Yes
WordPress plug-ins: Yes
Ecommerce functionality: Yes
Reasons to buy
+Free trial up to three months+Great customization options+Straightforward interface
Reasons to avoid
–Plans only include one website–Limited features
As its name suggests, one of the standout aspects of Fasthosts is how quickly it allows you to get your website up and running. Even the most inexperienced online user should be able to create a beautiful site in minutes by using the platform’s wide range of adaptable themes and its intuitive drag-and-drop interface. Users will have the choice of two plans, the Essential or Complete Website Builder package. The Essential plan costs $5.90 a month and comes with all the essential features, including a domain name, a personalized email address and up to 10 pages. The Complete plan, meanwhile, comes in at $11.85 a month and boasts an unlimited number of pages, SEO tools, and additional email tools.
In addition, one of the aspects of Fasthosts that frequently receives praise is the amount of customization it offers. When adding content to your site, you will receive a number of customization options depending on the type of material you have uploaded. In addition, Fasthosts comes with an established support website that contains a number of how-to guides that provide additional help for individuals that want complete control to tweak every aspect of their site. The platform is also mobile optimized, so users can make quick edits easily from their tablet or smartphone.
In terms of complaints, some users have criticized Fasthosts for having a poor average uptime record, which is something that individuals who are thinking of using Fasthosts for web hosting should consider. Others have argued that its interface can look a bit sparse, and would perhaps benefit from the addition of a few extra features. However, there’s still plenty to admire about Fasthosts’ website builder, particularly its 30-day money back guarantee and the fact that users of the Complete plan receive their first three months free-of-charge. That means that new users get plenty of time to tinker with their site before deciding if this is the right builder for them.
The best choice for musicians (Image credit: Future)
14. Bandzoogle website builder
This is the best website builder for musicians
Specifications
Ecommerce features: Yes
Mobile optimized: Yes
Press kit pre-sets: Yes
Social media integration: Yes
Reasons to buy
+Lots of options for selling music+Easily plug in your social accounts+Options for selling tickets and merchandise+Good range of SEO features
Reasons to avoid
–Not the most flexible theme editor–All plans are paid
As with most industries, the internet has revolutionized the music world. The likes of YouTube and Spotify have meant that musicians around the world mostly connect with their fans online, sharing new music and advertising gigs. But this also means that most musicians depend on having an effective website in order to be successful. For well-known acts with major record labels backing them, it is unlikely that they’ll have to manage their own online presence, but smaller acts will have to be more hands-on. Fortunately, there are website builders that cater specifically for musicians and Bandzoogle is one of the best.
As with most modern website builders, Bandzoogle is easy to use and offers a range of mobile-responsive templates that are straightforward to implement and easy to customize. Custom domain names are also provided and users have reported good levels of site uptime. Looking at features that specifically target musicians, Bandzoogle allows website administrators to upload tracks that fans can stream directly from the website. It is also straightforward to add gig data and blog posts to the site, and connecting to music-specific platforms like SoundCloud and Bandcamp is supported.
Of course, engaging with fans is one of the most important reasons why many musicians create a website and Bandzoogle really excels here. Musicians can use the platform to create mailing lists, connect with their social media profiles, and receive visitor analytics to gain insights into how fans are interacting with the site. Crucially, Bandzoogle comes with excellent support offerings, whether your queries are about websites generally, or building an online presence as a musician. Bandzoogle’s web team is made up of musicians, so the advice they offer is always relevant to the industry. Although Bandzoogle can be used to create a website that is not music-related, the platform has all the features needed to keep budding musicians and their fans happy.
What is a website builder?
Contrary to what you may think, website builders have been around for a long time. Ever heard of Geocities or Angelfire? They were the precursors of today’s giants like Wix or Weebly.
At its simplest, you can think of it as a set of templates like you would get in Microsoft Word. A website builder removes the need for you to know any coding language like HTML or Javascript and relies on something called WYSIWIG to get you online.
WYSIWIG stands for “What you see is what you get” and is essentially a graphical user interface that allows even novices to move around pictures and type in blocks of text as they’d do in a scrap book in the physical world.
Metaphorically, the concept is as close as you’d get to having a virtual shop (or house or property) online and website builders have been very smart in keeping things as simple as possible.
How to choose the best website builder?
There is great variety in terms of both the number and type of website builder available today. Some specialize in email marketing and others offer a first-rate ecommerce solution; some value simplicity, while others deliver so many customizable features that it could overwhelm a novice website creator.
When deciding on a website builder, therefore, it’s important that you have a clear plan in your own mind first. Think carefully about what sort of website you are looking to create – whether text or images will be the main focus, what sort of design you have in mind and, crucially, how much you want to pay.
Once you’ve come up with a mental framework for your prospective site and have a rough idea of your budget, you can start to look at your options. Whether you’ve used a website builder before will also be important to determine how comfortable you will be using some of the more complex platforms on offer.
You should also consider whether you’re likely to do most of your website editing from a mobile or desktop device. Most web builders offer mobile-responsive templates, but not all allow you to edit the mobile version without changing the desktop site too.
Choosing a website builder can seem complicated, but fortunately most come with free trials so you always have the option of changing your mind.
Website builder vs web design software ?
Website builders and web design software certainly have plenty of overlap. Both can be used to create beautiful, professional looking websites that have all the features that your business needs. The key difference lies in how they are delivered and how much prior knowledge is required to use them. In general, website builders are online platforms, often available in free versions, and which place a great deal of emphasis on simplicity, usually offering drag-and-drop editors. Web design software, on the other hand, is usually a bit more complex, with some geared towards experienced programmers and offering the option of coding a site line-by-line.
Another key difference between web design tools, such as Adobe Dreamweaver, and website builders, like Squarespace, is the price. Web design tools are often more expensive and there may not be a free option like there is with most website builders. Although web design tools will try to offer an intuitive experience, it’s probably a good idea to have some coding knowledge before giving them a try. Ultimately, whether a website builder or web design software is right for you will largely depend on your level of experience and also what sort of site you need. In most cases, a simple website builder will be sufficient, but if you want to tinker a little more, there’s no harm in trying a web design solution.
Free website builders vs paid website builders
Why pay for a website builder when you can get one for free? Well, as is often the case, you usually get what you pay for. That isn’t to say, however, that there aren’t some great free website builders out there. Many free builders still come with all the features that you need to create fantastic online portals – customizable templates, intuitive drag-and-drop editors, marketing tools, and mobile optimization. Having a clear idea of how you want your website to look and conducting thorough research is key to avoiding paying more for a website builder than you need to.
It is true, however, that some features are less commonly included in free website builders. E-commerce tools, for example, often have to be paid for and there are a number of other features that are usually excluded from free plans. Free website builders are often accompanied by advertisements that you will have no control over – you might not mind this but they can sometimes be intrusive. What’s more, they can make your site look unprofessional. Similarly, free website builders won’t give you a dedicated web address, which can also affect your credibility. Fortunately, many paid website builders have free trials that let you try before you buy.
How much does a website builder cost?
There is no straightforward answer to the question: “How much does a website builder cost?” For businesses that are satisfied with simple templates and are happy to put up with ads and a generic URL, website builders can be found that don’t cost anything at all. Of course, most brands would not be content with a free solution, which can deliver sites that look unprofessional. The good news is that there are some very effective website builders out there that are reasonably priced. Most work through a monthly billing system, with costs for entry-level plans sometimes as little as $6 a month.
One thing that all website administrators should be aware of, however, is how much website builders charge for additional features. Even if your basic web builder package is cheap, costs can quickly escalate if you have to buy add-ons for security, e-commerce functionality, and marketing tools. It is important that businesses have transparency when it comes to the expenses related to their website, so it’s probably a good idea to research prospective platforms thoroughly before making your choice. It’s also important to factor in whether your website builder is scalable: will it remain suitable as your business expands and how will costs increase?
How hard is it to build a website?
It may sound like a daunting prospect, but building a website is not necessarily difficult – although of course that all depends on how hands-on you want to be, the type of website you want, and your level of experience. Fortunately, many website builders are designed to appeal to the absolute beginner, coming with drag-and-drop editors that mean no coding experience is required at all. In fact, most web builders will have you up and running with a fully functioning site in under an hour. Alternatively, individuals with greater financial resources could hire a professional web designer to build their website for them.
For those that are willing to take on the website building process themselves, the level of difficulty involved will depend on what website builder they choose. Although all of them are relatively intuitive, some come with extra features that may require some knowledge of the website-building process to implement. Fortunately, most platforms come with decent levels of support, including how-to guides and video tutorials. It is worth mentioning, however, that many of the simplest website builders come with limited customization. For anyone that truly wants complete control over their site, some coding experience, as well as prior knowledge of HTML, will come in helpful.
What are the most popular website builders?
There are an overwhelming number of website builders available today – ones that are free, ones that cater for specific careers, ones that target small businesses, and many more besides. While each individual website builder will have its own unique pros and cons that users will need to assess themselves, taking a look at some of the most popular platforms is a good place to start. Taking top spot is Wix, which boasts over 180 million users in 190 countries. The platform has managed to build up such a large following by combining a huge range of powerful features with a user-friendly interface.
However, while Wix may be the most popular website builder in the world, it still has its fair share of competitors to deal with. Other popular website builders include Squarespace, GoDaddy, and Weebly. Looking at more bespoke builders, Shopify has become extremely popular by offering a broad spectrum of ecommerce tools for online retailers. It’s important to note, however, that the most popular website builder may not be the best one for your needs. You are unlikely to go too far wrong with the big players, but smaller, more niche web builders may offer better payment plans or more relevant features for your site, so it’s important to research thoroughly before plumping for any particular website builder.
Who uses a website builder?
Determining whether a website builder is right for you is a question that can only be answered fully once you’ve assessed your own personal online experience, what you want from a website, and your financial resources. Even so, the type of person that would benefit from using a website builder is pretty broad. On an individual level, there are web builders that specifically cater to musicians, photographers, and many other solo endeavors. More generally, a website builder is a great platform for any person that simply wants an online presence. If they have a hobby that they want to share with the world, a web builder provides the tools to achieve this.
Website builders are also readily employed by small business owners. Many web builders come with ecommerce features that allow businesses to sell their products and services online, as well as marketing tools to increase their customer base. Large corporates might decide to employ a professional web designer instead, but smaller firms will probably prefer the ease-of-use (and price) of a web builder. Put simply, a website builder is a great starting point for anyone that wants a website of their own but doesn’t know where to start.
WordPress vs a website builder: Which one is better for building a website
Using WordPress or a website builder are both great options for anyone looking to build a website but each comes with its own advantages and drawbacks. Different from a website builder, WordPress is actually a content management system, or CMS, and is used to power 39% of the web. Since it was first launched, WordPress has added a number of features beyond its basic CMS offering, providing themes, add-ons, and ecommerce functionality. Novice website builders, however, may find that WordPress has something of a steep learning curve. The language can be quite technical and users may even need to adjust the odd piece of code in order to get a plugin to work.
While WordPress does offer both live chat and email support, less experienced users may find that a website builder is more welcoming. Most website builders pride themselves on their ease-of-use, with many using drag-and-drop editors that allow individuals to have their webpage up and running in a matter of minutes, even if they have no web building experience. Both WordPress and website builders come with several different payment plans to choose from and both are capable of producing fantastic looking sites. Neither approach could be said to better than the other, but website builders are certainly simpler to use in most cases.
You might also want to check out our other website hosting buying guides:
The U.K. could be producing electricity from a geothermal plant for the first time early next decade after drilling at a site in southwest England showed it could become a viable part of the renewable energy mix.
Yes, Boxing Day is about relaxing, it’s about consuming large amounts of Christmas TV and leftover turkey, and it’s about time with your family…but if you’re the proactive type, it could also be the time to get a perfect internet plan.
Thanks to the Boxing Day sales, a number of broadband deals have come down in price, seen boosts in speeds or been loaded with cash incentives to make them more desirable than ever.
While there are a number of offers available to you this Boxing Day, three fibre broadband deals have grabbed our attention over everything else and they come from BT, Virgin and TalkTalk.
Arguably, Virgin has managed to grab the top spot with low prices, fast speeds and a massive cash incentive. However, if you live somewhere where Virgin isn’t available, both BT and TalkTalk are excellent right now.
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The end of England’s second coronavirus lockdown of the year is now in sight. Throughout November, the population has once again been reliant on grocery deliveries sent to their homes.
At the moment, after taking a look through delivery slots and options available from Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, Asda, Iceland and more, we’ve found that availability has stayed generally rather good during the month.
As it stands, Tesco home delivery is filling up fast but there’s still plenty of available slots for this week depending on your location. Towards the start of December and onwards there are more slots up for grabs. But come December 2, the UK will be out of lockdown and we won’t have to rely too heavily on shopping deliveries.
Morrisons, on the other hand, has no availability over the next three days. Iceland in London has free slots for the entire week and into December and beyond. In general, we’ve seen shops showing greater availability compared to the first lockdown, which is a huge relief.
Supermarkets will continue to offer priority delivery slots to elderly and vulnerable customers. Supermarkets are using customer and government data to prioritise food delivery slots for those who need it most. Make sure you’ve signed up to the government’s database of clinically vulnerable people if you need support. Sainsbury’s, for instance, has a special service which you can see here.
Earlier this year, both Morrisons and Asda launched a food box service to help cope with demand caused by the first lockdown, and this will continue as we enter the second. Morrisons food boxes offer a great range of options, while Asda’s food box is best if you need to fill your cupboards with household essentials.
Food delivery: quick links
Grocery delivery
Recipe box and meal delivery
Pizza delivery
Takeaway delivery
Alcohol delivery
Grocery delivery
Just like the first lockdown, we’ve signed up to all the major supermarkets and we’re assessing the situation daily across the country, in London, Leeds, Portsmouth, Manchester and Bath. Your area may differ and indeed your shops may also differ, but there’s plenty of reason to believe that availability on delivering groceries should be much easier than it was earlier in the year.
Importantly, for all of the below supermarkets, you will need an account which we recommend you do as soon as you can as doing so will allow you to see your own local availability for deliveries.
Amazon Fresh food delivery: Delivery is included in your Prime membership for orders above £40
Amazon Fresh is included with Amazon Prime, allowing customers to get fresh groceries delivered on the same day as ordering at a low-price. (If you don’t have Prime, you can sign up for a free trial and cancel before the trial ends with no strings attached.) In the UK, a service which was live earlier this year called Amazon Pantry is no longer available as of June 30.
Iceland food delivery: slots available for the week
In London, Iceland is showing available slots through to December 3. It has remained relatively unchanged throughout lockdown and there’s a chance you can get delivery for tomorrow, with plenty of options to get one later in the week – make sure you check out Iceland’s website for availability. You can grab free next day delivery from Iceland when you spend £35, so fill your freezers up.
Asda food delivery: more delivery available this week
Asda is showing delivery options well into December at this point, but it’s all filling up quickly. All areas other than Leeds seem to be showing better availability as we approach December, with next day delivery possible right now and a few more slots popping up from Sunday into next week and beyond. In Leeds, the next available slot is December 15. Book an Asda delivery now.
Ocado food delivery: no delivery slots available
Ocado is appearing the same as Morrisons in that it shows the next three days from right now. There are no delivery slots available at all. As each day goes by this might well change and we will let you know when it does. During the first lockdown, Ocado was emailing customers with priority access to delivery. Look for a delivery slot at OcadoView Deal
Waitrose food delivery: limited delivery until next week
Waitrose has a smattering of available slots this week, but there’s not much until December now and this is the case with every location we checked. There’s more choice if you’re willing to opt for Click & Collect. The supermarket is continuing its Volunteer’s Shopping Card for self-isolating customers who can’t get to the shops themselves. Look for a delivery slot at WaitroseView Deal
Meal delivery
Mindful Chef: healthy recipe boxes, frozen meals and smoothie delivery Healthy recipe box company Mindful Chef delivers fresh, nutritious recipes to your door. It offers free delivery across the whole nation and the company has joined with Leon to deliver limited-edition recipes. Choose a meal and they’ll deliver all the fresh ingredients for you to cook at home – or if you’re feeling lazy, you can pick from their chef-prepared frozen range. Browse Mindful Chef recipe boxes
Pizza delivery
Domino’s: 50% off pizza when you spend £35 or more Domino’s sets its deals by region, but plenty of stores around the UK are offering up to half price on their pizzas when you spend over a certain threshold. Just enter your delivery information to see how much you can save on pizza delivery this week. Plus, there’s contact-less delivery too, if you order and pre-pay online. View Deal
Pizza Hut: 2 large pizzas and a classic side for £22 You can grab two large pizzas and a classic side for just £22 at Pizza Hut right now. There are also plenty of other Pizza Hut deals to take advantage of – just pop your postcode in to see what your local restaurants have on offer. Pizza Hut is doing contact-less delivery too.
Alcohol delivery
Honestbrew: free delivery on orders over £50 in the UK
Honestbrew is an excellent way to discover your next favourite beer. Its crates offer an excellent selection depending on which one you choose and there’s plenty of variety, recommendations and options to select if you know what you’re into. On top of that, you can get free delivery on orders over £50 in the UK.
Flavourly: 20 craft beers and two free glasses for £29.95, with free delivery
If you need to get your craft beer fix, with a decent selection then Flavourly will be your first stop. While the range on offer at Honestbrew is typically better, you can’t fault the price and offers you see from Flavourly.
Regarding the coronavirus, Flavourly has added the following information its blog: “Due to safety precautions in our warehouse and our courier’s depots, please do be aware that delivery may take an extra 2-3 business days.”
Amazon UK: Browse all wine, beer and spirits Amazon doesn’t just do food delivery, it also sells a huge range of alcoholic beverages: wine, beer, spirits, cider, sake and more. What sets Amazon apart from other alcohol delivery services is its Prime delivery, which means that in normal times you’ll be able to get your hands on a bottle or keg in double-quick time.
The Drink Shop: 20% off selected wine, beer and liquors Alcohol delivery service The Drink Shop is offering delivery, and you can get 20% off selected booze this November. Head over to the online store now to check out its selection of lagers, ciders, wines, spirits, mixers and everything in between. View Deal
Vinatis: Plenty of deals available, with many wines on offer.
Your one-stop-shop for all your wine needs during the lockdown. Vinatis is offering a huge selection of wines at a reduced price throughout the whole month. White, red, rose, champagne, you name it and you’ll be able to grab a new favourite wine (or an old reliable one) at any time this month. View Deal
Beer Hawk: Free delivery on beer orders over £50 Beer delivery service Beer Hawk is one of your best bets right now if you’re looking for a keg or want to restock on craft beers. With over 1000 delicious brews to choose from including German beers, American beers and British beers, you’ll be spoilt for choice. View Deal
France’s Neoen SA has outlined plans to build a giant renewables complex in South Australia, including battery storage with up to nine times more capacity than the Tesla Inc. design at its nearby Hornsdale plant, which is billed as the world’s largest lithium-ion battery.
With live streaming of events and occasions being the order of the day, social media platforms are coming up with various features to improve their live stream options.
Keeping in line with this idea, Instagram has now come up with three new updates related to ‘Live’ events.
Firstly, Instagram users can now go ‘Live’ for up to 4 hours — the time limit till date was 60 minutes.
Instagram has also announced that users will be able to save their live videos for 30 days before they delete.
Users can also see the ‘Live Now’ section in the IGTV app and using that they can discover more ‘Live videos’.
Instagram and Facebook, the synergy grows
We want Instagram to be a place where everyone can follow their interests, reach audiences, engage with communities and build businesses. These updates are another step toward helping creators do that.October 27, 2020
Instagram is rolling out the changes based on users feedback. In the US, Live usage had jumped 70% over numbers from the pre-Covid times.
About the new tweaks, Instagram has been quoted as saying: “This could help people such as instructors (yoga, fitness, schoolteachers etc.) who had to pivot to virtual classes, budding musicians, artists, or activists hosting discussions with fellow peers engage with their audience with no interruption from a 60 min time limit.”
Instagram, to start off, positioned itself as a platform for short videos and clips. But increasing Instagram Live stream time means that it is readying itself for competition, and is also undergoing fundamental change. Instagram’s time limit is now on a par to the one offered by Facebook for live streams from mobile devices. (On desktops though, Facebook offers 8 hours of live streaming.)
Facebook, which owns Instagram, recently merged Instagram DMs and Facebook Messenger. It was done to bring Facebook Messenger’s features like reactions, chat colours, and watching videos in sync with another person to the Insta stable.
Facebook has also been attempting to encourage Instagram users to cross-post their own stories onto Facebook.
Are DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) and the DREAM Act Good for America?
Pro 1
DACA and the DREAM Act are good for the US economy.
The Center for American Progress stated, “DACA has been unreservedly good for the U.S. economy” and that DACA recipients will “contribute $460.3 billion to the U.S. gross domestic product [GDP] over the next decade—economic growth that would be lost were DACA to be eliminated.” California, which has the most DACA recipients of any state, could see a $11.6 billion decline in GDP if DACA were ended. Texas, which had the second largest DACA population, stood to lose $6.3 billion.
If the Dream Act were passed, it would add $22.7 billion annually to the US GDP, and up to $400 billion over the next decade. Benjamin Harris, MBA, former Chief Economist and Economic Advisor to Vice President Biden, stated: “Individuals eligible for the DACA program tend to be higher-skilled than their ineligible counterparts, simply because the typical DACA-eligible immigrant arrived in the America at age six and was educated in the U.S. Put differently, sending DACA participants back to their home countries would be a waste of billions in human capital already invested in the young immigrants.”
Pro 2
Deporting Dreamers is inhumane and cruel.
Arriving at a median age of six years old, many Dreamers do not remember life in their birth countries, have not met family members in those countries, and do not speak the native language fluently. President Obama, responding to President Trump’s plan to end DACA, stated, “To target these young people is wrong… It is self-defeating – because they want to start new businesses, staff our labs, serve in our military, and otherwise contribute to the country we love. And it is cruel. What if our kid’s science teacher, or our friendly neighbor turns out to be a Dreamer? Where are we supposed to send her? To a country she doesn’t know or remember, with a language she may not even speak?”
Many DACA recipients are well-integrated into families, communities, schools, and workplaces throughout the country. Thiru Vignarajah, JD, former Deputy Attorney of Maryland, stated, “to deport immigrants raised in America since they were children for the supposed sins of their parents is the definition of cruel and unusual punishment — expelling a person to a country they do not know because of a decision they did not make is as spiteful as it is bizarre.”
Pro 3
DACA recipients are vital members of the American workforce and society.
Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) said that 900 DACA recipients were serving in the US military and 20,000 were schoolteachers, including 190 Dreamers in the Teach for America program. The Association of American Medical Colleges said in October 2019 that the US health care system would be caught unprepared to fill the void left by deported Dreamers.
In Mar. 2020, lawyers for Dreamers seeking to uphold the program in the Supreme Court wrote, “Healthcare providers on the frontlines of our nation’s fight against COVID-19 rely significantly upon DACA recipients to perform essential work. Approximately 27,000 DACA recipients are healthcare workers—including nurses, dentists, pharmacists, physician assistants, home health aides, technicians, and other staff—and nearly 200 are medical students, residents, and physicians.”
Con 1
DACA and the Dream Act only encourage more illegal immigration.
Congressman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) said that DACA “encouraged more illegal immigration and contributed to the surge of unaccompanied minors and families seeking to enter the U.S. illegally.” According to Karl Eschbach, PhD, DACA will increase the undocumented population because those who don’t qualify for DACA will stay in the hopes of qualifying eventually, and more people will immigrate assuming coverage by DACA or a similar program.
Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX) stated, “The Dream Act will only encourage more illegal immigration. One only needs to look at history to see how amnesty has played out in the past. The 1986 amnesty legislation legalized about three million illegal immigrants. But rather than put an end to illegal immigration, the amnesty only encouraged more.” The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA) included the legalization of about three million undocumented immigrants. Following the act’s implementation, between 1990 and 2007, the population of unauthorized immigrants in the United States shot up to 500,000 per year, peaking at 12.2 million.
Con 2
Amnesty should not be given to law breakers.
A country fairly enforcing its own laws is not cruel.David Benkoff, MA, Senior Policy Analyst at The Daily Caller noted that Dreamers are “victims of their parents… [and] it’s stunningly callous and cruel that they would knowingly subject their own children to such risks.” Dreamers have already broken the law by crossing the border illegally and remaining in the country without documentation.
The Center for Immigration Studies stated that many Dreamers also commit work-related crimes such as Social Security fraud, forgery, perjury on I-9 employment forms, and falsification of ID cards. Since 2012, 1,500 Dreamers have lost their DACA status because of gang involvement or other criminal activity. Dreamers are only disqualified if they are convicted of a crime, which according to Ronald W. Mortensen, PhD, means “Dreamer gang-bangers, Dreamer identity thieves, Dreamer sexual predators, Dreamers who haven’t paid income taxes, and Dreamers committing a wide range of other crimes all qualify for DACA status as long as they haven’t been convicted of their crimes.”
Con 3
DACA sets a bad precedent for letting presidents circumvent the legislative branch.
President Trump noted in his announcement to rescind DACA that President Obama knew he shouldn’t make immigration policy unilaterally, “and yet that is exactly what he did, making an end-run around Congress and violating the core tenets that sustain our Republic.” US Presidents shouldn’t be able to set legislative policy by executive orders; rather they should seek approval from Congress in accordance with the Constitution.
Elizabeth Murrill, JD, Solicitor General of Louisiana, said, “No matter one’s views on the policy principles motivating DACA, we should all be able to agree that the executive cannot legislate by fiat… The core of DACA’s substantive unlawfulness is its grant of “lawful presence” to hundreds of thousands of aliens whom Congress has declared to be unlawfully present.”
Protestors against DACA Source: Ed Kilgore, “Trump Administration Comes out for Path to Citizenship, a.k.a. Amnesty, for Dreamers,” nymag.com, Oct. 3, 2017
What Are DACA and the Dream Act?
The DREAM Act would have implemented similar policies as DACA via legislation instead of a presidential memo. Many versions of the DREAM Act have been introduced by both parties and have failed to pass. An effort was introduced by Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) on July 20, 2017.
In order to qualify for DACA, the undocumented immigrants are required to meet certain criteria:
under 31 years old as of June 15, 2012
have come to the United States before their 16th birthday
lived in the United States continuously from June 15, 2007 to the present
physically present in the United States on June 15, 2012 and at the time of application
have come to the United States without documents before June 15, 2012 or have had their lawful status expire as of June 15, 2012
currently in school, have graduated from high school or earned a GED, or have been honorably discharged from the Coast Guard or military
have not been convicted of a felony or “significant misdemeanors” (such as DUI), or three or more misdemeanors of any kind
Enrollment in the program requires renewal every two years.
Who Are Dreamers?
About 650,000 undocumented immigrants were enrolled in DACA as of Sep. 30, 2019. The majority of Dreamers were born in Mexico (80.2%), followed by El Salvador (3.8%) The top ten countries of origin were rounded out by Guatemala, Honduras, Peru, South Korea, Brazil, Ecuador, Colombia, and Argentina. While the majority of Dreamers are from Mexico or Central and South America, many were born in Asia, the Caribbean, Europe, and Africa.
California is home to the most DACA recipients (186,120), including 81,180 who live in the Los Angeles metro area. Texas has the second-most DREAMers (108,730), followed by Illinois (34,330). The average Dreamer is 21 to 25 years old (37.7%), a woman (53%), and not married (76.1%).
A 2019 Marquette Law School poll found that 53% of US adults opposed ending DACA while 37% were in favor of terminating the program. A CNN poll in 2018 found that 84% of respondents believed DACA should continue, allowing Dreamers to remain in the country; 11% thought the program should be stopped and Dreamers should be subject to deportation; and 5% had no opinion.
Undocumented immigrant boys assemble for medical screenings at a Nogales processing center Source: Dara Lind, “14 Facts That Help Explain America’s Child-Migrant Crisis,” vox.com, July 29, 2014
Orrin Hatch, “S.1291 – DREAM Act,” congress.gov, June 20, 2002
Lindsey Graham, “Graham, Durbin Introduce Bipartisan Dream Act to Give Immigrant Students a Path to Citizenship,” lgraham.senate.gov, July 20, 2017
SSRS, “CNN January 2018,” cnn.com, Jan. 19, 2018
Tom K. Wong, et al., “DACA Recipients’ Economic and Educational Gains Continue to Grow,” americanprogress.org, Aug. 28, 2017
Nicole Prchal Svajlenka, Tom Jawetz, and Angie Bautista-Chavez, “A New Threat to DACA Could Cost States Billions of Dollars,” americanprogress.org, July 21, 2017
Fracesca Ortega, Ryan Edwards, and Philip E. Wolgin, “The Economic Benefits of Passing the Dream Act,” americanprogress.org, Sep. 18, 2017
Benjamin Harris, “Why Your Economic Argument against Immigration Is Probably Wrong,” fortune.com, Sep. 11, 2017
Bob Goodlatte, “Goodlatte Statement on Ending Executive Overreach on Immigration,” goodlatte.house.gov, Sep. 5, 2017
Jeh Johnson, “United States Border Patrol Southwest Family Unit Subject and Unaccompanied Alien Children Apprehensions Fiscal Year 2016,” cbp.gov, Oct. 18, 2016
US Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Refugee Resettlement, “Unaccompanied Children’s Services,” www.acf.hhs.gov (accessed Jan. 29, 2016)
Karl Eschbach, “Exhibit 14 – Declaration of Karl Eschbach, Ph.D.,” scribd.com, Jan. 6, 2015
Lamar Smith, “DREAM Act Rewards Illegal Immigrants for Law-Breaking,” thehill.com, May 20, 2011
Alicia Parlapiano and Karen Yourish, “A Typical ‘Dreamer’ Lives in Los Angeles, Is from Mexico and Came to the U.S. at 6 Years Old,” nytimes.com, Jan. 23, 2018
Andrew Rafferty, “Obama on DACA: Trump’s Decision to End Program ‘Cruel’ and ‘Wrong,’” nbcnews.com, Sep. 5, 2017
Thiru Vignarajah, “Deporting Dreamers Is as Cruel and Unusual as It Gets,” seattletimes.com, Nov. 12, 2017
David Benkoff, “Let Dreamers Stay – If Their Parents Go,” dailycaller.com, Sep. 4, 2017
Adam Edelman and Kasie Hunt, “Steve King: Dreamers Can ‘Live in the Shadows’ after DACA Ends,” nbcnews.com, Sep. 6, 2017
Ronald W. Mortensen, “DACA: Granting Amnesty to Dreamers Committing Crimes while Abandoning Their Victims,” cis.org, Mar. 10, 2017
Joseph P. Williams, “Supreme Court Doesn’t Act on DACA Appeal,” usnews.com, Feb. 20, 2018
Richard Wolf and Alan Gomez, “Supreme Court Snubs Trump, Keeps DACA Immigration Program in Place for Now,” usatoday.com, Feb. 26, 2018
Pete Wiliams, “In Blow to Trump, Supreme Court Won’t Hear Appeal of DACA Ruling,” nbcnews.com, Feb. 26, 2018
Nina Totenberg, “DACA Recipients Look to Supreme Court for Hope,” npr.org, Nov. 12, 2019
Michael J. Wishnie, et al., “Re: Wolf, et al., v. Batalla Vidal, et al., No. 18-589,” supremecourt.gov, Mar. 27, 2020
Charles Franklin, “New Nationwide Marquette Law School Poll Finds Confidence in U.S. Supreme Court Overall, Though More Pronounced among Conservatives,” law.marquette.edu, Oct. 21, 2019
Jynnah Radford and Luis Noe-Bustamante, “Facts on U.S. Immigrants, 2017,” pewresearch.org, June 3, 2019
Hans Johnson and Laura Hill, “Illegal Immigration,” ppic.org, 2011
White House, “Remarks by President Trump in Meeting with Bipartisan Members of Congress on Immigration,” whitehouse.gov, Jan. 9, 2018
Dick Durban, “Durbin: Let’s Show The American Dream Is Still Alive by Passing the Dream Act,” durbin.senate.gov, Sep. 12, 2017
Adam Liptak, “‘Dreamers’ Tell Supreme Court Ending DACA During Pandemic Would Be ‘Catastrophic’,” nytimes.com, Mar. 27, 2020
Donald Trump, “Statement from President Donald J. Trump,” whitehouse.gov, Sep. 5, 2017
Hans A. von Spakovsky, “It’s Time to End DACA – It’s Unconstitutional Unless Approved by Congress,” foxnews.com, Jan. 23, 2019
Elizabeth Murrill, “Symposium: DACA Is Unlawful,” scotusblog.com, Sep. 13, 2019
John Kruzel, “Supreme Court Blocks Trump Plan to End DACA Program,” thehill.com, June 18, 2020