Latest Stories from Charlie
Amazon takes down over 20,000 fake reviews
Nearly all of the top ten users in the UK appear to have written fraudulent five-star reviews that undermine Amazon's product recommendations. Amazon has removed over 20,000 ‘fake’ reviews created by a small handful of top users as it struggles to keep on top of false and inaccurate user feedback. Seven of the top ten UK reviewers have been engaging in suspicious activity, The Financial Times reported last week, posting...
#FreeBritney and the contentious issue of online fandoms
Britney’s attorney said that she ‘welcomes and appreciates the informed support of her many fans’ in new Los Angeles Superior Court documents. Britney Spears seems to have shown support for the fan-led initiative to release her from her conservatorship called #FreeBritney in newly obtained court documents. Fans have been concerned about her wellbeing and financial situation for well over a decade (older readers may remember the vintage Chris Crocker ‘leave Britney...
Snapchat launches face masks for 2020 March on Washington
Six black artists were enlisted to create digital face mask filters and Bitmoji accessories for Snapchat. Real, physical versions are also available to purchase. Snapchat has released a set of new selfie filters that allow users to wear digital face masks to commemorate the 57th anniversary of the March on Washington. Six artists were enlisted to design original pieces that celebrated recent racial justice causes and protests, most notably the...
How racism defined John Boyega’s Star Wars experience
Disney and the Star Wars franchise denounced by Boyega, who says his experience while filming has ‘changed him’. John Boyega has said he’s disappointed with the way non-white characters were written and treated during the production of recent Disney Star Wars films. His role as Finn in all three of the newest main trilogy entries in particular was played down as the series continued. You might remember early teasers for...
Boxed Water plants 1 million trees with NFF
The popular sustainably packaged water brand now has plans to reach 2 million planted trees in partnership with the National Forest Foundation. Boxed Water has managed to reach its 2020 goal of planting 1 million trees across the US after a five year social media campaign. It will now continue indefinitely with the initiative and is dedicated to planting another million in the near future. Trees have been planted in various...
Twitter calls out disturbing new TikTok Holocaust trend
TikTok users have been dressing up as Holocaust victims as part of a semi-viral trend. Unsurprisingly, The Auschwitz Memorial Museum has asked for it to stop. TikTok has been through the ringer recently. In recent months it’s faced accusations of Chinese spyware, criticisms of deep fake investment, and Trump has promised to eventually ban it across the US, though Microsoft and Wal-Mart are now reportedly in a bidding war for...
Understanding carbon calories could be the key to reducing our footprint
We now have the data and technology to track our carbon usage. Companies such as Carbon Calories are using this information to spur individuals to combat climate change. If you’ve ever gone on a diet or paid attention to your daily calorie intake, you’ll no doubt have studied the labels of countless food products to help get a better understanding of what you’re eating. It’s become an expected practice of...
Fall Guys developer creates a bidding war for charity
Brands and influencers are bidding for a chance to have their own custom skin added to Fall Guys, with over £300,000 being raised so far for gaming disability charity Special Effect. Fall Guys has enjoyed wild success since its launch early last month. It’s been purchased over 2 million times on Steam and has been downloaded by 8 million PlayStation Plus members. Much like other big multiplayer titles before it,...
Exclusive – Inside the mind of Gen Z director Jason Joyride
Jason Joyride, up-and-coming director and creative talent for Rico Nasty, talks Gen Z’s responsibility for social change, and reinventing musicals for the hip-hop age. When you first watch Rico Nasty’s music video for ‘Popstar’, a trap and punk-infused banger that dropped in early April, it’s hard not to be drawn in by the explosive colour, jittery doodles, and electric backdrops. The video is the brainchild of Jason Joyride, a...
RockCorps is giving Gen Z new apprenticeship opportunities
Partnering with big musicians including Pharrell Williams, Diddy, and Lady Gaga, RockCorps is offering teens apprenticeship and volunteering placements to help them boost their CVs. If you’re a young person looking to get a foot on the career ladder, it can be hard to know where to start to get into an industry you really love, or how to bag yourself a worthwhile apprenticeship. RockCorps was designed for this very...
