Latest Stories from Charlie
Explicit Taylor Swift AI images cause legal panic
Last week, explicit images of Taylor Swift created using AI were shared across Twitter (X), with some posts gaining millions of views. The ensuing legal panic could have ramifications for the use of celebrity likeness, and AI images in general. Taylor Swift was the victim of AI image generation last week. Explicit, pornographic images were created without her consent and shared across X (formally Twitter) by thousands of users. The posts...
Opinion – Social media’s ageist conversation is exhausting
TikTokers are currently discussing how and why Gen Z are ‘rapidly ageing’ compared to their Millennial peers. The conversation is symptomatic of a wider generational obsession with age, life milestones, and external societal pressures. The whole thing is draining. If you’re an avid TikTok or Instagram Reel user, you’ve probably seen some discussion around Gen Z ageing faster than their older Millennial peers this week. There’s been viral conversation over...
Tyler, The Creator named best-selling male artist on vinyl
Rapper and producer Tyler, The Creator is officially the best-selling male artist on vinyl in the US. He was also named the year’s best-selling rapper. Tyler, The Creator has been named as the best-selling male artist on vinyl in the US for 2023. He reportedly sold a total of 552,000 records, making him both the best-selling rapper and male artist in the US. He was also third best-selling artist overall. Other...
Music streams reach record-breaking 4 trillion in 2023
On-demand streaming saw continual growth last year, despite a resurgence in physical media and a full return to live events. It follows similar trends in other industries, emphasising subscription models and digital licensing rather than outright ownership. In news that will be unsurprising to most, on-demand music streaming saw exceptional growth in 2023. According to data provided by music and entertainment data analysis firm Luminate, streaming increased by 22.3% over...
Our playbook guide to deceptive fossil fuel practices: part six
When it comes to the insidious techniques that the industry is using to greenwash its image, undermine climate negotiations, and delay progress, there are many. This time, we’re examining how fossil fuel companies infiltrate climate policy and decision making. COP28 is almost over. With this year’s climate negotiations drawing to a close, you may be wondering just how effective and meaningful the whole ordeal has been. Are we any closer to...
‘Rizz’ named word of the year by Oxford University Press
Gen Z’s favourite TikTok buzzword ‘rizz’ was crowned word of the year for 2023. Unsure what that means? A brush up on your social media dialect might be in order. The word ‘rizz’ has been named word of the year by the Oxford University Press. Based on more than 32,000 votes and final judgement from a team of language experts, the word is defined as ‘style, charm, or attractiveness; the ability...
Our playbook guide to deceptive fossil fuel practices: part two
When it comes to the insidious techniques that the industry is using to undermine climate negotiations and delay progress, there are many. Here, we break down how marketing is used to put pressure on the individual rather than corporations. Well, it’s that time of year again. COP28 is now underway, promising once again to renew our international efforts for a cleaner future and a greener world. This year, the event announced...
YouTuber ‘The Completionist’ facing claims of charitable negligence
Long time YouTuber Jirard Khalil, known as ‘The Completionist’, is facing accusations of withholding over $600,000 USD in charitable donations over a span of nine years. If you’ve ever donated money to the Open Hand Foundation as part of the annual IndieLand livestreaming event, it’s likely that your money hasn’t actually gone anywhere. Organised by Jirard Khalil, a gaming YouTuber better known as ‘The Completionist’, IndieLand brings together tons of...
Is banning suicide forums an effective means of mental health support?
A recent BBC investigation puts pressure on UK authorities to shut down an online forum that freely discusses suicide. Is it the right call, or is it placing too much attention on a symptomatic cause rather than the root problem? TW: This article discusses mental health issues and suicide. If you are in need of urgent help, please refer to the NHS website here for a...
Denmark’s plant-based roadmap sees massive success
The Danish government published a plan that gives insight into how it will transition toward widespread plant-based alternative foods in 2021. The first round of funding applications has been massively oversubscribed. Denmark has seen huge success in its efforts to transition into plant-based foods nationwide. Proposals were published by the Danish Ministry of Food as part of the political agricultural agreement in 2021. In the plan, the government said it...
