Latest Stories from Flo
A model has gone viral for her experience of AI white-washing
With artificial intelligence on the rise, its use in the fashion world raises new moral dilemmas. Shereen Wu is a burgeoning runway model from the US. She’s also a burgeoning influencer, sharing her career and lifestyle with several thousands of followers. But it’s not her content creation or modelling skills that have recently thrust Wu into the limelight. After sharing a recent incident involving designer Michael Costello, Wu has gone viral on...
Omegle shuts down after 14 years over sexual abuse controversy
The once-hyped social site is shuttering after years of controversy. Its death is a sign of the times. Long before the advent of Instagram or TikTok, socialising online meant updating your Facebook status or booting up Omegle. Launched in 2009, the latter was unique in that it allowed users to engage in anonymous, one-on-one video or text chats with strangers no matter their age or location. While many teens dreamt of stumbling...
Opinion – Marathons need be more inclusive
The New York Marathon has come under fire for excluding a runner with a stoma. But across the board, are major running events doing enough to make people feel included? Like many large-scale running events, the New York Marathon is a chance to celebrate hard work, dedication, charity and community. Runners from all over the world, from a variety of backgrounds, come together in a show of solidarity and support. It’s...
M&S ad controversy highlights social responsibility of brands
Amid the ongoing crisis in Gaza, marketing blunders like these demonstrate the urgency of brand due diligence. Each year, the arrival of Christmas creeps slightly earlier. Nowadays, we’re still busy binning Halloween decorations and transforming pumpkins into a buffet of soups and risottos when Mariah Carey starts defrosting. And it hardly raises an eyebrow if major brands launch their festive campaigns on the 1st November. We might still be waiting for...
How the cost-of-living crisis is pushing Britain to the brink
As bankers’ bonuses increase and government action stalls, a new cost-of-living documentary has highlighted the urgency of our country’s wealth gap. The same day that Channel 4 released its new cost-of-living documentary, a cap on bankers’ bonuses was scrapped in the UK. The irony hasn’t been lost on many, as the reality of many Britons’ living situations – some living on just £1 a day – ignited outcry on social media and...
14-year-old develops new bar of soap to treat melanoma
Heman Bekele may have found a strikingly simple answer to skin cancer treatment: a bar of soap. Despite extortionate amounts of fundraising and tireless research, a cancer cure still often feels like a pipedream. But as far as cancer research goes, it's long been suspected that the answer to one of humanity’s biggest killers could lie anywhere, or be discovered by anyone. This week, a 14-year-old from Virginia is the latest...
The Rock’s wax figure is part of a much bigger problem
The actor reached out to a Parisian museum after his wax figure was revealed to have a much paler complexion than his own. Last week, the unveiling of a Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson statue raised eyebrows not for its impeccable likeness, but for a glaring issue that’s sparked a broader conversation about whitewashing in major cultural institutions: the colour of its skin. Musée Grévin is modelled on London’s Madame Tussauds, where...
UNESCO is planning a virtual museum of stolen artefacts
The project aims to highlight Britain’s colonial history, and its ongoing impact on global communities. The subject of imperialism has surrounded British museums since their inception, but the topic has gained particular momentum in recent years. Discussions of cultural heritage and restitution have started to drive tangible changes in the museum sector. From curatorial amendments to projects with indigenous communities, institutions are constantly working to grapple with their...
Study finds period insecurity may stop girls from playing sports
The Youth Sports Trust has found low confidence related to menstruation stops girls from enjoying PE in schools. Government efforts have been geared toward the health and fitness of UK children for the past few years, as campaigns around obesity and physical activity begin to infiltrate more aspects of our daily lives. But despite a new plan to improve equal access and the quality of PE in schools,...
Should violent criminals be allowed on social media?
The successful TikTok career of a US school shooter has raised questions around the accessibility of online spaces. Many people dream of going viral on social media. After all, it promises overnight fame and widespread influence. The growing capability of almost anyone to gain internet notoriety has increasingly aroused controversy. Whether it’s a seemingly mindless dance video or a unique soundbite, people are turning into overnight sensations – and capitalising...
