Latest Stories from Flo
Why Miss Universe has triggered a ‘wokeness’ debate
The beauty pageant is being hailed as the death of wokeness, and the result of the ‘Trump effect’. Victoria Kjær Theilvig, a 21-year-old Danish woman, is Miss Universe 2024. She’s blonde, blue-eyed, and undeniably beautiful – a fact that should been met with applause and little more. Instead, her win has ignited a cultural skirmish on social media, where far-right commentators have seized the moment to proclaim the supposed ‘end of...
The case for real versus artificial Christmas trees
It’s the festive debate to end all festive debates. But which tree really is better for the planet? For decades, the debate over real versus artificial Christmas trees has been the festive equivalent of pineapple on pizza. It’s divisive, personal, and a little exhausting. You might choose artificial trees for their convenience, cost-effectiveness, or the promise of a consistent aesthetic. Or, you may insist a real tree, with its scent and imperfections,...
What’s up with people hiring witches on Etsy?
The phenomenon isn’t as uncommon as you might think. Like many individuals, Riley Wenckus felt distraught and disempowered in the aftermath of Trump’s re-election. Wenckus was particularly furious at Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of X, and the key role he’d played in Trump's victory. So she turned to an unconventional solution: Wenckus paid $7.99 to an Etsy witch to curse Musk. In a viral TikTok, she shouted, ‘Elon motherf***ing...
Gen Z’s latest accessory? Ear plugs
The unlikely trend has made ear safety stylish. What’s the harm? The soundtrack of your teens and twenties usually involves crowded festivals, loud nightclubs, and headphones dialled up to high-volume. But Gen Z are starting to reject this cacophony with help from an unlikely accessory: the earplug. Studies have shown that for many young people, noise exposure poses a serious risk to the health of the ears and can even lead...
Everything you need to know about Bluesky
Does Jack Dorsey’s new Twitter-alternative mark the end of Musk’s X? The word ‘Bluesky’ first popped into the public consciousness when Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey launched the app last summer. But as Twitter (now X) becomes increasingly inundated with far-right rhetoric, and Donald Trump’s election launches X owner Elon Musk into the political limelight, a mass exodus of the social media app has given Bluesky its proverbial moment in the sun. For...
New California law requires companies to recycle unwanted clothing
The legislation intends to reduce the amount of textile waste going to landfill. California is widely considered a harbinger of progressive legislation, leading the charge in areas from emissions control to consumer privacy. The state’s latest step is a decisive push against textile waste. Under a new law, manufacturers of clothing, footwear and textiles sold in California will be required to take back and recycle unwanted items at no cost...
Are brands crossing a line in the pursuit of relevance?
The widespread mocking of Gary Barlow’s son proves that virality alone should not equate marketability. Oh boy, does the internet love a spectacle. Over the past week, a photograph of Gary Barlow’s son, Daniel, towering above his dad, went viral. The memes arrived shortly after, and overnight Daniel became a punchline feeding the algorithm’s endless appetite. Like most social media trends nowadays, viral content is a bit of an open season...
How realistic is Keir Starmer’s COP29 pledge?
The Prime Minister’s goals may be loud, but is anyone listening? Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s commitment for the UK to slash greenhouse gas emissions by 81% by 2035 at the COP29 climate summit has been hailed by some as a brave push for climate leadership. The pledge is marginally more ambitious than the current target of a 78% reduction measured against 1990 levels and aligns with recommendations from Britain’s climate...
What is the 4B movement?
The phenomenon is gaining traction in the US after emerging in South Korea. The 4B movement is a bold refusal. In South Korea, a country where dating violence, revenge porn, and a stubborn gender wage gap are everyday realities, women are stepping away from marriage (bihon), childbirth (bichulsan), romance (biyeonae), and sexual relationships (bisekseu) as an act of defiance against deeply ingrained societal norms. The movement calls out the patriarchy with...
The Film and TV industry reckons with its own shortcomings
Reports of staff abuse and toxic work environments, particularly amongst Runners, are forcing industry regulators to face uncomfortable truths. The film and TV industry is often sold as a world of glitz and glamour, a pipeline to the stars where creativity reigns and dreams come true. But for the runners – entry-level staff usually overworked and under-paid work – this is often far from reality. After actor Richard E. Grant recently spoke...
