What does research tell us about parasocial relationships?
Parasocial relationships have always existed, but social media has made them feel more personal. For Gen Z, constant access to influencers, streamers, and idols is blurring the line between fandom and real connection. What does the research say? Have you ever watched so many interviews of your K-pop bias that...
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Why a population cap would have backfired on Switzerland
Despite being a picture-perfect paradise on the outside, a potential population cap highlights the outrageous extent that Swiss politics would go to push an anti-immigration rhetoric. To many of us, Switzerland might as well be paradise. From its regal landscapes to its powerhouse industries, the nation truly does it...
Is Gen Z earning more than millennials at the same age?
At 24, Gen Z workers born in the late 1990s are apparently being paid more than any cohort since those born in the 1950s. The bigger picture isn’t quite so rosy, however. Gen Z’s early careers are more financially rewarding than those of millennials, according to research from the Resolution...
Why Elon Musk’s trillionaire status is unsettling
His exorbitant wealth reflects a broken economic system both funded and relied on by everyday people. There are milestones that tell us something profound about society. Like the first person to walk on the moon, or the invention of the internet. And then there’s the world’s first trillionaire – a title...
One month later: what local elections tell us about Britain
A month ago, local election results dominated UK political headlines. Reform UK celebrated historic gains, Liberal Democrats became a fan favourite, and Greens climbed up the ladder. Now that maps have stopped changing colour and victory speeches are over, the dust has finally settled and perhaps the most interesting question...
A Gen Z love letter to the tiny ‘tini
A diminishing appetite for booze has ushered in a new, downsized, era for the cocktail. It’s been reported for some time now that young people are drinking less. Our parent’s generation were privy to the 80s cocktail goldrush, whetted with Piña Coladas and Blue Lagoons. And millennials have held up...
Hundreds were arrested following the Champions League final
French authorities arrested over 400 people due to clashes between football fans following the Champions League final. More than 400 arrests were made across France following Paris Saint-Germain (PSG)'s victory over Arsenal on Saturday evening, with clashes erupting between fans and police in Paris and other cities. Vehicles were damaged and businesses vandalised, officers injured and tear gas deployed. As is often the case after major league games, by...
Gabon shutting off social media for under 16s isn’t a progressive move
In recent months, the option of freely using the internet has become increasingly difficult to achieve in Gabon as a result of new digital regulations. Under 16s are now prohibited from creating personal accounts. During the past year, the internet has seen increasingly strict limitations and restrictions. The initial temporary nationwide social media shutdown that was imposed on the country during a time of political unrest has now been fully...
What the rise of UK shoplifting says about the nation’s economy
New reports show rural areas and independent businesses across the country are being targeted. Britain’s shoplifting crisis is no longer limited to city-centre supermarkets or high street convenience stores. Increasingly, it has spread into rural areas, affecting farm shops, independent retailers and small family-run businesses. New research from commercial insurer NFU Mutual suggests that the kind of crime once associated with urban decline is no longer confined to these areas. Nine...
The UK’s smoking ban already feels out of date
Britain’s ‘smoke-free generation’ law may save lives, but it also reveals a government legislating for habits young people have largely grown out of. The British government has hailed its generational smoking ban as a landmark public health intervention. Anyone born after 1st January 2009 will never legally be able to buy cigarettes in the UK, theoretically creating a ‘smoke-free generation’ that will phase tobacco out of British life forever. It’s...
