Why Gen Z is ditching their smartphones on nights out
Death to the drunk Instagram story? Well, maybe. Young people are starting to swap their smartphones for simpler mobile devices on nights out. The benefits extend well beyond dealing with embarrassing social media posts from the night before. A new trend is emerging amongst Gen Z members old enough...
Current in Media
The problem with Sainsbury’s latest campaign and why it went viral
A new marketing campaign released by Sainsbury’s has gone viral for being completely tone-deaf about women’s safety. The adverts' timing makes its sentiments even more ridiculous, as a culture of violent sexual misconduct by serving Metropolitan Police officers is brought to light. Here we go again. You’d think that with great...
Dementia villages are changing the future of elderly care
Specially designed to look like the towns where residents are from, dementia villages are giving elderly people the freedom to live normally within a close community – even as their recent memory begins to fade. Growing old is a fact of life whether we like it or not. While beauty companies...
A deep dive into nepotism in Bollywood
New York Magazine’s viral essay on Hollywood’s nepo baby boom has generated many thoughts and opinions on actors with famous parents. But there’s another realm of entertainment where nepotism is always at the forefront of conversations. Nate Jones’ anchor essay on nepo babies sparked conversations about star kids...
How Tory Lanez case demonstrates Hollywood’s misogyny
Rapper Tory Lanez has been found guilty of shooting Megan Thee Stallion in the foot. But angered responses from Lanez’ fans – and the demonisation of Stallion – highlight Hollywood’s persistent issue with successful Black women. Since the summer of 2020, rapper Megan Thee Stallion has claimed Tory Lanez shot...
Study shows most musicians can’t afford equipment
New research by charity Help Musicians says that over 90% of all musicians can no longer afford equipment to perform live shows. Being a musician is a tough ordeal in the age of streaming. Most consumers aren’t buying CDs or vinyl, with touring and merchandise usually serving as the...
The intern behind Spotify Wrapped was never given her dues
The popular round-up format has become a viral trend marking the end of a year. But many don’t know it was created by an intern in under three months. Is it even December if you don’t share your Spotify Wrapped? The music streaming platform launched Wrapped playlists in 2016, giving users the chance to view a personalised recap of their past year as defined by their listening habits. The format, though simple,...
Opinion – Emily in Paris proves cliché tv shows are necessary
It’s the series you love to hate or vehemently hate to love. Riddled with predictable plotlines, exaggerated portrayals of life in the French capital, and no mention of the pandemic or economic inflation – it’s Emily in Paris. But does the show really deserve the scrutiny it gets? No other Netflix release has received more criticism during our journey into the 2020s than Emily In Paris – a series about...
BRIT awards under fire for selecting all-male nominees
In 2021, it was announced that the annual ceremony would be foregoing the gender split for its best artist category. This year, however, only men are in the running. At a time when inclusivity is at the forefront of every conversation, you’d assume that companies, brands, and key industry players would think twice before publicly committing to an act of blatant discrimination. Whether they’re initially ‘trying’ in an effort to...
How gaslighting became our word of the year in 2022
Gaslighting — defined as a particular kind of deception and psychological manipulation that causes you to question your own reality. It has been chosen by the Merriam-Webster dictionary as 2022’s word of the year, following ‘a 1740% increase’ in searches. The word itself arises from the 1938 thriller play ‘Gas Light’, which revolves around a husband who slowly deceives his wife into believing she is losing her sanity. At...
