Gen-Z mocks news misinformation with conspiracy theory satire
Promoting a far-fetched theory that birds are government spies, young people are poking fun at conspiracy theory groups to cope with living in an age of endless misinformation. A movement called Birds Aren’t Real is picking up serious traction with Generation Z, particularly in the United States. Its members claim...
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Doja Cat partners with Girls Who Code to create ‘codable music video’
Created to introduce Gen Zers to coding, Doja Cat has partnered with Girls Who Code to create an interactive video experience that incorporates java script, python, and CSS. Ever wanted to get into coding but don’t know where to start? Are you also a fan of Doja Cat? Prepare...
Steve McQueen’s new film sheds light on cancer rates in Black men
The director, well-known for his Oscar winning film ‘12 Years a Slave’, aims to remove the stigma around prostate cancer and the risk it poses for Black men in particular. Steve McQueen's new short film stars Morgan Freeman, Idris Elba, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Michael Ward. Titled Embarrassed, it sets the...
Does listening to sad music actually make us happier?
Good news: our love for breakup ballads is not just rooted in feeling sorry for ourselves. Science says that along with giving us something to relate to, sad music can trick our brain into making us happier. The quick succession of album releases from artists who are notorious for...
You decide – has YouTube made a mistake by removing dislikes?
YouTube has announced that dislikes will no longer be visible as an attempt to combat ‘targeted harassment’. Is this a move to genuinely help creators or is it pandering to corporate sponsors and brands? YouTube has begun hiding dislikes from viewers on all videos. The company says it has...
Independent record store boycotting Adele over vinyl shortage
Skeleton Records in Birkenhead is boycotting Adele’s new album ‘30’ due to a vinyl shortage. Over 500,000 copies of her album have been pressed despite materials currently being sparce worldwide. Adele will be dominating the charts for the foreseeable future with the imminent release of her new album ‘30’. Whether...
Eight dead at Travis Scott’s Astroworld Festival
Eight people died and hundreds were injured at Travis Scott’s Astroworld Festival in Houston due to a mixture of mismanagement, negligence, and an unwavering focus on profitability over human life. Eight people and hundreds more were injured in a crowd crush at Astroworld Festival over the weekend. Launched in 2018 by producer and rapper Travis Scott, the annual event is intended to be a large-scale, psychedelic experience that takes place on...
Opinion – Chappelle’s transphobia is dangerous but he won’t be ‘cancelled’
We may have thought the Dave Chappelle fiasco would have died down by now. But it hasn’t, and it shouldn’t. For those that don’t know, Chappelle’s new Netflix series, ‘The Closer’, launched early this month. The tirade of transphobic jokes featured in the programme have caused an uproar that shows no signs of waning. Notable comments include Chappelle’s defence of ‘team TERF’, and author J.K Rowling’s transphobic Twitter commentary. The statements...
Playboy features its first ever queer male cover star
Playboy has announced queer influencer Bretman Rock as its latest cover star. What do these inclusive shifts mean for pop culture’s most exclusionary spaces? Playboy has long been known for its nude female models. But in a first for the magazine, gay Filipino Bretman Rock has been revealed as October’s cover star. Rock announced the news on Twitter last week, writing ‘I’m a @playboy bunny DUHHHHHH’ above two images from...
You decide – is Coldplay’s ‘sustainable tour’ eco-friendly or greenwashing?
Coldplay once vowed to only return to touring once it became a carbon neutral practice. Though it has been unable to stay true to this goal, the band says its latest tour will be significantly more eco-friendly than past efforts. Should others take note? As the world slowly recovers from the pandemic, bands both large and small are finally able to start touring again. This is obviously great news...
