Are cigarettes on trend again?
Amid the resurgence of smoking among celebrities and influencers, a recent study shows that 57 per cent of young people think it’s fashionable, despite the risks being so well-known. Of every trend to make a comeback, smoking was an unlikely contender. It’s 2024, after all, the year that saw efforts to...
Current in Offbeat
Is ‘little treat’ culture sabotaging your financial future?
Coping with the stressors of everyday life isn't easy, but is rewarding ourselves with a little treat anytime we complete a task really necessary? In recent years, a tantalising trend has taken hold of the internet. It's been celebrated on TikTok, showcased in memes, and glorified in comfortingly relatable social media...
What is the IKEA effect and how does it apply to relationships?
We value IKEA furniture more because we’ve invested time and energy into reading the instructions and then assembling it. This has taken on a whole new meaning online. For gamblers, the ‘sunk cost fallacy’ might sound familiar. Defined as ‘a reluctance to abandon a strategy or course of action because...
Exploring the meaning of Mexico’s Dia de Muertos
Let's explore the emotional context of the 'Day of the Dead' celebrations a few days before they begin. It is not surprising that The Day of the Dead is the holiday for which Mexico is most internationally recognised. For some people, this celebration is a contradictory concept because it surrounds death...
What Prague’s pub-crawl ban means for tourism
The new legislation is a blow for travellers looking for cheap, booze-filled nights out. For a certain type of tourist, Prague has long been synonymous with cheap beer, mediaeval charm, and a night out you’ll definitely forget. In fact, for many British party-goers, Prague has become a rite of passage. An...
Opinion – I’m sick of seeing people waste food on social media
Given the state of our world at present, why are content creators still going viral for making a show of mass-consumption and promoting throwaway culture when this is so blatantly in poor taste? Sometimes, I genuinely think that most of us don’t give a rat’s arse about what’s going on...
Stop shoving online therapy down our throats
i’m trying to watch YouTube in the bath. Go away I’m one BetterHelp ad away from bouncing my Pixel off the wall. Is it just me, or is anyone else being low key harassed by advertising for online therapy portals in 2024? It’s either that or male grooming kits. Perhaps my YouTube algorithm sees the amount of Manchester United rant content I consume and has decided I personally need an intervention. Either way,...
Is the ‘aura points’ trend philosophical or misogynistic?
On social media, young people are using ‘aura points’ to calculate how cool they are. For philosophers, the trend falls in line with Gen Z’s love of astrology and other cosmic belief systems. For members of the manosphere, it’s a lifestyle, yet another opportunity to inject the world of wellness with competitive edge. For the average person, decoding Gen Z slang is no easy feat. Unless you’re chronically online, hearing...
When did British festivals get so messy?
Every time festival season rolls around in the UK, attendees make headlines for destroying the sites (and their livers alongside them). In other parts of Europe, this recklessness is less common – or at least less renowned. Should we be looking beyond British borders for an example of how to regulate environmental impact and substance use at multi-day music and arts events? Whether you’ve found yourself in the midst of...
Opinion – bring back the fat chefs
The online convergence of food and fitness influencers on social media means that people are focusing on the protein and ‘fuel’ quotient of their quick-to-make meals, rather than delighting in the flavour of their culinary creations and the process of cooking them. I vividly remember the first time I saw culinary skills depicted on-screen. It was the infamous cheese toastie scene in Jon Favreau’s 2014 film Chef,...
