Is it really lonely at the top?
It’s long been posited that money can’t buy happiness – apart from maybe the £9.90 it costs for prescribed antidepressants – but can alienation caused by excessive wealth harm our ability to form interpersonal connections? The other day I was walking through the display rooms in a well-known, Swedish, affordable...
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Why we should be redirecting our gaze towards male bodies
There’s a distinct lack of body positivity discourse for male, masc, and non-binary bodies. We need to challenge the attitude that views a specific type of body as more beautiful than another and start to praise all kinds of peaches. Scrolling on social media, I come across a before and...
Opinion – Blake Lively drama shows we’re still quick to hate women
Blake Lively proves our desire to watch successful women burn is both pervasive and insidious. But are times finally changing? When Colleen Hoover’s wildly successful novel ‘It Ends With Us’ was released as a feature film last year, the media went wild. But besides the dedicated fans who lined up...
‘Fogvid’ was our favourite conspiracy theory of 2024
As barmy conspiracies go, Fogvid 24 made a late play for the title of most baseless and far-fetched of 2024. Let’s get into the details still spreading throughout the tendrils of Facebook. Last year was a great year for conspiracy theories, creatively speaking – in terms of plausibility, perhaps not. In...
Opinion – Gen Z are becoming more about crochet than clubbing
Gen Z seem to be more about crochet than clubbing these days. When did this shift happen and what are the probable causes, though? I love going out. I love the loud music and the pulsating walls. I love dark rooms and sporadic lighting. I love the throng of...
Why ZAYN’s all-female band is so important
The singer has been praised for spotlighting the seven-women brand supporting on his latest tour. Zayn Malik’s decision to tour with a seven-woman band had people talking, and for good reason. While male-dominated lineups are the default in the music industry, this ensemble – featuring Molly Miller on guitar, Baby...
Wicked star slams ableism on social media
Marissa Bode has called out ‘very gross’ comments about her ‘Wicked’ character Nessa Rose, as internet trolls prove that – despite growing representation – disabled individuals are still pushed to the fringes. Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ll be well aware that Wicked, a movie adaptation of the award-winning Broadway show of the same name, is one of the most commercially successful films of 2024. The glittering sets, showstopping musical...
One of the world’s greatest female footballers faces transphobic abuse
Barbra Banda’s mistreatment highlights the insidious misogyny and transphobia launched at women in sport. Barbra Banda, a Zambian footballer, was awarded the BBC’s Women’s Footballer of the Year last month. The prestigious award marked a milestone in Banda’s illustrious sporting career and should have been an opportunity to spotlight women’s football, which continues to grow in popularity. Soon after she was surprised with the award by her teammates, Banda shared...
Global cities set alcohol and firework bans ahead of New Year’s Eve
Hoping to ensure safer New Year celebrations for all, several global cities are introducing alcohol and firework bans, while others are closing off central areas altogether. December 31st is arguably the world’s biggest annual celebration, with friends and family gathering together to usher in the start of a new calendar year. Alcohol, fireworks, and excited crowds are all characteristic of end-of-year festivities, but the over-the-top celebrations we associate with New Year’s...
Opinion – social media platforms will see a mass exodus in 2025
Social media hasn’t been around for long, with the first platforms emerging less than thirty years ago. In this short time, they’ve become a breeding ground for annoying bots, rampant online hate, and the poor mental health of their users. Will they survive another year? By now, anyone with access to social media platforms will be well aware of the dangers they pose to our mental health. An ever-expanding mountain of...