The impact of Grindr on gay men’s mental health
In the digital age, it’s assumed that dating has never been easier. Yet as the LGBTQ+ community increasingly finds itself struggling to navigate the complex landscape of these apps, many are beginning to question the psychological toll of platforms offering instant gratification. Grindr, with its three million daily active users,...
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Exclusive – how Epowar is keeping British women safe
It’s common knowledge that misogynistic violence is an ever-worsening issue across the UK and that local authorities aren’t doing nearly enough to protect us from it. We spoke to Erin-Jane Roodt, who’s designed an innovative new app that enables us to feel less vulnerable, live our lives without fear,...
TikTok seals deal with Amazon to make in-app shopping even easier
The popular video sharing app will now integrate shoppable ‘Buy with Prime’ ads directly in the TikTok app, complete with real-time delivery estimates. This new development comes as US lawmakers get closer to banning the platform. Have you ever bought something on TikTok Shop? If you haven’t, it’s likely you’ll...
A look at the explosion of gaming across Africa
The African gaming market has been experiencing unprecedented growth over the past decade, rapidly approaching $1 billion in annual revenue. This remarkable rise reflects the continent's evolving digital landscape, where young people are tapping into gaming not just as a form of entertainment but also as a source of...
Facebook algorithm under fire for blocking wildfire posts
The platform has faced criticism for blocking multiple emergency posts relating to United States wildfires. Facebook has recently found itself in the line of fire – and not for spreading misinformation or political propaganda, but for blocking emergency warnings. As wildfires spread across Northern California this month, individuals took to social...
Has the PlayStation 5 Pro made the future of gaming inaccessible?
Retailing for an eye-watering £700 at launch, the PlayStation 5 Pro has fans of console gaming concerned that next gen hardware will completely price us out. Has the market just been ruined? How do you appease lifelong PlayStation fans becoming disillusioned by a lack of exciting new IPs and exclusives?...
Cognify wants AI-simulated memories to help rehabilitate prisoners
Hashem Al-Ghaili, a Berlin-based scientist and filmmaker, envisions a future where prisoners are rehabilitated using implanted synthetic memories created by AI. His MO is to instil a sense of empathy and cut lengthy sentences from years to a matter of minutes. Having cut his teeth in the realm of independent filmmaking, Hashem Al-Ghaili has certainly let his mind run wild with this controversial concept. Presumably after binging Black Mirror and the...
Is accessible news making Gen Z narrow-minded?
With young people getting most of their news from social media, their political interests are being swayed by algorithms and a limited exposure to diverse perspectives. In recent years, the number of people for whom social media is their go-to news source has soared, with 44 per cent of 16 to 24-year-olds using Instagram for this very reason. These platforms – originally intended to...
Are social media algorithms breeding misogyny and violence?
Amid mounting evidence to suggest that men and boys are being pushed violent and misogynistic content online – without deliberately searching for or engaging with it – many fear that this unregulated far-right radicalisation is increasingly turning them against women and girls. On Monday, BBC Panorama released a new documentary. Titled ‘Can We Live Without Our Phones?’, it investigates what happens when children lose access to their mobile...
Why did TikTok ‘make’ you buy it?
Social media is no longer a place we go to connect with others. It’s a place where we go to learn, laugh, and most of all – to be marketed to. Let’s face it. TikTok is fueling overconsumption. Upon opening the app, users are ushered into a digital marketplace from anywhere, whether that be our bed, on public transport, or even (sorry boss) when bored at work. In just a few...
