How research says Gen Z is redefining friendship online
Online friendships have long been viewed as less ‘real’ than those formed through face-to-face interaction. However, research indicates that for Gen Z, whose social lives are increasingly shaped by digital spaces, that assumption is outdated. In a world of 8.3 billion people, how realistic is it to assume that the...
Current in Social
Is loneliness the latest Gen Z status symbol?
A pivot on singledom, the rise of ‘lonely influencers’, and a crackdown on self-optimisation have more and more of us romanticising the lonely life. I’ve grown up feeling that loneliness is something to hide, or at least feel negative about. My earliest visualisation of adult loneliness was probably Bridget Jones singing...
The UK under-16 social media ban is now official
It’s official. As early as spring 2027, social media will be banned for under-16s in the UK. Keir Starmer is also planning online curfews for under-18s to be announced in July. Touching grass is now mandatory. As expected, the Prime Minister briefed on Monday morning that a social media ban will...
Facial verification on dating apps is failing miserably
Could the strange final photos on dating apps like Tinder be a symbol of our already declining confidence in pre-screened dating?
If you’ve been on dating apps recently, you might have noticed something strange. And no, I don’t just mean the obscure but seemingly popular fish holding photos and
Social media giants face a revolution built on accountability
New landmark rulings from recent trials might just force social media’s big players into being accountable for child safety. Silicon Valley is reeling. The past few days have been quite rough for big tech. The companies that have long positioned themselves above the law just had the rug pulled, and...
A Gen Z guide to staying safe while online dating
Over one million Gen Zers are on ‘the apps’ continuously swiping in hopes of finding love or casual hookups. How can we ensure we stay safe? It’s no secret that online dating has taken the world by storm with Gen Z, boasting over 350 million users globally. In th...
Why are people thirst trapping on LinkedIn?
LinkedIn has become an unusual breeding ground for thirst trap content. Is this peak cringe, or merely a symptom of life online in 2025? I was just looking for inspirational quotes, I swear. The social media flex is inevitable. Whether you’re looking to temporarily numb your brain on TikTok, have a quick peruse through Instagram, or look for job listings on LinkedIn, you’re all but guaranteed to stumble on people ‘thirst...
Social media loves telling you what’s wrong with your face
Why are so many cosmetic doctors dishing out unsolicited advice on our appearance? Cosmetic surgery is not the taboo it once was. These days, aesthetic enhancements are accepted as part and parcel of the modern beauty regimen – and celebrities who forgo them are considered trailblazers. The normalisation of cosmetic medicine has triggered complex debates. Some believe it’s a blessing that once ‘secretive’ procedures are now out in the open – demystifying unrealistic...
Instagram floods non-paid users with ads
Meta is officially trialling premier subscriptions for Instagram. Those staying on the free version are already being bombarded with ads, and many say the standard experience is being deliberately degraded. Thousands of us looking to procrastinate on Instagram this morning were halted by a new paid sign-up page. The vast majority of us who steered clear of the ‘ad-free’ tier, given Instagram has been sponsor and ad heavy in recent...
UK government weighing up social media ban for under 16s
UK ministers are currently voting on an amendment to ban under 16s from social media and the Prime Minister is reportedly open to following in Australia’s footsteps. Under mounting pressure, the UK government is now weighing up whether to ban children under 16 from using social media. A consultation is currently taking place, in which dozens of MPs will vote on whether an Australia-style policy should be implemented by next...
