Opinion – our phone addiction is out of control
In a world where scrolling has become second nature and our devices an extension of ourselves, we’ve become completely detached from both how dependent we are on being perpetually ‘connected’ and how negatively this is impacting us all. Last week, I finally did what I’ve been urging myself to...
Current in Social
The ongoing battle between Snapchat and TikTok
Could Snapchat’s continued focus on engendering genuine connections give it the edge on TikTok, as the latter over pushes ecommerce? Is Snapchat beating TikTok? Recently, we’ve seen two of the biggest social media platforms, TikTok and Snapchat, take radically different approaches to expanding their user bases and ensuring growth for 2024. TikTok’s...
Noplace is the latest social media app attracting Gen Z
Noplace is offering Gen Z a fresh social media experience that prioritises authentic connections and community over algorithms and ads, blending nostalgic MySpace vibes with Twitter's immediacy. In an era where algorithms dictate what we see, and ads interrupt our scrolling, a new social media app is rising to prominence...
Are US lawmakers focusing too much on child safety in online spaces?
It’s no secret that social media is a place where our sense of self-worth comes to die. So as policymakers in the United States strive to enforce safety measures for children in these spaces, are adults being wrongly left out of the equation? Public awareness of the dangers posed by...
Opinion – We need better social media boundaries to prevent ‘sadfishing’
The internet may have done wonders for the mental health conversation, offering anyone struggling a space to feel heard, understood, and supported, but with sadfishing on the rise, is there a limit to how much we should be disclosing online? While I’ve always been one for the occasional #ootd on...
TikTok used to sway young voters ahead of global elections
This year, 4 billion people are eligible to cast their political vote around the world. Social media platforms – especially TikTok – are playing a huge role in the build-up to UK elections. As Britain prepares for its highly-anticipated election, TikTok has emerged as a fresh battleground for the nation’s...
The unsettling rise of Facebook Marketplace sperm donors
Why bother with expensive IVF or IUI treatments for your fertility needs? Facebook Marketplace apparently has you covered. What’s the most ridiculous thing you’ve heard today? Wait, here us out. Thousands of people are currently looking for unregulated fertility treatments on – get this – Facebook Marketplace. Now, it goes without saying that assisted conception is a sensitive topic, and the sad reality is that treatments are incredibly expensive and inaccessible to...
Digital portal between Dublin and NYC shuts down after just one week
This is why we can’t have nice things. What happens when a digital ‘portal’ is placed on the streets of Dublin and New York City with the aim of encouraging residents to connect and interact with each other through a live video stream? If you answered something along the lines of ‘a strengthened sense of humanity’s bond,’ bless your soul. The correct answer is debauchery, of course. Despite the good intentions of...
World’s first beauty contest launched for AI influencers
In an attempt to further blend emerging AI trends with reality, a new beauty pageant has been announced for AI influencers. Despite the event creators’ excitement, critics have warned we should approach with caution. Thought the world of AI influencers couldn’t get any weirder? Hmm.. think again. Fanvue, a platform that helps digital creators boost engagement using AI messaging, voice notes, and analytics, has just announced the world’s first...
Palmsy is the new anti-social media app feeding our tech addiction
With artificial likes and follows, Palmsy replicates the dopamine hits we receive from social media whilst protecting our private information. But are these projects doing more harm than good? Social media dominates nearly every interaction we partake in nowadays. Whether that’s a good or bad thing is still up for debate, but it hasn’t stopped apps from trying to save us from ourselves. From Calm to OFFTIME, tech companies...
