Plain Posts

You’re scrolling through your phone late at night when a new dress appears on your screen. It costs less than dinner, it’s out for next-day delivery, and it looks just like the ones you’ve been seeing everyone wear on TikTok and Instagram. Click! And it’s on its way. By the weekend, it may be hanging in your wardrobe—or already pushed… Read more: Fast Fashion: When Speed turns Style into Waste

The love affairs of Korean idols have always been of particular concern in recent years. The exposure of their romance is usually different from that of other celebrities or Western singers. Usually, they rarely receive blessings. Last month, Jung Kook from BTS and the group aespa’s member Winter revealed that they are in a relationship, but neither of them gave a direct… Read more: Do K-pop idols have the right to date?

Source: https://fintechnews.sg/95808/studies/the-rise-of-gaming-industry-segment-that-cannot-be-ignored The current video game industry, despite quality improvements thanks to technological advancements, has had a downhill trend, with constant unnecessary price hikes and microtransactions and forced inclusivity in video games at the expense of its quality. The year 2025 has seen a worrying trend where it is reported approximately 11% of developers were being laid off in the… Read more: Is fun still the point? Players lament the recent state of the video game industry

Introduction Every night, millions of young adults watch streamers on platforms like Twitch, YouTube Live, Douyu, and Huya. According to industry reports, Twitch alone sees over 21 billion hours watched annually, with users averaging 95-106 minutes daily. These viewers include gamers, students and remote workers who form deep emotional bonds with streamers they have never met.  Researchers call this a… Read more: How “imaginary friendships” with live-streamers worsen loneliness

Image source:Everyone is playing with their cell phones and swiping short videos – Search Images

The fan culture is popular because it connects many people to stories they likes and they are, people attracted to such communities to exchange their ideas and creations, including fan fiction. Fan fiction is not a mere fantasy, it is something that allows the fan to explore and feel connection with texts, characters, or idols they admire and is a… Read more: Creating meaning and alternate universe through Fan Fiction

By Liuhaonan       movie#hero#villain#youtube If you are a crazy movie fan, then 👇 Open TikTok at any time of day, and you will probably see a villain.Maybe it’s Joaquin Phoenix dancing down the stairs as the Joker—from the movie”JOKER.”Maybe it’s a moody edit of a triad boss smoking on a rooftop—–from the film “Young and Dangerous”.Or it’s a “villain era” get-ready-with-me video… Read more: When the bad guy becomes the main character, it’s still art, but it’s not to be imitated

What makes a relationship real? The emotions we feel, or the person on the other end? The AI companion platform Character.AI reported over 20 million monthly active users as of early 2024, with users maintaining conversations for an average usage of 75 minutes per day. – Created by Gemini 75 minutes per day, the same amount of time as a… Read more: AI Companions: The Problem Is Corporate Design, Not the Connection

Nine years is long enough to graduate twice, switch careers three times, and reshape what it means to return. Picture from: IMDb Zootopia 2 Zootopia came out in 2016 and pretty much everyone loved it. A bunny cop and a fox con artist solving crimes together? It worked. The film made over a billion dollars and took home an Oscar.… Read more: Zootopia 2 and the changes it brings, almost a decade after the first installment

Image source: Black Myth: Wukong – Search Images Chinese action RPG Black Myth: Wukong has quickly become a global phenomenon since its launch in August 2024 and has sold an amazing 25 million copies up to January 2025. The game has surpassed the sales of Elden Ring and Hogwarts Legacy in the same timeframe, according to analyst Daniel Ahmad. The Legend of… Read more: The mix of the Black Myth: Wukong and traditional Chinese culture – Why this game is a success

The MAMA Awards is a music award ceremony organized by CJ ENM in Korea. Its full name is Mnet Asian Music Awards. The MAMA Awards are hailed as “the Grammy Awards of Asia”. The award ceremony is usually held from November to December each year and has been held 26 times. This year, the organizers moved the award ceremony to… Read more: 2025 MAMA was held amidst tragedy, showing that music can unite the world

The Legend of Hei 2 has recently been gradually released in cinemas around the world, leaving audiences with something unusual. The story follows Xiaohei, a little spirit cat, and his senior sister Luye as they investigate an attack on a guild (a meeting place for humans and spirits). Their master Wuxian is accused of the crime, and the two must… Read more: The Legend of Hei 2: Staying true to 2D art form and a powerful theme, give this film a winning formula

PEBACA is a group of actors from Thailand’s entertainment agency, GMMTV. This group consists of 6 members who are Krist, Singto, Off, Gun, Tay, and Newwie. They once appeared together in the I’m Tee, Me Too series, and fans love their group bonds and friendship. This group of actors not only excels at acting and film entertainment but also knows… Read more: ‘PEBACA – What a Concert, in Singapore’ Brings Fans Closer Than Ever

Zach Cregger’s “WEAPONS” transforms a quiet Pennsylvania suburb into one of the year’s most unsettling portraits of mass panic, revealing how quickly fear can erode the structures meant to keep communities together. Released in August 2025, the film lasts for approximately two hours. Once released, it attracted widespread public attention and intense online discussions. Especially, it gained much attention due… Read more: Weapons (2025): When Suburbia’s Calm Turns into Collective Panic

Source: u/ReFlectioH Hollow Knight: Silksong, a game by Team Cherry that spent seven-years in development, has proved itself as far more than merely just a sequel but a significant evolution of its predecessor, Hollow Knight. In this game, you play as a swift and strong-spirited bug called Hornet, who was captured and taken to the new, unfamiliar kingdom of Pharloom,… Read more: Hollow Knight: Silksong – The Perfect Sequel

“Date Everything!” is an LGBTQ-friendly sandbox dating simulator game developed by Sassy Chap Games. Officially released on 17 June 2025, it features 100 fully voiced romantic interests. The game takes the meme, “would you still love me if I (were) a (chair)?” to the extreme, offering romance prospects from inanimate objects to abstract concepts/emotions, like a chair and the feeling… Read more: A Dating Sim Review: “Date Everything!” Takes Dating Out of The Norm

Liu Haonan Dec 9, 2025 Photo from: https://hdqwalls.com/wallpaper/3840×2400/snow-white-movie-2025 It is hard to think of another family-friendly film that was introduced to the big screen with this much online baggage. For years before Disney’s live-action Snow White (2025) opened, the internet was already fighting from the casting, to the dwarfs and even politics, with many wondering if it’s ‘woke’ enough. When the film… Read more: Disney’s 2025 “Snow White” Failed Because of Multiple Flaws in Design, Marketing and Public Relations, and Even Technology

Romantic comedies, or rom-coms, are known for their flawless, entertaining depictions of the real world. The plots centre on attractive characters who are certain to obtain fairytale romances and happily ever afters. This is part of the reason why the genre is popular; viewers know that happiness and hope is a guarantee. And therein lies the issue. The characters and… Read more: The rom-com effect: Inflating unrealistic expectations of real-world romances

Image from Unsplash.  For many women, the thought of solo travelling is fear inducing, but for many, it means complete freedom. The question of “Is Solo Travel really only for the lonely?” In the year 2025, feels extremely outdated. Although solo travel was once seen as an unconventional or risky task, especially for women, it can now be displayed as… Read more: Is Solo Travel only for the Lonely? Why Many Young Women are Opting to Travel Solo

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In the words of leading artificial intelligence (AI) scholar, Kate Crawford: “AI is neither artificial nor intelligent. AI systems are not autonomous, rational, or able to discern anything without extensive, computationally intensive training with large datasets or predefined rules and rewards”. Therefore, if AI isn’t real artificial intelligence, this must mean that AI-generated art isn’t real art. As the disruptive… Read more: Keeping it real: how AI is no match for human-made contemporary art

Images of the protest graffiti from the NYC subways via Fortune AI companions is a fast growing trend looking to address the growing loneliness we see in an increasingly digital and fragmented world. It is pushed towards us by companies looking to profit off these struggles and off of those most vulnerable in our communities. But AI can never replace… Read more: AI is performing emotional mimicry and its working – but the New Yorkers aren’t buying into it

While social media platforms deliberately exploit psychological vulnerabilities to maximise profit, not all engagement is harmful, and awareness of this manipulation can open the door to healthier digital habits. The average person unlocks their phone 150 times a day, yet almost none of those actions feel intentional. It starts innocently enough – a quick scroll while waiting for the kettle to boil.… Read more: When Connection Becomes Compulsion: The Mental Health Cost of the Attention Economy

Social media is now a normal part of everyday life for almost every human. The day starts by getting your phone and opening Instagram, Facebook, X and Snapchat to see what you missed overnight. The fear of missing out (FOMO) has completely taken over. This is exactly the same for Australian teenagers who are now facing a ban on social media for those under the age of… Read more: “Please protect me!” How will the social media ban protect young people’s mental and physical health?

It’s difficult to look past our present gaming environment, with the chaotic mixture of entertainment, profit and online behaviour. What used to be a simple one-time purchase for hours of fun is now a field of unethical monetization practices designed to keep players playing and paying more, and at the same time, engaging in troll behaviour towards each other on… Read more: Press $$$ to Continue: From Pay-to-Play to Prioritizing Profit

Photo by John Lockwood on Unsplash In a digital world defined by constant scrolling, every tap, like, and swipe generates valuable data, captured by sophisticated algorithms designed to predict our preferences and keep us engaged. Personalised content makes our online experiences feel effortless, delivering video, music, and shows tailored to suit our tastes. At first, this feels like magic, the perfect playlist, the… Read more: The algorithm trap: How convenience is controlling your attention.

If fashion is a statement, then Barbie made hers in neon pink — but forgot the message underneath. After the 2023 Barbie movie theaters, it became the top-grossing film of the year, earning over US$1.44 billion worldwide, and instantly transformed from a movie into a movement. Greta Gerwig’s feminist blockbuster promised to critique patriarchy — but ended up selling it back… Read more: The Plastic Feminism of Barbie: Empowerment Wrapped in Pink Consumerism

Since YG Entertainment official account posted poster and announced that BLACKPINK would set their Third World Tour from July, the entire K-pop fan base was in a state of excitement. Because after the expiration of their 2023 contract, BLACKPINK began their solo careers. After a gap of two years and eight months, they reunited as a complete group and announcing… Read more: DEADLINE – BLACKPINK’s Third World Tour causes sensation among K-pop fans

Image source: miHOYO Since the release of the Sumeru update, Genshin Impact has shifted from a relaxing casual game to a demanding and exhausting experience. Many players now describe it as feeling like a second job rather than entertainment. The problem then is obvious – The Sumeru version makes everything harder without giving the player any benefit. In the early days… Read more: miHoYo’s Greed Is Killing Genshin Impact

Image: Crunchyroll – Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba The Movie: Infinity Castle Key Visuals If you have watched the recent Demon Slayer movie, you might have felt its horrible pacing and you are not alone. Despite the movies positive reception for its breathtaking animation and action sequences, many also criticized that the arc that this movie covers, simply, does NOT… Read more: Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle might be the worst-paced action movie of the year

Loud music, fire, and powerful performances are typical of boy group shows. Each time, you’re met with pounding music and stomping choreography that feel masculine and strong escalating the vibes in the venue. But have you ever wondered if this is a standard set by the boy groups’ companies? What if you go to a concert and the member completely… Read more: Lego of LYKN Embraced Limitless Expression on Dusk & Dawn Concert, Rejecting Typical Boy Group Standards

At this point, I’m convinced the Vinsmoke family has infiltrated Toei Animation, you know, Sanji’s lovely relatives who also happen to hate his guts. ToeLate9767 (Source: Reddit) One Piece has been running for 28 years. Toei’s been animating it since 1999. With that kind of mileage, you’d expect them to know how to treat a legacy character. But apparently, muscle… Read more: Deleted, Demeaned, Derailed: What Toei Did to Sanji

By Liu Haonan   #movies# Spider-Man# Movie fan # Superhero # Marvel #youtube# Photo from :www.cosmopolitan.com If you grew up with Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man, you already saw the peak. Everything after that is either trying to be sleeker, younger, or more “MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) connected,” but it’s building on a foundation Sam Raimi poured in 2002. That first film blew past USD$800m worldwide and literally reset expectations for… Read more: Director Raimi Already Won: Why Tobey’s Spider-Man Still Outswings the Marvel Universe

The role I seem to always play in games is the victim, with how much I have spent on in-game cosmetics. Even having wasted four years on that game, as the game’s loyal fan, their skins (a type of cosmetic) are way too overpriced. This especially applies to their rarer skins, the exclusive and ultra editions skins. Valorant’s general audience… Read more: Valorant Skins are Way Too Overpriced

I just finished my third playthrough of Silent Hill f, and I need to vent. I’m exhausted. Not in a good way, but in that “Oh my god, not this hallway again” kind of way. Actually, the story was really good. It reveals through its narrative the deep sense of self-destruction and powerlessness in resistance experienced by women in traditional… Read more: Silent Hill f: When Horror Gets Lost in the Loop

“God Tier 6 Star Books”, “Popular BookTok books I didn’t like”, and “Books with smut that will make you sweat” are, at the time of writing, three of the top trending book-related TikToks. Beautiful book covers, colour-coordinated annotations, emotional or hyperbolic language such as “[books] that have altered my brain chemistry”, aesthetic shelfies, and trending audio tracks are all vital… Read more: Plot Twist: BookTok is rewriting reading culture

Fitness applications provide promises of improved health and motivation but in reality foster an unhealthy platform for social comparison, promoting addictive behaviours and distorted self-worth overshadowing the intent of genuine well-being. Fitness applications have become tools used to track exercise, monitor nutritional intake, and provide personalised training programs. Their popularity aligns with a growing fascination with health optimisation and self-improvement.  Regular exercise is widely known to promote a healthy lifestyle and improve mental health. Through exercise we can see… Read more: Runners high or complex social comparison, the negative effects of fitness applications. 

In summer, Australia’s holiday hotspots spanning from Noosa, Byron Bay and right down to Victoria’s Phillip Island are full of life with tourists and their beach bags. But when the suitcases roll out, neighbourhoods go dark and homes are sitting empty. Airbnb has turned paradise into a seasonal postcode, and the after-effects on local residents are long-lasting. Australia is renowned… Read more: Airbnb Ate My Town: The Hidden Cost of Holiday Rentals on Australian Coastal Cities

I have been watching Love Island for a few years now, starting with Love Island UK’s seventh season in 2021, and have since watched every UK season and USA season to date. Not only does this prove I have no social life, but I think I’m qualified enough to know what’s gone wrong this time around. Love Island USA’s seventh… Read more: The stan culture and downfall of Love Island USA’s seventh season

Introduction In Kyoto’s historic Gion district, once echoed softly along narrow paths. Today, that gentle sound is drowned out by the clicking of cameras and the loud conversations of tourists looking for the ideal photo. Japan, long admired for its careful balance between history and innovation, is now experiencing an unprecedented tourism growth. Since reopening its borders following COVID-19, the country has… Read more: Losing the Quiet: How Tourism Is Taking Over Japan

From Disney remakes to Popmart blind boxes, we can’t seem to let go of the past, but is nostalgia fuelling connection or creative stagnation?

Earlier this year, my family and I went to see Superman (2025). I enjoyed the film, but it did leaves me wondering why there are so many Supermen.

It’s 2015, and I’m sitting on the top of my bunk bed with Hellblazer: Original Sins clutched in my hands. I had stolen it a few hours before from my older brother’s room, so excited to read my first ‘adult’ comic book. My parents had forbidden me to read it, saying I was only ten and would be better off… Read more: Heroes Reimagined: How Marvel and DC Changed their Definition of Modern Heroism

It’s safe to say I’ve been bitten by the Hollow Knight: Silksong bug. Not because I’m a die-hard fan of Hollow Knight, but because I got swept up in the hype surrounding the beloved 2017 indie game’s long-awaited sequel. I mean, who didn’t? With Hollow Knight selling 15 million copies and earning a cult following, it’s no surprise fans were… Read more: Hollow Knight: Silksong is a beautiful nightmare worth having

When was the last time you had trouble coming up with an idea without using ChatGPT, searching Google, or skimming the internet for ideas? The idea of doing something without assistance seems almost exhausting to many people. These days, artificial intelligence (AI) technologies are a seamless part of our lives. A culture of mental dependency has been brought about by… Read more: The Billionaire Brainwave: How the Wealthy Are Selling Us Artificial Thought

Graphic design has always been about human vision, creativity and originality. However, the rapid development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is significantly impacting many creative industries including music, writing, visual arts, photography and graphic design. Since the public release of generative AI models such as Stable Diffusion, Dall-E, Midjourney, Leonardo AI and Adobe Firefly, graphic designers are being warned that “AI… Read more: Should Future Graphic Designers Fear AI? Graphic Design Students Answer

If AI can generate text that is indistinguishable from human writing, what does that reveal about the nature and purpose of writing, itself?

Photo: Pexels I have watched numerous films, dramas, documentaries and shows at my comfort, but the one film I really admire, and hands down is my personal favourite is, The Godfather. I have watched all the three parts of this film and I must say, I highly appreciate the cinematography, filmmaking concept, storytelling and acting by the Hollywood legends, Al… Read more: The streaming takeover: Why Hollywood’s biggest stars and blockbusters are trading the big screen for your couch – and is the theatre experience doomed? 

Have you ever surfed TikTok or Instagram “just for five minutes,” only to realise hours have passed? You think you’re the one choosing what to watch — but what if, in reality, something else is choosing for you?  In today’s digital media world, the gatekeepers are no longer just journalists or editors. Algorithms have quietly taken over that role. The… Read more: The Power of Web-Based Media: How Algorithms Shape Public Perception and Control Participation

With their 2009 track Gee dubbed “Best Korean Pop Songs Of All Time”. Girls’ Generation (SNSD – abbreviation of their Korean name) did not just set the tone for K-pop’s identity. They built a framework that would define the genre’s evolution for years to come. Brief History of K-pop Korean Pop, more widely known as K-pop is an umbrella term… Read more: Girls’ Generation and their irrefutable impact on Kpop

One week, “ballet-core” is all the rage on your “For You Page” (FYP). You’ve added ballet flats, wrap tops and leg warmers to your cart when all of a sudden everyone has moved on to tomato girl summer (and now you have to figure out what that even means). TikTok has become a cultural force, with 1.12 billion monthly users… Read more: TikTok Made Me Buy It, But at What Cost?

In an era where a single tweet can spark a revolution, social media has become the loudspeaker of a generation. From the streets of America to the steps of the Australian Parliament, digital hashtags have mobilised millions and reshaped public debate. Hashtags are words or phrases preceded by a hash symbol used on social media to categorise content, join conversations,… Read more: How Does Social Media Activism Drive or Fail to Drive Real-world Change?

When I was five years old, my family went to a big trip to Bali for Christmas and that’s when I first got my Nintendo Wii. It felt like a magical escape to different worlds that helped spark my imagination and bring together my friends and family like nothing else. A lot of my fondest childhood memories involve me and… Read more: Hollow Knight: Silksong Vs. the modern gaming industry

First of all, most people are likely familiar with LinkedIn, and for some who do not know, LinkedIn is a platform for user to express their achievements towards their career, displaying a digital resume, and an actual hiring platform. Although LinkedIn has not disabled its initial functionality, people are still there to recruit and be recruited by a company. The… Read more: Is LinkedIn transforming into a humblebragging agency?

You may have seen all those new apps popping up every few months with promises of helping women “take control” of their bodies. Examples such as Flo, Clue, and Natural Cycles all claim to offer freedom through data tracking. The usual marketing tactic is pastel icons, wellness slogans, and an aesthetic tracking dashboard with the same call for action: download,… Read more: The Illusion of Empowerment: How Femtech Fails the Women It Claims to Help.

Discover how racism, Woke ideologies and Cancel Culture are all playing a role in the way that diversity is shown on the big screen, and how the web has played a role in redefined the industry.

Teen drama Adolescence took the world by storm after its release on Netflix in early 2025, becoming one of the most talked about shows of the year – not only for its daring narrative choices but also for its unsettling exploration of Jamie’s online radicalisation into the manosphere. The series begins with the shocking arrest of 13-year-old Jamie Miller for… Read more: “Adolescence”: From Stream to Meme

Thanks to the internet’s promise of widespread information sharing, people now have greater access to knowledge than ever before. In reality, though, the digital revolution has also brought up a more dangerous phenomenon: disinformation. Misinformation, which is defined as inaccurate or deceptive data that is spread without purpose, grows online due to social media platforms’ benefits for quickness, interaction, and… Read more: The Manipulation of Belief in the Age of Online Misinformation.

Research Question: How does social media shape parasocial relationships (PR) between celebrities and audiences? It’s evening, and fans around the world are glued to their screens, watching a live stream from their favourite celebrity. Comments filled with love and support flood in, even when knowing the stars can’t possibly see every message. However, that doesn’t stop the audience from believing… Read more: The Illusion of Intimacy: Fans, Celebrities, and the Social Media Effect

Introduction AI-generated artworks have gone viral across online platforms. However, AI tools rely on massive datasets which are built by scraping human-made art without consent. Recent disputes such as Getty Images suing Stability AI and artist-led protests show that this is not only a technical issue but a cultural and ethical conflict. While it opens creative possibilities for millions, it also blurs the… Read more: Is AI Art Essentially Plagiarism? Rethinking the Boundaries and risks of AI Artistic Creation

Baby Botox. Buccal fat removal. Blepharoplasties. The list of trendy cosmetic enhancements promoted to women via social media is endless. For every viral procedure, there is a newly invented physical deficit to go along with it. Audiences are being encouraged to correct these perceived flaws, whether they realise or not.

One Piece has grown to become a mainstream anime and manga franchise, garnering global success with audiences from around the world, effectively establishing itself as a beloved name for many. Japan has produced various unique and entertaining forms of modern pop culture media over the years. Among the most notable of these are manga and anime. Manga can be considered… Read more: The Straw Hat Legacy: How One Piece Advocates for Japanese Cultural Heritage

Have you ever considered a question: Is technology truly equitable? As a female university student who frequently uses social media, I once believed I could freely express my opinions and enjoy fair treatment on social media platforms. However, when I tried searching for my future career possibilities, the results consistently presented content tied to gender stereotypes—like “lists of jobs better… Read more: Unmasking the Algorithm: How Does Social Media Exacerbate Gender Inequality?

If you look around a café on any morning, you’ll see faces lit up by screens, whether they are studying, working, or messaging; it is a scene that demonstrates just how entangled digital devices have become in everyday lives. At present, youth and young adults are immersed in a society where constant digital connectivity through the form of devices, remote… Read more: How does constant connectivity affect youth and young adults ability to disconnect?

For decades the music album represented the ultimate statement of artistic vision – a cohesive, narrative experience that defined artists’ identities and cultural eras alike. From Michael Jackson’s Thriller to Beyonce’s Lemonade, albums offered listeners not just songs, but stories, aesthetics and raw emotions woven into a complete unit. Yet, in the past decade, the rise of streaming platforms like… Read more: The Death of the Album: How Streaming Killed the Music Album as an Art Form

Self-worth was once defined by character and kindness, but the modern world of filler, filters, and follow-requests has created a whole new landscape for validation and self-identity. Reality Television has been a catalyst in this shift, teaching audiences to equate beauty, success, and popularity with personal worth (Egbert & Belcher, 2012). The Kardashians franchise – beginning with ‘Keeping Up with… Read more: The Kardashian Effect: The Importance of Media Literacy in Reality Television Viewing

Competitive gaming also known as esports has rapidly evolved from a niche pastime into a global phenomenon drawing millions of players and viewers worldwide. This rise has started an ongoing debate about its impact on mental health. On one side, supporters are saying that competitive gaming provides multiple cognitive benefits through engaging in complex digital environments that players can strengthen… Read more: How do competitive games affect mental wellbeing

In 2024, for the first time in history, the number of female protagonists matched the number of male protagonists in the year’s highest-grossing films. With society instigating conversations around women’s rights and equality, production companies seem to have jumped on board. Women are moving away from side characters and supporting roles and stepping in to play strong, leading parts. After… Read more: Hollywood Yet to Fill the Gap: How an Increase in Female Leads is Affecting Gender Equality

At what age did you first download social media? Was it during your first year of high school, directly from primary school, or even earlier? A study by the University of Sydney found that for the majority of young Australians, the answer is people aged between 12/13 (typically when they enter high school), the time when everyone suddenly has a… Read more: The New Social Media Age Restriction: Protecting or Isolating Australia’s Youth?

An Introduction If you spend any time scrolling through Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube you’ve probably noticed influencer marketing is everywhere through your feed. Influencers are now often seen as the modern-day brand ambassadors, connecting fashion, beauty, lifestyle, and wellness products with young audiences in ways traditional advertising never could. Unlike traditional celebrity endorsements, which can feel polished, distant, or overly… Read more: How Influencer Marketing is Shaping Young Consumers Understanding of Authenticity

IntroductionIt began with six words in a blank box. A minute later, I was looking at a moody, gallery-ready portrait—a face I never lit, a lens I didn’t own, a studio I had never booked. I could fine-tune the shadows, switch to a different ‘camera,’ and regenerate the image until one felt right, then claim the outcome as my own… Read more: When the Machine “Creates,” Who Owns the Result?

TikTok is much more than a platform to perform dance challenges and comedic skits, now it is at the centre of travel discovery and planning, particularly among younger generations. The Algorithm driven ‘For You Page’ has pushed out the slick travel brochures to a group of thirty-second videos of blue oceans, rooftop bars, and full-night markets, to millions of users.… Read more: Recorded, Not Lived: TikTok and Travel Aesthetics.

Do you ever wish that a quality canon story could just be laid to rest? Rather than being dug up over and over again, and then introducing the multiverse so that each of the undead main characters can interact and…okay, you get the point. But alas, this is the world we live in: the Remake Advent. Like it or not,… Read more: The Dawn of Wednesday

Scrolling through TikTok, users might stumble across a creator documenting their day, but instead of it being a simple coffee run or get ready with me, they are going to get a cosmetic surgery done. Some people praise these creators for being transparent and honest, which I do think is better than lying about it and hiding it. However, this… Read more: The Parasocial Pull: TikTok Influences Gen Z to Get Under the Knife

It looks like it has finally happened. Victoria’s Secret has pivoted toward inclusivity, diversity, and empowerment, seeking to de-center the male fantasy focus. The iconic Angels, once the epitome of “thin, tall, fair”, are now joined by women of varied bodies, backgrounds, gender identities and ages. After years of mounting criticism, tanking viewership and cultural backlash, the brand’s return in… Read more: The New Era of Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show : Femininity for Flashing Lights 

When I began planning my own trip to Japan, much of my research happened on TikTok. The app’s endless scroll of short clips, from hidden ramen spots in Kyoto to serene onsens tucked in the mountains, felt authentic and spontaneous. Yet, as I saved video after video, I found myself wondering: Am I seeing an authentic version of this destination,… Read more: From Brochures to For You Pages: How TikTok is Reshaping Travel

In the past twenty years, e-sports in China has grown fast. At first, it was just a small activity in internet cafes. For many Chinese parents, e-sports was seen as a waste of time. Now it has become a big industry with millions of fans and a lot of money. Video games, once dismissed as useless play, now stand alongside… Read more: How do economics, audiences, and the forces of globalization and localization shape the rise of e-sports in China?

In Hollywood, the franchise is king. With every other movie being released consisting of either a reboot, spin-off, sequel or prequel. This crowding of the market with franchised content is what helps make the success of the original movie Sinners noteworthy. Sinners, is a horror-drama directed by Ryan Coolger, best known for Black Panther (part of the multi-level franchised Marvel… Read more: Is Hollywood Ready for Something Original?

Flags are flooding our streets in Australia. There have been, and continue to be, many world conflicts. However, over the past two years, the Israel-Gaza conflict has dominated the news and social media platforms, especially TikTok, the current news site for young adults. TikTok has developed a platform for creativity and learning, while also fostering an environment where individuals can… Read more: The Control of TikTok Algorithms

Tyler Perry’s Straw (2025) is not an easy watch, nor is it meant to be.  The Netflix film delivers a punishing depiction of a woman crushed beneath the weight of everyday survival. Tyler Perry’s film delivers social realism, psychological tension and emotional angst to create a story that is both intimate and unsettling. Straw is messy, melodramatic and a whole lot maddening.  Lead actor Taraji P. Henson’s powerhouse… Read more: Straw (Netflix 2025) – When everyday life becomes the breaking point.

Indigiverse is the world’s first Aboriginal and all Indigenous Superhero Universe, created by Gooniyandi writer Scott Wilson. In the Indigiverse, superheroes draw their power from the Dreaming or spirit world. Since 2023, four comics have been released by Indigiverse. Dreamwalker is the fourth and latest release. Following the journey of Mungala, the matriarch of Indigiverse, who traverses time and space… Read more: Dreamwalker: Matriarch of the Indigiverse

Netflix series Adolescence was praised for its thought-provoking investigation of the effect that incel culture has on families. Adolescence is centered on a lonely British teenager, 13-year-old Jamie Miller, who is revealed to increasingly spend time in echo chambers for the misogynist and socially alienated. Without sensationalising this topic, it provides the how, and why behind such a path; from… Read more: “Adolescence”: A Nuanced Exploration of Incel Culture and Familial Strain

“Dating is a risk” and “love is a negotiation,” says Lucy (Dakota Johnson) in Celine Song’s new film Materialists. The film captures the ironic reality of how dating in the age of apps has evolved into a game not of what you can buy, but who you can be seen with. Song subtly asks the audience what happens when romance itself… Read more: Materialists (2025): Modern Dating: Luxury vs. Love

Kelly Somers new The Interview is part of a larger series where Somers sits down with some big names from sports and entertainment to ask some interesting questions. Last month, on the eve of the Manchester United Captain’s 100th goal for the club Somers sat down with Bruno Fernandes to chat. This interview with the Portuguese international is focused on… Read more: Kelly Somers – New Podcast – The Football Interview with Bruno Fernandes

When a movie is released by A24, I know I’m in for a wild ride. Over the years, the independent studio has become synonymous with bold, thought-provoking cinema that delves deep into the human psyche. Friendship (2024) directed by Benjamin Brewer and distributed by A24 is no exception. Exploring themes of loneliness, identity and the desperate human need to belong,… Read more: Midlife Mayhem Meets Dark Comedy in A24’s “Friendship” Movie Release

Over time, the film industry has undergone notable changes, not just in technological improvements, but also in significant shifts in storytelling, pacing, and editing. Going to the cinema used to be a luxury when films were released specifically only as a theatrical release, and in some cases, after their initial theatrical release, a DVD release would follow. Whereas, in recent… Read more: Our Declining Attention Span is Negatively Affecting the Film Industry

As a woman, have you ever compared yourself to somebody online? Their body, their face? Have you then found yourself asking ‘Am I too fat, too wrinkly, or too pimply? Or ‘Are my breasts too small and are my thighs too big?’. If you have, you are one of millions, but it is not your fault. Social media, as we… Read more: Is Social Media causing the Slow Murder of Women’s Self-Esteem?

When I think of social media, I think, Instagram, TikTok, sharing memes, looking at garbage posts, and brain-rotting memes, obviously. When I think about it more, I realise how bad it is, even in moderation, and how it affects me. When I was in high school, I averaged maybe 4 hours of screen time. Now out of school, in Uni,… Read more: 2 steps forward and 2 steps back, social media sucks.

Introduction: It is a mistake to ask, “Are video games good or bad for kids?” Games are a medium rather than a homogenous form, and their effects vary depending on a variety of complex and independent factors, including genre, mechanics, timing, location, and players. For instance, an intense online game played alone in a bedroom at midnight is not the… Read more: Playing It Smart: Content, Context & Community in Kids’ Gaming

What was originally meant to be a cheerful, celebratory performance quickly turned into a storm online. After attending the kick-off and halftime performance at the 2025 Coupang Play Series first match at Suwon World Cup Stadium, a prominent member of the K-pop group IVE, Jany Won-young, found herself in the centre of the storm of online criticism for the choice… Read more: Beyond the Outfit: Gender Inequality and Systemic Pressure in K-pop Exposed by Jang Won-young’s Controversy

In society today, social media has become the leading influence on current trends, societal norms and even the perception of self-worth. Social media platforms expose individuals to different portrayals of beauty standards. This is mostly through celebrity posts, beauty influencers, etc. Younger generations are being raised in a society where they are constantly exposed to these beauty standards and the… Read more: Reality of Beauty: How Social Media Beauty Standards have influenced the self-image of the younger generation

It is scientifically proven that resistance training is a necessity for better health, both physically and mentally, no matter the activity.

Intro Even if you’ve never watched a single episode of The Summer I Turned Pretty, you have probably seen it circulate online. Since the Season 3 premiere on Amazon Prime Video, fan edits, reaction videos, and debates have flooded social media platforms such as TikTok and Twitter/X. Fans split into two rival teams: #TeamConrad and #TeamJeremiah, which catapulted conversations that… Read more: From Page to Parasocial: How the Summer I Turned Pretty Built a Fandom Out of Teen Romance

I’ve never known a world without YouTube. The first YouTube video was uploaded in April 2005, titled “Me at the Zoo”, showing the captivating 19-second video of YouTube’s cofounder outside an elephant enclosure.  Seven months later, I was born. Seven years later, I announced to the whole class that I wanted to be a YouTuber when I grew up. As… Read more: Trust me, I’m a YouTuber!

Introduction Adidas has solidified its brand by maintaining cultural relevance, from its connection with hip-hop in the 1980s to its endorsement of global sports figures. Currently, TikTok serves as an innovative domain, with the platform’s algorithmic For You Page functioning as a potent channel for brand exposure. In contrast with traditional advertising, TikTok’s algorithm enhances material that seems genuine and in… Read more: Adidas’s branding strategy in TikTok’s algorithmic culture: “Short-Term Virality, Long-Term Legacy”

Introduction The waves of positive change brought by AI over the last few years have been nothing short of remarkable. From education to healthcare to sustainability efforts, it has transformed learning experiences, enabled medical breakthroughs, even protected biodiversity. And we’re merely witnessing the tip of the iceberg. BBC, on 17 September 2025, shed light on the Delphi-2M, the health industry’s… Read more: Velvet Sundown and the sunset of professional musicians.

It is no secret that Gen-Z has adopted a heightened interest in health compared to previous generations, but their ability to distinguish genuine advice from personal selling is lacking. With the emergence of run clubs, fitness challenges and health-tracking wearables, it seems young people cannot get enough of the ever-growing fitness pandemic. The shift from seeing exercise as a way… Read more: Gen-Z: Overactive or Overdoing It?

Millions of Filipinos peacefully ousted a dictatorship in 1986 by protesting in Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA). They reminded the world that common people could make history by banding together and carrying banners, rosaries, and unwavering resolve.  Almost forty years later, activism is still going strong, but the battlefield has changed significantly. The action takes place on glowing smartphone screens… Read more: TikTok as Gen Z’s Digital EDSA

Why do so many of us crave to view content that surrounds other people’s personal relationships? The sun-soaked villa of Love Island offers one answer, turning “normal” contestants into performers who provide the audience with intimacy, drama and desire.

IMAGE1 You may have indulged in watching a few good, juicy reality Tv shows, think; ‘Love Island’ ‘The Bachelor’ or ‘Married at First Sight’. We may think of these shows as just some silly entertainment to pass the time, but have you ever stopped to think about how truly damaging these shows may be to the everyday person? How what… Read more: How does reality television shape audience perceptions of romantic relationships?