8 h. ago Experts weigh in: You’re definitely giving yourself brain rot

Growing rates of ADHD in the US heighten concerns that heavy short-form videos leads to ‘brain rot’

Politics

9 h. ago Is your relationship solid – or sinking? The bird theory thinks it knows

TikTokers say it will show the health of your relationship. Does it really show how we think about romance?What would you say if your partner told you they saw a bird today? Would you mumble noncommittally, or ask a follow-up question?You might be surprised to know that thousands of people on TikTok and Instagram would judge you if you chose the former. Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago US tourist tells how robber punched him in the face and stole his £3,000 chain just five hours after he arrived in Lawless London

Eric Ou, who has some 335,000 followers on Instagram and 288,000 on TikTok, took to social media to recount the ordeal while walking through the streets of London with two friends.

Society

1 week ago TikTok and Instagram usage leading to brain rot, says American Psychological Association

The more short-form content a person watches on social media, the poorer their cognitive performance, the study found

Technology

3 w. ago Jelly’s back! Here are three worth making – and three that should wobble off to the bin

The traditional treat is all over Instagram and TikTok. But does it always taste as impressive as it looks? And why is it so hard to get it to set rather than slump? Time for a deep dive Jelly has a dowdy reputation, but it may well be the perfect food for the Instagram age: when it works, it’s incredibly photogenic, so who cares what it tastes like?There can be no other explanation for recent claims that savoury jellies – the most lurid and off-putting of dishes, reminiscent of the worst culinary efforts of the 1950s – are suddenly fashionable. This resurgence comes, according to the New York Times, “at a time when chefs are feeling pressure to produce viral visuals and molecular gastronomy is old hat”. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Brit couple leave Mykonos early — because there is 'nothing to do' there

Leah Williams and Joshua Scully were lured to Mykonos, a Greek island popular with tourists, by watching videos posted on social media apps, such as TikTok and Instagram

Politics

3 w. ago Paris Jackson reveals she has a perforated septum because of drug use

The 27-year-old, who is the daughter of late singer Michael Jackson, said she has ‘been living with this since I was about 20’.

Events

3 w. ago TikTok star accused of stealing woman’s husband in $3.5m ‘alienation of affection’ lawsuit

Lifestyle TikTok and Instagram influencer Brenay Kennard is being sued by her husband’s ex-wife, claiming an affair led to the end of their marriage

Events

3 w. ago Julia Wandelt claimed to be Madeleine McCann – and went viral on social media

Wandelt posted comparisons between her facial features and pictures of Madeleine on TikTok and Instagram

Politics

4 w. ago A note to politicians hoping to emulate Mamdani’s social media strategy: without the right policies, it’s pointless | Rohan Sathyamoorthy

Forget the medium and focus on the New York City mayor-elect’s message – centrists can’t compete with rent freezes, free buses and support for PalestineWhile there are many reasons for Zohran Mamdani’s success, the New York City mayor-elect’s meteoric rise was in no small part down to his campaign’s blazing social media game. Across TikTok, Instagram and X, his ads have racked up tens of millions of views, turning his charismatic potential into an electoral earthquake that has shaken the foundations of the Democratic party. Many politicians on both sides of the Atlantic will be asking: what is his secret formula?For me, the answer is clear. Since I was only 14, I’ve been an online leftwing commentator, building a platform of more than 700,000 followers on Instagram with no money or institutional backing. On social media, radicalism isn’t a potential liability – it’s your strongest selling point. This is a reality that the most adept politicians – from Mamdani to Donald Trump – under...

Politics

4 w. ago Influencer Barbara Jankavski who was known online as 'Human Barbie' dies age 31

The social media star, who boasted more than 55,000 followers on Instagram and 344,000 on TikTok, was found dead at a townhouse in Sao Paolo, Brazil, on November 2.

Events

4 w. ago 'Instagram and TikTok are making our homes bland, boring and impersonal'

The Heal’s CEO says our homes are becoming homogenous — and the dangers are more than aesthetic

Technology