Liver King and the problematic rise of primal manhood
Behind the masc — The organ-eating, masculinity influencer has built a powerful brand championing the ancestral lifestyle – but experts say his beliefs promote pseudoscience and harmful gender stereotypes.
Written by: Elizabeth Wenger
BBLs and penis enlargements: the rise of men’s surgery
Under the knife — Plastic surgery providers are targeting some of men’s biggest insecurities with hazardous procedures, often deploying social media advertising that lacks any meaningful oversight or regulation.
Written by: Chloé Meley
The digital archive celebrating Black Britain beyond London
Bumpkin files — The experience of Black Britons living outside of the capital is all too often overlooked, but an Instagram account documenting diaspora communities living across the UK is looking to change this.
Written by: Vuyokazi Mtukela
The digital archive unearthing queer Arab history
This is Takweer — Lebanese artist and designer Marwan Kaabour discusses his new Instagram account devoted to documenting LGBTQ+ narratives in Arab history and popular culture, which have all too often been cast aside.
Written by: Iman El Kafrawi
The unstoppable rise of the Celtic language influencer
From Kernowek to Gaelic — Despite their continued marginalisation, indigenous languages survive – and some speakers are proudly sharing their tongues online, showing their followers the value in an ancient way of communicating.
Written by: Anna Samson
Instagram’s prison chefs are cooking up a storm
‘Food is therapy‘ — Prisons are failing inmates when it comes to food. But using a kettle and whatever supplies they can find, inmates are getting creative and showcasing some of their most impressive culinary creations to devoted social media followings.
Written by: Jake Missing
LGBTQ+ zines from places where being gay is condemned
Queer resistance — From Russia to India and Hong Kong, we take a look at the zines which are carving out vital spaces of self-expression for queer people in countries where same-sex relationships still remain taboo.
Written by: Zoya Raza-Sheikh
TikTokers are using secret hashtags to discuss self-harm
Under the radar — The hashtag #selfharm is censored on TikTok, but that hasn’t stopped users from speaking out about their experiences. While the platform needs to do more to keep young people safe from triggering content, experts stress that the problem runs much deeper than social media.
Written by: Serena Smith
Instagram does not care about your mental health
Losing likes — The app’s recent decision to get rid of ‘likes’ has been celebrated as a positive move for our collective wellbeing. But does it really make a difference?
Written by: Aimee Cliff
Why men are experts and women are confessional
The media’s big problem — The Caroline Calloway story shows that young women are being forced to plunder their personal lives for content. It’s time we broke the pattern, argues Dawn Foster.
Written by: Dawn Foster
Inside the hazardous quest for social media stardom
Fake it till you make it — Liza Mandelup’s new documentary, Jawline, follows 16-year-old Austyn as he tries to carve out a career as an influencer and escape his hometown of Kingsport, Tennessee.
Written by: Holly Connolly
The new, extremely online era of Christianity
Hashtag blessed — At a time when fewer young people are religious than ever before, we talk to millennial worshippers about what draws them to church, and whether faith and progressiveness are mutually exclusive.
Written by: Jennifer Hahn