Somalia at 65: what’s needed to address its dismal social development indicators: Somalia ranks among the lowest scoring countries in the United Nations Human Development Index. The index of 195 countries is a summary measure of average achievement in key dimensions of human development: a long and healthy life, years of schooling, and access to …
Social media’s push for the perfect muscular body is fuelling a new form of disordered eating — and young men are most at risk: Young men are most likely to follow eating habits consistent with Mode. Elkhophoto/ Shutterstock From celebrities and influencers to everyday people, social media is full of content that showcases perfectly toned, …
MyPR Now Sharing to Bluesky Social: Yes, we are always looking at more ways to showcase and increase the reach of press releases posted to MyPR. In addition to our Facebook and other Social Media accounts MyPR has activated the facility to automatically share all posts from MyPR Africa AND MyPR International to our Bluesky …
From M&S to Duolingo: banter between brands on social media gets people buying – but there’s a catch: The owl that came back from the dead. daily_creativity/Shutterstock The line between entertainment and advertising is increasingly blurred thanks to social media. People no longer just consume content, they experience it – laughing, sharing and commenting. And …
COVID modelling reveals new insights into ancient social distancing – podcast: lindasky76/Shutterstock Five years since COVID emerged, not only has the pandemic affected the way we live and work, it’s also influencing the way researchers are thinking about the past. In this episode of The Conversation Weekly podcast, archaeologist Alex Bentley explains how the pandemic …
Apple Cider Vinegar: how social media gave rise to fraudulent wellness influencers like Belle Gibson: This article contains spoilers for Apple Cider Vinegar. The new Netflix series Apple Cider Vinegar tells the story of wellness influencer Belle Gibson, who built a loyal following on social media by documenting her cancer journey online. But in 2015, …
Decentralised social media offers an alternative to big tech platforms like X and Meta. How does it work? Podcast: Koshiro K/Shutterstock When Elon Musk acquired Twitter in 2022, many users looked for alternatives, fuelling a wave of online migration from the social media platform. Musk says he’s using Twitter, now named X, to champion free …
Manchester United’s plan to raise ticket prices could be a breach of the ‘social contract’ between club and fans: When billionaire Jim Ratcliffe took a 27.7% stake in Manchester United back in February 2024, he had big plans. He would, he said, take the club “back to the top of English, European and world football, …
Social media rewires young minds – here’s how: Deliris/Shutterstock That satisfying feeling after doomscrolling through endless TikTok videos or impulsively shopping online mimics the relief of scratching an itch. This is dopamine at work — a brain chemical (neurotransmitter) responsible for feelings of reward and accomplishment. Whether indulging in viral videos or engaging in new …
Why improving social housing could be remarkably simple (and affordable): Tragedies in social housing, such as the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017 and the death of toddler Awaab Ishak due to damp living conditions in 2020, remain shocking. As a coroner commented at the time, “How in the UK in 2020 does a two-year-old child …
Social media ‘soft girls’ depend on men for money – but Sweden once used state ‘influencers’ to urge women to get jobs: stokkete/Shutterstock The idea of becoming a “soft girl” – a woman who embrace values that are seen as soft, such as beauty and family life, at the expense of a career – is …
Coughing won’t save you if you’re having a heart attack, despite what people claim on social media: P.Kasipat/Shutterstock A recent trend on social media has revived a curious technique from the late 1970s called cough CPR. A post claims that this method can help people, if they are alone, to survive a heart attack by …
South Africa’s fight against extreme poverty needs a new strategy – model shows how social grants could work: South Africa has been struggling for decades to reduce poverty, inequality and unemployment and raise the rate of economic growth. Economic growth has been slow since a recession in 2008. The annual growth rate averaged 1.1% between …
Ghana’s informal settlements are not all the same – social networks make a difference in community development: Informal settlements in Africa are diverse. Across regions and even in the same city, socioeconomic and physical conditions vary. One thing is common though: upgrading them is a challenge. Among the challenges are issues of including people, having …
A double whammy of winter fuel payment cuts and scrapping a planned cap on social care costs is set to hit older people: Many older people will lose out financially under the government's policies. PeopleImages.com – Yuri A Before the general election, former prime minister Rishi Sunak was asked on TV why he “hated pensioners”. …
Watching sports is good for you – thanks to its social bonding effects: View Apart/Shutterstock Being a sports fan, whether you’re watching top flight football, the Olympic games or your favourite local team, can be a rollercoaster ride. Incredible highs if you win, depressing lows if you don’t, and lots of stressful feelings in between. …
Women’s sport and social media: the arguments over shared or separate accounts: Women’s sport has long battled for equal visibility in the media spotlight. But social media has become a powerful tool for sportswomen and women’s sport to control their narratives and connect directly with fans. This has sparked debate among communication experts about whether …
How Sicilians are resetting their social norms to strengthen future generations against mafia influence: Bearing witness to the profound consequences of violence and injustice for a long period of time can deeply fracture communities, resulting in collective trauma. But, where there is oppression, a determined resistance will always rise to challenge it. One such example …