Opening the front camera of your phone is a tough test of self-esteem – the appearance of our raw reflection, complete with that double chin and dull complexion hurts the eye, which is now accustomed to excessively retouched photos. Facial filters have been adopted by the selfie generation en masse, but they’ve also led to new kinds of mental evils in the process. Omnipresent and constantly evolving, these tools have taken over our daily lives. You see yourself with smooth, pore-less skin, a refined nose and plumped up lips – a controversial, fantasised image that is accused of promoting the use of cosmetic surgery, encourage body dysmorphia and low self-esteem issues (to an extent where filters like FixMe and Plastica had to be banned from Instagram).
Playground of youth
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Bride & Prejudice
For years, women have been urged to adhere and conform to the societal norms of beauty, especially in the run-up to marriage. But as we enter a New Year, it’s time to do away with these stereotypes and encourage and embrace ourselves for who we are. With Dove’s #StopTheBeautyTest, we aim to create a world with women who are beautiful, confident, and empowered in their own skin
DOWN MEMORY LANE
For these individuals, every dish cooked is infused with personal experiences and peppered with wisdom and a lifetime of memories
The New Mother
The pandemic has magnified the mental load on moms, but there’s hope
A new Chapter
Beauty stereotyping – we’ve all fought it or succumbed to it. Very few women have been spared the horror of meeting the ideals of beauty dictated by the world. But change must start from within, be it in the way we see ourselves or others. It’s time to acknowledge that ‘beauty’ cannot be defined by or limited to certain characteristics. With Dove’s #StopTheBeautyTest, we’re urging you to take the onus on yourself. Celebrate your beauty and that of others around you. Grow from your struggles, grow with those of others as you uplift them. And, while you’re at it, take inspiration from these strong women who went from being books judged by their covers to changing the narrative themselves
TREE OF ART
A first-ever Museum Biennale is dedicated to the spirit of inquiry, exploration, and creativity
THE ONION OBSESSION
This humble DIY ingredient is set to change your hair care game
DEMYSTIFYING BEAUTY SUPPLEMENTS
DEMYSTIFYING BEAUTY SUPPLEMENTS
FAMILY & HOME
This new book grapples with racism, the burden of heritage, and what it means to be vulnerable
Top 5 Vitamin C Serums
Essentials in your glow-boosting game
Power in the Pack
These women-led platforms give other women something to believe in
Christian Walker
A rising conservative star on TikTok.
CHINA SUMMONS TECHNOLOGY FIRMS OVER VOICE SOFTWARE SECURITY
Chinese authorities summoned 11 companies including Alibaba and Tencent for talks regarding the security of voice software, as Beijing steps up scrutiny over the internet sector.
Noisy, Ugly, and Addictive
Hyper pop could become the countercultural sound of the 2020s.
TikTok Is the New Radio
“Drivers License,” the latest song to top the charts alongside a viral challenge, tells us something about the kind of music the app rewards.
BIDEN BACKS OFF ON TIKTOK BAN IN REVIEW OF TRUMP CHINA MOVES
The Biden administration is backing off former President Donald Trump’s attempts to ban the popular video app TikTok, asking a court to postpone a legal dispute over the proposed ban as the government begins a broader review of the national security threats posed by Chinese technology companies.
TikTok After Trump
Tiktok has succeeded wildly where similar short-form video platforms—including Vine and the Facebook-backed Lasso—did not.
But First, Coffee
It’s a rare day when you open up TikTok or Instagram Stories and see your fave influencers *without* a giant Dunkin’ iced coffee in hand. And for years, Starbucks’ ubiquitous cups have been seen as a status symbol—even considered an actual accessory.
China Comes For Its Tech Giants
The Chinese government’s crackdown on the country’s largest technology companies has raised fears that the industry could be paralyzed or cast into disarray as the economy enters a delicate moment. But one contingent within the tech sector is privately cheering on a broad set of anti-monopoly edicts: startups and their investors.
TIKTOK TIGHTENS PRIVACY FEATURES FOR YOUNGER USERS
A month after federal regulators ordered it to disclose how its practices affect children and teenagers, TikTok is tightening its privacy practices for the under-18 crowd.
TIKTOK: 2 BILLION USERS & COUNTING FOR THE WORLD-DOMINATING APP
With consumers cooped up at home amidst the coronavirus crisis, more and more of us are turning to our phones to fill our time and stay in contact with loved ones. Though all networks have reported an increase in user engagement, it’s the viral video app TikTok that has benefitted from lockdown the most, passing the two billion user mark. But its success poses new questions: how safe is the new kid on the block, and what’s the future of social media?