Unpacking Donnalyn’s baby-themed photoshoot
Vlogger Donnalyn Bartolome trended online after having been called out for her risqué baby-themed birthday photoshoot. Did she deserve the heat? Maybe, maybe not.
Bye-bye, Boris Johnson
United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson resigned as the leader of the ruling Conservative Party on Thursday, July 7, UK Time. This comes on the heels of a record-high number of resignations from government allies, including the UK’s finance and health ministers.
Ella Cruz and the fight against chismis-information
“Maid in Malacañang” actress Ella Cruz sparked divisive reactions online after comparing history and chismis (gossip) in an interview for the upcoming film.
Minions, memes, and millions of dollars
“Minions: The Rise of Gru” has garnered not only the attention of people all over social media, but also over a hundred million dollars in its debut weekend. How did these little yellow dudes do it?
Disney’s rainbow-washing agenda
Disney’s LGBTQ+ stance has been inscrutable so far. According to a video clip that leaked onto the internet on Tuesday, Disney+’s forthcoming show Baymax appears its back on its “queer agenda” but how does this fit in the media giant’s history of queer capitalism?
Land of the free robs female autonomy
Last Friday, the Supreme Court of the United States overturned Roe v. Wade, the 1973 landmark judgement that made abortion a constitutional right. In its wake, netizens and companies are making waves to demand and provide access to abortion.
The comeback of Tropical Hut?
Sometimes, good things do come out of the echo chamber that is Twitter. This week’s take is on the nostalgia-driven revival of the oldest burger joint in the Philippines.
What the future of the bird app could look like
Elon Musk spoke to Twitter workers for the first time since he agreed to acquire the company in a meeting that tackled topics ranging from layoffs to what will change with the platform once he takes control.
Social media metrics over journalism ethics
Lawyer-vlogger Trixie Cruz-Angeles pushes vlogger accreditation as the priority for Palace media. How does hyperpartisan media affect journalism?
Sore losers are backsliding democracy
Taking a look at Trump’s conspiracy theories of electoral fraud, and Bolsonaro taking a page out of Trump’s playbook to set the stage for a coup.
Morbius resurrects to die again
Despite no one asking them to, Morbius is back in theaters and bombing again. Is Sony's loose grasp of meme culture to blame for its resurrection?
Dead men tell tales
Philippine forensic pathologist Raquel Fortun autopsies the true toll of the drug war—uncovering how doctors and the police have falsely claimed some victims of extrajudicial killings had died of natural deaths.
Depp v. Heard: The internet is found guilty
Videos from the domestic abuse and defamation trial between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard flooded social media and the internet pile-on may harm future abuse allegations.
The gamification of the gig economy
A case study on Uber and Lyft —how they disguise drivers lacking autonomy and information under the idea of “Be Your Own Boss” and an arbitrary rewards system.
The myth of a good guy with a gun
A look at the culture and politics of American gun ownership—namely what hasn’t worked and what needs to change.
Ukraine’s war against cultural erasure
Russia’s war is not only waged with tanks, shells, and trenches. It is also prosecuted through propaganda and cultural annihilation of the national identity and history of Ukraine.
“Great Replacement”, the 4chan to Fox News sewage pipeline
White nationalism ideology once lurked in the dark web corners of 4chan but has since been in the uptake among conservative media and the GOP—all it took were some changes in diction to refashion a conspiracy for the mainstream.
Same cast, same script
Post-elections has seen the red-tagging of a local publishing house, a troll farm whistleblower, and new scripts from Marcos supporters.
Welcome to the BBM-verse
In the age of Web 2.0 and user-generated content, influencer ennui and disinformation run rampant on YouTube and TikTok.
The dumpster fire that is democracy
A look at how the international press has characterized the Philippine elections, the state of democracy in other countries, and what our country stands to learn from Sri Lanka.