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Photo of a woman with tattoos taking a selfie on a smartphone wearing an off-shoulder dress in front of glass doors.

Virtues and vices

idea

Social comparison is driving us to despair. It doesn’t have to

In the social media age, it seems impossible not to measure ourselves against others – but we can dodge the worst pitfalls

by Wojciech Kaftański

World map illustration showing physical geography with oceans, continents and elevation.

Ethics

idea

What makes a map ‘good’? On the ethics of cartography

Rendering the world in a responsible way means wrestling with what gets depicted on a map, how, and for whom

by Nat Case

Photo of a woman with headphones looking at her phone next to an advert showing a model holding a pink facial brush.

Emerging therapies

guide

How to choose a mental health app

Of the thousands of apps, many are poor quality – but there are a few gems you can trust. Follow these steps to find them

by Margaret Emerson & John Torous

Abstract blue figures in a dark room; some sitting around tables with candles, others standing or sitting on a bar counter. The image signifies a lively, crowded bar during a power outage.

Community

film

When the lights went out and the city came together over two days in Toronto

Directed by Sharron Mirsky

Photo of a person driving at night with dashboard lights on and a road visible ahead through the car windscreen.

Technology and media

idea

The reason that even hands-free calls are risky for drivers

Cars are filled with ever more communication and entertainment tech, but our minds are stuck with the same limitations

by Robert Rosenberger

Photo of astronauts in spacesuits conducting moon surface activities near a lunar module in a studio setting.

Technology and media

idea

Why deepfakes pose less of a threat than many predict

Applying Descartes’ sceptical puzzle to deepfake videos reveals the challenge they present is one that we can rise to

by Keith Raymond Harris

Painting of a woman in a field with paper aeroplanes flying around her, holding one. The background is colourful and abstract.

Social anxiety

guide

How to use social media if you have social anxiety

If anxiety derails your attempts to share and connect with others online, there are steps you can take to stay in the loop

by Emma Warnock-Parkes

Digital artwork of several topless figures in various poses on a black background, depicted in a glowing blue-green hue.

Dance

film

Body heat illuminates a breathtaking dance of light, movement and humanity

Directed by Philippe Baylaucq

Technology and media

idea

Why teenagers are deliberately seeking brain rot on TikTok

Talking to teens reveals a hidden sophistication to their media use. Rather than policing it, maybe we could learn from it

by Emilie Owens

Photo of a person in a red jumper with crossed arms sitting at a wooden table with a red wallet on it.

Technology and media

idea

A psychologist’s tips for getting a grip on your social media use

Is social media causing you problems? Here are some personal and practical ways to reap its benefits with fewer drawbacks

by Daria J Kuss

Woman outdoors smiling and holding a gimbal with mounted smartphone, showing a blonde AI woman on the phone screen, wearing a surgical mask pulled below her chin.

Love

film

‘Why can’t you be real?’ The emotionally fraught business of falling for an AI

Directed by Chouwa Liang