For me, the clearest sign of an unhealthy dynamic is how a group of friends speak about those who are not in the room. Oftentimes, the piece of gossip is framed as concern or intention to help. Before long, however, the whole conversation starts to feel more hurtful than helpful, as damaging details are exchanged and moral judgments are made about someone else's life. 

Racist humor has long been politically useful because shared laughter creates shared identity. The “us versus them” narrative can strengthen group bonds, making it easier to push extreme and hateful messages until these ideas are normalized and become more socially acceptable.

Nowadays, deepfake abuse and malicious, manipulated images are horror stories that can happen to anyone—but especially to women. Here’s how you can protect yourself.

Article was first published on Allure Philippines: https://allure.ph/the-deep-dive/when-your-face-is-no-longer-yours-how-women-can-protect-themselves-against-deepfake-abuse/

Traditionally, the term Orphan Christmas or “Orphan Holidays” referred to charity-organized celebrations for children living in orphanages and shelters. In recent years, it has expanded to describe holiday gatherings for adults who have lost loved ones, live far from home, or are estranged from family. It is a way to create a sense of belonging during the Christmas season for those without traditional family structures to celebrate with.

When online platforms are deliberately engineered to extract attention and reward emotional extremes, expecting children (and even adults) to consistently self-regulate seems quite unrealistic. Any meaningful solution must acknowledge this power imbalance.

In the workplace, appearance can outweigh ability. Beauty bias is real—and it hits women hardest.

Human-AI dialogues can feel comforting due to our inherent desire for social connection. However, there aren’t enough safeguards to prevent vulnerable users from spiraling into psychosis. ChatGPT can mimic human conversation and generate plausible-sounding answers. But unlike human therapists, who can redirect unhealthy narratives, ChatGPT cannot recognize or challenge distorted thinking. As a result, it can inadvertently affirm and strengthen a user’s delusional or conspiratorial beliefs.

When children struggle with reading, it can quickly lead to a downward spiral if their learning needs are left unaddressed. Multiple studies show that students with poor reading skills had higher levels of anxiety, depression, and feelings of social isolation compared to their peers.