At last some good news. After a biblically testing year, when Covid-19, wildfires, lies and misdirection spread across the globe, it looks like there is cautiously cause for a little celebration: a vaccine, courtesy of Turkish scientists and a US/German pharmaceutical giant. Light at the end of the tunnel, a break from all the doom-scrolling,
The UK loves a celebration and any excuse for a good old-fashioned knees up, even if the holiday in question is borrowed from our neighbours across the pond. Thanksgiving (November 26th) will always be an American tradition, but with more US citizens than ever choosing to settle down, study and explore Britain (approximately 200K people),
Instagram has revealed new plans to flag sponsored influencer content when it is not labelled clearly as advertising, following an investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). This includes rolling out its “paid partnership” header but brands should be aware they risk action from the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) if influencers fail to use
For brands using influencers to raise awareness and launch campaigns in Europe, Britain’s exit from the European Union presents complications – particularly if the UK leaves with no deal. Understanding the implications of this now will allow time to produce strategy which responds to imminent possible changes and prepare for a worst case scenario in
For Spotify’s 320million monthly active users, it’s that time of the year again. The app has blessed us with its annual highly-anticipated music roundup, Wrapped. And for those unfamiliar with the concept, the popular digital feature gives users personal insights into their listening history from the past 365 days, highlighting our most-streamed songs, artists, genres
To mark the beginning of Black History Month, a group of notable Black women – entrepreneurs, activists, journalists and creatives – took over the Instagram accounts of high-profile non-Black women, including the likes of A-list celebrities Kourtney Kardashian, Gwyneth Paltrow, Brooke Shields and Alexa Chung. Aiming to both magnify and spotlight black female voices, #ShareTheMic was originally
In June 2020, Sasha Louise Pallari shared a video of her smooth, glowy, Insta-perfect skin, before removing the filter to show how it hid her natural texture and imperfections. The makeup artist and model was inspired to film the clip after noticing an undisclosed influencer with over 300K followers advertising a global makeup brand while wearing a beautifying filter.
As the Black Lives Matter movement continues to gather pace and influence, the call for systemic change and reform within a plethora of industries is dominating conversation like never before. This week, the publishing industry is playing its part with a new initiative, #BlackoutBestsellerList and #BlackPublishingPower. Launched by Tracy Sherrod, the editorial director of Amistad Press,
Need inspiration and insight for the first quarter of the year? Or perhaps you want to get the jump on what’s to come in the media. Through CORQ’s industry insights programme of Zoom events, you’ll get all of this and the opportunity to ask each interviewee questions. The theme for this season’s lineup is “the
Planning for post-university life has never been more challenging. To offer inspiration and advice to students looking to go into journalism, marketing and publishing, we hosted our latest Group Chat session with Sam Parker, Editor-in-Chief for Penguin. Having spent six years as the digital editor at Esquire, Sam shared insight into his transition from working
Planning for post-university life has never been more challenging. To offer inspiration and advice to students looking to go into the marketing and communications industry after graduation, we hosted the first of Group Chat sessions with Katie Smith, Global Digital Marketing and Communications Director for Soho House Group. Having stepped up to the position at
Planning for post-university life has never been more challenging. To offer inspiration and advice to students and graduates keen to work in media and marketing after graduation, we hosted the second of our Group Chat series with Sami Mokbel, the Chief Football Reporter for the Daily Mail who is known for breaking some of the biggest stories
Planning for post-university life has never been more challenging. To offer inspiration and advice to students looking to go into the marketing and creative industries, we hosted a Group Chat session with Elizabeth Uviebinené, brand strategist, Financial Times columnist and co-author of best-selling book Slay in Your Lane. She is also currently working with Hodder Studio on a
There are a few ways to spot a millennial, from their side parts to skinny jeans, obsession with avocado toast and calling dogs “doggos.” But on TikTok, it’s more obvious than that. Every social media platform was all once ruled by millennials but since TikTok’s inception, it’s been Gen Z’s playground, with 60% of users
Growing up history lessons in the UK primarily consisted of the first and second world war, Britain’s victories, and the role of a few peacemakers in allowing us to live in what we’ve been told is now a fair and equal society. I remember Britain always being portrayed as either powerful (the empire) or the
Black creators on TikTok have repeatedly been erased from the app’s mainstream cultural narrative since its release and it’s a problem the platform needs to address now. Just a couple of weeks ago, a clip of TikTok star Addison Rae performing eight popular dances on The Tonight Show Starring went viral. It’s a very awkward
You can hardly move for YouTuber apologies at the moment, and the latest to join their ranks is beauty guru James Charles. Known for his bold and colourful style of makeup, the 21-year-old vlogger faced up to a new round of child grooming accusations in his latest video, “holding myself accountable”. More a confession than
If you’ve been following coverage of the upcoming elections for London’s next Mayor, you might think the candidacy of Piers Corbyn – yes, Jeremy’s brother – is the story. Or that the newsworthy candidate is Laurence Fox, the former actor who has tasked himself with launching a UK franchise of MAGA. But here’s the thing
Among the likes of Lilly Singh and Liza Koshy, David Dobrik is one of the biggest YouTubers to make it to Hollywood. A prominent figure on Vine – the short-form video app that created a generation of digital talent before TikTok even existed – Dobrik eventually sought further success on YouTube where he became known
Her 1.2 million Instagram followers are there for impeccable styling, so it was no surprise when Victoria Magrath teased plans to launch her own fashion line in 2020. After pushing out a questionnaire for feedback on what the In The Frow audience wanted from the brand, Victoria got to work behind the scenes. This was
In 2021, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry finally broke their silence in an interview with Oprah Winfrey about the former’s experience as a participating member of the British Royal family. The couple also shared they had moved to America to protect their son’s and their mental health. The Duchess of Sussex cited racism, difficult relationships
And so it begins: Twitter is officially losing itself. For a social media platform that has spent so long avoiding the integration of new features to prevent morphing into its competitors, it’s safe to say that the tech giant has caved. And to be honest with you, I’m not pleased in the slightest. Twitter has
The past year has taken a toll, and the experts know that. Therapists, psychiatrists and counsellors have embraced TikTok wholeheartedly to talk us through how we’re feeling and explain why we act the way we do, and it’s great – for the most part. They helm the majority of the app’s health and wellbeing content,
One day while scrolling through YouTube in 2013, I came across the now infamous fight scenes between drag icons Willam Belli and Phi Phi O’Hara during season four of RuPaul’s Drag Race. The drama and nerve had me instantly hooked and I began watching every season in earnest, allowing myself to get sucked into the
TikTok is one of the biggest marketing tools catapulting music artists to viral stardom. However, while I strongly believe it is changing how some artists are making music – check out my thoughts on this here – there’s no denying that for others it has become one of the best digital marketing strategies since dance
For about six years, I was seriously dedicated to Instagram. But then 2020 happened. Maybe it was the lack of real-world content and all the extra time available to scroll aimlessly. Perhaps the timing was irrelevant, and this just happened to be when I finally reached breaking point. Whatever the reason, I didn’t ditch the
When former SAS: Who Dares Wins instructor and host Ant Middleton called Black Lives Matter protesters “scum” and urged his Instagram followers to “carry on as normal” at the height of the pandemic in 2020, more than a few people – myself included – were concerned about the impact of his reckless comments. With over
Five years since its last update, Tumblr’s most infamous blog is relevant again. Last week the author of Your Fave is Problematic finally revealed her identity in piece for the New York Times. It was a bold move; the page made endless enemies throughout its tenure, thanks to its mission to unmask the mishaps of our
When Cats was released at the end of 2019, the response was so overwhelmingly negative that audiences walked out of screenings en masse and Universal Pictures instantly binned all campaigns for award season. So hated was the film that some even suggested coronavirus was the universe’s way of punishing us for putting it out into
Social media has undeniably taken a turn for the better recently. Influencers and users alike are avidly promoting acceptance of our natural bodies, resulting in a roaring surge of Instagram posts and movements towards self-love and body confidence. A popular trend solidifying itself in this space is “Instagram vs reality”, also known as “posed vs
When J.K. Rowling tweeted her support for a transphobic tax specialist back in 2019, I was devastated. As a Potterhead, it was heartbreaking to know that one of my heroes had used their hugely influential platform to speak out against trans activism. Although I would continue to read her books and watch the films I
Twitter has officially begun wider testing of its new audio-based feature, Spaces. Since its announcement in November, many – myself included – have been awaiting the arrival of Clubhouse’s direct opponent. Currently powered by the technology formerly known as Periscope, the innovation was initially rolled out for limited beta testing in December to 1,000 accounts.
A generational war has been brewing for a while. Whether you call it Gen Z vs Millennials, mom jeans vs skinny jeans or middle partings vs side partings, it all boils down to the fact internet users aged 24 and under strongly believe that those over the age of 25 are just pretty lame. From
Growing up in the 1990s, Britney Spears was the emblem of fame and celebrity. With her iconic sultry voice and powerful dance moves, she churned out bop after bop alongside memorable – now classic – music videos that are still referenced and replicated today. But it wasn’t just six-year-old me who was obsessed with her,
Writing a book is both my biggest dream and my worst nightmare because one day, inevitably, someone will ask me when I first started writing fiction and I’ll have to explain that it all began with a 180,000 word epic about the forbidden romance of Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy. As a teenager in the
For the past few years, social media has proved to be a pivotal platform for Black women reclaiming and amplifying their own stories. Experiences often overlooked and erased from both history and wider mainstream culture have evolved into an ongoing digital movement. However, if recent events have proved anything it’s that no matter how hard
Seven months after its inception, the #FilterDrop campaign reached a huge milestone on February 3rd – it tightened regulation of filter use on social media. Its creator, Sasha Louise Pallari, cried on Instagram. The model and makeup artist originally launched the campaign as a hashtag encouraging fellow influencers to ditch face-altering filters in the hopes
While many of the former Love Island stars have been snapped sunning themselves on exotic beaches in Dubai doing essential work, there is at least one doing his best to fight the pandemic: Dr Alex George. Admittedly, he was not my favourite during his time in the villa (a sentiment shared with the other girls,
Until last week Zoella sat alongside William Shakespeare and Jane Austen on GCSE reading lists, but then she wrote about sex toys. Zoë Sugg – or, to be more accurate, the lifestyle website ran by a team of young female writers but named for the YouTube channel that made her famous – was swiftly dropped
Thanks to TikTok, we are overwhelmed with an influx of new trends daily. By the time we’ve become accustomed to one, another has been brewing in the background and is ready to take its spotlight. And while some – like the #BussItChallenge – have helped to provide some carefree entertainment during another year of uncertainty,
Growing up, Katie Price was always a controversial figure – always on the cover of tabloid magazines for one outrageous claim or another, often to do with her tumultuous love life. However, despite a desperate need to be in the limelight and antics that can divide the nation, there is one thing that cannot be
Lockdown madness peaked earlier this month when a Depop user tried to sell a Chiltern Railways train seat cover as a top. Claiming to have found multiple signs – which warned passengers to socially distance when possible – on the pavement outside Marylebone Station, Central St Martins fashion student Mhari Thurston-Tyler decided to repurpose them
For some people, Joe Biden’s inauguration day and the memes of Bernie Sanders at the celebration have become an entertaining moment of the past. Yet, thanks to the internet and its inability to let things go, the viral image of Vermont’s senator sitting on a foldable chair doesn’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon.
In December 2020, the world stood still as Lawrencetiktok90 packed his bag for the hospital on the day of his long-awaited weight loss surgery. We then mourned with him when the operation was postponed and our hearts were heavy, having watched him eat nothing but soup and yoghurt for two weeks in order to shrink
It feels like we’re living in one long documentary about the end of the world right now, and yet still nothing brings me more peace than falling asleep listening to lies, betrayal and murder. I’m not alone – demand for true crime content reached an all-time high on Google in 2020 and continues to rise
When it comes to audio, there are reels of commentary on the booming business of podcasting and the universal consumption of music on streaming services. Yet, with people forced to stay at home and find other ways to interact with their communities, the digital landscape is currently undergoing one of the biggest audio phenomenons we’ve
One of my favourite moments of 2021 so far has to be January 13th when Health Secretary Matt Hancock squirmed under Piers Morgan’s rigorous questioning on Good Morning Britain as he was reminded of voting against free school meals back in 2020. Despite refusing to admit that he regretted his vote and insisting he is
There are plenty of reasons why I trust beauty TikTokkers with my life. They taught me how to wing eyeliner, they know the same skincare routine doesn’t work for everyone, and they’ve agreed that contouring looks terrible more often than it looks good. Also, if my shampoo is choking the life out of my hair,
When historians document the final days of Donald Trump’s presidency, there will be a single fact that unites all reportage: Twitter was the social platform that said enough is enough first. Before he left the White House. Before he became, on the face of it, just another citizen. It will be the noble tech giant
With a new strain of Coronavirus raging across the UK, rules and restrictions are tighter than ever as the nation pulls together to try and do their part in minimising the infection until the vaccine is rolled out. But while for many lockdown has meant spending Christmas alone and only venturing outside for one of
Going into a New Year, nothing is certain but lockdown and a newfound passion for fitness. If you’ve used Instagram in the past week, you’ll have been inundated with resolutions for a healthier 2021, discounts on protein powder and invitations to join subscription-only sisterhoods of workout tips, meal plans and support from fellow newbies. For
It might have been a total disaster, but 2020 delivered some of the best digital content in years. Spending more time on social media than ever, the combination of frustration, boredom and spare time had endlessly creative results. At the same time, social and political issues worked their way to the front of the digital
If Pretty Little Thing’s Black Friday offers made you feel uncomfortable, you might want to avoid Shein. Once you get past the clothing site’s chaotic interface of pop-up “limited time” deals, you can find nearly 15000 dresses listed for as low as £2.99, a 99p accessories section and even a maternity line that starts at
Healthy recipes for large families, a perpetual autumnal-style wardrobe and an unwavering love for Jesus. The holy trinity of the American mommy blogger. Their social platforms are dedicated to documenting every pregnancy symptom, rejoicing in every childhood milestone and posting numerous photos of their brood in matching pyjamas on the beach, just to capture those
If the pandemic has given us anything, anything at all, it’s the endearing presence of Munya Chawawa. The producer turned comedian blessed our feeds this year and kept us entertained during one of the most uncertain periods in our lives with a series of parodies and skits that warranted viral success every single time. Before
As an app obsessed with aesthetics, it’s inevitable that a lot of Instagram – and the work that springboards from it – looks the same. For Chidera Eggerue and Florence Given, that’s where the problem begins. Last week, Chidera (also known as The Slumflower) accused her fellow feminist activist of borrowing heavily from her books
Growing up in the early 2000’s, I was raised on competitive reality TV that saw slumping celebrities pitted against each other for a meagre shopping budget, and I loved it. It was the era that gave us Celebrity Big Brother and it’s survivalist cousin I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!, and as a
Lockdown was a quiet time for everyone except key workers and Chloe Ting. The Australian fitness guru saw her YouTube subscriber count rocket by 8.4 million between May and July, courtesy of her #twoweekshredchallenge. “Challenge” is the key word here: to make real progress in such a short space time, it’s a rigorous regimen of
Betrayal, heartbreak, shock and scandal. Words often applied to describe a Taylor Swift album but in this case can also be used to sum up the biggest breakup of 2016: the Great British Bake Off’s decision to move from BBC One to Channel 4. The thought of having to watch ads combined with the collective
TikTok is one of the biggest marketing tools transforming the music industry right now. In 2020, we’ve seen the video-sharing app propel the careers of artists like Doja Cat, Sam Fischer, the UK’s own S1mba and most notably, Roddy Ricch. Towards the end of 2019, the American rapper’s breakout song The Box became the subject
For teenagers in the 2010s, YouTube hauls were a way of life. Nobody questioned why Zoe Sugg – then in her mid-twenties – was dictating our back to school shop. We didn’t stop to think which shades of Tanya Burr’s binge purchase of Maybelline Superstay Matte Ink would suit our skin tone, or if it
Twitter has launched its latest innovation, Fleets. Similar to the Story-like feature that has become synonymous with both Snapchat and Instagram, Fleets allows users to share content – through text, pictures and videos – to their audience, which then disappears after 24 hours. Followers can then react to the feature with emojis or via direct
While we’re past the stage of 24/7 pyjamas, the coronavirus pandemic continues to influence fashion trends on social media. Forced to curb shopping habits for several months, many consumers used lockdown as a period for reflection on how and where they purchase their clothes. In May, the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufacturers
Internet food trends are rife and compelling: whether it’s the Mukbang (where vloggers eat takeaways and chat to their followers) or YouTubers allowing the person in front of them to choose their order, extreme vegan meal planning or addictive lunch box packing clips. Creators with the best chat, menus and tupperware have become social media
Clubhouse has ten million weekly active users, according to statistics released by the company in April 2021. This is a steep increase from January when it had eight million, not to mention May 2020 when it had 1500. With growing interest in and usage of the app, it’s no surprise influencers are being born on
The Culture Is Black is a new quarterly three-part podcast series by CORQ, dedicated to helping our clients navigate the post-Black Lives Matter landscape through investigating the nuances of Black culture and how your brand can effectively play a positive role in the community. To do this, our culture reporter Jennifer Adetoro has interviewed key influencers
The Culture Is Black is a new quarterly three-part podcast series by CORQ, dedicated to helping our clients navigate the post-Black Lives Matter landscape through investigating the nuances of Black culture and how your brand can effectively play a positive role in the community. To do this, our culture reporter Jennifer Adetoro has interviewed key influencers
One of the more positive notes sounding in 2020 is that people in the UK almost doubled the amount of time they spent reading during lockdown. Only 10% of adults, according to a study by Nielsen, said they read less. This is also interesting in the context that people’s social media use went up 72%
The Culture Is Black is a new quarterly three-part podcast series by CORQ, dedicated to helping our clients navigate the post-Black Lives Matter landscape through investigating the nuances of Black culture and how your brand can effectively play a positive role in the community. To do this, our culture reporter Jennifer Adetoro has interviewed key influencers
When Beyonce sang “she might start an OnlyFans” in this summer’s remix of Megan Thee Stallion’s Savage, she spoke on behalf of 2020’s sex work revolution. Founded in 2016, the OnlyFans app surged in popularity over lockdown, with the number of accounts doubling since March. Like Instagram, it provides a feed of images and videos –
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