Tinder users say situationship is a valid relationship status
2023-03-19 01:24:30author：dointy.com
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Tinder users say situationship is a valid relationship status
2022 is, somehow, inching closer to its end, which means it's time for a flood of retrospectives. Spotify has Wrapped, and Tinder has Year in Swipe(Opens in a new tab). Along with the most-used emojis and interests shared on the dating app, Tinder also identified the dominant trends from the year. The top trend of 2022? "Situationships" are a valid relationship status now.
A situationship is when you're not quite dating someone, but you're not just sleeping with them either. If it sounds murky, that's because it is. Young singles are down for the vagueness, however, as long as it's clearly defined.
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In an in-app survey among Tinder users aged 18-24 in the UK, U.S., and Australia done last month, 1 in 10 respondents said they prefer situationships as "a way to develop a relationship with less pressure." The app saw a 49 percent jump in members adding "situationship" to their profiles from January to October this year.
"Young singles were still down to play the field this year," Tinder wrote in the release, "but they opted for a high-quality roster where everyone was on the same page."
Keep in mind that Year in Swipe doesn't account for all users, only "young" singles (aged 18-25). It makes sense that less experienced daters may want to dip their toes in a more casual relationship before verging into "serious relationship" territory. But it also may signal a waning desire for "friends with benefits" in favor of a relationship with an emotional connection, even if you're not exclusive or monogamous.
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Further, Tinder users seem to be growing aware of the dangers of dating: Red flag (🚩) and "gaslighting" (fog 🌫) emojis were trending, hinting at increase awareness of toxic relationships. In fact, 58 percent of surveyed daters said they were confident they could identify a green or red flag when dating.
For the full breakdown of 2022 trends on Tinder, check out the Year in Swipe(Opens in a new tab).
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Mark Zuckerberg expressed concerns in Trump phone call, so that should fix everything
Mark Zuckerberg has reportedly suggested to President Donald Trump, in a roundabout fashion, that perhaps the poster-in-chief could tone it down a little. For him? Pretty please?
Axios reports(Opens in a new tab) that two sources familiar with a phone call Trump made to the Facebook CEO on Friday said that Zuckerberg did not make any specific requests of the president, but conveyed "concerns" about his "tone and rhetoric," expressed disagreement with recent sentiments, and told the president that his choice of words "put Facebook in a difficult position."
The latter is likely a reference to the fact that Facebook has faced increased pressure to moderate the president's statements on the platform, which regularly contain outright lies, misinformation, and inflammatory rhetoric.
Now, as protests against police brutality have erupted in major cities across the U.S., Trump's tone has stepped up accordingly. On Thursday night he posted a tweet containing the quote "when the looting starts, the shooting starts", and a Saturday tweetstorm included the suggestion that mayors and governors should crack down on protests using "the unlimited power of our Military(Opens in a new tab)".
Twitter finally took action on a few of Trump’s tweets. One was flagged for containing misleading information about mail-in ballots, the other was hidden from Trump’s timeline for glorifying violence.
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Twitter hid Trump's violent tweet. Why won't Facebook?
Zuckerberg told Fox News last week that private companies should not be an "arbiter of truth," even though amid a worldwide pandemic, Facebook has in fact taken actions to ensure inaccurate information about coronavirus and related public health issues are countered with facts. But Twitter's escalation, and Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey's accompanying statements addressing Zuckerberg's comments, have put further pressure on Facebook and Zuckerberg to not let the president's false or incendiary posts stand unchecked.
Both social media giants are in the White House's crosshairs ahead of the November election, with Trump signing a somewhat toothless executive order on May 28 meant to intimidate them into letting him share whatever he wants.
Sex with someone you dont live with is now illegal in England
No sex with people outside your household.
That's a rule now enshrined in law in England as new legislation is brought in prohibiting indoor "gatherings" of two or more people from different households amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
It's been dubbed a lockdown "sex ban" by the media, but the new legislation(Opens in a new tab) makes no explicit mention of the word sex. But, is sex really banned? We took a look at the new rules.
Indoor "gatherings" are banned under the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations 2020 bill(Opens in a new tab), which came into effect on June 1, 2020. The new rules define gatherings as "when two or more people are present together in the same place in order to engage in any form of social interaction with each other, or to undertake any other activity with each other." If you're single or if you live apart from your partner this new legislation will affect you.
The UK has been under lockdown since March 23 — so 10 weeks — and until now the government restrictions have stipulated that people are only allowed to leave their homes for a limited set of circumstances, including for work, health reasons, to buy food, or to get exercise. Those restrictions have been loosened over the past few weeks.
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So, does sexual intercourse fall under the categories "social interaction" or "any other activity"? It would appear so. Unless you live with your sexual partner, you will be breaking the law if you go to another person's house for sex. It's also prohibited by law to stay overnight away from home, unless it's for work, funerals, or avoiding harm. In short, it's illegal to visit friends, family, or sexual partners inside their homes or to spend any time indoors with someone you don't live with.
For the people abiding by lockdown restrictions for the past 10 weeks, it likely comes as no surprise that sex with people outside your household remains off limits. So, what difference does this legislation actually make? Until now, the person who entered another person's home would have been in breach of the lockdown rules. Under this new law, both people can now be prosecuted under the amendment. Previous restrictions made no mention of meeting up in private places, and instead the message to 'stay at home' was disseminated by the government. According to(Opens in a new tab) police guidance published by the College of Policing, the approach to restrictions has changed as of June 1. "Rather than requiring a reasonable excuse to leave the place where a person is living, there are specific things that members of the public cannot do," reads the guidance.
There are exceptions to the rules about gatherings and overnight stays. Both are permitted in the following circumstances:
between members of the same household
for people attending a funeral; for an elite athlete and their coach or parent
for work purposes or providing charitable services
to facilitate house moves
to provide care or assistance to a vulnerable person
to provide emergency assistance
for providing registered early years childcare
to avoid injury, illness, or to escape a risk of harm
to facilitate access between parents and children
to fulfill legal obligations or participate in legal proceedings
for the purposes of education
I emailed the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and asked the following question: "Is it now illegal for a person to go to another person's house to have sex?" In my email I noted that the legislation did not make explicit mention of 'sex' but that people have interpreted the law as a sex ban.
In reply, a DHSC spokesperson said: "Changes to Coronavirus Regulations mean people can spend time outdoors, including private gardens and other outdoor spaces, in groups of up to six people from different households. However, everybody should act responsibly and continue to strictly observe social distancing rules."
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"Individuals who participate in a prohibited gathering will be in breach of the regulations, and the police will use their common sense and discretion in all cases," the statement continued. The spokesperson added that DHSC had "set out" its plan "to return to life to as near normal as we can, for as many people as we can, as quickly and fairly as possible in order to safeguard livelihoods, but in a way that is safe and continues to protect our NHS."
For people looking for loopholes to this law, remember that sex outdoors is already punishable under pre-existing including indecent exposure and outraging public decency. Furthermore, under new guidelines, people meeting up in outdoor gatherings of up to six people are required to practice social distancing.
Police can't burst into your bedroom and fine you for having sex.
You might well be wondering about how the police can enforce something like this. Well, on Monday, 10 Downing Street confirmed(Opens in a new tab) that police can't burst into your bedroom and fine you for having sex. Not sure if any of us quite expected that course of events to be on the cards, but glad to hear No. 10 has ruled it out, nonetheless.
Police can arrest or fine those breaking the law, but they don't have the power to check inside your home. The default fine stands at £100 in England.
"The police will do as they have done since the beginning of the health regulations being in place. They will be exercising their common sense and engaging with the public and only issuing fixed penalty notices when they believe it’s a last resort," the prime minister's spokesperson told the Mirror. The spokesperson added that police in England don't have powers to enter people's homes under the regulations. "What they can do is enter homes where they suspect serious criminal activity is taking place under separate and existing laws," they added.
Looks like that sex hiatus will be going on a little longer then.
LAPD Zoom call: 8 moments you need to see from the angry, public roasting of police
The Los Angeles Police Commission hosted a Zoom call with citizens on Tuesday and people let. them. have. it. The citizens of LA are fed up and angry, and they aren't hiding it.
People called in for more than six hours and absolutely laid into the police(Opens in a new tab) and its leadership amid widespread protests against police brutality in LA and across the country. The protests, of course, were sparked by the police killing of George Floyd, an unarmed, black man who died last week when a Minneapolis police officer kneeled on his neck.
A common theme from the callers was to demand the resignation(Opens in a new tab) of LA Police Chief Michel Moore, who said Floyd's "death is on [looters'] hands as much as it is those officers" — comments for which he later apologized, claiming he misspoke.
We collected a few of the most noteworthy moments from the wild and angry Zoom call, which was also plagued with a few technical difficulties.
1. Upgrade your Zoom account
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2. The tweet gives you the gist
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3. "Have you considered being good at your jobs?"
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4. "I'm looking at a lot of people who just got the shit kicked out of them the whole day."
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5. Maybe, possibly, potentially, Tony Hawk called in(Opens in a new tab)?
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UPDATE: June 3, 2020, 1:27 p.m. EDT Hawk confirmed on Twitter that it was not him on the call.
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6. This one has a Curb Your Enthusiasm ending added
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7. A call about the real looters
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8. "You are public servants. Not soldiers."
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Instagram, give the swipe-up feature to everyone so protesters can share resources
There's no denying Instagram Stories is a strong platform for protesters who want to spread a message.
Unfortunately, a lot of activists are missing an essential tool for connecting their followers to valuable resources: the swipe-up feature.
While it seems minor, it would allow accounts to link to important sites for fundraisers, organizations, and bail-out funds.
As they protest the killing of George Floyd and police brutality, protestors need all the help they can get boosting the visibility of these links. Unfortunately, as of right now, the feature is reserved for specific types of Instagram users: those who have more than 10,000 followers or are verified.
People want to set the feature free. And they're speaking out about it on Twitter.
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The ability to "swipe up" is mostly reserved as a marketing tool for brands, celebrities, and influencers who want to make some extra cash by linking to products or services.
Influencers and celebrities also use it to promote podcasts, YouTube videos, and newsletters. And, in some cases, sketchy giveaways.
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But under the current circumstances, the swipe-up feature could be a powerful tool for quickly sharing links to activist organizations, reading materials, news stories, and more — regardless of someone's follower count.
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Instead, those with under 10,000 followers are forced to use alternative methods, like taking the "link in bio" route by posting a link on their profile. However, to get to the link, you have to go through the extra steps of tapping on the user's handle.
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Not only is the process less intuitive, but it also interrupts the experience. It's more likely users will keep swiping through other Stories than stop, go to someone's profile page, and tap on a link.
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Instagram declined to comment on whether it plans to release the feature to everyone. But things don't look promising.
Of course, it's easy to see why Instagram is being cautious, since not all users will use the links with good intentions. Some could post links that lead to spam or malware.
But perhaps to start, Instagram can only allow links to certain organizations and fundraising sites. That way, they can rest assured followers will be swiping up to legitimate links.
In the meantime, you can sign a petition to catch Instagram's attention.
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It specifically calls on Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri (who remains quiet on the matter) to "give every user on Instagram an opportunity to amplify voices of the silenced by letting accounts of all follower numbers share swipe-up links to their Instagram stories."
Maybe if enough people sign the petition and blow up Mosseri's mentions, he'll actually listen.
Calls to delete popular astrology app Co—Star after controversial protest meme
Co—Star, the astrology app known for its outlandish push notifications, has come under fire for a post related to the police brutality protests on their popular Instagram account:
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For those not in the Insta-astrology account "scene," many accounts follow this type of format: One scenario or prompt, with 12 different responses to correspond with the 12 different Zodiac signs. (Here's another example(Opens in a new tab) from Co—Star's account.)
In the now-deleted post, Co—Star made the prompt "At the demo[nstration]," and assigned different roles to each sign. For example, Cancers would "Bring lots of water bottles (NOT milk) to rinse out people's eyes" while Libras are "demo buddies with five people they're 'talking to.'"
The caption of the post read(Opens in a new tab), "Here are some demo tips. You can find more in story."
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This memeification of the protests which have swept across the U.S. in the wake of the killing of George Floyd — a black man who died after three police officers pinned him down and one kneeled on his neck for nearly 9 minutes — didn't sit well with the app's followers. Screenshots went viral, as did calls to delete the app(Opens in a new tab).
The post was deleted and replaced with an explanation by Co—Star:
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"We thought that putting these important tips in a meme format would be a palatable way to share the things we’ve learned about keeping each other safe in the street," the post reads. "The intent was not to minimize the protests, but to make them feel less scary; to encourage people to take action." They then shared other activists' posts on how to safely protest.
While some commenters applauded the app, others criticized Co—Star for not actually apologizing. "Giving off a bit non-apology vibe," said one commenter.
Hopefully if Co—Star learned anything from this, it's to not meme the fight to end inequality.
Mashable has reached out to Co—Star for comment and will update if received.
Reddit CEO honors Alexis Ohanians request to fill his seat with a black board member
Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian announced Friday that he would resign from his board seat and urged the company to replace him with a candidate who is black. Shortly thereafter, in a thread on the site(Opens in a new tab), Reddit CEO Steve Huffman confirmed that the company will move forward with Ohanian's request.
"Alexis Ohanian (u/kn0thing(Opens in a new tab)), my Reddit cofounder, announced that he is resigning from our board and that he wishes for his seat to be filled with a black candidate, a request that the board and I will honor," Huffman, known on the site as spez(Opens in a new tab), wrote. "We thank Alexis for this meaningful gesture and all that he’s done for us over the years."
While it's unclear how quickly the company plans to fill this seat, Huffman went on to note that, even beyond this initiative, Reddit has more work to do.
"As Reddit has grown, alongside much good, it is facing its own challenges around hate and racism," Huffman wrote. "We have to acknowledge and accept responsibility for the role we have played."
Huffman said the company will focus on the parts of Reddit that "reflect an unflattering but real resemblance to the world in the hate that black users and communities see daily." Huffman added that the company would provide more clarity to users and moderators on where its administrators stand when it comes to racism, offering moderators a seat at the table to help shape corporate policies.
Huffman reflected on Reddit's history regarding its policies on racism, highlighting where the company has made progress and where it's fallen short. He specifically called out Reddit's failure to take action on The_Donald(Opens in a new tab), a pro-Trump subreddit that became a breeding ground for violent content.
This comes only a few days after Ellen Pao, the interim CEO of Reddit in 2014, criticized Huffman's open letter to employees, in which he made it clear the company doesn't tolerate "hate, racism, and violence," noting that its "values are clear."
"I am obligated to call you out: You should have shut down the_donald instead of amplifying it and its hate, racism, and violence," Pao said Monday on Twitter(Opens in a new tab), adding, "So much of what is happening now lies at your feet. You don't get to say BLM when reddit nurtures and monetizes white supremacy and hate all day long."
In his posted response today, Huffman copped to Pao's criticism and admitted that The_Donald was "a community that relished in exploiting and detracting from the best of Reddit and that is now nearly disintegrated." He also said the company should've "quarantined(Opens in a new tab) it sooner."
So, while it hasn't been banned or shutdown, the "quarantine" (Opens in a new tab)effectively prevents users from accidentally viewing its content. Users will only be able to enter the subreddit with a verified email address after opting-in.
Regardless, Huffman made it clear that this is a turning point for Reddit:
"We have a choice: return to the status quo or use this opportunity for change. We at Reddit are opting for the latter, and we will do our very best to be a part of the progress."
Additionally, Huffman left the thread open for Reddit users to ask him any questions on the matter. At the time of writing, it's amassed over 20,000 comments.
In the Q&A(Opens in a new tab), he maps out a few things Reddit's aiming to accomplish this year, including publicly sharing summaries of quarterly calls with moderators, expanding its number of councils, regularly cycling members so it can bring on more moderators, and creating a council on social justice issues (that will also host all-council calls on how the company's policies are evolving).
So, if you're active on Reddit, feel free to keep the conversation going.
I May Destroy You is a defining moment for on-screen portrayals of consent and sexual violence
Content warning: This review contains discussion of rape and sexual violence.
You won't be able to shake I May Destroy You from your thoughts. After watching, you'll close your laptop, or turn off your television, but I guarantee you this: it will stay with you. Created by Chewing Gum writer Michaela Coel, this new 12-part BBC One/HBO drama tackles the intersection of sexual assault, consent, and race in a radical way that is rarely, if ever, seen on screen.
Episode 1 begins with Arabella (Coel), a young millennial writer living in London, pulling an all-nighter in a last minute attempt to finish the book she's been writing. When she takes a break to meet up with friends (setting a one-hour alarm for herself), the night changes course. The following day, she has no recollection of how she got back to her desk, or how her phone screen got smashed, or why there's blood pouring from a gash on her forehead. Arabella is disorientated, confused, and grappling with a disturbing flashback of someone being raped. That someone, she later realises, was her.
These events unfold in a way that is infused with striking realism — and that is no accident. In Aug. 2018, while delivering the McTaggart lecture at the Edinburgh Television Festival, Coel said she was raped when she was writing Season 2 of Chewing Gum. "I was working overnight in the [production] company's offices; I had an episode due at 7 a.m. I took a break and had a drink with a good friend who was nearby," said(Opens in a new tab) Coel. When she regained consciousness, she was typing Season 2. "I had a flashback. It turned out I’d been sexually assaulted by strangers. The first people I called after the police, before my own family, were the producers."
In the press materials sent by the BBC, Coel makes reference to the real-life roots of the story. "All in all, the hardest thing was not getting distracted in wonderment at the confounding reality of having turned a rather bleak reality into a TV show that created real jobs for hundreds of people," she said.
But, out of this bleak reality, Coel has created something that challenges on-screen depictions of sex, consent, and assault. Black women have been historically been erased from conversations about sexual violence. That omission is rooted in racism that can be traced back to the time of slavery, when rape was only considered something that happened to white women. As Vanessa Ntinu wrote(Opens in a new tab) in gal-dem, "Historically, black women are perceived as objects of sexual exploitation, dating back to days of slavery where the concept of rape was never applied to the black woman simply because she was assumed to have been a willing and promiscuous participant."
In those first few episodes of I May Destroy You, Coel explores an aspect of sexual violence that gets little attention: unacknowledged rape(Opens in a new tab). Psychologists use this term to describe sexual violence that fits a legal description of rape or assault, but is not labelled as such by the survivor. For the first two episodes, Arabella doesn't realise she's been assaulted. Even when talking to a police officer about that night, she urges caution in the police officer's interpretation of her disturbing flashback, the images she couldn't shake from her mind. Coel brings to life an element of assault survivors' experience — the difficulty of realising that you've been raped because the reality of rape is so different to how it's portrayed on screens and in the media(Opens in a new tab).
Later in the series, when Arabella's agents introduce her to another writer, Zain, to assist somehow in the writing of her book, the two end up having sex. What Arabella doesn't realise, though, is that Zain removes the condom midway through — a violation that is also known as "stealthing,"(Opens in a new tab) a form of sexual assault.
Arabella's story isn't the only remarkable part of this show. Her best male friend Kwame (Paapa Essiedu) has a storyline that explores black masculinity, internalised homophobia, and male experiences of rape. Meanwhile, Arabella's other best friend Terry (Weruche Opia) endures a racist microaggression during an audition for a supposedly empowering advert when a white casting director asks her to take off her wig so she can see her natural hair.
This show is coming to our screens at a pivotal moment in history — as protests continue across America and parts of the globe against racism and police brutality, following the police killing of George Floyd, who died after an officer kneeled on his neck for nearly nine minutes.
The contents of I May Destroy You has the power to challenge stereotypes and misconceptions about who rape happens to, and what sexual violence really looks like. That act of service could not be more necessary.
I May Destroy You debuts on HBO on Sunday, June 7, and on BBC One on Monday, June 8. Both episodes will be available on BBC iPlayer from Monday.
Forrest Fenn claims someone found the treasure he hid in the Rocky Mountains 10 years ago
A multimillion-dollar treasure intentionally tucked away in an undisclosed, incredibly remote part of the Rocky Mountains has reportedly(Opens in a new tab) been found — and the story behind the loot is perhaps wilder than you can imagine.
Forrest Fenn, an eccentric 89-year-old author and artifacts dealer, claims he buried a treasure — estimated to be worth at least $1 million and up to $5 million — in a remote spot a decade ago. He said a cryptic 24-line poem in his memoir would lead searchers to the treasure.
In the last decade, a huge online and IRL community built up around finding the treasure. Some 350,000 people have tried to find it. As Money(Opens in a new tab) covered in detail last year(Opens in a new tab), certain "searchers" have dedicated their lives to the treasure hunt. Some people quit their jobs. At least four people died trying to find it. Others think the whole thing was a hoax, as in, the treasure doesn't exist.
Now, according to Fenn himself, the chase for the treasure is over. He confirmed to Money(Opens in a new tab) that it had been found in the past couple of days.
"It was under a canopy of stars in the lush, forested vegetation of the Rocky Mountains and had not moved from the spot where I hid it more than 10 years ago," Fenn wrote on his website(Opens in a new tab). "I do not know the person who found it, but the poem in my book led him to the precise spot. I congratulate the thousands of people who participated in the search and hope they will continue to be drawn by the promise of other discoveries. So the search is over."
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But, and this is a pretty big but, we've still yet to see the treasure. And we don't know the identity of the person who apparently found it.
“The guy who found it does not want his name mentioned. He’s from back East,” Fenn told the(Opens in a new tab) Santa Fe New Mexican(Opens in a new tab).
Fenn told the paper the person sent him a picture of the treasure to confirm the find, but Fenn declined to send a copy of that photo to the paper. So... a lot of questions remain.
And yet things are even more complicated. Barbara Andersen, a Chicago real estate attorney, told the New Mexican(Opens in a new tab) she is filing an injunction in federal District Court against the person who allegedly found the chest, saying they hacked her and stole her solution. She wants to stop the person from selling the loot and have the court hand the chest over to her.
“He stole my solve,” she told the paper. “He followed and cheated me to get the chest.”
During a pandemic, protest livestreams are more important than ever
Protests against police brutality continue around the country, but not everyone who wants can participate. Whether immunocompromised, living with someone in a high risk group for COVID-19, or simply too far away to attend a protest, people around the world have found their own way to engage: livestreams.
Leigh Wallace, an 18-year-old in Mississippi, goes through chemotherapy every other week to treat Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The treatment hasn’t affected her immune system as much as it has other patients, Wallace said, but her parents are wary of allowing her around other people, even friends. While treatable, Hodgkin’s lymphoma limits the body’s ability to fight infection. The number of new coronavirus cases(Opens in a new tab) is increasing in many states, and the world is bracing itself for a "second wave," expected(Opens in a new tab) to hit this autumn.
But Wallace couldn’t just sit at home while her peers marched against police brutality. Her parents have a tight grip on her bank account, so she couldn’t donate to a bail fund or community organization. While she signed petitions pushing for prosecution for officers and advocating for defunding law enforcement, Wallace wanted to be more involved.
“News stations and YouTubers can take the footage and later edit them to fit their personal agenda.”
She began watching Instagram livestreams of the protests to stay informed. In a Twitter DM, she said that because she was viewing raw, unedited footage, she could get a clearer picture of what’s actually happening. Watching the protests live allows viewers to see police using disturbing force against peaceful protestors for themselves.
“I think the news and even some YouTube creators are incredibly biased,” Wallace said. “News stations and YouTubers can take the footage and later edit them to fit their personal agenda.”
Similarly, Celina Juarez, a 21-year-old restaurant employee in Los Angeles, felt that news outlets weren't focusing on what mattered. Juarez lives with her grandparents and didn't want to risk spreading the coronavirus to them, since the elderly are at high risk.
"I feel that the news is showing more of the looting and less of the police brutality against peaceful protest when, based on every livestream I've tuned into, it's really the opposite," Juarez said in a Twitter DM.
While the protests have been associated with looting and rioting, multiple videos(Opens in a new tab) show black protestors shutting down white agitators attempting to graffiti storefronts and steal merchandise. When the protests began in Minneapolis in response to the death of George Floyd, a black man who was killed by a white police officer, Juarez and Wallace felt that news coverage focused on the looting rather than law enforcement escalating violence against peaceful protestors.
In addition to presenting a clearer picture of the the protests in support of Black Lives Matter, livestreams also provide crucial information for those who attend.
Elijah Daniel, a YouTuber with 568,000 subscribers and 446,000 Instagram followers(Opens in a new tab), attended numerous protests in Los Angeles last week. He's also been broadcasting the protests on Instagram Live, where tens of thousands of viewers watched police tear gas gatherings, shoot rubber bullets into crowds, and arrest peaceful protestors who were out after Los Angeles' controversial curfews.
I watched Daniel's protest livestream last week because I had several friends who were also marching in Hollywood. It seemed peaceful from wherever Daniel was marching, but the chants of "No justice, no peace" were broken up by panicked comments warning viewers that police were tear gassing protestors a few blocks ahead. Madison Beer, another influencer who's been actively attending protests and was marching ahead of Daniel, tweeted that cops were beginning to block in protestors well before curfew.
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As soon as I read the livestream comments, I called everyone I knew at the protests to warn them. One narrowly avoided the gas and rubber bullets, which law enforcement began deploying just minutes after he decided to take side streets out of Hollywood.
This weekend, I attended the massive candlelight vigil for George Floyd and other black victims of police brutality, which took place only blocks from where police had arrested(Opens in a new tab) thousands of peaceful protestors the week before. During the drive over, I watched the livestream broadcasted by Black Lives Matter Los Angeles to keep tabs on police presence. Watching the protests live is a matter of safety.
Watching protest livestreams is a matter of public safety.Credit: David McNew / Getty Images
"I know it's easy to watch a video on the internet, but to watch it in real time is on a whole other level."
Daniel's viewers are also using the livestream to open up conversations about police brutality and privilege with their families. Claire-Louise, a 21-year-old customer service agent in Belfast, Ireland, can't attend protests in Ireland because there aren't any close enough to be accessible. She's been showing Daniel's livestreams, as well as other screen recorded livestreams, to her family members who she claims are "a bit backwards in their mindset."
"I know it's easy to watch a video on the internet, but to watch it in real time is on a whole other level," Claire-Louise said in a Twitter DM. "I get happy when I see the peacefulness but I get angry and anxious when I see the brutality and just blatant racism."
Influencers and celebrities continue to fall out of public favor through this period of civil unrest. From posting well intentioned but ill informed black squares to their Instagram accounts to getting arrested for looting(Opens in a new tab), as Jake Paul did, celebrity culture is cracking. But those who use their platforms for activism, as Elijah Daniel and Halsey have, are inspiring a generation of viewers to join the Black Lives Matter movement.
"Even though I can't actually be there, it at least makes me feel like I am," Wallace said. "Seeing how many people are at the protests, plus thinking about how many people are watching livestreams, makes me think that in time something may actually happen."
OKCupid adds Black Lives Matter badge and profile questions about racial inequality
On Thursday, OKCupid announced that it's rolling out a #BlackLivesMatter(Opens in a new tab) badge in a dozen countries. Users can obtain the badge by answering yes to the question, "Do you want to support the #BlackLivesMatter movement by adding a badge to your profile?"
Since badges won't actually do anything to solve racism, OKCupid has also donated $50,000 to the ACLU, Black Girls Code, Fair Fight Action and the NAACP. The app will also donate a million dollars in advertising space to black civil rights organizations.
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In addition to the badge, OKCupid has added matching questions related to racial injustice and inequality. Users can answer whether they protest; whether it's okay to silently support racial equality; how they plan on addressing racial inequality (say by donating or protesting); and whether they find it important that their date supports racial equality.
OKCupid racial inequality questionCredit: okcupid
OKCupid how will you address racial inequality questionCredit: okcupid
In the past week, over 100,000 users have responded to the new questions. The majority said it's not okay to silently support equality, according to OKCupid's blog post. Seventy percent are protesting for racial equality.
This isn't the first time OKCupid has created badges and questions around social justice. They did so with supporting Planned Parenthood(Opens in a new tab) and marriage equality as well(Opens in a new tab). While the badge could be seen by some as virtual signaling, the questions do allow users to dig deeper into a potential match's commitment to racial equality — which is a step in the right direction.
Related Video: Want to donate to help the Black Lives Matter movement? Here's how.
During a pandemic, protest livestreams are more important than ever
Protests against police brutality continue around the country, but not everyone who wants can participate. Whether immunocompromised, living with someone in a high risk group for COVID-19, or simply too far away to attend a protest, people around the world have found their own way to engage: livestreams.
Leigh Wallace, an 18-year-old in Mississippi, goes through chemotherapy every other week to treat Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The treatment hasn’t affected her immune system as much as it has other patients, Wallace said, but her parents are wary of allowing her around other people, even friends. While treatable, Hodgkin’s lymphoma limits the body’s ability to fight infection. The number of new coronavirus cases(Opens in a new tab) is increasing in many states, and the world is bracing itself for a "second wave," expected(Opens in a new tab) to hit this autumn.
But Wallace couldn’t just sit at home while her peers marched against police brutality. Her parents have a tight grip on her bank account, so she couldn’t donate to a bail fund or community organization. While she signed petitions pushing for prosecution for officers and advocating for defunding law enforcement, Wallace wanted to be more involved.
“News stations and YouTubers can take the footage and later edit them to fit their personal agenda.”
She began watching Instagram livestreams of the protests to stay informed. In a Twitter DM, she said that because she was viewing raw, unedited footage, she could get a clearer picture of what’s actually happening. Watching the protests live allows viewers to see police using disturbing force against peaceful protestors for themselves.
“I think the news and even some YouTube creators are incredibly biased,” Wallace said. “News stations and YouTubers can take the footage and later edit them to fit their personal agenda.”
Similarly, Celina Juarez, a 21-year-old restaurant employee in Los Angeles, felt that news outlets weren't focusing on what mattered. Juarez lives with her grandparents and didn't want to risk spreading the coronavirus to them, since the elderly are at high risk.
"I feel that the news is showing more of the looting and less of the police brutality against peaceful protest when, based on every livestream I've tuned into, it's really the opposite," Juarez said in a Twitter DM.
While the protests have been associated with looting and rioting, multiple videos(Opens in a new tab) show black protestors shutting down white agitators attempting to graffiti storefronts and steal merchandise. When the protests began in Minneapolis in response to the death of George Floyd, a black man who was killed by a white police officer, Juarez and Wallace felt that news coverage focused on the looting rather than law enforcement escalating violence against peaceful protestors.
In addition to presenting a clearer picture of the the protests in support of Black Lives Matter, livestreams also provide crucial information for those who attend.
Elijah Daniel, a YouTuber with 568,000 subscribers and 446,000 Instagram followers(Opens in a new tab), attended numerous protests in Los Angeles last week. He's also been broadcasting the protests on Instagram Live, where tens of thousands of viewers watched police tear gas gatherings, shoot rubber bullets into crowds, and arrest peaceful protestors who were out after Los Angeles' controversial curfews.
I watched Daniel's protest livestream last week because I had several friends who were also marching in Hollywood. It seemed peaceful from wherever Daniel was marching, but the chants of "No justice, no peace" were broken up by panicked comments warning viewers that police were tear gassing protestors a few blocks ahead. Madison Beer, another influencer who's been actively attending protests and was marching ahead of Daniel, tweeted that cops were beginning to block in protestors well before curfew.
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As soon as I read the livestream comments, I called everyone I knew at the protests to warn them. One narrowly avoided the gas and rubber bullets, which law enforcement began deploying just minutes after he decided to take side streets out of Hollywood.
This weekend, I attended the massive candlelight vigil for George Floyd and other black victims of police brutality, which took place only blocks from where police had arrested(Opens in a new tab) thousands of peaceful protestors the week before. During the drive over, I watched the livestream broadcasted by Black Lives Matter Los Angeles to keep tabs on police presence. Watching the protests live is a matter of safety.
Watching protest livestreams is a matter of public safety.Credit: David McNew / Getty Images
"I know it's easy to watch a video on the internet, but to watch it in real time is on a whole other level."
Daniel's viewers are also using the livestream to open up conversations about police brutality and privilege with their families. Claire-Louise, a 21-year-old customer service agent in Belfast, Ireland, can't attend protests in Ireland because there aren't any close enough to be accessible. She's been showing Daniel's livestreams, as well as other screen recorded livestreams, to her family members who she claims are "a bit backwards in their mindset."
"I know it's easy to watch a video on the internet, but to watch it in real time is on a whole other level," Claire-Louise said in a Twitter DM. "I get happy when I see the peacefulness but I get angry and anxious when I see the brutality and just blatant racism."
Influencers and celebrities continue to fall out of public favor through this period of civil unrest. From posting well intentioned but ill informed black squares to their Instagram accounts to getting arrested for looting(Opens in a new tab), as Jake Paul did, celebrity culture is cracking. But those who use their platforms for activism, as Elijah Daniel and Halsey have, are inspiring a generation of viewers to join the Black Lives Matter movement.
"Even though I can't actually be there, it at least makes me feel like I am," Wallace said. "Seeing how many people are at the protests, plus thinking about how many people are watching livestreams, makes me think that in time something may actually happen."
Midnights lyrics that scream written by Taylor Swift
Babe, wake up! #TS10 is here, and Taylor Swift remains our modern-day Shakespeare. Her catchy hooks, and creative, lyrical turns of phrase always seem to work their way into our vernacular (see: "Sad, Beautiful, Tragic" and "casually cruel"). She continues to evolve musically, but we can always count on her for poignant lyrics that only Swift can pen. Expertly articulating the overlooked minutiae of daily life and interior thoughts of a millennial is her signature style.
Midnights is full of these intimate moments. They run the gamut of Swift's three song categories(Opens in a new tab), described last month in her acceptance speech for Songwriter-Artist of the Decade at the Nashville Songwriter Awards — the peppy, not-too-serious "glitter gel pen" songs; the poetic, personal stories of "fountain pen" songs; and the old-fashioned, transportive "quill pen" songs.
But some stand out from the rest as being just so Taylor. Bonus points were awarded for her strong suits: self-referential lyrics, lyrics that mention a color or time of day, lyrics that mention cats, lyrics that mention New York, and lyrics about her main muse, Joe Alwyn.
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Here are the top 10 most quintessentially "Taylor" lyrics on Midnights:
"And I lost you. The one I was dancing with in New York. No shoes." - "Maroon"
A double whammy in this line from "Maroon" with both a New York mention and an allusion to dancing with your beloved. Not to mention the very Swiftian detail of "no shoes."
"I picked the petals. He loves me not. Something different bloomed, writing in my room." - "You're On Your Own, Kid"
This is in the running for the top lyric on the album. A three-line summation of her career and an ode to her origin story, all while using lovely floral imagery.
"My boy was a montage — a slow-motion, love potion." - "Midnight Rain"
Add this to the Taylor Swift Hall of Fame of metaphors describing the men she loves.
"'Cause I don’t remember who I was before you painted all my nights a color I’ve searched for." - "Question...?"
Swift excellently makes sweeping declarations of love and its impact on her worldview, and she's particularly fond of using colors and painting as a metaphor to portray that cosmic shift.
"Draw the cat eye, sharp enough to kill a man." - "Vigilante Shit"
The opening lines of "Vigilante Shit" are quintessential Reputation-era Taylor and nod to her go-to make-up style. The red lipstick is implied.
"So put me in the basement, when I want the penthouse of your heart." - "Bejeweled"
Domestic bliss and conflict is always a theme in Swift's music, whether literally or most often, metaphorically. Make that house metaphor an aspirational plea for unconditional love directed at your beau? It's an award-winning Swift line!
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"Karma is a cat, purring in my lap ‘cause it loves me." - "Karma"
Meredith, Olivia, and Benjamin know this best. If there’s one thing Swift is going to do, it’s remind us that she’s a proud cat lady!
"Spider boy, king of thieves, weave your little webs of opacity.” - "Karma"
It’s giving "Mean." It’s giving "King of My Heart." It’s giving "The Archer." It’s giving Swift lyricism at its finest.
"I’m only cryptic and Machiavellian 'cause I care." - "Mastermind"
Swifties are whipping out their dictionaries again for this "quill pen" song that combines her love for obscure vocabulary and playfully winking at the listener.
"Sip quiet by my side in the shade. And not the kind that’s thrown, I mean, the kind under where a tree has grown." - "Paris"
This lyric is a trifecta of Taylor: romantic plant language, a callback to earlier lyrics about the cultural definition of "shade" ("You Need to Calm Down"), and drinking.
The 7 best Zoom and work-from-home moments of 2021, so far
At this point — what, a year and half into the pandemic? — you'd think the world would be accustomed to Zoom. And, for the most part, we all have gotten better at video chatting and working from home.
But better isn't perfect. While last year was replete with Zoom screwups, 2021 has seen far less failure. Still, halfway through the year, we managed to scrape together seven of our favorite Zoom and work-from-home fails and funny moments. Here they are.
1. That lawyer who accidentally showed up to virtual court with a cat filter on
Remember Rod Ponton, the Texas lawyer who went viral when he couldn't figure out how to remove a cat filter during court? How could you forget?
2. This teacher and his lovely dog Lila, who really caused an issue
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I'm glad to know Lila is doing fine now. Poor girl.
3. The politician who video called into a debate on a distracted driving law while...driving his car
Andrew Brenner, a Republican state senator in Ohio, might get the award for the dumbest possible Zoom mishap. He supported a law for stricter penalties for distracted driving while clearly driving and participating in the video call. Brenner seemingly tried to hide where he was with a shoddy virtual background...which did nothing to conceal his seatbelt. It's just comically bad.
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4. A rocky grilled cheese tutorial
OK, so this one is just my fantastic colleague Nicole Gallucci getting schooled on making a grilled cheese by the one and only Guy Fieri. It might not be a huge mishap, but it is a funny work-from-home moment.
5. There's no other way to say this: a live streamed butt injection
Miami Herald crime reporter David Ovalle documented perhaps the strangest multitasking ever: appearing in court and getting a butt injection simultaneously.
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6. OK, another strange one in Miami from Ovalle
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You've got to respect that he would show up, to be honest.
7. And finally, Jason freakin' Sudeikis
The wonderful, hilarious actor called into the Golden Globes in a frankly sick tie-dyed hoodie. This was, in no way, a Zoom fail. But it was a wonderful work-from-home moment that I wanted to celebrate.
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As Knives Out 2 cast continually gets better, so do the memes
Another day, another big name cast in Knives Out 2.
As fans of Knives Out — Rian Johnson's charming 2019 murder mystery — will recall, the first film had a stacked cast that included Daniel Craig, Ana de Armas, Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Shannon, Don Johnson, Toni Collette, LaKeith Stanfield, Christopher Plummer, Chris Evans, Chris Evans' cable-knit sweater, and more.
The movie was such a hit that Netflix dropped $465 million to buy two sequels(Opens in a new tab), the first of which started filming in Greece on Monday. And the casting is no less impressive this time around.
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Craig is set to reprise his role as detective Benoit Blanc, and other big names including Edward Norton, Kate Hudson, Kathryn Hahn, Leslie Odom Jr., Dave Bautista, Janelle Monáe, Madelyn Cline, and Jessica Henwick have also been announced.
If we think of Knives Out 2 casting in terms of a donut with a hole, well, then early announcements seemed to fill that hole perfectly. But with each new casting announcement we see that the donut hole has a hole in its center — it is not a donut hole at all but a smaller donut with its own hole. Does that make sense? No? Good.
The bottom line is that just when it seems like Knives Out 2's cast is complete someone new is added to the talented mix. Just this week fans learned that Ethan Hawke and Jada Pinkett Smith had joined the growing ensemble(Opens in a new tab). The excitement and anticipation surrounding this franchise is almost too much to bear, so we're collectively coping by making some hilarious Knives Out 2 memes.
From dream casting announcements to tweets poking fun at the sheer length of the growing list of stars, please enjoy this delightful meme selection.
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If you need us we'll be waiting by the phone for our Knives Out 2 callback.
Steve Buscemi dresses up as his own meme, immediately wins Halloween
With an IMDb page(Opens in a new tab) that includes the likes of Fargo, Ghost World, and Reservoir Dogs, Steve Buscemi is already an icon in the world of pop culture.
But he elevated his status to even greater levels on Sunday.
Remember the "How do you do, fellow kids?" GIF(Opens in a new tab) of Buscemi taken from the 30 Rock episode where the actor pops up as Lenny Wosniak, a private detective recalling the time he tried to masquerade as a high school student?
The GIF has since become one of the internet's most famous reaction memes, a handy shorthand for whenever somebody attempts to act younger than they are.
And this year, for Halloween, Buscemi leaned into the meme hard.
Splendid work, Buscemi.Credit: Stella Wexler Rush
That photo was taken by Stella Wexler Rush while she was out trick-or-treating in Brooklyn, New York, and shared on Twitter(Opens in a new tab) by her mother Debra Wexler. Other images of Buscemi also went viral on Twitter(Opens in a new tab).
The actor was joined by singer-songwriter Elvis Costello, who he's previously hung out with on Halloween(Opens in a new tab) and who appeared alongside Buscemi in the 2006 movie Delirious.
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Now why not round things off by watching that classic scene one more time...
Theres a massive ship stuck in the Suez Canal, but at least its delivering memes
The massive container ship lodged in the Suez Canal may be disrupting global supply chains for weeks to come, but we'll at least have memes to float us through.
Ever Given, a vessel nearly twice as long as the canal is wide, ran aground on Tuesday(Opens in a new tab) due to low visibility amid high winds and a dust storm. Clocking in at 1,300 feet and 224,000 tons, Ever Given "might take weeks" to be removed, according to(Opens in a new tab) Boskalis CEO Peter Berdowski. Boskalis is a Dutch company trying to dislodge the ship. The Suez Canal Authority has suspended traffic, it said in a statement(Opens in a new tab) on Thursday, until Ever Given is freed. Efforts include pulling it with eight tugboats and digging at the ship's keel with a comically small excavator.
The Suez Canal is a crucial manmade waterway running through Egypt that connects the Mediterranean to the Indian Ocean, effectively providing a trade route between the East and the West. Before the canal was built, shipments used to sail around the coast of Africa, which now adds up to a week in shipping time. Roughly 12 percent of the world's trade runs through the canal, and world powers have tried to control the canal throughout history(Opens in a new tab) in an effort to influence trade.
The canal has been modernized and expanded over the last 70 years, but it was no match for Ever Given on a windy day.
Here's some satellite footage of Ever Given, still firmly wedged in place.
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And here are some photos of the excavation effort released by the Suez Canal Authority. Onlookers are not particularly optimistic.
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With the canal blocked off, meanwhile, shipping companies may resort to circumventing Africa. Reuters(Opens in a new tab) reported that A.P. Moller Maersk, the largest shipping container line and vessel operator in the world, is "considering" diverting its less timely goods around Africa, and sending the more time-sensitive cargo via train and airplane.
Twitter users got a laugh out of the antiquated shipping routes.
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The canal's prolonged shutdown could cause "significant disruptions to global trade, skyrocketing shipping rates, further increase of energy commodities, and an uptick in global inflation," JPMorgan strategist Marko Kolanovic told CNBC(Opens in a new tab).
That being said, you have to admit that the situation is just absurd enough to be funny. Memes about the Suez Canal are dominating social media.
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Ever Given remains lodged in the canal, but at least the memes are good.
FIFA assures fans rainbow colors are allowed at World Cup
FIFA has assured fans that LGBTQ+ rainbow colors are allowed in Qatar's World Cup stadiums. This was announced following an exchange with the Football Association of Wales which tweeted, "FIFA has confirmed that fans with Rainbow Wall bucket hats and rainbow flags will be allowed entry to the stadium for @Cymru’s match against Iran on Friday." Confirmation also comes via The Independent(Opens in a new tab) which said FIFA told World Cup federations that the rainbow flag will "not be prohibited."
SEE ALSO:
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The confirmation from FIFA follows a series of incidents in which fans wearing rainbow flag clothing were denied entry to the stadium because of their attire. A U.S. journalist was told(Opens in a new tab) he had to change his rainbow flag T-shirt; former Welsh footballer Laura McAllister(Opens in a new tab) and FAW members(Opens in a new tab) were forced to remove their rainbow bucket hats.
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Homosexuality is illegal and punishable by imprisonment(Opens in a new tab) in Qatar, which is one of the many reasons(Opens in a new tab) the country is a controversial choice as World Cup host But despite assurances from World Cup officials that LGBTQ+ expression would be allowed, it's clear this hasn't always been enforced. In addition to denial of entry for LGBTQ+ clothing, FIFA said it would penalize teams that wear LGBTQ+ armbands, which prompted seven European teams to remove the bands from their uniforms. FIFA has been criticized for failing to follow up on its promises that the World Cup is welcome to everyone.
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As the first week of the World Cup comes to a close, the question remains: Can we expect to see more rainbow-colored expression in the stadiums? Or will there be more empty promises?
Dad creates impressive drive-in movie costume for his daughter that actually works
'Tis the season of bigger and better Halloween decorations and costumes.
Last year, one extremely creative dad made his daughter the most horrifying costume of all: a Zoom meeting. This year, Greg Dietzenbach outdid himself with two next-level Halloween costumes for his children.
For his daughter he created a drive-in movie costume(Opens in a new tab) that projects clips from Dracula onto her face, genius! The drive-in movie set up is complete with miniature cars and a concession stand which covers up the projector.
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The concession stand is his 13-year-old daughter's favorite part of the costume.
Dietzenbach couldn't resist including the dad joke, "Drive-in me batty."
His son has an equally high-tech costume, a trap disguised as a doormat(Opens in a new tab). Yes, a functioning trap.
The trap reads "place candy here" and his son can control opening and closing the claw.
Dietzenbach wrote on his blog about his inspiration for the costume, "I thought 'What would be one thing that someone would be shocked to see when they open their door?' How about your doormat as a trap!"
In the past Dietzenbach has made a transforming sock robot(Opens in a new tab) costume and a front door(Opens in a new tab) costume. You can check out all his greatest hits here(Opens in a new tab).
We wonder what innovative costumes Dietzenbach will come up with next year.
Obama surprises YouTube music twins as they listen to his new playlist
If a surprise guest is going to crash your YouTube video, you'd be hard-pressed to find someone better than former President Barack Obama.
Fred and Tim Williams, the YouTube sensation known as TwinsthenewTrend(Opens in a new tab), who react to classic music, got just that treat. The 22-year-olds were reacting and discussing the Bob Dylan track "The Times They Are A-Changin" — which Obama included on his recent playlist(Opens in a new tab) tied to his book release — when Obama himself showed up.
"Hey people, what's going on?" Obama said. "I hear you guys were asking questions. I decided I'm just gonna go ahead and come here live."
The twins responded in shock, of course, before eagerly talking with Obama about music.
If you know the Williams twins, it's most likely from their very viral video reacting to Phil Collins' "In the Air Tonight" — their pure, joyous reaction to the drum solo was glorious. Obama talked with them about the value of exposing themselves to older music that's new to them.
"One of the most important things we can do as people — but especially young people — is opening our minds to how other people feel, what their traditions are, trying to make common cause with folks even if they don't look like us or didn't come from the same neighborhood," Obama said to the twins.
The former president told the YouTube stars that he included the Dylan song because he's a longtime fan and wanted to include the message of the track.
"We asked the president what the song meant to him, and he said the old ways are not going to work. Times are changing,” Tim Williams told People(Opens in a new tab). "He gave us hope that there are still good people in power that want to see a change for the better."
The best travel sites to help you plan the perfect trip
Traveling can be a great way to log off, relax, and recuperate from the stress of everyday life.
But planning your next travel adventure? That can be a downright existential hellscape, a task that can quickly turn from exciting to tedious as you try to juggle various destinations, figure out the best time to travel, how to find the best deals, and what to do when you actually get there.
And that's just the basics. Factoring in canceled flights and the hoops you need to go through to travel in our current day, the idea of traveling can eventually inspire a dull but persistent sense of dread.
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Fortunately, that's where the internet comes in. There are a variety of websites and apps designed to take the stress out of traveling and make sure that planning your next trip is as fun and easy as possible. For example, apps like HotelTonight(Opens in a new tab), which will help you find cheap hotel rooms on extremely short notice, and SitOrSquat(Opens in a new tab), which will direct you to nearby restrooms while you're already on the road, should be a part of the essential toolkit for any travelers.
So whether you're you're looking for travel inspiration, trying to find plane tickets on the cheap, or looking for ways to make your life easier once you're on the ground at your next destination, here are the best apps and sites for travelers.
If you're looking for travel inspiration:
Instagram
Armchair adventures begin with InstagramCredit: Getty images
Instagram started as a simple photo-sharing app, but as the platform has developed over the years, it's transformed itself into a must-have app for travelers. With new features like the ability to turn on notifications for specific users (which lets you stay up-to-date with your favorite travel 'grammers), Instagram maps that let you explore photos taken at specific places, and the ability to save photos that inspire you, Instagram can be a great way to keep abreast of everything that inspires you to travel.
We recommend following National Geographic(Opens in a new tab), for a sneak peek at some of the most unique parks of the world, and With The Locals(Opens in a new tab), which invites guest 'grammers from all over the world to curate hidden gems from their city.
Snapchat
Snap Maps give a great insight into far flung places.Credit: Snapchat
We've got two words for anybody surprised that Snapchat is an essential tool for travelers: Snap Maps. The feature, which launched in June 2017, shows users what other people are snapping, in real time, at any given destination. That means whether you're taking a digital tour of an area while trying to decided on your next travel destination, or if you're already on the ground and looking for your next activity, Snap Maps can help you discover hidden gems at any destination.
Earth Trekkers(Opens in a new tab)
Traveling with familiesCredit: Earth Trekkers
For travel inspiration, you can always go to Pinterest — or you can also head to Earth Trekkers(Opens in a new tab), especially if you're looking for family-friendly tips. Julie, Tim, Tyler, and Kara — two parents and their kiddos — spent a bit over a year traveling around the world, and they're looking to keep going.
Apps to help you get up and go
TripAdvisor(Opens in a new tab)
Credit: Francesca Tirico/ Unsplash
TripAdvisor is your one-stop-shop for travel. Not only will the site help you book a flight to your next destination, but it'll also help you find hotels, vacation rentals, restaurants, and more. But the true beauty of TripAdvisor is its price comparison feature, which will show travelers where they can find the best deal when booking a trip. And who doesn't want to save a buck while traveling?
Skyscanner(Opens in a new tab)
Credit: Christopher Neugebauer/ Flickr
If you don't want to have to juggle searching through multiple sites to look for and compare travel deals, Skyscanner is for you. The site uses a self-built technology to search through hundreds of travel sites for hotels, flights, and car rental deals. Plus Skyscanner launched a Facebook Messenger bot in 2016 to better help you book tickets on the go.
Kayak(Opens in a new tab)
Get going on the cheapCredit: Kayak
Kayak(Opens in a new tab) can help you find flights, hotels, cars, travel activities, and more — all on a budget. This is a great site to head to once you already know where you want to go, and want to make sure you're doing it the most inexpensive way possible. You can also give (Opens in a new tab)Momondo(Opens in a new tab), Expedia(Opens in a new tab), and Air Fare Watch Dog(Opens in a new tab) a look.
Momondo(Opens in a new tab)
Credit: Momondo
Momondo is a travel search website that offers a cheap way to find flights, hotels, and car rentals. Rather than booking your tickets directly through the site, Momondo links out to the relevant booking sites, which means extra fees aren't tacked onto the price of your airfare. In other words, you can find flights that are good for your wanderlust and for your wallet.
RoadTrippers(Opens in a new tab)
RoadTrippers is an invaluable toolCredit: RoadTRIPPERS
You don't have to fly somewhere to embark on your next great adventure. Roadtrippers is a travel planning platform that will, as its title suggests, help you plan unforgettable road trips. Not only will Roadtrippers show you how to get from point A to point B, but it'll also create for you the most interesting route to your destination, highlighting great locations off the beaten path. Roadtrippers also let you sort based on things to do, sleeping, food and drink, "weird stuff," and more, which means your road trip can be as direct or as whimsical as your heart desires.
If you're ballin' on a budget
Nomadic Matt(Opens in a new tab)
Credit: Nomadic Matt
You don't have to pay exorbitant prices to be able to travel. Nomadic Matt specializes in budget travel, and promises to help you "travel anywhere better, cheaper, and longer." The site's founder, Matthew Kepnes, originally started out as a blogger(Opens in a new tab), but over the years, the site has expanded, publishing everything from advice on how to save money for your next trip to suggestions on how to find cheap airfare and hotels. Then, once you've booked, the site also sells budget travel guides for destinations ranging from Paris to Bangkok.
Hopper(Opens in a new tab)
Credit: Hopper
If you're looking to save money on airfare, Hopper is for you. By watching and analyzing ticket listings for billions of flights, Hopper will tell you when is the best time to buy tickets for your flight, when an airline drops ticket prices, and even help you calculate the extra fees accumulating while you plan your next trip.
StudentUniverse(Opens in a new tab)
Credit: StudEnt universe
StudentUniverse(Opens in a new tab) bills itself as "the world's leading travel booking service for students and youth." With the goal of making travel easy and accessible to young travelers, StudentUniverse will help you find cheap flights, hotels, tours, activities, and more.
Whoops! I Shoulda started planning sooner!
HotelTonight(Opens in a new tab)
Credit: HotelTonight
When it comes to booking last-minute travel, HotelTonight(Opens in a new tab) is the best of the best. The site helps you find last-minute hotel deals, or deals for hotels up to a week from your search, which means you'll always find a place to stay, even if you procrastinated.
Google Flights(Opens in a new tab)
Credit: Google
If there is one word that explains the strength of Google Flights it's "speed." With filters that let you sort based on the number of stops on your trip, the airline, time of day, and more, Google Flights offers travelers a quick and comprehensive look at available flight options. And with new features like the ability to predict delays, Google Flights will not only help you get to your next destination but make sure you're informed as you embark.
If you're looking for a place to crash
Airbnb(Opens in a new tab)
For when you need a place to stayCredit: Airbnb
When Airbnb(Opens in a new tab) first launched in 2008, it was a great way to find cheap and quick alternatives to staying in hotel. Now, Airbnb(Opens in a new tab) is so much more than a platform to help you find a place to stay. With listings ranging from Mario-themed homes to homes designed to indulge your inner Star Wars nerd (and even the opportunity to go ghost hunting in Donald Trump's childhood home), travelers can find sleeping accommodations that are just as exciting as the excursions at that their chosen destination.
Just be warned: Airbnb(Opens in a new tab) is not without its scandals, including hosts facing fees from cities worried about affordable housing and allegations from guests that some hosts have been secretly recording them. So be careful with where you rent.
Hostelworld(Opens in a new tab)
Find a hostelCredit: Hostelworld
Hostelworld(Opens in a new tab) is basically the Airbnb of hostel bookings. Whether you looking for a bed or your own room, Hostelworld will help you find a place to stay at destinations all over the world. And with filters that let you search for hostels based on price, facilities, hostel type, and more, Hostelworld(Opens in a new tab) will help you find a hostel that's as cheap or as luxurious as your wallet will allow. The site also hosts a pretty robust blog with information as specific as "the best hostels in Paris(Opens in a new tab)" to suggestions as broad as "99 unusual hostels you'll never want to leave(Opens in a new tab)," just in case you're looking for some suggestions on your next trip.
Couchsurfing(Opens in a new tab)
Credit: couchsurfing
If you're feeling particularly adventurous, Couchsurfing(Opens in a new tab) is a great way to find a great place to stay. Couchsurfing(Opens in a new tab) connects a community of travelers with a community of local hosts at any given destination, which means not only will you have a place to crash when you travel, but you'll meet interesting locals who may be able to offer additional guidance and suggestions for your trip.
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So you've made it to your destination. Now, what do you do?
LonelyPlanet(Opens in a new tab)
Credit: LonelyPlanet
Lonely Planet(Opens in a new tab) was founded by a couple in the '70s as a book publisher and added a website presence in the mid-'90s. It publishes digital and physical travel guides so that travelers can discover even the most exotic destinations. And Pro tip: read through Thorn Tree(Opens in a new tab), the site's extensive forum for endless info from fellow travelers.
Detour(Opens in a new tab)
Audio walking toursCredit: detour
Detour(Opens in a new tab) is a great way to explore new locations, especially if you're traveling alone. The app curates more than 100 audio walking tours in 17 cities and counting, offering expert insights and additional information on locations ranging from The Vatican to Fenway Park.
Helpful apps for once you're already on the road
Weather Underground(Opens in a new tab)
Credit: weather underground
You know what they say: knowledge is power. Make sure you are prepared (and dressed weather-appropriately) for your day's adventures with Weather Underground(Opens in a new tab) while you are traveling. With more than 250,000 personal weather stations, Weather Underground provides hyper-local forecasts. And in addition to the weather, the app can also show travelers what the temperature "feels like" at a given location, monitor things like air quality and flu outbreaks, and tells you the time of sunrise and sunset.
SitOrSquat(Opens in a new tab)
Credit: SitOrSquat
When you gotta go, you gotta go. SitOrSquat is an iOS and Android app that'll help you find public bathrooms so you can do the do, even when you're in an unfamiliar place.
Google Translate(Opens in a new tab)
Credit: Google
A language barrier should never stop you from traveling. Google Translate, available on both web and mobile, offers quick translations of more than 100 different languages. The app version also offers features like image translation that allows you to use your camera for instant text translation and offline translation, which makes translating on the go simple and easy.
Expand your travel perspective:
Nomadic Boys(Opens in a new tab)
Traveling while queerCredit: Nomadic boys
As a member of the LGBTQ community, traveling can have its difficulties for a whole host of reasons, most of which are rooted in transphobia and homophobia, like the experience of going through airport security(Opens in a new tab) and which nations are safest to travel to(Opens in a new tab). Thankfully, there are a few sites dedicated to helping find those answers, like Nomadic Boys(Opens in a new tab), Couple of Boys(Opens in a new tab), Foodie Flashpacker(Opens in a new tab), and Two Bad Tourists(Opens in a new tab).
On She Goes(Opens in a new tab)
Credit: On She Goes
On She Goes is a travel platform designed to help women of color "travel more confidently, more adventurously and more often." With a mix of articles ranging from "What is travel safety for women of color in a racist, sexist world(Opens in a new tab)" and "Travel & financial anxiety is real but don't let it ruin your trip(Opens in a new tab)," city guides, and travel tips, On She Goes is a must-read for anybody planning their next big trip or just wanting to find a community of fellow jet-setters of color.
RunawayJuno(Opens in a new tab)
Juno Kim(Opens in a new tab) has a blog dedicated to traveling the world, and pretty much anyone can get inspiration from her visits or knowledge from her tips — but they're particularly helpful to women and women of color who are traveling solo. If you want more platforms designed to help women travel confidently and safely, check out Nadine Sykora(Opens in a new tab)'s blog, too.
Travel Noire(Opens in a new tab)
For travelors of colorCredit: Travel Noire
Travel Noire is a site and publishing platform that curates tools, resources, and stories for travelers of color. By highlighting unique perspectives focused on food, destinations, culture, and experience, Travel Noire will not only inspire you to travel but also help you find a community of travelers once you're on your next adventure.
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This treehouse is actually a hotel room high up in a French forest
Christianna Silva contributed reporting.
This post was originally published in 2018 and was updated in 2022.
