Latest news with #IRL
The Journal
21 hours ago
- The Journal
Thousands of images of Irish women and girls uploaded to site containing sexual threats
GARDAÍ HAS BEEN urged to investigate an online forum where thousands of images of girls and women from across Ireland have been posted without their knowledge. The pictures appear to have been taken from both the public and private social media accounts of those targeted, with some posted alongside sexual threats. They appeared on content sharing site Reddit in an Irish subgroup which encourages its 3,200 plus members to 'trade' images of 'IRL (in real life) girls' for sexual gratification. Many of those images include teenagers in their school uniforms, alongside their names, ages and locations. Their schools are also easily identifiable. Other pictures were of women, some clearly taken without consent. Most of the content was published alongside misogynistic, sexist and explicit comments, most of which is too offensive to publish. One post included an image of a woman getting into a car, clearly taken without her knowledge. It was uploaded to the Irish subgroup, where one user encouraged others to share similar images. The group specifically targeted women and girls from the north and south of Ireland, with some posts listing victims by county. Requests were also made to upload images of females from specific towns and cities. After being made aware of the forum by The Journal Investigates , Clíona Saidléar, Executive Director of the Rape Crisis Network Ireland urged gardaí to investigate. She said that due to the seriousness of the content involved, she would be unable to provide further comment. 'This is a matter for gardaí and I would urge them to investigate,' Saidléar said. In a statement issued to The Journal Investigates , a Reddit spokesperson confirmed it had now taken down the group, which had been active since August 2024. 'Non-consensual intimate media has no place on Reddit,' a spokesperson said. 'We prohibit this content and have teams, tools, and processes dedicated to dedicating and removing it. In line with our policies, the community in question was banned.' PSNI 'will take action' The Journal Investigates also contacted gardaí about the activities of the online forum. However, at the time of publication, it had not responded to requests for comment. However, in a statement issued to The Journal Investigates , the PSNI said it will 'take action if images of women and girls of an explicit nature are shared online' and vowed to investigate 'any harmful threats made'. PSNI Detective Superintendent (DS) Lindsay Fisher said: 'We recently launched our Power to Change campaign which is aimed at placing a societal focus on those who objectify and disrespect women. Advertisement 'The main purpose of this campaign is a call to action, where boys and men are asked to speak out against misogynistic behaviour and talk to friends or family who may be engaging either in person or online in this way. DS Fisher added that 'all women and girls should be free and feel safe' to use social media without being 'the subject of abuse and objectification'. 'As a Police Service we will take action if images of women and girls of an explicit nature are shared online, and will investigate any harmful threats made.' Reddit, where users can create niche online communities called 'subreddits', allows users to share content, discuss topics and interact with others who share similar interests. Each subreddit has its own set of rules, and is moderated by self-appointed 'community members'. The subgroup in question was set up and moderated by one account since August last year. That account, under an anonymous username, claimed to be a male from Ireland who had just celebrated his 18th birthday. Some using the group also claimed to be still in school, with some organising 'trades' of images on other platforms. One disturbing post, named a school in the north of Ireland and requested 'stories' of girls aged '15 or 16'. In another, users were asked to upload pictures of their female relatives. File image of the Garda Commissioner Drew Harris. In 2020, gardaí launched an investigation into the alleged uploading of images and videos of Irish women and girls, without their consent, to a number of online forums. It was after advocacy and lobbying group Victims Alliance claimed tens of thousands of images had been shared, many including minors. However, Garda Commissioner Drew Harris later said there have been no formal complaints made of image-based sexual abuse in relation to the images. He also confirmed that around 10,000 images had been assessed, but none contained 'images of child abuse within them'. — Patricia Devlin is an investigative reporter with The Journal Investigates . Our investigative unit is dedicated to lifting the lid on how Ireland works. This takes time and it takes resources. Find out how you can help: Support The Journal Investigates Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Sydney Morning Herald
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
From mob wife to MAGA woman: TikTok trends are losing steam
As the latest deadline for TikTok to be sold or banned in the US approaches, we'll find out next month whether the app will continue to be a fixture on American phones or not. A decline in fashion fads conceived by TikTok creators (think 'cowboy core', 'office siren' and ' coastal grandma ') means consumers and retailers won't be as affected as they would have been a year or so ago, when such viral 'aesthetics' peaked on the video-sharing platform. But brands have their work cut out in responding to what's taken over since: lifestyle trends amplifying political, social and economic influences. After all, it's much harder to monetise 'recession core', the 'MAGA woman' look and 'underconsumption'. Super-speedy TikTok trends are best exemplified by the viral 'mob wife' look from early last year, characterised by big fur coats and equally voluminous hair. Retailers responded by stocking more animal print and bold lipstick. This was one of many fleeting fashions that emerged in the wake of the pandemic when TikTok really took off, and dressing for short videos replaced IRL outfits. It's not easy keeping up with so many flash-in-the-pan fads, from 'tomato girl' to 'pilates princess', particularly as the economy darkens. Fatigue has set in and consumers are now prioritising their personal style over every new 'core' and trend. That's trickier for brands to be part of but they are tapping in – for example, through bag charms, which fashion and luxury has embraced, and Labubu dolls, playing into the need to express one's identity through customisation. TikTok and Pinterest, the photo-pinning app, are also making valiant attempts to continue to shape fashion. 'Castlecore' and 'medievalcore' are among the few aesthetics to break through recently, though they reflect the broader 'pop girl' phenomenon in culture as they're inspired by singer Chappell Roan's adoption of chain-mail and headwear. (They also demonstrate, as Kayla Marci, who writes the Haute Garbage Substack, told me, that Gen Z's nostalgia has cycled through recent decades and is reaching ever further back.) We haven't really had a fashion narrative that's broken into the mainstream since mob wife. Yet of the more than 100 micro-trends tracked by market-intelligence company Trendalytics across social media, online search and e-commerce, 60 per cent are declining while only 20 per cent are gaining traction. Even though US users still spend more time per day on TikTok than Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat, according to Sensor Tower, the moment when the platform became the epicentre of trend forecasting, with users naming new aesthetics at a frenetic pace, has passed. We haven't really had a fashion narrative that's broken into the mainstream since mob wife.
The Age
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Age
From mob wife to MAGA woman: TikTok trends are losing steam
As the latest deadline for TikTok to be sold or banned in the US approaches, we'll find out next month whether the app will continue to be a fixture on American phones or not. A decline in fashion fads conceived by TikTok creators (think 'cowboy core', 'office siren' and ' coastal grandma ') means consumers and retailers won't be as affected as they would have been a year or so ago, when such viral 'aesthetics' peaked on the video-sharing platform. But brands have their work cut out in responding to what's taken over since: lifestyle trends amplifying political, social and economic influences. After all, it's much harder to monetise 'recession core', the 'MAGA woman' look and 'underconsumption'. Super-speedy TikTok trends are best exemplified by the viral 'mob wife' look from early last year, characterised by big fur coats and equally voluminous hair. Retailers responded by stocking more animal print and bold lipstick. This was one of many fleeting fashions that emerged in the wake of the pandemic when TikTok really took off, and dressing for short videos replaced IRL outfits. It's not easy keeping up with so many flash-in-the-pan fads, from 'tomato girl' to 'pilates princess', particularly as the economy darkens. Fatigue has set in and consumers are now prioritising their personal style over every new 'core' and trend. That's trickier for brands to be part of but they are tapping in – for example, through bag charms, which fashion and luxury has embraced, and Labubu dolls, playing into the need to express one's identity through customisation. TikTok and Pinterest, the photo-pinning app, are also making valiant attempts to continue to shape fashion. 'Castlecore' and 'medievalcore' are among the few aesthetics to break through recently, though they reflect the broader 'pop girl' phenomenon in culture as they're inspired by singer Chappell Roan's adoption of chain-mail and headwear. (They also demonstrate, as Kayla Marci, who writes the Haute Garbage Substack, told me, that Gen Z's nostalgia has cycled through recent decades and is reaching ever further back.) We haven't really had a fashion narrative that's broken into the mainstream since mob wife. Yet of the more than 100 micro-trends tracked by market-intelligence company Trendalytics across social media, online search and e-commerce, 60 per cent are declining while only 20 per cent are gaining traction. Even though US users still spend more time per day on TikTok than Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat, according to Sensor Tower, the moment when the platform became the epicentre of trend forecasting, with users naming new aesthetics at a frenetic pace, has passed. We haven't really had a fashion narrative that's broken into the mainstream since mob wife.
Buzz Feed
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
10 Must-See Movies At Sydney Film Festival 2025
One of life's greatest joys is going to the movies by yourself. Taking your seat by yourself, perhaps giving an air of mystery or intrigue, as you get ready to be the cinephile you truly are. Letterboxd at the ready, snacks brought from home in a Ziploc bag, emotional support water bottle giving you all the comfort you a truly liberating experience and I encourage you ALL to do it. Plus, even if everyone in the cinema is a complete stranger to everyone else, you're all going to laugh, or cry, or scream — or all three — at the same movie you're about to watch. And there's no better place to condense all these good feels and good vibes into a short space of time than at a film festival. This year, the Sydney Film Festival has come in swinging with some huge titles I've been dying to see. It Was Just An Accident First on the list is the winner of this year's Palme d'Or at Cannes i.e. the big dog movie award of all big dog movie awards. Directed by Iranian director Jafar Panahi, It Was Just An Accident is a thriller that promises to be the ultimate revenge the key characters aren't sure that they're taking revenge on the right person. It's meant to be equal parts exhilarating, funny, and morally grey — sounds like a must-watch to me. On Swift Horses Jacob Elordi hooking up with Diego Luna. Will Poulter hooking up with Daisy Edgar-Jones. It's a romantic drama (obviously) set against the aftermath of the Korean War, so you know it's going to balance that should they/shouldn't they romantic questions with the moral dilemma of wartime considering Elordi's fresh off the back of another wartime drama with The Narrow Road to the Deep North, you can be sure he's well and truly in his bag with this one. Together It's probably the most anticipated Aussie movie of the year, and it's set to kick off the entire festival with a bang. Starring IRL lovers Dave Franco and Alison Brie, this movie, helmed by Michael Shanks in his directorial debut (!), isn't going to be one for the faint-hearted. Take my warning now — If you watched The Substance last year because everyone was talking about it, only to leave horrified, maybe skip this everyone else, this body horror is opening the festival for a reason. It's going to be a big one, and you're gonna see Dave and Alison like you've never seen them before. My Father's Shadow This movie is the first Nigerian film to ever make the Cannes official selection, and now Aussies are getting a chance to watch the drama that's slowly winning audiences over of the best parts of the Sydney Film Festival is that it gives you a chance to see movies you'd probably never be able to otherwise, and My Father's Shadow is the perfect example of that. Following a father and his two young kids as they head into Nigeral's capital Lagos, the kids become exposed to political views that they've never seen in their rural home — and, apparently, all through stunning cinematography. The Mastermind If you're anything like me, you probably can't get enough of Josh O'Connor after watching Challengers last year. Now, our boy is booked and busy, and has a slew of movies currently in production, but the one that has me most excited is The a heist movie set in the '70s (so completely different to Challengers) and stars Alana Haim (yes, of that HAIM) in her second ever movie role after absolutely killing it in 2021's Licorice Pizza. Dangerous Animals A nail-biting, truly Australian horror movie that stars Jai Courtenay as a shark-obsessed serial killer hunting down Zephyr, played by Yellowstone's Hassie Harrison, a Gold Coast surfer to determined to survive the killer's sadistic I say more??? The Secret Agent Sometimes you just really need to sink your teeth into a heavy political thriller that really gets your wheels year, that movie is The Secret Agent, out of Brazil. Set amid the draconian political era of Brazil as last year's Oscar-winning I'm Still Here, this movie follows a guy on the run from the regime, taking on an assumed identity while also looking to reunite with his son. But a wanted man is still a wanted man, so he's going to need to figure something out before he's snatched right back I, for one, can't wait to watch it unfold. Twinless Now, Sydney Film Festival's official website says the less you know about Twinless going into it, the better. I'm all for experiencing movies like that (I knew nothing about Everything Everywhere All At Once before attending a preview screening that would ultimately change my life).That being said, here's what we do know. This movie is about a queer bromance, stars Dylan O'Brien, and it's meant to have you peeing yourself with laughter. Sign me TF up. Eddington Pedro Pascal, Emma Stone, Joaquin Phoenix and Austin Butler (!) star in this movie about a fictional town riddled by COVID-19 (!!) in May 2020 directed by the evil genius behind Hereditary and Midsommar, Ari Aster (!!!).While I'm personally not ready for films and TV to depict the pandemic, I know Ari Aster's take is going to be so creative and twisted that I'll have no choice but to sit and watch. And finally, Fwends Girl fed up with her Sydney law firm job heads to Melbourne to reconnect with her mate, who is a bit of a space cadet (head's always in the clouds). Seems simple, right?This promises to be a movie that is strictly, above all else, about female friendship. We're gonna watch these two best mates recount office horror stories, break-up tales and whatever else fills their brains as they trawl through Melbourne, and I have a feeling its going to reach so far into our souls and psyche that we won't be able to stop thinking about it long after the credits have rolled. You can check the full program for the 2025 Sydney Film Festival, and snap up remaining tickets, here.
Fashion Network
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Fashion Network
From mob wife to MAGA woman: TikTok trends are losing steam
As the latest deadline for TikTok to be sold or banned in the US approaches, we'll find out next month whether the app will continue to be a fixture on American phones or not. See catwalk A decline in fashion fads conceived by TikTok creators, (think 'cowboy core,' 'office siren,' and 'coastal grandma') means consumers and retailers won't be as affected as they would have been a year or so ago, when such viral 'aesthetics' peaked on the video-sharing platform. But brands have their work cut out in responding to what's taken over since: lifestyle trends amplifying political, social and economic influences. After all, it's much harder to monetize 'recession core,' the 'MAGA woman' look and 'underconsumption.' Super-speedy TikTok trends are best exemplified by the viral 'Mob Wife' look from early last year, characterized by big fur coats and equally voluminous hair. Retailers responded by stocking more animal print and bold lipstick. This was one of many fleeting fashions that emerged in the wake of the pandemic when TikTok really took off and dressing for short videos replaced IRL outfits. It's not easy keeping up with so many flash-in-the-pan fads, from 'tomato girl' to 'pilates princess,' particularly as the economy darkens. Fatigue has set in, and consumers are now prioritizing their personal style over every new 'core' and trend. That's trickier for brands to be part of, but they are tapping in — for example, through bag charms, which fashion and luxury has embraced, and Labubu dolls, playing into the need to express one's identity through customization. TikTok and Pinterest, the photo-pinning app, are also making valiant attempts to continue to shape fashion. 'Castlecore' and 'Medievalcore' are among the few aesthetics to break through recently, though they reflect the broader 'pop girl' phenomenon in culture, as they're inspired by singer Chappell Roan's adoption of chain mail and headwear. (They also demonstrate, as Kayla Marci, who writes the Haute Garbage Substack, told me, that Gen Z's nostalgia has cycled through recent decades and is reaching ever further back.) Yet of the more than 100 micro-trends tracked by market-intelligence company Trendalytics across social media, online search and e-commerce, 60% are declining while only 20% are gaining traction. Even though US users still spend more time per day on TikTok than Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat, according to Sensor Tower, the moment when the platform became the epicenter of trend forecasting, with users naming new aesthetics at a frenetic pace, has passed. We haven't really had a fashion narrative that's broken into the mainstream since Mob Wife. There is one notable exception: the 'recession core' trend, which includes making your own beauty products and finding hair styles that need little maintenance. TikTok posts featuring 'recession core' are increasing by over 3,000% week on week, and average views of tagged videos are up about 1,000% week on week, according to Trendalytics. This reflects the current obsession across society and finance with spotting recession indicators, from sardine-themed fashion (because the fish are cheap and filling) to longer hemlines (said to fall in tough times). There are few, if any, actual products referencing the trend, underlining the challenges for brands of such online conversations coalescing around broader cultural, economic and political themes. These are far more difficult for retailers to navigate than having the right width of jean leg or latest fruit print dress. Take Boom Boom, at the other extreme from 'recession core,' which emphasizes '80s-inspired excess, perhaps reflecting the Trump era's embrace of money and power. The catwalks for fall featured fur, big shoulders, and at Prada SpA's MiuMiu even exaggerated bras. While the minimalism of the past couple of years has been good for some luxury houses, such as Brunello Cucinelli SpA, Prada and LVMH 's Loro Piana, for others, such as Kering SA's Gucci, it has been a disaster. Many companies would love to see a return to logos and more ostentatious dressing. But whether they would fully embrace conspicuous consumption — against the current backdrop of tariff-driven anxiety — is another matter. Even more daunting are politically driven movements, beginning with Trad Wife, which espoused traditionally female roles, and morphing into the more overt MAGA Woman look, characterized by sheath dresses, high heels, flowing tresses and plumped-up lips. Creator Suzanne Lambert took this even further, parodying so-called 'Republican Beauty,' for too pale concealer and clumpy mascara, racking up 6.4 million TikTok views in the process. Few brands have weighed in, despite the potential to sell products. The Mar-a-Lago Face has probably peaked, but given the fracturing of society, it may not be the last divisive trend to emerge. That presents a dilemma for companies. Yet Cassandra Napoli, head of marketing and events at trend forecaster WGSN, told me that consumers are increasingly prioritizing 'ethics over aesthetics,' voting with their wallets and spending their time with businesses that reflect their values. 'Not getting political will not be an option,' she said, even if it was a double-edged sword. Perhaps the narrative that's most concerning for fashion and beauty companies is that of buying less, or nothing at all. Underconsumption has been gaining ground for the past year or so, showcasing a simpler life — streamlining beauty regimes and wearing vintage clothes, for example, are in vogue right now. Brands can respond by focusing on fewer product lines, but more meaningful 'hero' items or embracing vintage in their selections. That's a hard pill to swallow if you believe the whole raison d'etre of the consumer economy is to sell. Making sure stores had enough leopard print and chunky gold jewelry to meet Mob Wife's gaudy tastes feels almost quaint now.
