Latest news with #socialmedia
The Sun
11 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
My man flew me to an island for our 2-year anniversary – he got a boat & a suite but I dumped him as he wouldn't propose
A WOMAN has revealed that her partner took her to a stunning island to celebrate their two-year anniversary, but she dumped him whilst on the trip. Bela Marie explained that when she began dating her boyfriend, on their first date she told him that he had just two years to propose. 2 And two years later, despite splashing the cash on a posh trip to celebrate their love, when he didn't pop the question, Bela stuck to her word and called it quits. Posting on social media, the brunette beauty got candid on the situation, in a clip that has since gone viral. At the start of the short video, Bela shared a sweet snapshot from her first date with her now ex-partner, as the pair dined in a luxury restaurant and posed with a flaming dessert. Moments later, the content creator uploaded a clip from her recent anniversary trip to Santa Catalina, one of California's Channel Islands, which lies southwest of Los Angeles. She explained: 'On our two-year anniversary - after he flew me out to Catalina, surprised me with a suite and a beautiful boat around the island to celebrate 'our love,' and planned a beautiful long weekend trip - he did not propose.' As a result, she admitted: 'So I broke up with him and ended our relationship. THANK GOD I did not marry that man.' Bela confirmed that she has no regrets about her decision, as she continued: 'I'm proud of myself for sticking by my gut and what I told him on our first date.' She then told her followers that 'time is not a love language' as she advised: 'If you have big dreams and goals that require a male counterpart - like marriage and a family - I wholeheartedly believe you should not waste more time than necessary on the WRONG PERSON.' Despite their 24-month relationship, Bela wasn't impressed that her man at the time was 'still uncertain' about marrying her. As a result, she admitted: 'I wasn't going to wait around to change his mind, beg for him to help me achieve my goals, or work harder out of this idea that I needed to 'prove my worth.'' EXCL Woman who dumped boyfriend after winning £1m scratchcard jackpot splashes cash with NEW man - while leaving ex with nothing So instead of him making a move, Bela confirmed that she did, by leaving the relationship. Bela snapped and claimed that 'consistency without commitment is just convenience' and expressed that she is now searching for 'a man that commits,' rather than 'a boy that wants to waste my time.' Social media users react The TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @ iambelamarie, has clearly left many open-mouthed, as it has quickly gone viral and racked up 10.1million views. Not only this, but it's also amassed 918,300 likes, 15,500 comments and 47,700 shares. But social media users were totally divided by Bela's actions and eagerly flocked to the comments to share their thoughts on the situation. One user beamed: 'I love this generation of women leaving at the drop of a hat and not falling for sunken cost fallacy. It's amazing!!' A second agreed: 'I honestly think two years is very reasonable. Also, the trip he planned at two years sounds a little cruel knowing the deadline.' How to ace a proposal Thinking of proposing? Follow this checklist by Fabulous' Deputy Editor Josie Griffiths to ensure a yes… Time it right - the average Brit waits between 18 months and two years to get engaged. But you might feel ready after six months, or decide to wait five plus years to pop the question. Only you truly know when the time's right, and this isn't a decision you want to rush. Falling in love might feel amazing but of course most relationships DON'T end in marriage - and this is for good reason… Pay attention - hopefully you haven't reached the point yet of your frustrated partner leaving their laptop open with 'hints' for rings they like. Ideally you'll want the ring to be a secret, but also something they'd happily wear - and for the rest of their life, so just a TEENY bit of pressure here. You need to be paying attention to any comments your partner makes about other people's rings, what they do and don't like, and what's most important to them - size, clarity, specific details. If you're really unsure, or if your partner hates surprises, it's best to propose with a dummy and then buy the real thing together. Family matters - tradition dictates that you ask the dad's permission for his daughter's hand in marriage, but it's not so straightforward nowadays. Maybe your partner's closer to their step-dad, or wants her mum to walk her down the aisle, in which case you'd be better off chatting to them. Maybe they'd find it weird if you went to their parents first, in which case you could ditch the whole thing. Or perhaps they're closer to their friends and the best idea would be letting your partner's best mate pick the ring. These things do matter and could come back to bite you if handled in the wrong way. Plan the setting - does your partner dread being centre of attention, or are they someone who'd be gutted if you proposed at home, berating you forever for a lack of 'effort'? Plan the place for your perfect proposal - how busy it'll be, whether you'll be able to get a good pic there, and other logistics around it. A proposal at the top of a mountain might sound good in theory but your girlfriend might not actually appreciate it when there's sweat dripping down her forehead and she's not wearing the cute dress she'd imagined for the pictures. Personally, I can't think of anything worse than a public proposal where everyone's waiting to hear your answer - in a group of friends, the middle of a restaurant or with an announcement at an event. So bear all of this in mind and remember, it's meant to be about what THEY want, not you. Someone else gushed: 'I'm glad you left, he clearly wasn't for you. Your husband is coming soon.' Whilst another simply penned: 'We love a girl who stands on business.' But at the same time, not everyone was as kind, as one person said: 'Good. He's so much better off now.' Another added: 'Guy dodged a bullet for sure.' proposal is wild! Would've been the first and last date.' relationship was on your terms and it's either your way or the highway.'
Yahoo
39 minutes ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Do red-light-therapy masks work for mature skin issues?
Is there any merit in buying those red light devices for your face? How about those that specifically target the under-eye area? Or your neck? I keep seeing them everywhere on social media. I'm in my late 40s and have started noticing crepey texture on my neck and under my eyes. Do you think these would help? They're so expensive, I don't want to buy one and be disappointed. Dear Feeling Frugal, You are right to be skeptical of any beauty innovation pushed on social media, especially those that cost more than a January heating bill. However, as it turns out, red light therapy masks are more promising at treating many annoying mature-skin issues than most so-called miracle products hawked on TikTok. In fact, several recent studies have shown that red LED therapy can rejuvenate older skin by stimulating the production of collagen and elastin, reducing pore size and softening fine lines and wrinkles. LED masks work by emitting colors and wavelengths of light to penetrate the skin at various depths. They're designed to treat a range of conditions including inflammation, swelling and signs of aging like sagging and discoloration. In addition to my research, I have some personal experience with these devices — specifically 10 months of testing last year when, though the results were sometimes subtle, the best LED mask I tried delivered all of the above. It's important to note that there are myriad types of LED therapy, and every dermatologist I've ever interviewed has emphatically emphasized that in-office, physician-administered, higher-powered treatments deliver better results. Also note that any at-home LED therapy mask worth its salt will be expensive, but you don't have to shell out the highest end ($3,000 to $10,000) to reap the devices' rewards. During testing, I found the Omnilux Contour face mask ($395) worked efficiently to soften wrinkles and improve my skin's complexion and laxity. Similarly, for my neck, I like the Light Salon Boost LED collar ($250), which has truly transformed that area of sagging/crepey skin over the past six months. CurrentBody makes a solid device specifically for the area under your eyes, and it has good reviews, though I haven't tested it yet. All this promising news comes with a caveat: LED masks of any sort require consistency in order to perform. Unless you are a person who is able to use these devices every day or at least several times per week, you will reap zero rewards. This is not a one-and-done practice — when I stop using my red light collar for just a few weeks, my neck skin returns to its previous reptilian form. What you're looking at here is a major investment in money and time, but my take is that a quality red light therapy mask is worth the splurge.
Daily Mail
39 minutes ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Oklahoma mom is accused of 'child abuse' for TikTok showing her 22lb four-month-old son
A first-time mother has revealed her four-month-old baby is already a 'giant' who weighs in at 22lb and is 2.5ft-long. Maci Mugele shared a clip of her son Gunner on TikTok last month, with the caption: 'When you have a 100th percentile, off-the-charts four-month-old.' Viewers were astounded at his size, with many loving his 'chunky rolls' and 'cute' features - but others took aim at the 21-year-old and accused her of 'child abuse' over Gunner's weight. Mom Maci said: 'He always measured a week or two ahead [when I was pregnant]. 'I could just tell that he was pretty big and everybody already told me that my stomach was bigger than average. 'You only have two scans throughout your pregnancy so I went to an ultrasound place and paid for [one] to be done to see how big he was. 'They told me that he was measuring quite large for how far along I was. I think I was 34 weeks when he was measuring at 6lb 3oz.' Mega bump: Maci said her son 'always measured a week or two ahead' during her pregnancy and everyone told her that her belly 'was bigger than average' Maci said: 'The doctors said that he's healthy but sometimes people just have big babies. He's big for his height as well so I think that contributes to him being bigger. 'Ever since the second day in the hospital, he has eaten more than the average baby - doctors always told me he was eating a little bit more than the normal baby, which is fine, they said.' Gunner's in the 100th percentile for his weight and the 90th percentile for his height. Maci was surprised by some of the negative reaction she got, and didn't see how it could be cruel to feed a hungry baby. She said: 'It made me upset to realize that there are people like that in this world that feel so comfortable saying these things about a baby. 'That's just so sad to me, and I would never want people to say things about him like that. 'I thought that people would think it was cute if they saw it, but I didn't realize how horrible people can be. I don't know how it's cruel or abusive that I feed him whenever he's hungry. 'I feel like it would be abusive if I didn't feed him when he was hungry and crying. 'Like the doctor said, he's perfectly healthy and has no problem with his weight.' Some TikTokers were quick to criticize Gunner's size in the comments. While others defended him as 'cute' and many predicted it's a good indication that he would be tall when he got older. Not right: It made her upset to see how comfortable people were with their negative comments
CNN
41 minutes ago
- CNN
Teens are making friends with AI companions, according to new research. Here's why that's a problem
EDITOR'S NOTE: Kara Alaimo is an associate professor of communication at Fairleigh Dickinson University. Her book 'Over the Influence: Why Social Media Is Toxic for Women and Girls — And How We Can Take It Back' was published in 2024 by Alcove Press. Follow her on Instagram, Facebook and Bluesky. When two of James Johnson-Byrne's friends got into an argument earlier this year, he didn't know what to do. So the 16-year-old turned to an AI companion for advice. AI companions are digital characters who text and talk with users, according to Common Sense Media, a San Francisco-based nonprofit organization that helps parents and teachers instill critical thinking skills in children. The chatbot told Johnson-Byrne, who lives in Philadelphia, to separate his friends. He did so and it solved the immediate problem, he said. But 'now they don't talk much.' The experience showed him that AI companions 'can't find the deeper issue,' he said. 'I'd be scared to ask them a deep, underlying question.' Another thing that struck Johnson-Byrne was how AI companions seemed to always agree with him and tell him what he wanted to hear. And he found the way they talk to be eerily similar to humans. At one point when he was talking to an AI companion, 'I forgot it was actually not my friend,' he said. New research suggests other teens are having the same experience. The majority of teenagers — 72% — have used AI companions, according to the survey of over 1,000 13–17-year-olds conducted this year by Common Sense Media. Over half of teens use them regularly, according to the research, and one-third turn to them for relationships and social interactions. What's more, 31% of teens say their conversations with AI companions are as satisfying as or more satisfying than their conversations with other people, and 33% have discussed serious and important issues with AI companions instead of other humans. The findings shed new light on the relationships teens are developing with AI tools. The results are cause for concern because the teen years are a 'sensitive time of social development,' said Michael Robb, lead author of the study and head of research at Common Sense Media. 'We don't want kids to feel like they should be confiding or going to AI companions in lieu of a friend, a parent or a qualified professional,' especially when they need help with serious issues. What's more, AI companions can't model healthy human relationships. 'In the real world there are all kinds of social cues that kids have to both interpret and get used to and learn how to respond to,' Robb pointed out. But kids can't learn to pick up on things like body language from a chatbot. Chatbots are also sycophantic, Robb said. 'They want to please you, and they won't put up a lot of friction in the way that people in the real world might.' If users get used to an AI companion always telling them what they want to hear, 'when you encounter friction or difficulty in real world interactions, you're going to be less prepared,' he said. AI companions might seem real, making kids feel less lonely temporarily when they engage with them, he said. But that could reduce their human interactions, leaving them lonelier over the long term. 'Engaging with Characters on our site should be interactive and entertaining, but it's important for our users to remember that Characters are not real people,' said Chelsea Harrison, head of communications at a popular AI companion. She said she could not comment on the report because she hadn't yet seen it. The company tries to find a safe space, provides disclaimers that characters aren't real and has a separate version for users under age 18 designed to minimize 'sensitive or suggestive content' and self-harm content, Harrison said, noting that has other safety features including tools providing parents insights, filtered characters and notifications of time spent on its platform. Another cause for concern is that 24% of teens said they've shared personal information with AI companions. Kids might not realize that when they share things such as their personal struggles with an AI companion, they're sharing that data with companies, not friends. What's more, 'you're often granting these companies very extensive perpetual rights to your personal information that they can use however they want,' Robb said. 'They can modify it. They can store it. They can display it. They can work it into other things.' Robb said a limitation of the research is that it was conducted at a single point in time, but people's use of technology keeps changing. He also said the teens could have overreported behaviors they thought were desirable, like using chatbots in healthy ways, which means the situation could be even worse than the results suggest. Thankfully, there are things parents can do to protect their kids. Parents should start by talking to their teens about AI companions 'without judgment,' Robb said. You can ask something like, 'have you used an app that lets you talk to or create an AI friend or partner?' Listen to learn what is appealing about these tools to your teen before you jump into concerns, he suggested. Then, it's a good idea to point out that 'AI companions are programmed to be agreeable and programmed to be validating' and discuss why that's a concern, Robb said. Teens should know that 'that's just not how real relationships work, because real friends sometimes disagree with us. Parents sometimes disagree with us, or they can challenge us in ways we don't expect or help us navigate difficult situations in ways that AI simply cannot.' Having conversations like this can help kids learn to think about AI more broadly in healthy ways, Robb said. One reason I wasn't surprised so many teens are using AI companions as friends is because I've seen in my own research how social media has weakened kids' sense of what friendships are. These days, kids get together less with their friends in person than in past generations and often consider things like commenting on someone's posts to be a way of maintaining a relationship. As a result, they have less practice with offline human interact ions. One of the best things we can do is encourage our kids to get together with friends and other peers in person. 'So much of our joy in our real-life friendships is these close connections where we can look at each other and understand each other without saying a word,' said Justine Carino, a Westchester, New York-based psychotherapist who treats young people and was not involved in the study. 'Our crush walks in the classroom,' she said. 'The teacher says something crazy. You make eye contact with your best friend. There are these nuances where we learn to communicate intimately with the people close to us that bring us so much pleasure and joy that we are never, ever going to get with an AI bot.' As for AI companions that mimic friends, the best thing parents can do is not let teens use them at all, Robb said. In Common Sense Media's risk testing, AI showed kids inappropriate content such as sexual material, he said. What's more, 'they engaged in some stereotyping that was not great. They sometimes provided dangerous advice.' A representative of Meta, which allows parents to block their kids' access to its Meta AI chatbot, declined to comment. While 34% of teens in the survey said they felt uncomfortable with something their AI companion has done or said, Robb pointed out that teens could be receiving information that doesn't bother them — but that their parents wouldn't want them to see or hear. I certainly won't allow my kids to use AI companions before they're 18 unless the way they're programmed radically changes. I agree these companies aren't doing enough to protect kids from harmful content and data harvesting — and I want my daughters to develop relationships with humans rather than technology. If a teen is using AI companions, it's important to watch for signs of unhealthy use, Robb said. If teens prefer interactions with AI rather than humans, spend hours interacting with AI companions, become distressed when they can't use them or withdraw from their family and activities they used to enjoy, these are classic signs of a problem, he said. In that case, it's a good idea to seek help from a school guidance counselor or other mental health professional. It's also important for parents to demonstrate by example how to have a healthy relationship with technology, Robb said. 'Show your teen what balanced technology use looks like,' he said. 'Have those open conversations about how you handle your own emotional needs without relying solely on digital solutions.' This new study indicating that most teens use AI companions shows why it's important to talk to young people about why they need real friends rather than chatbots to validate them. Technology can't replace humans — but it can explain why Johnson-Byrne's friends aren't close anymore. Get inspired by a weekly roundup on living well, made simple. Sign up for CNN's Life, But Better newsletter for information and tools designed to improve your well-being.
Yahoo
42 minutes ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Husband drains bank account, divorces sick wife via text
A husband who text messaged his cancer-stricken wife to say he was leaving and had taken all their money has exposed a horrific divorce act only men commit. Marie took to social media to share her horror that her husband had walked out on her after she was diagnosed with a brain tumour. As if that wasn't bad enough, he had also cleared out their joint bank account, money she claims she needs for her medical treatment. 'My husband of 6 years up and vanished, drained our mutual account and sent me this when I asked what the hell was going on,' the post, shared on TikTok and Reddit, stated. 'My condition is foul, I've had multiple surgeries, treatments, etc … But I've always been faithful, I still cooked him dinners up until this happened. He's pretty convinced I'm dead to rights, I personally think I have a chance …' Alongside her post is an MRI scan of Marie's brain showing the tumour, and the text her husband sent her explaining his reasons for leaving. 'Listen, it's been hard, I can't handle watching you die,' the text starts. 'I feel alone, I feel trapped, I'm not sure where or what I'm going to do … I've invested a lot during your treatment so I'm recouping what I put in plus extra for my future. I can still have one.' He went on to apologise for the fact his wife was dying and urged her to 'be happy for me, that I can live for us both'. Understandably, people are outraged. But the horrendous exchange is tragically not a one-off case – it's a common occurrence for wives facing serious health battles. New data shows men are more likely to leave their wives after a cancer diagnosis than vice versa. The 2025 study assessed more than 25,000 heterosexual couples aged 50 and older across 27 European countries during an 18-year period and concluded that divorce was more likely when the wife is ill. In contrast, if it was the husband who had health problems, the couple was no more likely to split than if both were healthy. This was echoed in an earlier paper, published in 2015, that saw researchers track 2701 marriages and watch what happened when someone became unwell. While only 6 per cent of cases ended in divorce, they were all instigated by men. Another study from 2009 found the strongest predictor for separation or divorce for patients with brain cancer was whether or not the sick person was a woman. That same study showed that men were seven times more likely to leave their partner than the other way around if one of them got brain cancer, according to The Guardian. Professor Alex Broom, a Professor of Sociology and the Director of the Sydney Centre for Healthy Societies, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at the University of Sydney, explained that the data shows a telling reflection on the inequity in modern marriages. 'Research has often shown than women bear the brunt of caring responsibilities at both ends of life – the early years and the twilight years. But also, that the men in their lives can be ill equipped to provide them with care and support when they need it – whether in the context of serious illness or at the end of life,' he told 'I'm sure many people at this point will say, 'not all men' or 'not my partner'. And it is true, men come in many shapes and forms. But the reality is, women do a disproportionate amount of informal caring, and receive less, on average, themselves, often at critical moments.' Professor Alex Broom stressed that while 'we may think we live in an equitable society, we do not', with women – particularly married ones – still copping the bad end of the deal even when they are sick. 'The increase in women's participation in the workforce has increased women's paid income and assets but not necessarily equalised the distribution of informal caring responsibilities,' he said. 'For instance, household surveys have found men now do slightly more domestic work than they used to, but women still do much more, in average, than men despite paid work. That is, patriarchal ideas about care and responsibility still lurk in the background of our society. 'The 'caring gap', as we may call it, may explain why some men 'jump' when faced with difficult scenario. The social norms binding them to the social contract of care is weaker than it is for women.' In Marie's case, she felt particularly hard done by as she had stuck by her husband, even when he wasn't doing great in life. 'We met in high school, I supported him financially during his degree, I was there when his sister died,' she explained. 'Now I'm just sitting in our apartment, unsure where to go next. That money was there for future treatments, it was money I helped accrue … To take it all. I just can't.' Paul Brunson, a relationship counsellor and British TV host, recently discussed the disturbing phenomenon on an episode of 'Diary of a CEO' with Steven Bartlett, describing it as 'alarming' and 'shocking'. 'What these men say is that they're no longer getting their emotional or physical intimacy needs met, and as a result of no longer getting this thing, they're out,' he explained. 'There's a disproportionate amount of the relationship that is placed on the physical side.' Reaction to the Marie's situation, and the shocking statistics surrounding sick women, has been overwhelming as many women express disgust but not shock. 'You WILL beat the cancer, and you will thrive agaï¸in. What goes around comes around,' one commented. 'I'm not surprised, there's not a single man in the comments showing support,' another added. As one remarked: 'I'm just shocked that it's not higher a higher percentage of men.'
