Feature 1 December 2020 “Feminist” Ponzi schemes are sweeping through Argentina WhatsApp groups are promising women sisterhood — and a cash return — in exchange for a hefty upfront fee.
News 11 November 2020 Shop till you drop On Singles Day, China’s biggest shopping holiday, delivery workers have been striking. E-commerce giants have little incentive to change.
News 9 November 2020 Selfies and Sharia police After countrywide protests and pandemic lockdowns, Iranian Instagram has taken a decidedly political turn. The authorities are taking note.
Longreads 19 October 2020 Travel influencers, meet authoritarian regimes The influencer industry has grown to be cozy with some unsavory governments, but its clout might not be as effective as it once was.
Feature 13 October 2020 The influencer challenging Singapore’s racial taboos Through makeup tutorials and satire, Preeti Nair has restarted difficult conversations about racism and prejudice in the buttoned-down city-state.
Feature 12 October 2020 How a downed internet balloon produced an unlikely love story Google’s Loon balloons have been hailed as the future of connectivity, but in Uruguay, they’ve been most effective for matchmaking.
Bento 5 October 2020 Reading between pixels Healthcare workers from seven countries give us a snapshot of their homescreens — and their lives during the pandemic.
Feature 29 September 2020 Audrey Tang on her “conservative-anarchist” vision for Taiwan’s future The country’s digital minister has a radical vision and acknowledges the high-stakes balancing act between mass surveillance and good governance.
News 21 September 2020 Designed in Minecraft, built IRL In Gaza, citizens are imagining what public spaces could be, and then actually building them.
Bento 17 September 2020 The slang heard ’round the world The words we make up and use online are — in addition to being weird, hilarious, and dark — a telling reflection of the times we’re living in. Here are some of our favorites.