Flo Bellinger

Brighton

Contributing Writer at Thred

Freelance writer at GAUCHOWORLD

Senior Writer at We Are Social

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Articles

Is virality ruining everything?

1 week ago | thred.com | Flo Bellinger

As more of us turn to social media for recommendations, is the joy of a hidden gem at risk of extinction? I used to have a thing for secrecy, at least when it came to food. I revelled in the smug satisfaction of knowing about a low-lit bar that only opens two days a week, or the ramen place tucked behind a dry cleaners that doesn’t accept card. I believed in hidden gems, in things being earned: through word of mouth, luck, or the subtle gesture of a kind stranger.
The Louvre’s closure is a warning sign for over-tourism

1 week ago | thred.com | Flo Bellinger

The iconic museum promptly shut its doors this week after crowds overwhelmed staff. The Louvre is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Paris, and one of the most iconic museums in the world. Every day, an average of 28,000 people walk through the halls of this historic landmark – many of them armed with phones and selfie sticks primed for a shot of the Mona Lisa (arguably the most famous painting ever made).
Are venues doing enough for sober customers?

1 week ago | thred.com | Flo Bellinger

Making access difficult only increases the stigma around sobriety and normalises heavy drinking. Arguably, alcohol is the most widely accepted and used substance, despite its dangers and the high numbers of alcohol related deaths across the country. Many of those who are reducing their alcohol intake are keen not to let sobriety impact their social life. ‘The shift toward low and no-alcohol drinks is not uniform across age groups,’ writes Grace Weaver.
French senate pass bill regulating ultra-fast fashion

2 weeks ago | thred.com | Flo Bellinger

Are the environmental tides of the industry turning? On Tuesday the French senate adopted a bill that will regulate the fashion industry and place ultra-fast fashion brands under the microscope. The news comes after France first mentioned plans to crackdown on e-commerce giants like Temu and Shein earlier this year.
Kylie Jenner’s breast augmentation and the politics of choice feminism

2 weeks ago | thred.com | Flo Bellinger

The sudden pivot in her stance towards cosmetic transparency is being praised as a welcome shift in the celebrity culture – which is arguable to blame for the rise of demand for plastic surgery and our ever-growing disillusion with our own appearance. But as Laura Pitcher asks for Dazed, can the right to beauty ever actually be democratised? ‘Does plastic surgery transparency level a playing field or generate even more pressure to adhere to today’s impossible cosmetic standards?’ Pitcher wonders.
Why is it so triggering when celebrities lose weight?

3 weeks ago | thred.com | Flo Bellinger

‘The moral lines blurred a little, with worrying unregulated access, black market sales and a shortage for the people who actually need it to treat diabetes. We had our first semaglutide injection-related deaths in the UK last year. As entire red carpets and runways shrank last year, my stance wobbled a little. Now, I find myself internalising this debate in my own mirror.’Laws goes on to question whether her own recent weight loss casts her work as a body positivity writer into question.
AI is reportedly set to disproportionately impact women

3 weeks ago | thred.com | Flo Bellinger

Artificial intelligence is coming for your job – and according to a new report, it’s coming faster if you’re a woman. For technology designed to eliminate benign work, artificial intelligence is proving remarkably efficient at replicating workplace inequality. Not that it will surprise any woman under the sun, but a new report from the UN’s International Labour Organisation has confirmed women are set to bear the brunt of AI-driven job disruption.
Does Brockwell Park battle prove festivals are another form of gentrification?

1 month ago | thred.com | Flo Bellinger

When London’s green sanctuaries become private playgrounds, who truly holds the key to public space? Last month, Brockwell Park underwent its annual transformation from local haven to festival fortress. Surrounded by temporary fencing and housing a swathe of stages and food vans, tens of thousands prepared to descend on the park over a series of weekends.
Is London about to legalise cannabis?

1 month ago | thred.com | Flo Bellinger

A new report backed by the Mayor of London calls for some cannabis possession to be decriminalised in the capital. Sadiq Khan is supporting calls for the partial decriminalisation of cannabis in the UK capital, following a study by the independent London Drugs Commission (LDC). According to reports by the LDC, the global policing of drug usage – particularly cannabis, which remains the most contentious substance when it comes to international legislation – are causing more harm than good.
Are small plates a scam?

1 month ago | thred.com | Flo Bellinger

A small plate may look dainty, but what you’re often paying for is not the ingredients or even the labour, but the vibe. This shifts control away from the customer (you can’t calculate value the same way without mains and sides) and gives the restaurant cover to stretch margins. And another big issue? The communal aspect. ‘One problem is that British culture isn’t very hot on sharing.