One day, apple cider vinegar is hailed as a miracle remedy for detoxing the body. The next, it’s condemned as harmful to the stomach and a cause of nutritional deficiencies. This avalanche of conflicting information floods social media, propelled by an army of influencers claiming expertise in nutrition, fitness, and longevity.

Netflix’s documentary series Apple Cider Vinegar perfectly illustrates this trend, drawing inspiration from the true story of Belle Gibson, an Australian who falsely claimed to have cured a nonexistent brain cancer through natural remedies. Her fraud, exposed in 2015, misled thousands and highlighted the profound impact influencers have on our perception of health.

Money, money, money

The wellness and anti-aging market is a goldmine for these digital gurus. In 2023, the global anti-aging industry was valued at $55.1 billion and is projected to reach $79.3 billion by 2030.

This exponential growth is fueled by influencers who, thanks to their online presence, can earn tens of thousands of euros per sponsored post. Dr. Jimmy Mohamed (with 2 million followers on Instagram), despite being a real doctor, exemplifies this shift—spending more time on TV sets than in hospitals, showcasing how influencers have reshaped the public image of healthcare professionals.

The case of Pierre Dukan is equally telling: his diet, launched in 2001, gained worldwide popularity before leading to his expulsion from the French Medical Order in 2014. Not only was he accused of promoting his diet for commercial purposes (which is prohibited in France), but the French National Agency for Food Safety also deemed his recommendations dangerous.

Even today, many “doctors” turn their expertise into bestsellers, often without strict scientific backing. A striking example: cardiologist-nutritionist Frédéric Saldmann’s book The Best Medicine is You (2013) sold 500,000 copies. In comparison, a Goncourt Prize-winning novel barely surpasses 400,000, while the average book in France sells around 4,000 copies.

Paradoxical pressures

We live in a striking paradox: medicine and technology have never been more advanced, offering faster diagnoses and personalized treatments. Yet, we face an increasingly polluted environment and a worrying rise in certain diseases. A 2023 study published in BMJ Oncology revealed that global cancer rates among people under 50 have surged by nearly 80% between 1990 and 2019. This contrast between medical progress and environmental degradation drives individuals toward alternative solutions and significantly amplifies the influence of wellness influencers.

This fascination with wellness advice is far from trivial. In a society that moves too fast, regaining control over one’s body becomes paramount. Social media offers an illusion of closeness, and in a world overwhelmed by anxiety-inducing information, a simple and reassuring message becomes a refuge. Health and anti-aging provide fertile ground for these promises, capitalizing on the collective desire to become the best version of oneself.

However, the sheer volume of often contradictory advice leaves consumers utterly confused. Should we eliminate gluten or not? Is retinol the ultimate youth elixir or a danger to the skin? Is intermittent fasting beneficial or harmful? This overload of opinions encourages extreme behaviors, often adopted without proper discernment.

Reclaiming your own authority in the age of influencers

The impact of influencers goes beyond sharing personal experiences. By shaping trends, they transform the health industry into a massive consumer market, where every new product is hailed as the ultimate truth—until another claim overturns it. Yesterday, green tea was the unbeatable weight-loss ally; today, it’s accused of being packed with aluminum. Collagen powder was set to be the number-one anti-aging solution, only for new findings to reveal that the body struggles to absorb it.

Predictably, thousands of digital gurus dismiss scientific conclusions, accusing the scientific industry of bias. Since the 2020 pandemic, health—and especially nutrition—has become as polarizing and controversial as religion. Nearly everyone holds strong beliefs about food and medicine (vaccines, pills, antibiotics, etc.).

Many influencers push “miracle” products, promote expensive supplements, or advocate costly skincare routines, often without scientific evidence.  The result? A generation of internet users caught between a desire to improve their well-being and a constant fear of making the wrong choice.

To regain control, it’s crucial to question these media figures. Who are they, really? What are their financial interests? Are they willing to admit when they’re wrong? The influence of these personalities is so vast that diversifying sources of information and relying on scientific evidence has become essential before jumping onto the next big health trend. Trust your common sense, consult your doctor, and only follow advice that genuinely works for you (and your body)!

Picture (c) : Vogue

Become smarter—Yes, it’s possible

Your brain is like your hamstrings. You feel like it works on its own, and when it gets stuck, you just wait for it to pass. Not so! Just like the muscles at the back of your thighs, your brain can be strengthened at any age. If going back to school isn’t part of your New Year’s resolutions for 2025, but you want to become Einstein, Impulse is made for you.

This brain-training game offers a daily, fun program to engage your memory, math skills, or language abilities. Instead of crushing your score on Candy Crush, you can even test your IQ, anxiety levels, or personality type. In addition to being highly rated, the app is available in both free and paid versions (starting at €6.99), and we recommend the paid option to avoid too many annoying ads.

Available on Android and iOS

Read also : SMART DEVICES: 5 NEW GADGETS TO TRY OUT

Love yourself, because it’s essential 

“I think, therefore I am” was fine in Descartes’ time, but four centuries later, it’s time to move on. One of your resolutions for 2025 should now be: “I think, therefore I love myself.” And if repeating “I am beautiful, I am amazing, I am the best” in front of your mirror is no longer enough, it’s because you need a little help. What could be more practical than seeing your daily positive affirmation pop up on your screen, specially customized  for you?

This is the effective and charming principle of the app I Am, with its lovely zen and slightly mystical “beo-tarot”design. This gentle digital coach is designed to bring out the best in you. Like a friend who’s always with you, the app infuses positive thoughts into your mind to boost your self-confidence and help you achieve your goals. It offers several subscription plans, from €5.99 per month to a lifetime commitment (€99.99).

Available on Android and iOS

Impress people  at art shows, in front of your mother-in-law, or your boss 

Have you heard of Daily Art? This app is currently THE favorite of 2 million people who want to perfect their art knowledge. To keep your New Year’s resolutions for 2025, let’s trust Time Magazine and Business Insider, who’ve been praising it for a while. Since you’re not a bookworm and Google Arts & Culture painfully reminds you of the research you had to do in college,  Daily Art has got it all figured out.

This app offers (yes, it’s free) a new artwork to discover each day, with just the right amount of info. With summaries of their significance and importance in the art world, soon Impressionism or abstract art won’t hold any secrets for you. A small but valuable bonus: you can dive into iconic works and art locations in cities like Rome, Paris, or Kyoto. Besides the city search, Daily Art also caters to your more secret preferences, including “cute little cats.”

Available on Android and iOS

Have an answer for everything, because the future is in knowing how to predict it

Hold on to your couch or office chair because we’re stepping it up. Are you interested in astrology, auras, and the influence of waves on our lives, but without fully buying into it? This app will reconcile you with your New Age nature, as in our 2025 resolutions, we’ve decided to embrace it! Why not be a  little witchy too—no offense to the Inquisition and masculinists, but we  just read Mona Chollet.

The Stella app is based on Human Design, a clever mix of ancient and contemporary sciences. From chakra theory to genetics, through the Kabbalah and astrological charts, Stella analyzes your body pattern. This helps define which of the four energetic types you belong to: are you more like Frida Kahlo or Beyoncé? Based on this energy, tests and exercises guide you in your choices, mood fluctuations, and teach you how to master them. In short, this app offers keys to better anticipate the future through a deeper understanding of yourself. Human Design: Stella offers several affordable subscription options with regular promotions, such as an annual access for €24.99.

Available on Android and iOS

Being rich: the dream is finally achievable 

Despite all your good intentions and efforts, are you still a hopeless spender? No worries, Plum is here to fatten your wallet and keep your New Year’s resolutions for 2025. Its unique feature doesn’t  just help you manage your budget: it encourages you to invest. It’s your ticket to that Bali trip you’ve been dreaming of, the apartment that just became available above you… Or even planning for the arrival of your baby.

With rates above 3% aligned with the European Central Bank’s rates, your returns are immediately available. Managed by BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, over 2 million users invest or dabble in crypto. However, Plum is not yet available in all countries and is only usable with an account registered in Europe.

Available on Android and iOS

Picture (c) : Ben Trovato

Mamhkoumch (Out of Control) is the name of a digital campaign addressing online violence against women, launched on November 25 and running until December 10. Spearheaded by several feminist organizations, including ADFM, Médias et Culture, Kif Mama Kif Baba, and Jat w Jabt – Génération Libre, the initiative is part of the broader “16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence” campaign led by the United Nations. Its objective? To prevent digital tools, meant to advance society, from becoming weapons of oppression and domination, primarily targeting women and young girls.

Spotlight on a widespread phenomenon

The primary aim is to raise awareness among Moroccan internet users and decision-makers about the scourge of digital violence against women. According to figures from the High Commission for Planning (HCP), this type of violence accounts for 19% of all violence against women in Morocco. Among girls aged 15 to 19, this number jumps to 34%.

The Mamhkoumch campaign primarily uses Instagram to disseminate its content, as this platform, alongside TikTok, is one of the leading spaces for online violence and misogyny, especially among teenagers.

In 2021, a Wall Street Journal investigation revealed that Instagram executives were fully aware of the platform’s negative impact on one in three teenage girls. While algorithms play a role, user behavior also significantly contributes to the issue. Social media platforms, after all, mirror societal trends and their darker sides.

Naming the problem to tackle It

To combat digital violence against women, it’s essential to identify and name it. This is precisely what the Mamhkoumch campaign seeks to do.

These acts include hacking, predation, sexist insults, cyberbullying, revenge porn, online defamation, and sextortion. Doxxing—revealing personal details about someone’s identity and private life online to harm them—is also highlighted.

Another powerful aspect of the campaign is its eight video clips, featuring Moroccan personalities who share their experiences of digital violence. The goal is to encourage open dialogue and create a safe space for exchange and support.

As the campaign’s organizers note, “Technological violence is not confined to the virtual world. It has serious repercussions on women’s mental health, physical safety, economic opportunities, and public participation. By raising awareness about the consequences, such as trauma, isolation, self-censorship, and job loss, we emphasize the urgency of action and the need to protect survivors.”

Action for protection

Ultimately, the campaign is a call to action, urging institutional and political leaders to address the issue. According to Ghizlane Mamouni, a lawyer and co-founder of Kif Mama Kif Baba, “The measures in place for victims remain insufficient.”

While moderation policies on platforms are now nearly non-existent (thanks, Elon Musk), governments can still act at their level. Digital citizenship education is crucial, as is expanding support services for victims. However, combating digital violence against women also requires evolving the legal and judicial framework.

Many feminists argue that revising Law 103-13 on violence against women should be a priority. This revision would include specific provisions addressing gender-based violence facilitated by new technologies. Certain sections of the Penal Code are also under scrutiny—particularly Article 490, which criminalizes sexual relations outside marriage.

In 2021, a young woman in Tetouan was sentenced to one month in prison under this law after falling victim to revenge porn. Clearly, there’s still a long way to go.

Since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas, never before has so much fake news circulated on social networks. It’s not Shoelifer who says it, but Thomas Huchon, investigative journalist and social media specialist. Of particular concern to this Web 2.0 expert is the social network, X (formerly Twitter), because of the changes made by its new owner, Elon Musk, which have contributed to the surge of fake news. Among them are an alleged bombing of a church in Gaza and the video of a supposed Israeli child held in a cage by Hamas (false and false again). The editor is not able to establish an exhaustive list as the flood of disinformation is overwhelming, but we urge you, dear readers, to take a step back and assess what you’re seeing, however you feel about this issue.

Read also : HOW TO HELP OUR CHILDREN OVERCOME THE SHOCK AFTER THE EARTHQUAKE

Astroturfing

Why? First, because the incessant flow of information and fake news on social media creates informational and emotional chaos. So, think about preserving your intellect and mental health. And, most importantly, avoid being manipulated. Because social media (and the Big Tech companies associated with them) are masters of mass manipulation. In reality, operators create toxic and hostile environments by integrating artificial intelligence (AI) to maximize user engagement.

To make this work, it only takes two ingredients. First, exploit the negative cognitive bias of humans. We tend to prioritize information that conveys danger (survival instinct at play). As a concrete example consider how when a vaccine is discovered, a headline announces that it’s 90% effective but might render you sterile. You will undoubtedly remember the second part of the message. You might even be tempted to learn more (hello Google searches, etc.).

It’s at this precise moment that social media deploys their algorithms, bots, and trolls to inundate you with information and fake news on the subject. And, ultimately, create a phenomenon of mass deception that falsely appears spontaneous. In Web 2.0 jargon, this is called astroturfing. In essence, it’s propaganda for advertising, economic, or even worse, political purposes. You probably already know that Russia has become a master in this field. Their goal? Destabilize the rest of the world, nothing more. 

On the other hand, social media can use algorithms not to limit fake news, harassment, and bad faith, but to make certain users invisible. This is notably the case with Instagram (1 billion users) and its famous “shadow ban.” It often affects accounts related to feminism or minority civil rights, as demonstrated in the research conducted by Numérique Investigation. Even artists are impacted.

Rumors spread quickly

According to a study conducted a year ago by the Integrity Institute, an American research institute, X and TikTok are the champions of fake news. Over 373 million people use X daily (as of April 2023). As for the Chinese platform, it will soon have 2 billion users, primarily in the 15-25 age group. However, a study by NewsGard in 2022 shows that 20% of videos posted on TikTok contain fake news. Fake news is shared six times faster than genuine information in general. On X, a piece of fake news has a 70% higher chance of being retweeted. Why? Because fake news triggers our emotions instantly and has a stronger impact on our followers. All of this is also linked to the activation of our reward system.

Awareness and political will

As a daily consumer of social media, it is essential to take a step back and engage your critical thinking to avoid being misled by fake news. It only takes analyzing the legitimacy of the source and the authenticity of a photo or content, identifying any inconsistencies, referring to reliable and credible sources, cross-referencing information, following journalists or NGOs on the ground, distinguishing between emotion and factual reality, and sometimes simply accepting that “we don’t know.”

But for real change to occur, a genuine political will is needed from states and from Big Tech. And likely, new algorithms…

According to Larousse dictionary, being unfaithful means having romantic relationships with someone other than your partner. But where does infidelity begin? For some, there needs to be physical involvement. For others, even a kiss is already considered cheating. And with the advent of new technologies, the boundary is even blurrier. Even infidelity has managed to innovate. Online flirting, steamy messages, exchanging nudes… These practices have almost become normalized. Having grown up with a smartphone in hand and more accustomed to flirting through apps than face-to-face, “virtual cheaters” are mostly under 30 years old.

According to an IFOP study, half of young adults have already experienced virtual infidelity. But older individuals are not immune. Some specialized sites specifically target them. This is the case with Gleeden, an extramarital dating platform that now has over 8 million users worldwide, with an average age of 37. In addition to the traditional Tinder, Happn, or Meetic, social networks (especially Facebook and Instagram) are also becoming meeting places. Exchanging messages without your partner’s knowledge has never been easier. But is it really so harmless ?

Legally, yes, at least in Morocco. In 2018, a judge acquitted a married woman who exchanged a series of intimate photos with a man other than her husband on WhatsApp. So, is chatting not cheating? It’s a bit more complicated than that, as explained by Amal Chabach, a sexologist in Casablanca.

Fidelity, a philosophical question

Does a (sexual) relationship begin when two people write to each other or even think about each other? You have two hours to figure this one out… Yes, it could almost be a topic for a philosophy exam. Because there is no ONE right answer. “All couples are different. And only the two people in it can set the limits not to exceed,” says the sexologist. The problem? We rarely discuss the topic of virtual infidelity with our partner unless we discover some hidden conversations or flirtatious messages. And when we realize we are “cyber-cuckolded,” it’s often a rude awakening. “My boyfriend is very shy. So when I found out a year ago that he was on several dating apps and maintaining several virtual relationships, I was shocked and disappointed. For him, it was just a way to test his potential without ever acting on it. For me, it was a real betrayal,” remembers Kabira*. So, to avoid being caught off guard, there’s only one solution: start the discussion without delay.

Infidelity 2.0: Not so black and white ?

Going to pornographic websites, following (and fantasizing about) a beautiful stranger on Instagram, belongs to the world of private thoughts. It’s a bit like thinking about someone else while making love. Does it count as cheating? According to Parisian sex therapist Pascal Anger, this imaginary sexuality and our fantasies spice up our real-life sexuality. However, as soon as there’s an exchange of messages (naughty or not), the boundary becomes more complex. As long as the relationship remains virtual, it’s often considered not to be infidelity. Some people think it’s a relatively harmless way to prove to themselves that they can still seduce, reassuring themselves and boosting their dwindling libido. For others, however, it can turn into a risky game, generating a sense of anticipation, thus feeding the desire. Because a real connection is formed with another person, even if they are behind a screen.

A role reversal is necessary

So, how can you tell if you’re “cyber-cheating”? One way to determine if chatting equates to infidelity is to put yourself in your partner’s shoes. Imagine finding out that your significant other has been talking to their ex for three months without telling you. Or maybe they’ree revealing your intimate details and confiding in a stranger. Or worse, the conversations are getting steamy… Suddenly, it doesn’t seem so funny !

For Kamal, it was an eye-opener: “I was single for a long time, and I was registered on multiple dating sites. Once I got into a relationship, I didn’t delete my accounts on these sites. I was still flirting, sending playful messages, and even engaging in some naughty chats. I didn’t consider it cheating, so I didn’t feel guilty. But when I realized that my girlfriend was doing the same thing, I found it disrespectful. If she was truly happy with me, why continue to interact with others? We talked about it, and both of us deleted our accounts, which had no impact on our relationship.” Therefore, only you can determine if this constitutes cheating and whether it reveals a more serious issue in your relationship.

How about a little trust…?

But be careful not to fall into paranoia. “Why did you like your yoga teacher’s photo?” “Who’s messaging you at this hour?” The other side of social networks? They also fuel our anxieties. Should you rummage through your partner’s phone to see if they are virtually unfaithful to you? Or install new geolocation features to track them? Before turning into Inspector Gadget, it’s better to remember that a couple is primarily built on trust…

 * Names have been changed

Photo (c) : Oneplus

By : Camille Chataigner