Reportage
Inside the soaring Pokémon trade fuelled by lockdown
Gotta Catch Em’ All — With the pandemic triggering widespread nostalgia, many have found themselves returning to childhood favourites like Pokémon, which turned 25 this year. And now, card traders are raking in hundreds of thousands by capitalising on the growing demand.
Written by: Gunseli Yalcinkaya
Is lockdown fuelling a student gambling crisis?
Rolling the dice — Looking for ways to fill the hours, the pandemic has caused a perfect storm for student gamblers. But some fear their habit to alleviate boredom could be spiralling into addiction.
Written by: Serena Smith
TikTokers are using secret hashtags to discuss self-harm
Under the radar — The hashtag #selfharm is censored on TikTok, but that hasn’t stopped users from speaking out about their experiences. While the platform needs to do more to keep young people safe from triggering content, experts stress that the problem runs much deeper than social media.
Written by: Serena Smith
Inside the Reddit community calling for the abolition of work
’Unemployment for all!’ — As the Covid crisis exacerbates and exposes the problematic structure of work, the subreddit r/antiwork are asking: what if the issue with work was work itself?
Written by: Emma Pirnay
Inside an NHS hospital at breaking point
‘It‘s relentless‘ — While Covid infection rates may be dropping, the crisis continues unabated inside hospitals. Politics Editor Ben Smoke reports from Homerton Hospital, London, speaking to frontline medical staff about the profound emotional and physical toll they face every single day.
Written by: Ben Smoke
Can psychedelics break down racial barriers?
New perspectives — Our era has been described as a ‘Psychedelic Renaissance’, with growing interest in the potential mental health benefits of hallucinogenics. But could these mind-altering experiences help people of colour navigate racism?
Written by: Adam Quarshie
Inside the complex world of ex-Mormon TikTok
Exiting the cult — ‘Exmos’ are flocking to TikTok to share their stories of leaving the LDS Church and building supportive communities which are helping them to heal.
Written by: Catharine Hughes
Facing death: why young people are writing wills
Grave matters — Last year saw a significant increase in will writing among Gen Z and millennials. They explain to Huck what prompted them to confront mortality.
Written by: Daniel Reast
Inside Nigeria’s queer OnlyFans scene
Nude awakening — Despite strict laws in Nigeria forbidding homosexuality, the country’s queer adult performers are flocking to the popular adult platform, where they’re turning an impressive profit and carving out a space to express their sexuality.
Written by: Chisom Peter Job
How Gypsies were left behind amid the pandemic
Forgotten voices — Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities are some of the most marginalised groups in the UK. As Covid-19 exacerbates the inequalities they face even further across everything from living conditions to education, many are now at breaking point.
Written by: Adele Walton