AntiSocial

Are people trying too hard with their hobbies? Gen Z in particular are being accused of getting too competitive with their pastimes. Having a hobby has, according to various metrics, become a lifestyle trend in 2026. We look at what the term "hobby-maxxing" means. Is it a good or a bad thing? What happens to your brain when you do your hobby, and when did hobbies become a significant part of our l...

Antisocial behaviour and what to do about it has long been a concern of governments and ordinary citizens. Within any country or society most people tend to agree what constitutes acceptable and unacceptable behaviour - be it to do with queuing, or playing your music loud in a public space, or using your phone at a cinema. But attitudes differ across different societies. Pontus Strimling of the In...

The battle against antisocial behaviour. "Share the journey, not the noise" - so says the government as it has launched new measures to prevent noise and antisocial behaviour on public transport. It's the latest in a long line of policies by governments of all hues against nuisance behaviours. Is antisocial behaviour getting worse? Or are we becoming less tolerant? And do government policies to ta...

We're drowning in data but what will be saved and what will be lost? And how will future researchers and historians remember us? Adam Fleming speaks to Professor Katrin Weller who leads one of Europe's biggest research data archives at the Leibnitz Institute for social sciences in Germany.

Are there enough women writing history and being written about? The broadcaster Sandi Toksvig has announced she is launching an alternative to Wikipedia after claiming the site is "deeply biased". Along with the University of Cambridge, she hopes that her Mappa Mundi project will be an “interactive digital atlas where we can find a home for the vast amount of knowledge that is currently sidelined...

Do we have a duty to intervene if we think a crime is being committed? Adam Fleming spoke to Nick Brett, a partner at the law firm Brett Wilson, about what the legal position is when it comes to intervening in or reporting a crime.

Are you complicit if you don't intervene? A debate has blown up on social media over the so-called Cornell 7 allegations in the US, after a young woman accused seven students from Cornell University of raping her. On social media people have been saying that this is not just about the Cornell 7, it is also about the Cornell 57 - referring to a group chat where sex with the woman was allegedly adve...

The BBC has faced criticism for editing parts of old Mitchell and Webb shows, as well as Horrible Histories, before putting them back onto the iPlayer. Some argue this is censorship while others point out that tastes have moved on. Adam Fleming hears from TV executive Tim Hincks. Tim is co-CEO of Expectation TV; he's also the former chief executive of Endemol UK. In his career he oversaw Big Broth...

Peace talks for the culture wars. The BBC has faced criticism for editing parts of old Mitchell and Webb shows, as well as Horrible Histories. This is before publishing them on the iPlayer. Some argue it's censorship while others say times and tastes have moved on and it's a sensible thing to do. Adam Fleming hears from both sides of the argument. Presenter: Adam Fleming Producers: John Murphy, An...

There's been a lively debate online asking whether you should take an iced coffee into a job interview. A US-based recruiter sparked an avalanche of social media posts when she suggested that taking an iced coffee into a job interview - particularly for the kind of clients she has - appeared too casual and could be seen as unprofessional. Adam Fleming spoke to a British job recruiter about her vie...

Peace talks for the culture wars. Why iced coffee has brewed up a storm on social media and in the world of work. Adam Fleming discusses a post about bringing your iced coffee into a job interview. What does it say about you and your attitude? The original post has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times and has set off a debate about job interviews, Gen Z attitudes and the world of work. Prese...

Channel 4 announces a documentary called 'The Great ADHD Myth?' Lots of people - many of them with ADHD - react angrily, arguing the show's title adds to the stigma and distrust around diagnosing the disorder. The documentary aims to explore the causes of ADHD - some people think that's a conversation we urgently need to have, given growing rates of diagnosis, lengthening waiting lists, and rising...

Some historians suggest the NHS would never have got off the ground without large numbers of overseas staff, but why was there such a reliance in the first place, and when did the backlash begin? Adam Fleming speaks to Andrew Seaton, history researcher at the University of Manchester and author of 'Our NHS: A History of Britain's Best Loved Institution'.

An NHS campaign group posts on social media to celebrate the organisation's overseas workers, but there's a backlash from people who think we should have more British-born doctors and nurses. Would the NHS collapse without these foreign workers? We find out how many are employed and ask whether there could ever be enough British-born staff to replace them. The NHS has long relied on foreign worker...

The idea of a North-South divide in England carries weight with many people, but is there any historical basis for it, and how far back does it go? Adam Fleming speaks to James Hawes, author of The Shortest History of England.

Andy Burnham's pledge to rebalance power in Britain shines new light on a long-standing divide stretching across England. Some say the new Prime Minister's focus on the north is long overdue, while others argue it's divisive and that the south has its problems too. So how deep does the divide go, and where does it come from? We explore the geology, geography and the history. People from north and...

The alleged murder of Ann Widdecombe prompted a debate about how we should speak about the dead, after some people came under fire for comments they made in the wake of her passing. When is the right time to bring up criticism of a public figure that’s died, and how do you accurately reflect someone’s life and legacy? To find out, Adam Fleming spoke to Ann Wroe, obituaries editor at The Economist.

The suspected murder of Ann Widdecombe - and the reaction to it - prompts a debate about what we should and shouldn't say about someone when they die. The former politician was celebrated by some, but pilloried by others for her lifestyle and political views. So is it ever OK to speak ill of the dead and, if so, when and in what way? Plus, we explore the origins of the phrase itself, and speak to...

An online community of women, who are wary of men and their relationship motives, has come up with a check-list for finding the perfect partner. Adam Fleming speaks to Sarah Ditum, a journalist and author, about how ‘female dating strategy’ works in practice.

A contestant on Love Island prompts debate over her interactions with the men on the reality TV show. Some viewers suggest Jasmine has been "pink-pilled" - a reference to a mindset that sees women's relationships with men as adversarial, and is a reaction to the manosphere. Others think Jasmine shouldn't be vilified for some of the same traits displayed by men on the show, and in real life. We fin...

As UK summers get hotter and heatwaves become more frequent, more people are considering air conditioning as a way to keep cool. But how does air conditioning actually work, and in our efforts to cool down are we harming the planet? Chris Warburton speaks to Rob Gross, director of the UK Energy Research Centre (UKERC) and Professor of Energy Policy and Technology at Imperial College London.

The recent record-breaking heatwave prompts calls for more air conditioning in the UK, but some argue this could actually make the planet even hotter and obscures the reality of climate change. We find out how and why AC has become such a hot topic and hear what impact it has on climate change. Some say aircon should be a last resort - we hear what other measures people can adopt to keep their hom...

Harry Styles is regularly accused of 'queerbaiting' - from his clothing to his music videos. Actors in the TV shows 'Heated Rivalry' and 'Heartstopper' have faced similar allegations. And people online are debating whether it's okay to make these sorts of claims. But what does 'queerbaiting' mean? Adam Fleming speaks to Justin Bengry, who specialises in Queer History at King's College London.

Harry Styles' new music video prompts allegations of queerbaiting: some say he's appropriating queer culture to sell his music; others argue it's a welcome rewriting of the rules of masculinity. We explore what queerbaiting means, where the term came from, and ask whether it's ever OK to accuse an individual of doing it. The allegation has been levelled at a range of stars, films and TV shows - we...

The new biopic about Michael Jackson has come under fire for not including any of the allegations made against him, but what exactly has the singer been accused of? Rachel McGrath, a freelance culture journalist, gives Adam Fleming a timeline of the alleged victims, the cases, and the outcomes.