AntiSocial

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.

Michael - the Michael Jackson biopic - has smashed box office records, but it's also raised questions about the controversial pop star's legacy. Some see the movie as irresponsible propaganda from the singer's estate because it doesn't address the allegations of child sexual abuse made against him - allegations which he repeatedly denied. Others point to the fact that he was never found guilty in...

An investigation by The Telegraph has revealed hundreds of adverts for "Muslim-only" flat and room rentals - sparking debates about housing, discrimination, and whether it's ever okay for minorities to get special treatment when it comes to housing. Many on social media pointed to the case of a housing association specifically for Orthodox Jews that went all the way to the Supreme Court. To explai...

An investigation by The Telegraph reveals hundreds of adverts advertising "Muslim-only" flat and room rentals. Some say the newspaper's reports, which also uncover other apparent equality breaches, are a worrying sign of unchecked discrimination. Others question the focus on Muslims and argue that some forms of discrimination in renting are understandable, even necessary. We find out what the law...

After a report suggesting a 'quiet revival' of the Christian faith in the UK was withdrawn due to faulty data, people have been debating whether this truly is a Christian country. Some point to statistics showing a steep decline in Christianity. Others say that the institutions and history of the UK have been shaped by the Church of England. To learn more about the influence of the established chu...

A report by a Christian charity, suggesting a surge in churchgoing is withdrawn due to faulty data, but some Christians in the UK still believe in the finding that there is a 'quiet revival'. Others point to recent data showing the steep decline in Christianity. We get into the story of the report and ask whether data and our institutions can tell us just how Christian the UK really is. Presenter:...

Ultra-thin appears to be back on trend for Hollywood stars and other A-listers, some aided by weight-loss drugs. It’s led some to ask whether ‘body positivity’ is dead, but what does that term mean and how much success did the movement behind it have anyway? Adam Fleming speaks to Viren Swami, professor of social psychology at Anglia Ruskin University.

Should we call out celebrities we deem too thin, or just leave them alone? That’s the debate prompted by an apparent shift among A-list stars - mostly women - to lose weight. Some people say it’s a worrying trend, fuelled by weight loss drugs, that’s damaging women’s views of their bodies. Others say it’s none of our business what these celebs look like, and that they are the product of a culture...

Girlguiding has told transgender girls they must soon leave its clubs, following a Supreme Court ruling on biological sex, but why was the Girl Guides set up just for girls? Adam Fleming speaks to Janie Hampton, who has written a book on the organisation’s history.

The organising body of the Girl Guides says that trans girls - biological males - will have to leave by the 6th September to conform with a ruling by the Supreme Court last year. Whatever the perceived rights and wrongs of this decision, it's another chapter in the debate about whether we need single sex groups at all, from the Brownies to the gentleman's club. We look into the history of the Girl...

There's a new beauty standard on the block but instead of lip filler and face lifts aimed at women, it's a trend targeting men. The founder of the movement is the 20-year-old influencer, Clavicular, who has been taking steroids since he was 14 years old to achieve a look he thinks is attractive. Looksmaxxers recommend pseudoscientific methods such as 'mewing' and bone smashing to create a chiseled...

Peace talks for the culture wars. Adam looks at the dark art of looksmaxxing, asking what is it, where does it come from and why has it been growing online? Adam gets a glossary of the terms around this trend. He hears how social media is influencing beauty standards. And we find out about "pretty privilege." Presenter: Adam Fleming Producers: John Murphy, Natasha Fernandes and Annabel Deas. Studi...

The new film adaptation of Wuthering Heights has sparked controversy online after the director, Emerald Fennell, announced that she would cast a white actor to play Heathcliff. Critics have said the decision ignores references to Heathcliff as an outsider in Emily Brontë’s original text. In recent years, there’s been a growing business to tackle cultural insensitivities in film – cultural consulta...

Peace talks for the culture wars. The latest version of Wuthering Heights has come in for criticism on social media, especially about the casting of a white actor as Heathcliff. Chris Warburton and guests examine the debate about representation on the big screen. Presenter: Chris Warburton Producers: Natasha Fernandes, Tom Gillett, John Murphy Studio Manager: Andrew Mills Production co-ordinator:...

The year 2016 is taking over the internet with people posting ‘throwback’ photos and memories from ten years ago all over their social media. It’s prompted questions over whether 2016 was a simpler time and why people have become nostalgic for that year. Agnes Arnold-Forster, a historian at Edinburgh University and the author of Nostalgia: A History of a Dangerous Emotion, talks about how nostalgi...

Peace talks for the culture wars. Nostalgia and the cringe factor. Adam Fleming explores why 2016 is big online, especially for Gen Z. Can you really be nostalgic for things you didn't really experience. With the help of others, Adam unpicks what nostalgia is and where it came from. Presenter: Adam Fleming Producers: Natasha Fernandes, Tom Gillett and John Murphy Studio Manager: Andrew Mills Edito...

The French state railway company has introduced child-free carriages on some of its journeys, but transport isn’t the only area being affected by the child-free phenomenon. There’s also been a rise in weddings without children. Head of Brand at the wedding planning app, Bridebook, Zoe Burke chats through some of the stories she’s come across and the polling she’s done.

Should we have more child-free spaces? The French state railway company has introduced child-free carriages on some of its high-speed trains. This has caused a row online. Adam Fleming gets to the bottom of the story and asks if there is a growing demand for more child-free spaces. But is the debate simply a measure of growing intolerance - particularly of children - in society. Presenter: Adam Fl...

The contestants on Britain's most popular TV show, The Traitors, have faced criticism for voting out ethnic minorities early on in the game. It’s led to a slew of posts online saying this is a clear example of unconscious racial bias. Head of Psychology at Aberdeen University, Doug Martin, breaks down unconscious bias and where it comes from.

The UK's most popular TV show, The Traitors, has come under the spotlight not just because of its popularity but because it has been accused of reflecting prejudice in British society. The charge is that contestants from ethnic minorities are more likely to be expelled early on in the game because of unconscious bias, particularly unconscious racial bias. Others shows too, like Strictly Come Danci...