Need to Know
12 : 04 : 23

UK – The BBC’s learning platform Bitesize has launched a new video campaign with humorous clips to warn students not to use unverified user-generated content when revising for exams. Don’t Learn Off Randoms was launched before exam season, when students are most likely to turn to the internet to assist with their revision.

Owing to the proliferation of user-generated platforms and the increased dissemination of misinformation, students are likely to use false or unverified information in their exams. BBC Bitesize – an exam board-approved platform – developed the campaign with the help of the in-house agency BBC Creative. The shorts, directed by Danish film-maker Bine Bach Damsgård, are being rolled out on young consumers’ favourite social media platforms, including TikTok and YouTube.

In The Zalpha Reckoning, we looked at how this youngest generation are the most digitally native, yet they are not immune to online misinformation.

Sweden – After a first breakthrough in 2019 with innovative combs, Swedish artist and industrial designer Simon Skinner continues to pay homage to his Afro-Caribbean heritage with a new Syntax collection of eight hand-made hair accessories. Skinner’s creations find inspiration in everything from barber shops as safe spaces for Black individuals to neolithic examples of Afro picks made from bones. The combs are already available in limited edition and retail from £62 ($77, €70) to £202 ($251, €229).

‘Historically, the afro comb has been used as a ceremonial vessel of social status, as well as resistance and compassion,’ the designer told Vogue Scandinavia. ‘My intent is to reflect those values and introduce them to a future high-brow society.’

In our most recent Haircare Market, we looked at how brands answer customers’ growing expectations for functional personal care by releasing new products, elevating natural hair and boosting sensory experiences. Simon Skinner’s work should remind beauty players that there is empowerment in tailoring products and devices to historically underprivileged communities.

Global – LibidOlympics, a global study released in April 2023 by sexual wellness brand Lovehoney, reveals that Hong Kong is the region with the highest libido. The company surveyed 22,000 sexually active respondents of all genders by asking them to rate their libido on a scale of one to 10. With a rating of 7.16, the city and special administrative region of China landed the number one spot, followed by Italy (6.93), Spain (6.91) and the US (6.46). Japan was at the bottom of the list with a rating of 4.73.

The results hint at a shift in China regarding conversations about sex and old taboos. Hong Kong-based relationship therapist Valentina Tudose told HypeBae: ‘These are very promising results for the Hong Kong population, previously thought to experience relatively low satisfaction levels in the bedroom. It is wonderful that Hong Kong women are open to speaking about their interest in sex and let go of old beliefs around female sexuality.’

In It’s Time Sexual Wellness Got Real, we previously looked at how an intersectional lens is crucial to sexual wellness R&D, especially for brands seeking opportunities in emerging countries.