List of All Articles with Tag 'tik'

David Harmes, 27, found children on TikTok and Snapchat and told them they were "perfect" for modelling.

The popular Chinese TikTok series amplifies nationalist calls for the return of the country's treasures.

We feel like we shouldn’t need to say this, but if you ever come across one of the most venomous creatures on the planet the last thing you should do is pet it. That’s exactly what one TikTokker seems to have done after filming themselves playing with the deadly Portuguese Man O' War. The animal has a deserved reputation as one of the most toxic creatures on Earth, with paralyzing venom found in its long tentacles. But the account "daily aquatic lovelies" has posted grabs from one video which shows someone tickling the dangerous animal. It appears to be from the now-deleted account @ariann-tudor. Thankfully, the person in the video didn’t appear to be harmed, but the incident could have been very damaging indeed. @lindsaynikole stitch w/ @arianntudor #manowar The footage that remains shows the creature had been scooped up into a plastic cup before the person touches the very top of the animal – thankfully avoiding the tentacles. The animal is rarely deadly to humans, but contact with its venom is incredibly painful and can cause pains in the chest and breathing problems. The animal’s venom still certainly packs a punch, and they can still sting people and animals weeks after they’ve died and washed up on beaches. While you’d think the creature would be a jellyfish, given its appearance, the Portuguese Man O' War are actually classed as siphonophores. If you thought petting one of the dangerous creatures was unwise, one influencer went viral a few years ago after licking one. Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings

A former Apprentice star has caused a stir on social media after calling solo diners "pathetic" who need to make friends. Earlier this week, Good Morning Britain delved into the divisive topic of solo dining which saw Ryan Mark Parsons go head-to-head with Kiss FM presenter Alex Mansuroglu, who believes it is "freeing". An opinionated Parsons did not hold back, sharing: "I think people that do it are pathetic. I think Alex is one of those losers that goes to restaurants alone, and it's weird. He continued: "I go to restaurants and see solo diners and I'm just uncomfortable. I question the motives, I think it's really really bizarre." Meanwhile, Mansuroglu explained: "I lead a very busy life, I have two kids at home. "If I can have a 30-minute Nando's to myself before I get home and then pick up a little takeaway for my kids and fiance, that's great, it's freeing. "People sometimes think I might have been stood up, I might get a free dessert in this, I might get 10 per cent off the bill, I think it's amazing and great," he added. A snippet of the chat has since been shared on TikTok, which saw thousands of users chime in with their opinions. Many of which hit back at Parson's take, with one writing: "So he needs constant companionship… no that’s odd". @goodmorningbritain Fans of 'solo dining' claim it promotes healthier 'mindful' eating as they focus on their food, rather than being distracted by chatter. Online searches for 'solo dining' soared by 357% in 12 months and the report by hospitality experts is urging pubs and eateries to cater for loners by playing background music to 'fill the void of no conversation.' What do you think? #GMB#goodmorningbritain#debate Another joked: "Wait until he finds out people travel alone". A third wrote: "He clearly isn't comfortable with himself if he can't do things like that alone, what difference is eating alone at a restaurant or at home". Others were quick to jump to the defence of solo diners, with one calling it "impressive." They commented: "I think the opposite, I think people doing things alone are impressive. They’re content in their own company and have the confidence to do it". Meanwhile, another quoted novelist Charles Bukowski, who famously said: "Beware those who seek constant crowds, for they are nothing alone." Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

Thrill-seekers have long headed to amusement parks to get their kicks from twisting roller-coasters or plunging drop towers. But the kids’ zone is generally considered a pretty safe place for the whole family. And yet, one dad was apparently so overwhelmed with joy when he joined his kids on a fairground ride that he passed out cold while they were still strapped in. Lewis Conley Waterman was filmed beaming as he sat next to his toddler son and young daughter on a giant double-sided swing at a Butlins in Skegness. He enthusiastically raised his arms to get into the funfair spirit as the ride swung into action. And yet, just as his little girl was screaming and giggling with glee, he suddenly slumped to one side. Posting the clip to TikTok, Lewis wrote in a caption: “Still can’t believe I passed out on a children’s fair ride.” @lewisconley93 Passing out on a children’s fair ride #passedout #funny #fairrides #fypシ His video has now racked up more than 4 million views and 183,000 likes, with more than 1,000 commentators reminiscing on their own, similar experiences. “I remember when I went on this ride some people were screaming and I was falling asleep [because] of how relaxing it was,” one recalled. “I went on the tea cups and I passed out. No joke I’ve got a video,” wrote another. “I was so close to passing out on the Zipper and the Zero Gravity ride. My life flashed before my eyes,” admitted a third. Others expressed concern for Lewis, urging him to get checked out by a doctor and suggesting he might suffer from a condition called postural tachycardia syndrome (PoTS). According to the NHS, PoTS is when your heart rate increases very quickly after getting up from sitting or lying down. The health service notes that the causes of PoTS are unclear, and that it can develop suddenly or gradually over time. “It can get better with changes to your lifestyle, but some people may need treatment with medicines,” it states on its website. Changes to your lifestyle? We guess that means no more trips to Butlins. Sorry, Lewis. Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

In today’s world, social media is usually the culprit for circulating conspiracy theories and stories. The recent viral discussion online is the Russian sleep experiment, as some wonder if it was real, after a video claimed a film covering the incident is being made. The story first surfaced on a Creepypasta forum. The post described to readers a Soviet-era experiment where scientist created a stimulant that allowed soldiers to go without sleep for 30 days. As the story goes, in order to prove and showcase the effects of the stimulant, five prisoners were selected and promised freedom at the end of the test. The five men were then locked in the chamber and gas was pumped inside it. However, the story reveals that the experiment did not go well as all the men began to experience symptoms of sleep deprivation. Halfway through the 30 day time period, the scientists conducting the experiment were forced to enter the chamber as there was no visibility due to the gas. When they opened the door one prisoner was dead and the other four had several horrific injuries that were presumed to be self-inflicted. Despite some belief that the Russian sleep experiment is real, it is in fact a work of fiction, as is almost all stories posted to Creepypasta. Stories are shared on the platform to scare readers, with the website initially reposting stories found on existing platforms such as 4chan and Reddit. Over time, the site allowed people to post anonymously and share their own stories. However, it is true that a movie has been based on the story. On Apple TV+ you can stream The Sleep Experiment if you’re in the mood for a horrifying watch. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

Nineteen large platforms have to start complying with new rules as soon as Friday or risk big fines.

As it is the month of August, it's no surprise that Taylor Swift's song August is a currently trending, as people on TikTok have been using the music in videos to channel their main character energy. But a new spin on the trend has seen people's pets take center stage as they are dramatically spun around as Swift sings in the song: "Back when we were still changin' for the better / Wanting was enough / For me, it was enough / To live for the hope of it all..." From dogs, cats, to a hamster, a goat, even a racoon and a hedgehog are some examples of the animals being spun around as part of the trend, with many looking bewildered at their owner's actions. Here are some viral examples that have racked up millions of views: @.naaaat HIS ARMS REACHING OUT I CANNOT @shaneequah_ safe to say indie loved it #fyp#lambs#petspinningchallange @lizzie3427 He tried to kill me after this #fyp #taylorswift #racoon #august #spintrend @sabz.i i don’t think i did this right @emmacchristie Sorry tilly While the owners may be having fun making these TikToks with their pets, animal charity Cats Protection warned that doing this action is not in the best interests for the welfare of pets. "At no point should an animal deliberately be put in a position to feel fear, anxiety, frustration or experience pain for the benefit of human entertainment," Central Behaviour Officer Daniel Warren-Cummings told Metro. "Cats in particular will experience extreme stress by being swung or spun around and it could even cause them physical harm." "In the videos highlighted, the cats are showing clear signs of distress. Even more disappointingly, these are being described as cute or funny in the comments section by people who appear to count themselves as cat lovers. Warren-Cummings added: "It’s clear from the language that the owners don’t understand that animals don’t feel and behave the same way humans do and this undercuts the distress that the cats are experiencing.’ He also noted that even if the actions in the video are brief, it is still "unethical and should not be encouraged.’ Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

Americans tell the BBC how what they see online is changing their political views.

Deadly road accidents involving vehicles overloaded with migrants are a regular occurrence in Mexico.

A Taylor Swift lookalike has come under fire for causing chaos when she went out in public pretending to be the pop star as part of an internet prank. Ashley Leechin - who has 1.6m followers on TikTok - sported a white top, blue jeans, accessorised with a red bag, red leather cap, and signature red lipstick in a look reminiscent of Swift's Red era. With several 'security guards' surrounding her, Leechin turned up to The Grove, a popular shopping mall in Los Angeles where she was swarmed by Swifties who believed they were seeing the Anti-Hero singer in the flesh. Leechin then showed up at Downtown Disney, the shopping district of Disneyland in Anaheim, California where she repeated the prank and appeared to fool members of the public. @paolaamarcella Yall think this was taylor? #viral #taylorswift #thegrove #fyp #losangeles The two instances were part of a prank video by YouTuber Victor Galvan (Vic In The Game) who has posted videos of similar stunts, with his latest video being a "Fake Bad Bunny prank.". Clips of Leechin being swarmed by fans quickly made rounds of social media, with people criticising her for pretending to be the popular musician out in public, calling the stunt "irresponsible," especially in light of fans recently congregating outside a restaurant where the real Taylor Swift was eating. One person wrote: "You guys are really irresponsible for doing this given the recent events and the likelihood of security concerns that could arise. Also, this is disgusting!" "This is such weird behavior," another person said. Someone else added: "How is this Ashley girl gonna say she did it because other celebrities hire dupes in the past??? Taylor didn’t hire you, you did it for attention." "Taylor should sue them or get a restraining order against that Ashley," a fourth person commented. Leechin has since responded to the negative online reaction and took to TikTok where she explained she collaborated with Galvan, so wasn't the one who hired the bodyguards, and described the stunt was a "social experiment." @noitisashley13 Sorry late post. ‘A day in the life of a celebrity’ - only because it was Taylor everyone is blowing this out of proportion. If it were anyone else, it would have had a completely different outcome. This is why celebrities would hire decoys so they can enjoy their private event or quiey evening. Thank you to everyone who was so kind & sweet yesterday. Not going squash any other rumors because that is pointless. Just a friendly reminder, please do not bully any of my friends. You can bully me because it seems to be an okay thing to do in the ‘swiftie’ fandom but please do not bully my friends because they were incredible to work with. #itsjustashley #vicinthegame #taylorswift "This social experiment was to live a day in the life of a celebrity to see what would happen if I went out looking like Taylor Swift and so from all the videos that you guys have seen [of] fans swarming, this goes to how far a fandom will go," she said. Leechin also said the stunt was a "positive experience," and added it "was not to be malicious it was not to mock anyone," but admitted the timing was "horrific" referring to Swift recently being swarmed by fans. "It was not a 'malicious act' by any means & I want everyone to know that words do not affect me," Leechin wrote in a recent Instagram Story. "Decoys have been hired multiple times by celebrities in the past (many more than just JLo & Ben [Affleck]). The massive amount of positivity I have received outweighs your negativity. "This really shows how far a fandom will go & the true possessiveness that some fandoms have over a celebrity." In another story, she added: "Please don’t expect me to turn off my comments, stop making content or disappear for that matter. It is called freedom of speech for a reason and you have as much air as you want to say what you need to say. "The videos surfacing are taken way out of context & I just want to say to those who have messaged me and have said very kind things, I see you and I thank you. I just hope those who are angry over speculation do not dwell on this and can eventually enjoy their day." Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

By Kanishka Singh WASHINGTON New York City on Wednesday banned TikTok on government-owned devices, citing security concerns, joining