Fashion & lifestyle

Breaking Free From the Social Media Trap: Instagram Algorithms and TikTok’s Future

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Should we adapt or explore new ways to connect?


Exploring the possibilities of breaking free from the social media trap has become increasingly urgent. With Instagram introducing a new algorithm and TikTok facing a ban in the US, one must ask: does it make sense to keep adapting to the strategies of tech giants, or would it be healthier to seek alternative ways to connect?

Although we don’t use TikTok, we can’t deny that the new Instagram layout is a major disappointment. We’ve never been ones to chase the algorithm, preferring instead to use social media as a tool for fostering genuine connections. 

That said, let’s take a closer look at what’s been happening in the social media landscape recently.

Why Instagram’s algorithm changes are problematic


The recent Instagram update has sparked significant concerns among creators and users alike. Here’s why:

1 – Excessive Emphasis on Video Content
Instagram’s new algorithm highlights its ongoing attempt to mimic TikTok, favouring vertical video content. This shift burdens creators who specialise in static content, such as photos and graphics, as the algorithm prioritises 9:16 videos, reducing the organic visibility of other formats.

2 – Disruption of Feed Harmony
For those who have curated cohesive feeds based on the 1:1 ratio, the update is highly disruptive. Truncated posts lose their visual coherence, and there’s no way to retroactively adjust previously published content to fit the new layout.

How the TikTok ban exposes social media’s fragility


TikTok’s brief shutdown on Sunday, coupled with its uncertain future, reveals just how delicate the fragmented social media landscape truly is. The ByteDance-owned platform temporarily disabled its app in the United States to comply with a divest-or-ban mandate. Although web browser access was restored for some US users, the mobile app remained largely inaccessible.

These shifts in the social media ecosystem highlight the growing tension between platforms prioritising fleeting trends and users striving to preserve their creative integrity. Meanwhile, many simply follow along blindly, seldom pausing to question the impact. 

Finding healthier alternatives to connect


Breaking free from the social media trap has never felt more urgent. Our lives, data, and connections are increasingly controlled by a few tech giants. When they change their strategies, we bear the consequences. If they shut down, we risk losing everything. Is this truly a safe or sustainable environment?

Rather than continuously adapting to their ever-shifting priorities, we believe it’s time to explore healthier, more meaningful ways to connect. The power to create a better digital future lies in our hands.

🖤 We’d love to hear from you! Whether you have questions, feedback, or just want to say hello, we’re all ears.

📲 Connect with us on WhatsApp, by e-mail, or by commenting below (just register first).

Let’s start a conversation #ForModernHumans

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Oliviero Toscani: A Life Lived Against The Grain

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Lessons from his visionary and controversial legacy


Oliviero Toscani, the trailblazing photographer known for his provocative campaigns, has passed away at 82 from a rare disease. Iconoclastic, daring, and deeply influential, Toscani leaves behind a body of work that continues to inspire and challenge conventional thinking.

Back in August, Toscani revealed to the newspaper Corriere della Sera that he had been diagnosed with a terminal illness, amyloidosis. This rare condition involves a build-up of abnormal protein deposits in the body, disrupting its functions. Also, he candidly admitted he didn’t know how much time he had left.

For many of us, Toscani’s work was an indelible part of growing up. In fact, his bold imagery for Benetton’s campaigns was inescapable, with each new billboard sparking heated debates and social discourse. However, Toscani wasn’t just a photographer; he was a provocateur who made audacity the cornerstone of his work.

The visionary yet controversial legacy of Oliviero Toscani


In his own words, Toscani succinctly expressed his philosophy:

“If you tell the truth, you scare people; if you’re free, you scare people. I believe provocation is intrinsic to art. If art doesn’t provoke something, it’s useless: it must spark discussions, perspectives, interest, and maybe even change someone’s mind.”

This ethos defined his career. Toscani’s work was provocative, unorthodox, and visionary. Specifically, he was a pioneer in merging fashion with societal commentary, often choosing to omit the product itself to spotlight larger narratives. Diversity—at a time when no one talked about it. Racism. Anorexia.

His approach defied trends and market demands. As he once declared:

“I don’t do things for the market; I don’t even know what the market wants.”

One of his most striking statements resonates profoundly:

“Life only makes sense if lived ‘against.’ Conformity kills creativity.”

It’s a call to do things when others don’t, to break free from the norm and embrace creative freedom. 

Finally, in an interview on the Italian TV programme Quante Storie — a show dedicated to exploring new books — Toscani delivered a piercing critique of modern culture:

“I find social media to be mental concentration camps that create uniformity.”

This sentiment underscores his lifelong fight against mediocrity and conformity, championing a world where art and thought challenge and inspire.

Conclusion


Oliviero Toscani, who passed away at 82, leaves a profound legacy defined by attentive observation and uncompromising provocation. His work serves as a testament to the importance of questioning the status quo and embracing a new perspective. Toscani’s fearless creativity will resonate for years, inspiring future generations to push boundaries and challenge the ordinary.

Most importantly, his legacy teaches us to use our work—whatever it may be—to deliver a deeper message.

🖤 We’d love to hear from you! Whether you have questions, feedback, or just want to say hello, we’re all ears. 

📲 Connect with us on WhatsApp, by e-mail, or by commenting below (just register first).

Let’s start a conversation #ForModernHumans

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Just Thank You

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Reflecting on a year of quiet revolution and shared gratitude


As we close the year, we want to pause, reflect, and simply say thank you. 2024 has been a challenging year for humanity and ecology—and for fashion. Yet, we are deeply grateful to everyone who has been part of our journey, a quiet revolution #formodernhumans.

Since 2006, we’ve championed an alternative vision of fashion—one that values quality over quantity, value over noise, and creativity over mindless trends. This year, our dedication to curating meaningful garments from independent designers has remained unwavering. A quiet revolution amid the devastating clamour of the fashion industry and its commercial noise.

In a world where business logic flattens creativity, your support has kept our vision alive. You are the heart of what we do, and for that, we extend our deepest gratitude:

To each person who purchased from us: we exist thanks to you. To every person who embraced our ethos and supported our boutique, your trust is our foundation. You make our existence possible.

To the designers—the creative minds behind every stitch, sketch, and idea—your work inspires us daily. Thank you for sharing your creativity and enriching our selection with your unique vision.

To our commercial partners—those who have treated us with care and humanity—thank you for being allies in our mission.

To our contributors, blog readers, and community—your engagement sparks meaningful conversations and keeps this journey vibrant.

Finally, thank you for the moments you’ve shared with us, for inspiring one another and for allowing us to shape a unique narrative.

As we step into a new year, we carry your trust in our vision as a beacon of hope—for fashion, humanity, and the planet. 

Thank you for being an integral part of our story. Together, we move forward with purpose.

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The Luxury Shame: A Growing Sentiment

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How the perception of luxury is evolving in a changing world


“Luxury shame” has emerged as one of the most pressing realities highlighted in the latest Altagamma Observatory 2024. It represents a shift towards avoiding ostentation, favouring discretion, and supporting local products.

Take China, for example, where government policies have actively discouraged conspicuous displays of wealth. In times of crisis, the Chinese government seeks to shield the younger generation from materialism by curbing excessive consumption and promoting the purchase of domestic goods. However, this sentiment extends beyond China, casting ripples that impact global luxury brands.

What does ‘luxury shame’ means?


But what exactly is luxury shame? It refers to a behavioural trend among affluent individuals, particularly those in the upper-middle class, who feel uncomfortable displaying their wealth publicly. They fear social judgement, or worse, being vilified by those less fortunate.

We have long questioned the decline of luxury brands. Their strategy of inflating prices while compromising on quality is increasingly glaring. Mass-produced goods, no matter how expensive, fail to embody true luxury. True luxury is not about price tags; it is about craftsmanship, rarity, and authenticity—qualities many so-called luxury products seem to lack today.

So, more in detail, what is luxury? As Coco Chanel aptly stated: “Some people think luxury is the opposite of poverty. It is not. It is the opposite of vulgarity.”

Since the advent of social media, we have been inundated with images flaunting luxury. Yet, in this deluge, vulgarity has flourished. The pervasive portrayal of luxury is often exaggerated, inauthentic, and gaudy, eroding the essence of elegance. As contemporary luxury has expanded, true elegance seems to have vanished entirely.

Conclusion


In these times of instability and perma-crisis, luxury shame has become a powerful counterforce, with ostentatious displays of wealth increasingly condemned as vulgar and inappropriate. Could this herald a transformation, purging social media of its garish excess?
While a complete reset may be unlikely, it may ignite a much-needed shift towards a more thoughtful, refined, and genuinely elegant direction.

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Netflix: Buy Now! The Shopping Conspiracy – Why you should watch

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Corporate tricks that encourage overconsumption and why accountability matters


The latest Netflix documentary on sustainability, Buy Now! The Shopping Conspiracy, released on November 20th this year, is a must-watch for anyone who shops—anywhere.

12,000, 25,000, 36,000, and 1.3 million. What do these numbers represent? They are the staggering quantities of items produced annually by Gap, H&M, Zara, and Shein, respectively.

Intrigued by how we, as consumers, are persuaded to buy more than we need, I decided to watch it. The trailer promised a compelling exploration of this phenomenon.

Netflix, Buy Now!: Corporate manipulation exposed


Have you ever wondered where all those products go—the ones we discard without a second thought? This so-called “away” isn’t some magical place. It’s real, and it’s devastating.

This is where away is:

The land of waste


Netflix’s Buy Now! The Shopping Conspiracy takes an instructional approach to unravel the system behind overconsumption. The documentary is structured around five shocking directives: sell more, waste more, lie more, hide more, and control more.
Throughout these segments, former insiders from Amazon, Apple, Unilever, and Adidas reveal how companies manipulate us. Eric Liedtke, former Adidas Brand President, explains it bluntly: “You don’t need a new piece of clothing; you need a compelling reason to buy it.”

Netflix Buy Now! The Shopping Conspiracy – Official trailer


Have you noticed that the colour of Sprite bottles is no longer green but clear plastic? Even these subtle changes have a sinister purpose. Coca-Cola made the change to hide the environmental impact of their products. In fact, when the bottles were green they were easily identifiable in landfills.

But the manipulation doesn’t stop at marketing. It extends to how products are designed, determining their lifespan and whether they can be repaired. These calculated decisions ensure a cycle of relentless consumption, benefiting corporations at the expense of people and the planet.

The impact of product design and consumer behaviour


In today’s world, items are no longer built to last, they have short lifespans. Phones get replaced every three years, and clothing falls apart after a few washes so people replace it every month, if not weekly.

There are some things my family has had for more than ten years that have lasted the test of time, from our Christmas tree my parents bought more than twenty years ago to the dining table they have that has been repurposed into a desk. These pieces were built to last, unlike many products today. Take my computer, for instance. In the six years I’ve owned it, I’ve had to replace the battery. But, the battery is glued inside the device, requiring the replacement of an entire panel.

This isn’t an accident. Kyle Wiens, CEO of iFixit, says Apple censors information so that consumers find it harder to repair devices, making them more likely to buy a new one.
A prime example of this approach is wireless earphones. They are designed with batteries precisely placed and glued into the devices, making replacements nearly impossible. The result? Consumers are left with no choice but to discard and replace them when the battery dies—further fuelling the cycle of waste.

The design flaws and deliberate barriers to repairability aren’t going unnoticed. Recent efforts, such as New York’s legislation on the right to repair electronic products and the EU’s new environmental regulations, demonstrate a growing awareness of the issue. While some companies are taking steps toward sustainability, these efforts remain insufficient to counteract the immense damage already done.

Conclusion: Netflix Buy Now! No novelty, but worth watching


It may not be a groundbreaking concept, but the Netflix documentary Buy Now! effectively exposes corporate manipulation. Hopefully, it will reach a broader audience.

While corporations and governments bear the greatest responsibility for systemic change, as individuals we hold significant power too. We can demand accountability from companies, advocate for action through our local representatives and most importantly, make mindful choices in our daily lives. This means buying less, prioritising true quality garments that are made to last and exploring vintage or second-hand options whenever possible.

Before making your next purchase, ask yourself: Do I really need that new fast-fashion dress?

Every decision we make has the power to challenge the status quo and contribute to a more sustainable future.

✍️ Post written by Sorcha Gorman, a scholar from Melbourne / Australia, studying Public Relations at Università Cattolica in Milan. Currently interning with suite123.

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