Leveraging social media

A guinea pig sanctuary faces being shut down after fans comments gushing over its 'piggies' on Facebook were wrongly interpreted as hate speech towards police. The future of Masons' Cavies is under threat after algorithms flagged up the harmless fan talk as harassment and bullying. Owners Sophie, 31, and Mark Mason, 45, and their members have received a string of warnings that their comments are offensive because they use the terms 'piggies', 'pigs' and 'guinea pigs.' The sanctuary's free Facebook page, which has reached 20 million people, is still in operation. But the centre has had its content and income stopped as the community site where fans donate has been blocked, according to The Sun . The wellbeing of its 89 animals is now in jeopardy as the sanctuary has lost its monthly revenue of up to £4,000. It comes as a concern given the centre's annual cost to care for its critters is £20,000. Sophie, from Lincoln, said: “It’s totally ridiculous because the … [Read more...] about Guinea pig sanctuary could close after Facebook views ‘pig’ chat as police hate

Prince Harry and Meghan have given an explosive tell-all interview to Oprah Winfrey, opening up about racism concerns, suicidal thoughts and Royal Family rifts. The two-hour prime-time interview with the US chat host - where "no subject is off limits" - has given the couple their chance to tell their story and left many reeling from the unexpected revelations . As the Duke and Duchess of Sussex admit they walked away from life as senior royals because they felt "trapped", we look at the network of famous and influential figures they've got on speed dial now they've built a new life in the US. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris While the Royal Family remain staunchly apolitical, Prince Harry and Meghan's departure from "The Firm" has allowed them freedom to have a more friendly relationship with political movers and shakers. Advertisement Harry's past work on military issues bought him into close contact with the Bidens, … [Read more...] about Harry and Meghan: The celebrities and influential figures who make up their LA inner circle

WHEN news of the latest lockdown broke, parents all over the nation were horrified at the thought of having to homeschool their kids again. The internet erupted with mums venting their fury as they geared up to juggle work with becoming a substitute teacher . But many women who don’t or can’t have children say they would have relished the chance to homeschool them, and were left feeling very frustrated. So do homeschooling mums need to suck it up and realise how lucky they are? Or do they have every right to complain ? Two writers give Anna Roberts their opposing views. NO says child-free Samantha Brick WRITER Samantha Brick, 49, originally from Birmingham, now lives in France with her carpenter husband Pascal, 59. She says: "When Boris made the latest doom-laden announcements, my first thought was, “Here we go again”. Not with lockdown, but with those mums groaning about having their precious little darlings at home with them. Instead of doing … [Read more...] about I’m sick of mums complaining about homeschooling – you chose to have kids & school wasn’t invented as a babysitter

CAGED Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny has overtaken Vladimir Putin as Russia's most talked-about politician for the first time, according to new analysis. The 44-year-old was said to have been mentioned on social media 1.3 million times more than Putin after being detained at a Moscow airport on January 17, having recovered from a Novichok nerve agent attack. Navalny was later sentenced to two-and-a-half years in a prison labour camp. This was punishment for failing to report to police in August while he fought for his life in a hospital in Germany after falling ill on a plane in Siberia — in a widely suspected attempted Kremlin-assassination. Before he was jailed, Navalny released a bombshell video revealing a secret Black Sea pleasure palace allegedly built by Putin at a cost of £1 billion, which has now been viewed more than 100 million times. Anger over his jailing and the palace claims sparked angry demonstrations involving tens of thousands of angry citizens … [Read more...] about Putin facing biggest ever threat as enemy Alexei Navalny is ‘now MORE POPULAR’ than him for the first time

Buckingham Palace remains silent almost 24 hours after Harry and Meghan's bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey aired in the US - with the British public divided on the couple's explosive claims following its first UK broadcast. While the world waits for a response from the Royal Family, celebrities and a number of charities have been expressing their support for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex over their comments - notably surrounding Meghan 's openness about how her mental health was impacted by her time as a working royal. Meghan revealed she had suicidal thoughts during her time in the family. The duchess claimed she asked to go somewhere for help, but a senior person in the institution told her it would not look good. Revelations from the Oprah interview The duchess also claimed - to Oprah's apparent disbelief - that an unnamed member of the royal household had "concerns" about the skin colour of the couple's son Archie before he was born. … [Read more...] about Meghan and Harry interview: Palace silent and public divided after couple’s bombshell Oprah discussion airs in UK