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The best of the long read in 2025

Our 20 favourite pieces of in-depth reporting, essays and profiles from the yearVictor Pelevin made his name in 90s Russia with scathing satires of authoritarianism. But while his literary peers have faced censorship and fled the country, he still sells millions. Has he become a Kremlin apologist? Continue reading…

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Should we turn the internet off?

The long-running series in which readers answer other readers’ questions ponders whether life would be better in a post-online, analogue worldThe internet has turned fringe belief into mainstream politics and policy – from authoritarianism to vaccines. With democracy itself threatened, is it time to go back to a previous world of landlines, letters and face

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A tape measure, a metal detector and a spirit level: 25 surprisingly useful things you can do with your phone

While many use our phones predominantly to doomscroll, smartphones have a range of little-known functions that could make life better and easier – from heart monitoring to even developing camera filmOur smartphones are magical things – far more than dopamine drip providers and a way to keep in touch with friends and family. Using the

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Tinsel and Home Alone back in style as TikTok seeks comfort in #90sChristmas

Emphasis this year is on nostalgia as present day feels ‘a bit more uncertain’, say trend expertsTinsel, DIY tree decorations, deep burgundy drapes – and Home Alone on VHS. Christmas has gone retro on TikTok, and in people’s living rooms.The app has reported a surge in Christmas decor videos, with an emphasis on nostalgia as

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Move over Bluetooth: wired headphones are back – and suddenly cool again

From celebrity endorsements to digital fatigue, the once-obsolete white wire has become a fashion statement and a quiet act of opting outWith white-wired headphones endorsed by celebrities including Lily-Rose Depp, Paul Mescal, Bella Hadid and Apple Martin, a growing number of people are breaking away from wireless listening.For inspiration, there is the Instagram account @wireditgirls,

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Karts, cakes and karaoke: the eight best party games to play with family this Christmas

Whether your household is in the mood for singing, driving, quizzing or shouting, here are our top choices for homely holiday funMultiplayer hand-to-hand combat games are ridiculously good fun and there are plenty to choose from, including the rather similar Gang Beasts and Party Animals. I’ve gone for this one, however, which lets everyone pick

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AI toys are suddenly everywhere – but I suggest you don’t give them to your children | Arwa Mahdawi

Earlier this year my four-year-old tried out an AI soft toy for a few days. New research indicates I was right to be creeped outIf you’re thinking about buying your kid a new-fangled AI-powered toy for the holidays, may I kindly suggest you don’t? I’m sure most Guardian readers would be horrified by the very

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From ‘glacier aesthetic’ to ‘poetcore’: Pinterest predicts the visual trends of 2026 based on its search data

If search interest holds, glitchy glam, cool blue, aliencore and gummy bear aesthetics are among the vibes set to rock the creative world next yearNext year, we’ll mostly be indulging in maximalist circus decor, working on our poetcore, hunting for the ethereal or eating cabbage in a bid for “individuality and self-preservation”, according to Pinterest.The

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‘It has to be genuine’: older influencers drive growth on social media

As midlife audiences turn to digital media, the 55 to 64 age bracket is an increasingly important demographicIn 2022, Caroline Idiens was on holiday halfway up an Italian mountain when her brother called to tell her to check her Instagram account. “I said, ‘I haven’t got any wifi. And he said: ‘Every time you refresh,

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YouTube says it will comply with Australia’s under-16s social media ban, with Lemon8 to also restrict access

Australia’s under-16s social media ban might take weeks to work but all platforms are on notice, government saysFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastYouTube will comply with the federal government’s under-16s social media ban, but its parent company Google has warned the laws

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