Why Adele Might Get You to Step Away from Social Media in the New Year

DeAnna Janes
Dec 13, 2015

There are some who simply kan’t live without Twitter (Kardashians, we’re looking at you). And then there are others who would rather leave the Tweeting to the birds. Like Adele.

In a recent interview with I-D, the wise-beyond-her-years songbird chats about her no-thank-you temperament toward the 140-character method of oversharing, saying, “I think most people tend to give in to it because it is easier, but I just can’t. I’m uncomfortable with giving into that kind of thing.”

And though she’s had her fair share of Tweet-gret in the form of some drunk Tweeting, these days she keeps her feed more of a heartfelt hub of humility, rather than the narcissistic wasteland most of us are probably used to scrolling through.

Several other celebrities share Adele’s feelings about the site, including Emma Stone, Kanye West and multi-hyphenate Kate Winslet, who told the Sunday Times she doesn’t allow Twitter — or any social media — in her household anymore.

Well, they might be on to something. A study published recently in the Journal of Communication has found that the ubiquitous microblog specifically and its emotive immediacy are linked to some pretty unworthy qualities, namely negativity and big fat egos.

But here’s where it gets interesting. Your Tweeting device of choice makes all the difference in your tone. “We found evidence that users Tweet differently from mobile devices and that mobile Tweeting is informing new behaviors, attitudes and linguistic styles online,” study author Dhiraj Murthy, of Goldsmiths, University of London, writes.

Analyzing 235 million Tweets collected over a six-week period in 2013, Murthy and his colleagues found that messages sent from smartphones, rather than Web-based tweets, were, in the words of Carly Simon, so vain. Twenty-five percent more vain to be exact (with the platform’s latest innovation, the Twitter poll, we can probably expect that number to climb).

“Mobile phones have facilitated processes of personal transformation toward greater individualization,” Mark Deuze, professor of journalism and media at University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands, writes in his book, Media Life.

What’s more, the researchers found that people especially love to Tweet about themselves from their phones in the morning and late at night. “Though Tweeting is not suppressed midday, our egocentricity is. When we are at work or school, we may focus more on activities that are communal or we may not have time to Tweet,” Murthy writes.

So morning people and insomniacs just can’t deal. That’s somewhat understandable. But why is everyone so sour on Saturday nights? “There appears to be an unexpectedly large tendency toward negative Tweets from both mobile and Web sources on Saturday evening,” Murthy writes.

Here’s a thought: It’s Saturday. Get off Twitter and, hello, engage with others from the other side. Off the screen, that is.

We promise to only Tweet about all those things you need to live more creatively — follow us @britandco <3

(Photos via Sascha Steinbach, John Phillips, and Scott Barber / Getty Images)

14 Hilariously Relatable 'Bridgerton' Season 3 Reactions

And just like that, Bridgerton Season 3 has officially been released, and if you ask me, it's for all of us who have wanted the wallflower to finally get the respect (and love) she deserves. I'm still not over the way Colin and Penelope's story developed, or how she took the first step to show women they're able to be more than what society says. Dare I say Mrs. Bridgerton has joined the ranks of women who are all about empowerment in the series?

It seems like other people feel the same way I do about this epic season — and thatending — so I put together a list of the best Twitter reactions!

Violet Bridgerton is the ultimate mama bear who wants her kids to experience a full love like she did.

But, I have to admit I'm here for seeing Violet Bridgerton begin a new chapter in her life with Lady Danbury's brother (hopefully)!

The scream I screamed!

Eloise Bridgerton was so conflicted because she truly still cared for Penelope underneath her hurt masked as anger. And thankfully Kate was there to swoop in with her wisdom.

The music and silent confirmation from Colin that these two have always been destined for each other sent me over the edge. So many happy tears were shed during this scene!

This tweet was too good to ignore! Cressida was like, "I'm leaving here with something," and it doesn't include being married to an older man who wants to dim her light.

IYKYK 👀

It was nice to see a nod to the friendship Penelope and Lady Danbury had in the Bridgerton books this season.

Kilmartin may be introverted, but his charisma is off the charts when he decides to let it show.

Bridgerton Season 4 better give Benedict his flowers.

This is yet another scene that broke me and stitched me together at the same time.

I don't think we're okay after this season 😭.

No, someone should really check on us.

I thought Bridgerton Season 2 was the best one, but it seems like the series keeps getting better. I guess that's the point.

What was YOUR reaction to Bridgerton season 3? Let us know on X!

Lead image via Liam Daniel/Netflix

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Oh No! Sabrina Carpenter & Barry Keoghan Are Officially On “A Break”

Before they were publicly seen together, we were dying to know if singer Sabrina Carpenter was actually dating actor Barry Keoghan. Rumors about their relationship cropped up in late 2023, quickly became more than rumors for a while.

The pair made their official debut at the 2024 Met Gala, and they looked so cute together. Barry also enthusiastically supported Sabrina's Coachella performance last month, and we've been obsessed ever since. Since the two have been romantically linked for a while now, we’re taking a deeper look at their history and their chemistry.

Unfortunately, it seems these love birds have called it quits on their relationship — much to our dismay! While we hope this news is temporary, here's what we know about this celebrity split.

Here’s everything you need to know about Sabrina Carpenter's breakup with boyfriend, Barry Keoghan!

Who is Sabrina Carpenter?

Frazer Harrison / Getty Images

Sabrina Carpenter is a 24-year-old actress and singer. Her most popular acting roles began on Disney Channel from 2014 to 2017 with Girl Meets World and 2016’s Adventures in Babysitting.

Sabrina has been releasing original music since 2014, and her 2022 album titled Emails I Can’t Send landed her her first-ever top-40 chart entry. Her songs “Nonsense” and “Feather” are two of her top-listened tracks on Spotify.

Sabrina also opened for Taylor Swift at the Eras Tour in 2023.

Additionally, she's worked as a brand ambassador for Converse, Aeropostale, and Samsung, and launched a fragrance line in collaboration with Scent Beauty.

Sabrina was suspected to be dating singer Shawn Mendes last year, but he dispelled rumors about it very publicly in March 2023.

Who is Barry Keoghan?

Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Barry Keoghan is an award-winning 31-year-old Irish actor. He’s well-known for his roles in Dunkirk, The Killing of a Sacred Deer, Eternals, and Saltburn. He has also been in several TV series, from HBO’s Chernobyl to Apple TV+’s Masters of the Air.

Barry was previously dating girlfriend Alyson Kieran since September 2021, but the pairbroke up in July 2023 after Barry started seeing success for his performance in the film The Banshees of Inisherin. An inside source close to the couple said “they’ve grown apart over recent months and things have finally come to a head. As far as [Alyson is] concerned, it’s over.”

Barry and Alyson still share a young son named Brando, born in August 2022.

Is Barry Keoghan Sabrina Carpenter's Boyfriend? A Relationship Timeline

Catherine Powell / Getty Images for MTV

September 2023 — Sabrina Carpenter Attends NYC Saltburn Screening

In late September 2023, Sabrina attended an NYC advanced screening of Saltburn, a dark comedy film in which Barry stars. The pair was not seen together, but they were definitely in the same place at the same time.

The pair reportedly met for the first time during Paris Fashion Week at the Givenchy spring/summer 2024 show, just a week after the advanced screening.

December 2023 — Sabrina Carpenter & Barry Keoghan Spotted At Dinner

Sabrina and Barry were spotted on a casual dinner date in Los Angeles in December 2023. They weren’t quite visibly affectionate or close together in photos, but shared the same car.

Amy Sussman / Getty Images

January 2024 — Sabrina Carpenter & Barry Keoghan Spotted Together After 2024 Golden Globes

Sabrina and Barry were suspected to attend the 2024 Golden Globes together to debut their relationship, but the pair ended up attending separately.The two were later spotted out and about at LA’s Luna Luna interactive art installation later in January. Eyewitness accounts said "it definitely seemed like a date.” 👀

February 2024 — Sabrina Carpenter & Barry Keoghan Attend Grammys After Parties

In early February 2024, the duo was seen gettin’ cozy with each other at a Grammys after party. Someone had snapped a pic of them sitting next to each other, but it appeared they were pretty shy about showing their whole faces. Cute!

The couple confirmed their romance just around Valentine's Day with a fun-filled weekend in Los Angeles (with plenty of PDA, of course). They started out with dinner at Nobu before checking into Hotel Bel-Air. They next day, they spent time together at Sabrina's house in Hollywood and then went out on the town in style!

As much as we can tell, Sabrina and Barry are just having fun with it!

Amy Sussman and Jon Kopaloff / Getty Images for Vanity Fair

March 2024 — Sabrina Carpenter & Barry Keoghan Attend The 2024 Oscars

The 2024 Oscars marked Sabrina and Barry's first red carpet appearance as a couple! The pair pulled up in semi-coordinating outfits – her wearing a black sequined Tory Burch gown, him wearing a sleek black suit by Amiri.

Barry also accessorized his Oscars look with a beaded friendship bracelet (a la Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce) that spelled out Sabrina's name!

Photographed side-by-side several times, the couple also took the chance to reference their silly Grammys photo by hiding their faces for the camera. Love!

IG @sabrinacarpenter

April 2024 — Barry Keoghan Gets Spicy On Sabrina Carpenter's Instagram

On April 1, Barry left a fiery comment on Sabrina's Instagram. She posted a carousel promoting the new spring 2024 intimates collection from Skims, packed with steamy pics of her wearing pieces from the drop.

Barry's comment was "🔥🥵 barbie emoji," which is just too cute. Since Sabrina is known over social media as a Bratz doll, we love to see this brand new Barbie side!

Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for Coachella

April 2024 — Barry Keoghan Attends Sabrina Carpenter's Coachella Set

Barry – being the supportive boyfriend he is – was spotted in the crowd at Sabrina's Coachella weekend 1 set, and the couple shared a few cute moments even when they were apart!

Barry was seen happily snapping pictures on his phone like a proud parent during the high-energy performance. Sabrina also cutely waved to Barry from the stage, and he was definitely fangirling over it! We would be fangirling too, TBH! 🔥

After Sabrina's set, the pair was spotted together in the crowd at Ice Spice's performance alongside friends Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce. The four appeared to just be hanging out and chatting among themselves in between songs!

Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images for The Met Museum / Vogue and Jamie McCarthy / Getty Images

May 2024 — Sabrina Carpenter & Barry Keoghan Attend The Met Gala

The couple stepped out together to attend the 2024 Met Gala. Sabrina sported a gorgeous black gown with blooming blue details while Barry's look channeled a 19th century Englishman. They posed together with their signature 'hands over the face' pose, with Barry using his hat as a shield. We are enamored by these two!

Frazer Harrison / Getty Images

November 2024 — Barry Keoghan Opens Up About "Special" Relationship

Sabrina Carpenter and Barry Keoghan haven't historically been too clear on the nature of their relationship. Are they exclusive? Are they dating around? What's the deal? Well, Barry just let us in on how he feels about the whole thing.

The actor was a guest on The Louis Theroux Podcast, and the host outright asked if the pair was dating. Barry laughed and said, "Oh, I knew you'd do this!" Still, he elaborated, "Listen, all I'm going to say is I'm incredibly blessed. Such a strong, independent lady who's massively talented — and yeah, pretty special."

While we wait for them to officially DTR, this will do for now! 😍

December 3, 2024 — Sabrina Carpenter & Barry Keoghan Go On "A Break"

Heartbreak is one thing — "a break" is another...

While we wish this wasn't true, an exclusive source reached out to PEOPLE and explained that Sabrina and Barry have called off their relationship. Of the split, the source said, "They are both young and career-focused, so they've decided to take a break." PEOPLE wrote that the relationship is over "for now," so we're still holding out hope Sabrina and Barry find their way to each other again!

Stay updated on the latest celebrity relationships & follow us on Facebook!

This post has been updated.

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What Is Threads? Everything To Know About The Latest Social Media App

Meta, the parent company to Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, recently introduced their latest social media platform to enter the ring, called Threads. The new text-sharing app takes inspiration directly from Instagram, offering a more conversational space via words, rather than photos and videos. If you’ve been feeling skeptical about adopting yet another social media, we have the deets on all things Threads. Read on to vet the platform before you hit ‘download.’

What is Threads?

Threads is a new, text-based social media app built by the teams at Instagram. It’s for sharing text updates and joining public conversations. Sounds just like Twitter, right? 🤪 According to Meta, the mission for Threads is to “take what Instagram does best and expand that to text, creating a positive and creative space to express your ideas.”

How does Threads work?

Threads is connected to Instagram. You can log into the platform using your IG account to begin sharing text posts up to 500 characters long. In these posts, you can include links, photos, *and* videos up to 5 minutes. It’s a scrollable social media app that also allows you to like and repost others’ content. You can choose to follow the same people you follow on Instagram, if they have a Threads account, plus the platform recommends content from new creators you don’t follow.

Is Threads like Twitter?

From what we’ve gathered, Threads is very similar to Twitter. After all, Mark Zuckerberg candidly acknowledged that the platform would be Twitter's competitor before it launched. Both apps follow a newsfeed-type structure and grant users the ability to like and repost content from other users, but Threads posts can reach up to 500 characters, while posts on Twitter are limited to 280.

Is Threads safe to use?

Photo by Kerde Severin / PEXELS

According to Meta, Threads is safe to use. It’s closely connected to Instagram, which Meta has longtime security investments in.

“As with all our products, we’re taking safety seriously, and we’ll enforce Instagram’s Community Guidelines on content and interactions in the app,” Meta’s website says. “Since 2016, we’ve invested more than $16 billion in building up the teams and technologies needed to protect our users, and we remain focused on advancing our industry-leading integrity efforts and investments to protect our community.”

Is Threads popular?

Though it’s still in its infancy, Threads logged 5 million sign-ups *just* in its first four hours of existence, and according to Mark Zuckerberg, the app now hosts more than 100 million users. We’d say it’s pretty popular at the moment!

Is Threads free?

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio / PEXELS

Yes, Threads is free on Apple and Google app stores.

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Header photo by Andrea Piacquadio / PEXELS

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Shailene Woodley Made Rare Comments About Aaron Rodgers Breakup: “It Always Makes Me Cry”

Shailene Woodley is notoriously pretty private — so it was truly shocking when she opened up about her split from Aaron Rodgers during an interview with Outside magazine. The former celebrity couple broke up in February 2022, ending their nearly two year relationship and calling off an engagement. Now, she's sharing what the decline of that relationship meant to her — and how it still impacts her to this day. Here's what she had to say.

Scroll on to find out what Shailene Woodley finally said about her split from Aaron Rodgers.

Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images for STARZ

Though much of the interview surrounded Shailene's passion for environmental protection and preservation, but she made it clear that she approaches the people in her life the same way she approaches her passions — with great tenderness and care. It's part of why she actually hasn't talked about Aaron much since their breakup. She said, “I haven’t shared much about my relationship with Aaron because it always makes me cry. It was not right. But it was beautiful.”

That was her only direct mention of the NFL star, but it wasn't the only time she addressed the relationship. Shailene explained that she "had a really awful, traumatic thing happen in early 2022" — AKA around when she and Aaron ended their engagement. When talking about that time, she said, “I felt like I lost my soul, my self, my happiness, my joy. I really understood depression and anxiety and, like, complete soul detachment.”

She apparently remained in what she referred to as a "toxic situation" while she held space and empathized with "someone else." She said, “Empathy kind of kept me in this loop of feeling everything for everyone.”

According to Shailene, she relied heavily on her best friend Kris Zero to get out of her depression by blaring music, taking her surfing, cleaning up hike trails, etc. She said, “I knew I was depressed when I looked at a tree and felt nothing. That was the lowest low of my life.”

And though it's been almost three years since the split, it's clear the repercussions still reverberate throughout her life. The author of the article noted that Shailene teared up when bringing Aaron up by name — but one moment really stood out throughout the entire article. As the Outside crew prepped for the forthcoming photoshoot, Shailene chatted with everyone around her. After previously "coo’ing" over a photo of the writer’s daughter during their conversation, the Big Little Liesactress quietly said, “One of my biggest dreams is to be a mom.”

Sending big hugs to this scorpio sun, pisces moon, and cancer rising!

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14 Surprisingly Fun Things You Can Buy With Your HSA And FSA Dollars

HSA isn’t just for prescriptions and doctor’s visits – there’s actually a ton of things you can buy with your savings. Blue light glasses and sunscreen are commonly HSA eligible, but a lot of people don’t know you can also finesse fancy spa visits and life-changing massage guns (I’m looking at you, Theragun) with their HSA dollars. Some of these items are also FSA eligible, so if you’ve got some funds to use before they expire at the end of the year, you’ve come to the right place!

Your HSA funds can do way more than you think. Check out these 14 unexpectedly fun health-related finds to help you step up your self-care!

What is HSA?

Polina Tankilevitch / PEXELS

HSA stands for Health Savings Account, a type of savings account that lets you set aside funds to pay for qualified medical expenses. HSAs are often available as a part of health insurance plans, though banks and credit unions offer them, too.

What can I buy with an HSA?

Kaboompics / PEXELS

You can buy a lot more with your HSA funds than you think: menstrual products, over-the-counter medicines, sunscreen, and travel to and from medical appointments are just some of the things you can buy with an HSA.

Is HSA worth it?

Kaboompics / PEXELS

Whether an HSA is worth it is really dependent on your needs. There are some nice advantages associated with it, though. You may be able to lower your out of pocket costs for medical needs. Plus, the funds are not taxed, so you may be able to save more. Unlike an FSA (Flexible Spending Account), HSA funds roll over year-over-year, so you don't have to worry about it expiring.

Should I max my HSA?

Pixabay / PEXELS

Maxing out your HSA to your account's annual maximum amount via monthly contributions can be beneficial if your goals are to save money and limit out of pocket costs for medical care. You can also opt to invest some of your HSA funds, which can be a smart decision for saving for things like family planning or retirement.

Amazon

Sunscreen

Per Cigna, sunscreen counts as a reimbursable HSA purchase. SPF is super important for skin cancer prevention, plus wearing it regularly can reduce signs of aging – a win-win!

Amazon

Hatch Alarm Clock

The famed Hatch Restore alarm clock is both HSA and FSA eligible. It's a superb tool for going to bed soundly and waking up feeling refreshed as ever!

TomboyX

Period Underwear

Menstrual care and feminine hygiene products are also HSA eligible. Cigna says this category may include tampons, pads, liners, cups, sponges, and similar items, like period underwear!

Amazon

Theragun

This luxurious massage gun is both FSA and HSA eligible! It's truly life-changing for relieving muscle soreness and tightness. Therabody's other devices like the Theragun PRO Plus, Theragun Sense, and Theragun Relief are also eligible.

Amazon

Oura Ring

This fitness tracker ring is FSA and HSA eligible – it can help you keep tabs on your sleep, activity, stress, heart rate and more.

Amazon

Breathing Strips

According to Cigna, breathing strips are HSA eligible, plus you don't need a doctor's prescription for reimbursement.

Amazon

Electric Toothbrush

Electric toothbrushes are HSA eligible and reimbursable with a medical diagnosis. This model in particular cleans way better than a regular toothbrush, expertly supporting your oral health.

Amazon

Essential Oils

Essential oils are HSA-covered with a medical diagnosis. Certain oils can help relieve stress, anxiety, physical pain, and nausea, and aid in better sleep.

Amazon

Hand Sanitizer

Hand sanitizers of any kind are also surprisingly HSA eligible. We love these sprays from Touchland because they're cute, easily portable, and smell delicious.

Amazon

Humidifiers

Humidifiers are indeed HSA eligible – the moisture they put out into the surrounding air can relieve respiratory issues, common colds, and even reduce snoring.

Amazon

Air Purifiers

Similarly, air purifiers are eligible because they can help remove airborne contaminants and viruses that cause allergies and disease.

Anna Tarazevich / PEXELS

Spa Trips

In the case you're prescribed a lovely visit to a spa or resort by a physician for medical treatment, the only part that's covered by HSA are the services you receive while you're there. The cost of transportation is not eligible for reimbursement.

Amazon

Blue Light Glasses

Blue light glasses are covered by HSA; lenses like these block out blue light from screens which helps prevent eye strain and fatigue.

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