On the social media platform TikTok, an "influencer" recently shared her red flags for friendship. It's common nowadays to see such trends online, where anything could conceivably be a red flag, and the most ready solution appears to be to “cancel" the cause.
This particular US-based influencer said that not receiving a reply to text messages within a certain number of hours is her ultimate red flag and would warrant blocking the friend.
This was baffling to me and many others. The possibility that some of her tens of thousands of followers might agree with her views is a problem. After all, who one stays friends with and what conditions one should accept are personal choices.
But some young people may be prone to agreeing with influencers and the advice they dispense on a range of subjects, not limited to red flags in friendship. These sort of trends have a way of seeping into our lives and affecting the standards we accept of others, especially relevant in this digitised age.
Social media and texting platforms are preferred modes of communication for Gen-Z (those born between 1997-2012, the generation to which I belong). For some of us, it is quite regular to have different discussions with the same person on different platforms. Whether it is to emotionally unload and ask for help, or to spam each other’s TikTok direct messaging (DMs), or to share career opportunities and educational content – different social media platforms can serve different purposes.
A study by Dartmouth College in the US found that millennials and Gen-Z young adults text at a rate of over 100 messages a day. Social media is such a presence in our lives that the business models of several regional and global startups is to provide online counselling services, such as the UAE-based Takalam, Better Help and Bloom.
Jean Twenge, author of Generation Me and Professor of Psychology at San Diego State University, says that unlike their predecessors, Gen-Z spent the majority of their adolescence on social media, resulting in heightened feelings of social isolation and loneliness. While this may not come as a surprise, it could give rise to mental health issues, particularly anxiety. Her research also found that frequent users of social media and technology reported lower psychological well-being than less frequent users.
Friendships are not defined by the back and forth of texts or snapchat streaks
For many in my generation, however, texting friends isn’t just to share memes. It is also to talk freely, vent and ask for advice on personal matters – sometimes similar to the dynamic between a patient and a therapist. The fact that 95 per cent of mental health patients, according to a US-based research, initiated text-based contact with their therapists, indicates that text messaging is integral to how millennials and Gen-Z try to alleviate their mental health troubles.
This all sounds like good news, but here’s the catch: more than one study has found that it is psychologically damaging to be overly reliant on your smartphone to stay connected to loved ones.
It’s made easy for us through social media and network coverage to be in contact with our friends, to plan an outing, share a meme, or ask for support when feeling low or anxious. The problem isn’t with the ease of communication, but the frequency of it, which in turn breeds a dependence on constant contact with friends and acquaintances. How will we face things alone when we need to? Can we run an errand or get a coffee by ourselves?
I have grown accustomed to texting or calling friends whenever I am feel low or anxious. Sometimes, it's not consultation that I seek, but the feeling of being heard and validated. While I may cheer up by talking to them in that moment, I am setting myself up for disappointment whenever the other person is too busy or doesn't have the bandwidth to deal with my emotional unburdening.
Constantly texting to reach out may diminish my critical thinking skills, my ability to see the situation for what it is. Perhaps, it is not a big deal, but research finds that this happens to not just me; a US-based study surveyed 496 Gen-Z undergrad students and found that increased smartphone usage is related to anxiety.
Other researchers also complement these findings, suggesting that feelings of anxiety can negatively affect our understanding of the friendship dynamic. Questions arise, such as ”Why are they not texting me back? Why are they not updating me about their day?” The constant connection to one another may cause us to live less of our lives, and more of theirs. And when we do live more of our lives, is it truly for us or simply to exhibit it on social media?
It could be the need for instant gratification that we have gotten accustomed to when we receive messages or notifications. I had to turn on my “do not disturb” feature, and disable all notifications, as I was checking my phone much more frequently than I would like to admit.
These discussions also beg the question – what values shape our friendships? Friendships are not and should not be transactional. They grow and are nurtured with vulnerability, trust and caring for one another, caring for friends' aspirations and well-being. Friendships are not defined by the back and forth of texts or Snapchat streaks. We must try to be mindful of the expectations we have of ourselves and others. More importantly, we must not let misinformed content creators, jumping on a trend bandwagon, confuse us about red flags. Sometimes, the red flags are within ourselves, but there’s nothing that accountability and introspection can’t change.
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
MATCH INFO
What: 2006 World Cup quarter-final
When: July 1
Where: Gelsenkirchen Stadium, Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Result:
England 0 Portugal 0
(Portugal win 3-1 on penalties)
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
The biog
Alwyn Stephen says much of his success is a result of taking an educated chance on business decisions.
His advice to anyone starting out in business is to have no fear as life is about taking on challenges.
“If you have the ambition and dream of something, follow that dream, be positive, determined and set goals.
"Nothing and no-one can stop you from succeeding with the right work application, and a little bit of luck along the way.”
Mr Stephen sells his luxury fragrances at selected perfumeries around the UAE, including the House of Niche Boutique in Al Seef.
He relaxes by spending time with his family at home, and enjoying his wife’s India cooking.
The specs
Engine: 2x201bhp AC Permanent-magnetic electric
Transmission: n/a
Power: 402bhp
Torque: 659Nm
Price estimate: Dh200,000
On sale: Q3 2022
The specs: Macan Turbo
Engine: Dual synchronous electric motors
Power: 639hp
Torque: 1,130Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Touring range: 591km
Price: From Dh412,500
On sale: Deliveries start in October
'The worst thing you can eat'
Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.
Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines:
Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.
Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.
Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.
Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.
Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
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How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
- Flexible work arrangements
- Pension support
- Mental well-being assistance
- Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
- Financial well-being incentives
Company Fact Box
Company name/date started: Abwaab Technologies / September 2019
Founders: Hamdi Tabbaa, co-founder and CEO. Hussein Alsarabi, co-founder and CTO
Based: Amman, Jordan
Sector: Education Technology
Size (employees/revenue): Total team size: 65. Full-time employees: 25. Revenue undisclosed
Stage: early-stage startup
Investors: Adam Tech Ventures, Endure Capital, Equitrust, the World Bank-backed Innovative Startups SMEs Fund, a London investment fund, a number of former and current executives from Uber and Netflix, among others.
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
The biog
Family: wife, four children, 11 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren
Reads: Newspapers, historical, religious books and biographies
Education: High school in Thatta, a city now in Pakistan
Regrets: Not completing college in Karachi when universities were shut down following protests by freedom fighters for the British to quit India
Happiness: Work on creative ideas, you will also need ideals to make people happy
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Wonka
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The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
If you go
The flights
There are various ways of getting to the southern Serengeti in Tanzania from the UAE. The exact route and airstrip depends on your overall trip itinerary and which camp you’re staying at.
Flydubai flies direct from Dubai to Kilimanjaro International Airport from Dh1,350 return, including taxes; this can be followed by a short flight from Kilimanjaro to the Serengeti with Coastal Aviation from about US$700 (Dh2,500) return, including taxes. Kenya Airways, Emirates and Etihad offer flights via Nairobi or Dar es Salaam.
Company%20Profile
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THE LIGHT
Director: Tom Tykwer
Starring: Tala Al Deen, Nicolette Krebitz, Lars Eidinger
Rating: 3/5
Batti Gul Meter Chalu
Producers: KRTI Productions, T-Series
Director: Sree Narayan Singh
Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor, Divyenndu Sharma, Yami Gautam
Rating: 2/5
