In my view, climate change is real and it is an existential threat. My inclination is to take dams down.The toxic chemicals that pollute our air, our water, our soils end up in our own bodies. They ruin our health in the same way that they ruin nature.Those might sound like comments from a pretty typical environmentalist: a liberal Democrat who probably reveres the outdoors and enjoys hiking, thinks about their carbon footprint, and tries to eat less meat. Instead, they were spoken by a figure whos now closely allied to President Donald Trump: Robert F. Kennedy Jr.In recent years, when hes appeared on podcasts and campaign ads, Kennedy Trumps pick to lead the US Department of Health and Human Services often brought up environmental concerns, like how pesticides are poisoning Americans, and sang the virtues of healthy soil. Kennedy is scheduled to appear before a Senate committee for his confirmation hearing on January 29.Im an environmentalist, he told right-wing commentator Ben Shapiro last April. Kennedy has the credentials. He spent more than two decades working as an environmental attorney at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), a mainstream green group, and later helped found the Waterkeeper Alliance, a nonprofit that advocates for clean water. He fought polluters including the coal industry, chemical companies, and the US Navy.Thats what makes his current political alignment so surprising: Kennedy is now firmly enmeshed in the far right, and part of Team Trump the single worst environmental president our country has ever had, according to some of Kennedys former colleagues. Trump, a climate-science skeptic, rolled back more than 100 environmental rules during his first term. And on his first day in office, he signed a raft of executive orders to boost oil and gas production and roll back environmental safeguards.RFK Jr. visits the Capitol on December 18, 2024, to meet with West Virginia Sen. Shelley Moore Capito. J. Scott Applewhite/Associated PressKennedy was a longtime Democrat, and his migration to the far right has shocked many of those who have known him. But hes not alone in this journey. Its part of a much broader shift in the environmental movement. For decades, most mainstream green advocacy groups and top environmental scientists have been largely aligned with Democratic policies and leaders. Now, however, many people who are advocating for conservation, including clean water, air, and soil, have fallen into the far right and voted Trump into power. Its not uncommon to hear right-wing influencers talk about regenerative agriculture or Kennedy supporters raising concerns about environmental pollutants. While its not clear how much power they will ultimately wield in the Trump administration, they represent a new and increasingly visible right-wing environmentalism or what sociologist Holly Jean Buck has called para-environmentalism.Kennedys rightward trajectory and new position within the MAGA movement are the latest indication that ideas that were once a core part of environmentalism are veering in a strange direction, Buck, an associate professor at the University of Buffalo, wrote in Compact magazine in November. Call it para-environmentalism. Like other para-phenomena, such as paramilitaries or the paranormal, para-environmentalism exists outside of the realm of official institutions and structures at least for now.Across even the farthest stretches of the political spectrum are shared environmental goals: healthier land and healthier people. Everyone wants that. What stands in the way of a more unified environmental movement is that different political blocs have wildly different approaches to making the planet healthier. People on the far-right tend to distrust institutions including science agencies and big green groups, which form the backbone of the mainstream environmental movement. Members of this group also oppose action that centers on carbon and climate change; their concerns are more local, whether about water quality or immigration and grocery prices.This leaves the modern green movement in a tough spot as it stares down four more years under Trump. How can its leaders work with a coalition of people who see them, the mainstream, as part of the problem and should they? Get in touch with us!Do you have feedback or a tip to share? Wed love to hear from you. Reach out to benji.jones@vox.com.Meet the far-right environmentalistConserving nature wasnt always considered at odds with the Republican Party. In fact, the movement to protect wildlife was born from the minds and actions of GOP leaders. More than a century ago, elite, Republican hunters most famously, Teddy Roosevelt witnessed the decline of charismatic species like bison and used their power to protect them. They supported, and in some cases helped create, environmental institutions like the national parks system.That legacy of conservation lives on to an extent in the modern Republican Party. The waning number of hunters and anglers of today still lean more conservative, partly due to their stance on gun rights. And by and large, they back mainstream conservation policies, such as protecting public access to federal land, said Aaron Weiss, deputy director at the Center for Western Priorities, a group that advocates for public lands. Theres also a crop of moderate conservatives, including many youth, who worry about climate change and support conservation and clean energy.This new brand of far-right environmentalism that Kennedy embodies is something different. My reporting, including more than a dozen interviews with sociologists, conservative influencers, and mainstream environmentalists, identified two loose and partly overlapping strains. One consists of those who rail against environmental toxins as part of Kennedys Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) coalition. Another comprises back-to-the-land libertarians who see salvation in growing ones own food, maintaining healthy soil, and embracing self-sufficiency.A controlled burn released a dark plume of smoke over East Palestine, Ohio, following the Norfolk Southern train derailment in 2023. Gene J. Puskar/Associated PressMAHA environmentalism is rooted in a fear that were all being poisoned that pesticides, food additives, seed oils, and chemicals in the air are the root of chronic illness in America. The perpetrators, they claim, are Big Agriculture, Big Pharma, and other big corporations. A core belief is that industries have infiltrated federal agencies like the Food and Drug Administration that should be keeping Americans safe. Many of the most outspoken MAHA figures promote and sell alternatives to conventional foods and health care, such as nutritional supplements. (MAHA figures including Kennedy also frequently assert that vaccines are unsafe and cause autism. Neither claims are supported by decades of scientific research.)I recently spoke with Reinette Senum, a blogger and former mayor of Nevada City, California, who has spoken out against what she says are covert efforts to manipulate the atmosphere. Senum, who identifies as MAHA, describes herself as a former environmentalist and recovering climate change believer.A number of experiences fueled her distrust of climate science. More than a decade ago, when Senum worked for a building-efficiency organization in California, she raised questions about whether retrofitting buildings is so resource-intensive that it actually offsets the climate benefits, she said. The managing director of the organization, known then as the California Building Performance Contractors Association, told her that those calculations didnt exist, she said. I believed in alternative energy, and I realized it was a lie, Senum said. Senum later had a smart meter installed in her home. Shortly after, she said, she started having trouble sleeping and became extremely sensitive to sound symptoms that she attributes to the smart meter. (Smart meters, as well as 5G and GMO foods, are all dubious for many in the MAHA movement, some of whom happen to reside in my hometown of Fairfield, Iowa.)Trump visits Valdosta, Georgia, on September 30, 2024, after it was hit by Hurricane Helene. Michael M. Santiago/Getty ImagesLike many other MAHA followers, Senum said she is worried about the environment, and the dark forces that pollute it, whether or not theyre visible. And like some mainstream environmental organizations, shes fighting against geo-engineering, large-scale modifications to the planets climate to limit warming, a field that is still largely experimental. The problem with left-wing green groups, Senum said, is that theyve become too fixated on the climate change boondoggle and have ignored what people are actually concerned about.Nobody talks about water quality, she said of left-wing environmentalists. They dont talk about air quality. They dont talk about pollution. They dont talk about heavy metals in the air. Or GMOs. The left environmental movement literally got infiltrated and usurped by climate change. Theyre so hyperfocused on that that theyre no longer focusing on the environment.A representative from Kennedys team told Vox that Kennedy was unavailable for an interview, in December. The representative did not respond to subsequent emails, including a detailed request for comment.The other, overlapping strand of far-right environmentalism is more focused on land and soil. A number of influential figures, including US Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky and farmer Joel Salatin, advocate for locally grown food and farms that are free from the influence of Big Government and Big Business. Pastoral libertarians, as you might call them, glorify an earlier time before industrial agriculture, and are obsessed with the purity of what we eat and drink. What we are witnessing in the growing prominence of far-right environmentalism of recent years is a revival of an older kind of ecological and political thinking, a traditional attachment to home, to soil, to blood, Leigh Phillips wrote in Noema. Cattle on a ranch that practices regenerative agriculture in Cimarron, New Mexico. Mario Tama/Getty ImagesMuch of the far right has embraced regenerative agriculture a squishy term that broadly refers to farming practices that are meant to regenerate, or improve, the health of land rather than degrade it. These practices include planting cover crops that can improve soil health and avoiding chemicals that degrade it. Regenerative agriculture has caught on among far-right figures likely because it enables a person to have a more self-sufficient farm, requiring fewer inputs, such as pesticides made by big companies and subsidized by the federal government. Advocates of the practice say it also produces more nutritious food.Regenerative agriculture, its the truth, said RC Carter, a rancher in Wyoming who sells what he calls nutrient-dense beef. He didnt vote in the recent presidential election, doesnt trust most Democratic or Republican leaders, and resists being clumped into any one group. The only way you can get nutrient-dense food is if it comes from healthy soils, Carter told me.People are so confused and so lost, and if youre eating healthy food, that is a foundational piece to having clear thoughts.What unifies this new brand of environmentalismThe most apparent trait that unites these far-right perspectives is distrust of the government, of large scientific organizations, of big corporations. Distrust is so potent that even quality information produced by these institutions, whether on vaccine safety or climate change, doesnt break through and alter beliefs. I saw this firsthand in East Palestine, Ohio, following the train derailment in early 2023. There were legitimate criticisms of the government response, but government data on air and water quality had little bearing on whether residents, the majority of whom voted for Trump in 2020 and 2024, felt safe.But theres another, more opaque thread among right-wing environmental beliefs, according to Jesse Bryant, a sociologist at Yale University: a yearning for a religious or pseudo-religious purity. The idea here is that our ecosystems, our soils, our bodies, and our minds are polluted whether by pesticides or by liberal ideas and that makes it harder to access God, or spiritual enlightenment. Its very clear having spent a lot of time in far-right online spaces that purity and pollution binaries drive a lot of [right-wing] ideologizing, said Bryant, who studies environmental perspectives in far-right communities. This perspective likely stems from Christian culture and beliefs, a powerful force in right-wing politics. According to Christian teachings, human bodies are made in Gods image, and so they are naturally pure. Pollution, or impurity, is akin to sin. And sin can weaken our relationship with God. Similarly, from a New Age spiritual perspective more common among members of the MAHA coalition loading our bodies with impurities, which could include pesticide-ridden foods, is considered an impediment to reaching spiritual enlightenment.That these ideas influence political views are supported by a 2012 study published in Psychological Science. It found that people who identify as conservatives tend to be less concerned about the environment than those who identify as liberal, yet they are motivated to protect nature with messaging around purity. We found that reframing pro-environmental rhetoric in terms of purity, a moral value resonating primarily among conservatives, largely eliminated the difference between liberals and conservatives environmental attitudes, the authors wrote. In a conversation with right-wing commentator Tucker Carlson in August, Kennedy said, the reason that we protect the environment is because theres a spiritual connection. When we destroy nature, Kennedy said, we diminish our capacity to sense the divine, to understand who God is and what our own potential is and duties are as human beings.Ben Hickey for VoxIdeas around purity and nature have also been used over the years to justify racism and abuse. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the US government, in the name of protecting nature, forcefully removed Indigenous people from their lands to establish national parks. The very definition of wilderness areas promoted the idea that an unpeopled, wild landscape was pristine, pure, and unspoiled, even though Indigenous people lived on such lands for tens of thousands of years. These racist perspectives that people, and especially brown people, are an impediment to achieving the ideal nature were popular even among mainstream environmentalists in the 20th century. And theyve lingered. Trumps racist remarks about immigrants, such as saying in 2023 that illegal immigration is poisoning the blood of our nation, is merely another iteration of a purity-pollution dichotomy that has long been present among environmentalists.Seeds of truthMany of the environmental concerns raised by members of the far right, MAHA and MAGA alike, are rooted in fact. Pesticides can be dangerous, especially to farmworkers and native insects, including bees. Studies in rigorous journals have linked pesticide exposure to, for example, increased mortality in US adults, ADHD in children, and Alzheimers disease. Earlier this month, a study linked exposure to the herbicide Glyphosate to a reduction in birthweight.Industrial farming has utterly devastated native ecosystems across the Midwest and completely removed at least a quarter of the topsoil in the Corn Belt. Compared to that loss, regenerative agriculture no matter how you define it is a more sustainable option.A tractor sprays pesticides on a farm in Centreville, Maryland, on April 25, 2022. JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty ImagesMore than a third of Americans have at least one major chronic disease, such as diabetes, especially people who are living in the Southeast. And the prevalence of these illnesses is increasing, in part, because of poor nutrition. Big corporations and billionaires do influence US policy and government agencies, and its a problem. Federal and state lobbyists spent more than $46 billion between 2015 and 2023, according to OpenSecrets.Their concerns are grounded in real things, said Buck, the University of Buffalo sociologist and author of After Geoengineering: Climate Tragedy, Repair, and Restoration and Ending Fossil Fuels: Why Net Zero Is Not Enough.But although the far right is pointing out legitimate problems which concern mainstream environmentalists, too supporting Trump and deregulation is likely only going to make them worse.For example, if this new environmental coalition wants to solve the problem of corporate influence, theyre going to run into challenges: In Trumps first two years in office, his administration enabled unprecedented corporate capture of federal regulatory agencies, according to a 2019 report. The report outlines how, for example, the National Association of Manufacturers, a trade association, sent his administration a wish list of 132 regulations to act on, and his government followed through on the bulk of them. In his first term, Trump was incredibly friendly to polluters. His administration rolled back more than 100 environmental rules, including those meant to curb toxic air pollutants, limit pesticide exposure, and protect streams from coal mining debris problems caused largely by big companies. Under his administration, some EPA scientists say they were pressured to downplay the risks of new chemicals, according to reporting by ProPublica. Trump has already indicated that his new administration will be similarly favorable to Big Business and billionaires. In a December post on his platform Truth Social, he said, any person or company investing one billion dollars, or more, in the United States of America, will receive fully expedited approvals and permits, including, but in no way limited to, all environmental approvals. The process for getting project approvals is partly meant to ensure they dont harm US citizens or sensitive ecosystems. Trump, meanwhile, has already named former chemical industry executives to top posts at the Environmental Protection Agency. Elon Musk at Trumps campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on October 5, 2024. JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty ImagesMeanwhile, Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk the worlds richest man, who helped propel Trump to victory has shown his ability to influence high-stakes government decision-making. Musk and other tech titans were key players in Trumps transition team, involved in hiring decisions for his incoming administration, the New York Times reported in December. Musk, along with Amazons Jeff Bezos and Metas Mark Zuckerberg who are collectively worth close to $1 trillion attended Trumps inauguration, and were seated in front of the presidents Cabinet picks.More broadly, a push to deregulate which Trump and his base widely support is at odds with efforts to curtail harmful chemicals and our exposure to them. Regulations are designed to prevent harmful substances from entering our soil, water, and air. This doesnt mean theyre working perfectly or doing enough or easy to follow, but pollution would likely be worse with fewer of those rules in place. Regulations are about setting a level playing field so that business can go out and do its job and earn profits, but make sure that you dont have bad actors out there skewing the playing field by harming folks because it benefits their bottom line, said Matthew Tejada, senior vice president of environmental health at NRDC. Without regulations, said Tejada, a former EPA senior staffer, you get a race to the bottom, meaning the worst actors the companies least focused on, say, reducing air pollution set the standard for other companies.Regulatory experts I spoke to were clear that if RFK Jr. wants to crack down on food dyes and pesticides, he would need to pursue new regulations and not tear existing ones down. His ability to do that will be limited, even if hes confirmed to lead HHS.I dont think hes going to beat Big Food, said Ken Cook, president and cofounder of Environmental Working Group, an advocacy organization focused on ridding environmental toxins from food and water. He cant walk down the hall to FDA and say, Hey, all these food additives are banned in Europe so were going to ban them here. Industry is going to push back and theyre probably going to win. This points to an obvious rift in the new administration and the modern Republican Party: Trump has curried the favor of billionaires and deregulatory crusaders and yet members of his coalition say they want to reign in corporate influence and pollution. But although those attitudes are at odds, it might not matter. Most people support Trump not because of his stance on environmental issues but because of his rhetoric around immigration and the economy. Its also not clear how large or powerful this new band of right-wing environmentalists really is, and whether they can really influence the administration. Some Trump administration appointments already seem to be in direct tension with the MAHA coalition. Fire engulfs a home in the Altadena area of Los Angeles on January 8. Research shows that climate change can worsen wildfires. Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty ImagesJust as support for Trump and deregulation is at odds with a desire for a healthy environment, so is an allergy to climate action.Many MAHA and MAGA people with environmental concerns tend to criticize clean energy and downplay the impacts of the oil and gas industry. Part of that belief stems from a rejection of globalization and hyper growth a more traditional conservative ideology. A self-sufficient, pastoral lifestyle doesnt mesh with a highly modern, massive solar farm that centralizes energy production (let alone the huge, power-hungry data centers that Trumps new friends in the tech industry demand to support the growth of artificial intelligence).These beliefs are reinforced by misinformation. This includes claims that lifetime carbon emissions of EVs are comparable or higher to combustion cars. (Theyre not.) Or that clean energy sources pollute the environment more than fossil fuels. (They dont.) Or that offshore wind turbines are killing whales. (Theres no scientific evidence to suggest that.)Theyre all made in China and when they explode which one did off of Nantucket a month ago they put shards into the water so you cant swim without getting cut, Kennedy said of offshore wind turbines on a podcast in September. (Last summer, blades of the turbine, which was manufactured by an American company, folded over and broke off into the ocean.) Theyre killing the whales. The environmental movement doesnt care. They built these and they are destroying the whale populations and everybody knows it.This isnt correct. The reality is that oil, gas, and coal have been federally subsidized for hundreds of years. Their staying power is in part the result of big government. Even if you ignore the impacts of climate change, these fuels have been definitively tied to air pollution including nitrous oxides, carbon monoxide, and ozone, compounds widely known to harm human health. A peer-reviewed study published in the journal Environmental Research in 2021 attributed more than 10 million premature deaths each year, globally, to air pollution from burning fossil fuels. Its not surprising that people who live near petrochemical plants have higher rates of cancer. (That doesnt mean clean energy sources are pollution-free theyre definitely not. But comparatively, they are a heck of a lot safer.)Then of course there are the impacts of rising temperatures, which are increasingly hard to ignore. The planet is about 1.3 degrees Celsius warmer today than it was in the late 1800s. Yes, there have been hotter periods in Earths past, but not during modern civilization and the warming has never happened this fast.Human populations and ecosystems are struggling to keep up with the rate of change. In the Florida Keys, for example, extreme ocean temperatures have helped wipe out coral reefs, a critical structure for dampening waves that flood coastal communities during hurricanes. Healthy coral cover in the Keys has declined by at least 90 percent in the last half century. Monroe County, which encompasses the Florida Keys, overwhelmingly supported Trump in the past election.Against this backdrop, Trump has put drill, baby, drill at the center of his agenda. On his first day in office, he signed several executive orders intended to accelerate fossil fuel production. These include trying to open up vast stretches of Alaskan wilderness to drilling and logging, and eliminating efforts to protect poor communities from pollution.Chris Wright is sworn in during his Senate confirmation hearing on January 15. Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesA protester at Wrights confirmation hearing. Kayla Bartkowski/Getty ImagesTrumps pick to run the Department of Energy is also telling, though unsurprising. Chris Wright is the founder, CEO, and chair of the board of Liberty Energy, one of the nations largest fracking services companies. In a video on LinkedIn in 2023, he said, there is no climate crisis, and were not in the midst of an energy transition, either.Whats next for the environmental movement?Trump is back in the White House, and many environmental problems wildfires, hurricanes, habitat loss are worse today than ever before. Where does the environmental movement go from here?Fortunately, there is common ground between far-right and mainstream environmentalists: a desire for clean air, water, and soil, and accountability for big corporations that negatively impact the environment. Among these disparate factions, polluting companies are a common enemy, even though the Republican Party has traditionally, and under Trump, favored polluters. We have far more in common than we dont, said Ben Jealous, the executive director of the Sierra Club, one of the nations oldest and largest environmental organizations. When you hear Americans of any political stripe express concern about pesticides, express a desire for clean air, clean water, and healthy food, express a preference for anything related to reviving small farms what that affirms for me is that our issues, our [environmental] agenda, is more popular than either party.The Sierra Club and other big green groups acknowledge that they need to do a better job at talking about these common concerns. We cant talk about gigatons of carbon equivalents, said Tejada of the NRDC. Like nobody knows or cares. We can talk about the fact, though, that a storm hit West North Carolina a couple months ago that left $60 billion worth of damage that nobody knows how to pay for.Ben Jealous, executive director of the Sierra Club, speaks at a climate protest in Washington, DC, on March 21, 2023. Matt McClain/Washington Post via Getty ImagesAs Jealous put it, the problem with the environmental movement is not what we say, its literally how we say it.Green groups could adjust their messaging, and perhaps get more of the right behind their cause. This may work in local fights to protect a city park, for example, or clean up a stream. It is not, however, in the publics interest to abandon efforts to tackle climate change; lowering carbon and expanding clean energy are integral to those efforts. Plus, ditching carbon from the green vocabulary wont suddenly dissolve political divides. There are much bigger hurdles to building a more unified environmental movement. Common among the far right is what Whitney Phillips, a media studies researcher and co-author of a forthcoming book on anti-liberalism, calls anti-liberal demonology: the idea that liberals, a group that is not clearly defined, are an evil force that is polluting the real America. Most mainstream green organizations, Democratic policymakers, and scientists again, pillars of the modern environmental movement are seen as liberal and thus deeply mistrusted. To the far right, they are inextricably linked to the very pollutants, the impurities, that theyre trying to get rid of (even though these groups are arguably doing more than any other to clean up pollution).Without resolving these deeply entrenched trust issues, its unlikely that far right and mainstream environmental leaders will be fighting these problems together. If youre trying to work with people who are on the left, but you hate people on the left, Phillips said, how the fuck is that supposed to work?Umair Irfan contributed reporting.Youve read 1 article in the last monthHere at Vox, we're unwavering in our commitment to covering the issues that matter most to you threats to democracy, immigration, reproductive rights, the environment, and the rising polarization across this country.Our mission is to provide clear, accessible journalism that empowers you to stay informed and engaged in shaping our world. By becoming a Vox Member, you directly strengthen our ability to deliver in-depth, independent reporting that drives meaningful change.We rely on readers like you join us.Swati SharmaVox Editor-in-ChiefSee More:

The Switch 2's price has leaked, and while fans are still keen on Nintendo's new system, some are cautious that it might be too expensive for the features it offersTech13:22, 28 Jan 2025Updated 13:23, 28 Jan 2025Switch 2 is coming this yearNintendo has finally revealed the Switch 2, but in doing so it's just got us counting down the days until its full unveiling on April 2.The company revealed the hardware earlier this month and showed off an early glimpse at a new Mario Kart game, but now on leaker has revealed how much it'll cost.We'd previously heard suggestions the console will cost $400 (around 325) but a new suggestion has pointed to a higher price that's still cheaper than the launch price of the PS5 and Xbox Series X, and is much cheaper than the PS5 Pro.Content cannot be displayed without consentPosting on X (formerly Twitter), longtime insider Shpeshal_Nick said "So if the person who told me June release is all but confirmed to be correct, then that could mean the pricing they gave me of $449/$499USD might also be correct.""Think the $50 extra is a Mario Kart Bundle," they added, suggesting Nintendo could be leaning on the new Mario Kart as a big system seller.That would make the Switch 2 around 360 with the current exchange rate, almost half the price of the PS5 Pro, while a potential Mario Kart bundle would come in at around 400 50 cheaper than the launch PS5 and Xbox Series X when they launched in 2020.Over on Reddit, one commenter pointed out that we still don't know if there's an OLED display, and said that'll be a dealbreaker for them."Only way I'm paying $449 is if it has an OLED screen," they said, while another replied, "I tell myself that, but I know it's not true"."Whatever the price just take my money already. The last console has lasted me 8 years. Money well spent," one added.Article continues belowFor more on the Switch 2, be sure to check out what could be the least family-friendly game on the system, and the first list of confirmed games.For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.RECOMMENDED

Fans of The Sims could be in for a treat as the first game is slated for a digital release for the first time, as well as a re-release of Sims 2 to celebrate the series' 25th anniversaryTech13:21, 28 Jan 2025Updated 13:21, 28 Jan 2025The Sims 1 is iconic(Image: Electronic Arts)The Sims 4 might be free-to-play, but if you yearn for a simpler time, you might be in luck as EA is reportedly gearing up for a huge celebration for the series' 25th anniversary.The long-running life sim that lets players create a virtual family and manage their day, work life and relationships has long captivated its audience, but Kotaku is reporting that the first two Sims games are set to be re-released this week.That's particularly important for the first Sims game which never saw a digital release, and is therefore tricky to get hold of and play.Content cannot be displayed without consentKotaku's report claims both games will be re-released on PC "before the end of the month", but no further information is available on console ports.That ties in nicely with the post on X (formerly Twitter) above which suggests 'Time Travel' before using the same colour scheme from the series' earliest entries.Developer Maxis Games has been teasing a return to older Sims titles, using classic sound effects in a presentation in recent weeks, and Kotaku has suggested the games will come with all of their original expansion packs included.The Sims 2 could be returning, with all of its expansions(Image: Electronic Arts)The first game, which launched in 2000, was only released physically, while Sims 2's online features were taken offline in 2013, too.The current version, Sims 4, launched in 2014, and is still supported with regular updates and 'Stuff' packs. Sims 5 is currently dubbed Project Rene, and is in development but likely won't launch for some time.Article continues belowAnecdotally, my wife will be so happy if the rumours are true, having played the first game for hundreds of hours when she was younger, and I'm sure there are thousands of players in a similar boat.Looking to play something else? Fortnite's Brick Life is, in some ways, a LEGO version of The Sims, and it's free to download and play.For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.RECOMMENDED

Trevor was the breakout star of GTA 5 (Rockstar)Actor Steve Ogg has a fittingly brutal idea for how GTA 6 could bring back his character from GTA 5.Although the upcoming GTA 6 will star a new pair of protagonists, in the form of Bonnie and Clyde-esque duo Lucia and Jason, many GTA 5 fans hope that some of the original cast will make an appearance.Back in 2023, it was speculated that one of GTA 5s leads, Michael, could return, based on a seemingly innocuous comment by his actor, Ned Luke. But nothing has ever been explicitly confirmed.The actor behind GTA 5s most popular lead, Trevor, hasnt previously commented on his involvement but while he doesnt seem to be part of GTA 6, thats not because of a lack of interest.Is GTA 5s Trevor coming back in GTA 6?In a recent interview with Screen Rant, Steven Ogg, who provided the voice and motion capture for Trevor in GTA 5 and GTA Online, said he has not done any voice recording for GTA 6.While this seems to rule out Trevor making a speaking appearance, Ogg added hed still love to be brought back for the sequel if only so he can be killed off right at the beginning.I think that would be cool, because it also acknowledges the fans of like, Hey, thank you. Pass the torch, stomp Trevors head in, and sort of put an end to that and allow a new generation to take over, explained Ogg. Trevor was apparently going to get his own DLC expansion but it was cancelled (Rockstar)Its honestly not a bad idea for a cameo, especially since it directly parallels Trevors own introduction in GTA 5, where he brutally kills Johnny Klebitz, the protagonist of GTA 4s The Lost And The Damned DLC.Rockstar has kept very tight-lipped about GTA 6s story and cast, beyond what was shown in the reveal trailer. Although fans believe they know whos been cast as Lucia.More TrendingIts entirely possible GTA 6 will see some characters from previous games make an appearance. At the very least, fans will get to revisit an old location in Vice City, the titular setting of 2002s GTA: Vice City.That game was set in the 80s, though, whereas GTA 6 will feature a more contemporary rendition of the city; one that includes several areas directly inspired by real-world locations in Florida.As for Ogg, while GTA 5 was more than 10 years ago, hes kept busy with other acting roles in both film and television, including recurring roles in The Walking Dead and Westworld.In 2016, he also reprised his role as Trevor in a fan-made live-action short film called GTA VR, which depicted a holodeck style rendition of GTA, rather than an actual VR version. Time will tell how GTA 6s stars are received (Rockstar Games)Emailgamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below,follow us on Twitter, andsign-up to our newsletter.To submit Inbox letters and Readers Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use ourSubmit Stuff page here.For more stories like this,check our Gaming page.GameCentralSign up for exclusive analysis, latest releases, and bonus community content.This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy

WWE 2K25 preview The Bloodline rules, Island and redefining wrestling gamesAlistair McGeorgePublished January 28, 2025 1:00pm Roman Reigns takes centre stage in WWE 2K25 (Picture: 2K)WWE 2K25 has officially been unveiled with Roman Reigns on the cover and The Bloodline taking centre stage.Publisher 2K and developer Visual Concepts have promised something special this year, as they continue to revitalise the franchise and repair goodwill after relaunching with WWE 2K22 following the disappointment of WWE 2K20.Last years instalment hit all the right notes, and this year the team are aiming to improve things further with Intergender Wrestling, the Underground match, the return of chain wrestling, The Bloodlines Dynasty Showcase, The Island mode, and more.Roman and his familys dynasty are at the heart of this years edition and his Wiseman Paul Heyman thinks thats the right call.What a historic moment for this to happen, right in the middle of what is unquestionably the hottest run, the hottest box office run in the history of professional wrestling/sports entertainment/WWE, he exclusively told Metro.For me personally, for the first time to have a corner man, Wiseman, special counsel I hate the term manager, but Ill use it here on the cover is an extraordinary breakthrough that, with all false humility aside, I feel the tribal chief and his wise man richly deserve. All three covers have been unveiled for the new game (Picture: 2K) Paul Heyman is proud to be part of the game (Picture: WWE/Craig Melvin)The Bloodline is the headline for this years game, with even Showcase shifting to make sense of the saga.Gone is the Slingshot technology, with full cut scenes now back and players in control of the matches, which are split into three forms: the standard Showcase match reliving big moments; the chance to change history by giving a classic bout a new result; and dream matches, with legends from The Bloodline family against modern day superstars.Theres also the addition of Bloodline Rules, which Derek Donahue, Visual Concepts lead combat designer on the WWE 2K series, has revealed is a new Payback ability all about run-ins and drama.Obviously, weve had run-ins in the game before, but in a much more limited way, he told us, noting under Bloodline Rules the new Payback can be used three times by each superstar, turning a singles match into a four versus four brawl. The Bloodline saga is a huge part of this years game (Picture: 2K)To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a webbrowser thatsupports HTML5videoUp NextIts kind of like WarGames, but without the restriction of necessarily being in the cage area. Its almost like a gauntlet match. Its kind of a hybrid of all sorts of things with this Bloodline theming built in, he added.Another new addition this time round is The Island, described by 2K as an interactive world made up of a series of areas built around differentWWEthemes, which sees players trying to impress Roman Reigns and earn a contract.The online mode is exclusive to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, rather than last gen consoles, and will let you take on challenges and live events to earn unlockables through different storylines.Andrea Listenberger, a writer for the series, with experience on the WWE creative team, has kept her cards close to her chest regarding the feature but promised more information in the future. The Island is a brand new mode coming to WWE 2K25 (Picture: 2K)What I will say about The Island is if MyRise is bringing video games to wrestling, The Island story is more like bringing wrestling to video games. Speaking of MyRise, this year the career mode which follows a user-created rookie rising through the ranks of WWE will focus on a singular, multi-gender storyline seeing the likes of Bayley, Kevin Owens, and more infiltrating NXT in an attempt to take control of the entire company.This also sees the introduction of the NXT Parking Lot as a brawl environment (the WWE Archives has also been confirmed), while the mode will come with plenty of storyline branches, unlockables and the like.What about the game itself? 2K and VC have introduced more than just Bloodline Rules this year, with Intergender Wrestling coming to the franchise. Intergender Wrestling will be part of this years game but wont be forced on players (Picture: 2K)Players are being given complete freedom, with male and female superstars able to compete against each other in all match times, while the Underground match has newly redefined combat.The team note that the idea that the ring doesnt have ropes has changed everything when it comes to AI and the way matches can work, with Underground even having spectators around the ring banging on the mat.In terms of the matches in general, Chain Wrestling is back with developers promising more control for players, while the addition of Barricade Dives including walking along the barrier to deliver high spots is a welcome one.The team has also boasted its biggest ever roster of WWE superstars and legends, while they didnt rule out the possibility of newcomers like Penta making it into the game. Fans are hoping its not too late for Penta to part of the game (Picture: WWE)We want people to get surprised and excited. Just wait. Every year, we got something cool for you all, Lynell teased, while a question about TNA Wrestling being incorporated in the five DLC packs was met with a similarly vague response.While the Universe sandbox mode (the return of promos) and MyGM (online play) are also being improved, MyFaction remains a key part of the game, despite fans criticising the use of microtransactions.Although unlockables are possible through hard work, players have complained about how hard it can be to work through, with plenty of people suggesting the so-called Persona Cards (which can be use in all game modes) could be provided as a one-off DLC pack later in the games lifecycle. Wyatt Sicks are this years pre-order bonus (Picture: 2K)Thats a good idea, Lynell admitted, noting it wont happen this year but the team could look at it if people feel like the game is too hard in order to unlock everything.More TrendingAs ever, there are a few different versions of the game, with pre-orders of the standard edition coming with the Wyatt Sicks as a playable character.The Deadman Edition with Undertaker on the cover includes a Mattel Elite Greatest Hits Undertaker, the Original Undertaker (90) character, and more, with The Bloodline Edition coming with The Rock Nation of Domination Pack and more bonuses.WWE 2K25 will be released on March 14, with the deluxe editions launching a week earlier on March 7.Emailgamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below,follow us on Twitter, andsign-up to our newsletter.To submit Inbox letters and Readers Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use ourSubmit Stuff page here.For more stories like this,check our Gaming page.GameCentralSign up for exclusive analysis, latest releases, and bonus community content.This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. 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By Margherita Bassi Published January 28, 2025 | Comments (0) | The mask mould discovered in Sicily. Finziade Project / Parco Archeologico e Paesaggistico della Valle dei Templi A familiar face has resurfaced from the ruins of an ancient Greek city in Italy. Archaeologists in Sicily have discovered what they believe to be an ancient Roman mask mould depicting the iconic Medusa. Under the direction of Roberto Sciarratta from the Valley of the Temples Archaeological Park, they unearthed the mould in a building from the late Republican period (133 to 31 BCE) in the ruins of Finziade, as detailed in a January 23 statement by the Sicilian regional government. The finding sheds light on the intersectionality of spiritual and cultural life in ancient Rome. Its not hard to see why the archaeologists immediately thought of the snake-headed womanthe mould depicts a stern face surrounded by what appears to be wild, thick-stranded hair. What you see in the photo is a matrix, used in ancient times as a negative impression for making artifacts. By applying material to the cast, it was molded, taking on the shape of the matrix! reads a Facebook post by the Finziade Project, the research program encompassing the excavations and co-directed by Alessio Toscano Raffa for the Institute of Heritage Science in Catania, a region of Sicily. A matrix is a kind of mould. Parco Archeologico e Paesaggistico della Valle dei Templi According to Greek mythology, Medusa had snakes instead of hair and a (literally) petrifying gaze. Though the ancient sources sometimes disagree on her back story, she was one of three sibling monsters called Gorgons, according to Hesiods Theogony. Unfortunately, shes perhaps best known for her death at the hands of Perseus.The Greek hero beheaded Medusa and afterwards continued to use the severed head to turn his enemies to stone. As a result, scholars suggest that Medusas frequent depictions throughout antiquityfrom mosaics to columns to coinswere made to be protective charms. Designated House 18, the building where the archaeologists discovered the 2,000-year-old mould had most likely been converted into a workshop for the production of masks around the beginning of the first century BCE. Archaeologists had previously discovered similar artifacts in comparable contexts, so the recent finding further confirms the importance of mask production to this area.Finziade, also spelled Phintias, was an ancient Greek colony and city founded in 282 BCE by Finzia (or Phintias), the tyrant ruling over the city of Akragas. Rome conquered it just two decades after its founding, and today its located near the modern-day city of Licata in southwestern Sicily. The masks produced from the mould itself may have been used in decorative, ritual, or theatrical contexts, as reported by The History Blog. As a consequence, the artifact highlights the significant overlap between spirituality and culture in ancient Rome. It also sheds light on the artisanal productions and symbolic culture of ancient Finziade. No archaeologists were petrified in the excavation of this artifact.Daily NewsletterYou May Also Like By Lucas Ropek Published January 28, 2025 By Margherita Bassi Published January 24, 2025 By Margherita Bassi Published January 13, 2025 By Margherita Bassi Published January 12, 2025 By Margherita Bassi Published January 9, 2025 By Isaac Schultz Published December 23, 2024

Those logging onto their email this morning may have a surprise in store, whether elation or crushing disappointment. Nintendo is sending out its first invites for its Switch 2 Experience for hands-on time, with the upcoming console set to start in April. Nintendo declared it would share more about the sequel Switch that month, but this will be the first time regular folks can handle Nintendos next handheld console. Those who get a Switch 2 Experience confirmation email will see the Congratulations! at the top of their page, followed by a date and time for their session. Nintendo planned events in New York, Los Angeles, and Dallas, Texas in the U.S., plus multiple other events around the globe from April through June. The first event will occur April 4 through April 6 in Manhattan, New York. If youre like me, youll log on to your email as excited as a kid on Christmas, only to find Nintendo has dashed your hopes with a Sorry, but you and/or your party were not selected in this drawing. The email then offers a link to Nintendos registration page, where you can hop on a waitlist. The waitlist should be on a first-come, first-served basis in case anybody who received a ticket cancels within the next three months. It will become available starting Jan. 29 at 4 p.m. ET, 1 p.m. PT. Maybe this is a message from Nintendo that its better to abandon hope before your dreams can be dashed once more.Nintendos January Switch 2 reveal didnt offer much insight into the upcoming console beyond screen size, ergonomics changes, and the new magnetically attached JoyCons. We still have to rely on the rumor mill for system specs, rumored upscaling capabilities, and possible launch title lineup. In the meantime, third-party peripheral makers have already set preorders for cases, driving wheels, and other accessories. Arecently revealed patent from Europe hinted that Nintendo could be offering some more Wii-like motion-sensing capabilities for the Switch 2, but that doesnt necessarily mean the tech will pertain to Nintendos upcoming console. As for when we may finally get our hands on the console, it may come after Nintendos planned Direct online press conference slated for April.Some fansgot excited over a Finnish online retailers supposed May 9 release date. Still, we have our doubts about its veracity, considering its stated 999 euro price tag and the use of screenshots ripped straight from Nintendos reveal video.If anything, these rumors prove that the wait for more Switch 2 details will be as excruciating as the long road to the initial announcement.

The ArchDaily 2025 Building of the Year AwardsSave this picture!Background photography Syam Sreesylam. Courtesy of WallmakersWelcome to the ArchDaily Building of the Year Awards! Now in its 16th edition, this award continues to be the most democratic recognition in architecture, celebrating excellence and innovation across the built environment. With over 4,000 projects participating annually, it has become a global benchmark, powered by the voices of our passionate readers.Each year, your votes shape the future of architecture, highlighting the most outstanding projects that push boundaries and redefine possibilities. As we embark on this journey once again, we invite you to be part of this collective celebrationhonoring diversity, creativity, and ingenuity in architecture and design. Together, let's recognize and elevate the projects that inspire, challenge, and shape our world. Cast your vote and help define the architecture of today and tomorrow!The ArchDaily Building of the Year Awards is brought to you thanks to Dornbracht, renowned for leading designs for architecture, which can be found internationally in bathrooms and kitchens.Vote HereSave this picture!The ProcessDuring the next weeks, you'll be in charge of nominating buildings (across fifteen categories) for the shortlist, and then voting for the winners of each category. We will guide you through these stages accordingly.During the nominating stage, each registered user of the My ArchDaily platform will have the chance to nominate one project (published for the first time between January 1st, 2024 and December 31st, 2024) per category. This stage starts on January 28th and ends on February 12th at 12:01 AM EST. After this, five projects per category will move into the finalists' stage, starting February 12th and ending on February 20th at 12:01 AM EST. The winner will be announced on February 20th, 2025.Save this picture!Eligible Projects All completed buildings published for the first time between January 1st, 2024 and December 31st, 2024 under the following categories are eligible for this award: Houses, Housing, Healthcare Architecture, Industrial Architecture, Educational Architecture, Sports Architecture, Cultural Architecture, Hospitality Architecture, Offices, Interiors Architecture, Commercial Architecture, Public & Landscape Architecture, Religious Architecture, Small Scale & Installations, and Best Applied Product. Each project is eligible in all of the first 14 categories that apply depending on the building's function, while all projects which used a product featured in our Product Catalog will be eligible for the Best Applied Product category. By submitting their works to ArchDaily for publication, offices agree to enter this competition and to be present on the promotional material. Authorship and copyright of each project belong to the offices and architects mentioned on each project's page. Save this picture!First Stage Starting January 28th, 2025, registered users will be able to vote for their favorite project for each of the 15 categories included in the Awards. One vote per category. The first stage ends on February 12th, 2025 at 12:01 AM EST. The five projects with the most votes for each category will move on to the finalists round. Second Stage: Finalists On February 12th, 2025, we will update the platform with the shortlisted projects, and registered users will be able to vote for their favorite project among the finalists. Users can vote for one project per category. The finalist round will end on February 20th, 2025 at 12:01 AM EST. Save this picture!How to Vote Only registered users of the My ArchDaily platform can vote. Anyone can register on the My ArchDaily platform to vote. To do so, you must follow the registration link and complete the required steps to become a registered user (or use your existing My ArchDaily account). All registered users can vote. To register you must use a valid email address. Votes coming from users without a valid email address will be removed. You can only vote for one building per category in each stage. Offices and architects are encouraged to promote their works for voting, but no monetary or virtual gift compensation should be offered. You can use the following link: https://boty.archdaily.com/us/2025 Save this picture!Winners Winners of each category will be announced on ArchDaily's home page on February 20th, 2025. Winners of each category will receive a certificate from ArchDaily. The 5 finalists and the winners of each category can use the respective title for their own purposes. ArchDaily will provide promotional material. Timeline The nomination process starts on January 28th and ends on February 12th, 2025 at 12:01 AM EST. The voting round starts on February 12th and ends on February 20th, 2025 at 12:01 AM EST. The winners will be announced on February 20th, 2025. Save this picture!Important Notes All data of registered users will be kept private and will not be shared with third parties. After each stage, all nominations/votes will be checked. Votes submitted by fake/invalid registrations will be removed. All attempts to abuse the system, such as creating dummy accounts, suspicious behavior from individual IP addresses or any other techniques to generate votes in automated ways will be logged and reviewed for removal. ArchDaily reserves the right to analyze the data during every stage of the Awards in order to ensure a fair process. All questions should be sent to Romullo Baratto and Hana Abdel, coordinators of the awards, through the option "Other inquiries" in our contact form. Save this picture!Image gallerySee allShow lessAbout this authorCite: ArchDaily. "The ArchDaily 2025 Building of the Year Awards" 28 Jan 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1026076/the-archdaily-2025-building-of-the-year-awards&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

Social Media-Friendly Design: Is Architecture Adapting to Viral Trends and Algorithms?Save this picture!Prompt: An image that embodies the essence of social media: a giant screen displaying photographs of architectural and interior projects, with a person at the center, standing with their back turned, absorbing the scene. Image Courtesy of Enrique Tovar using DaVinci AII saw it on Instagram! It's a phrase we often hear in various contexts, from the latest restaurant recommendations to the trendiest hotel in town. The window to observe and expose ourselves to the outside world now sits in our smartphones. This doesn't necessarily mean it's all doom and gloom. Still, it reflects that we're constantly flooded with data and information segmented by algorithms, all in a super easy-to-consume format. In today's world, it takes only a few seconds to form a lasting impression of a building and its atmosphereand those first impressions matter more than we often realize.So, here's the thing: Is our perception of architecture shifting to fit this new dynamic, with an increasing focus on creating designs that are likely to go viral? Sure, there's a lot of mystery surrounding the omnipresent algorithm. Still, it's worth exploring this conversation, which raises intriguing questions about architecture's futureone where emerging architects are so deeply embedded in social media that their influence becomes nearly impossible to ignore.Save this picture!It is true that in the past, everything moved at a much slower pace. Keeping up with the world of architecture, seeking inspiration, discovering new processes or materials, required hours of searching through magazines, conversations with colleagues, and travels. Rather than saying that times were better in the old days when architecture classics defined the landscape, the reality is that information flowed more slowly. With improvements in transportation infrastructure, technology, and the advent of the Internet, the world became more connected, and everything accelerated. Social media fit into that momentum, transforming a familiar dynamic into one faster and more accessible than ever before. However, as with many innovations, this acceleration introduces new concepts, advantages, and interesting setbacks. The rise of Instagrammable and Viral Architecture: What Defines It? In a world of immediate connection, the concepts of "Instagrammable" and "social media-friendly design" emerged, referring to architecture designed for digital audiencesnot only to be experienced but also to be shared on social media. These spaces prioritize almost entirely visual impact, photogenic, and the ability to provoke instant reactions and engagement on platforms like Instagram and TikTok. This phenomenon highlights how digital platforms shape architectural trends and influence how we conceptualize and are engaged with spaces. Architecture is evolving with digital trendsnot because its core purpose has changed, but because the medium requires a different approach to communication and influences design choices. Today, the image we project is as important as its function, with the purpose following the post.This process's "successful" outcome is virality, when something spreads quickly and extensively, reaching a much larger audience than anticipated. While there is no established formula for achieving virality, factors known to encourage it include relevance, originality, alignment with trends, and ease of consumption. However, this is where it gets tricky: by focusing excessively on virality and imitating the outcomes of projects that achieved it, we risk introducing biases into design decisions and material selection.Save this picture! Material Selection in Architecture: Risks of Trend-Driven Homogenization Discussing materials becomes a natural next step when a project concentrates on aesthetics. After all, no design can take shape without the materiality that defines it. However, an important dilemma arises: How many options are available? The short answer is "countless", but the issue is more complex. In a world defined by global interconnection, the possibility of obtaining products from the other side of the planet has become normalized, allowing practically everyone access to the same resources. This reach has led us to enjoy unprecedented diversitybringing with it significant sustainability costswhich, in theory, expands creative possibilities.Today, a material not only fulfills a compositional function but also brings a certain uniqueness, reaching a relevance comparable to trendy products. From sneakers to gadgets, certain objects are symbols of the contemporary. This phenomenon has a parallel in design, where colors, shapes, textures, and specific furniture elements are consolidated as means of adopting the aesthetic of viral architecture. However, by focusing on a limited set of options, is global access to materials driving the homogenization of design? Abandoning approaches that focus on the real needs of projects could inevitably lead to short-term results.Save this picture!Has virality already become a necessity? The challenge is not merely selecting the right material for its technical properties, but leveraging the nearly infinite possibilities at our disposal to create something that transcends the next trend. Possible futures of architecture in the social media age involve balancing innovation with timeless design, ensuring that new trends do not overshadow the long-term integrity of the built environment.Design trends driven by virality are shaped by the generational influences behind the stimuli we encounter on social media. These platforms reflect diverse conceptions of the world, molded by the characteristics and values of each generation. Analyzing the trends that emerge in our feeds, two main spectrums can be distinguished: on the one hand, millennials, and on the other, Gen Z, which has surpassed the former in number for some years now.Save this picture!Save this picture!Generation Z generally gravitates toward colorful elements, organic shapes, and eye-catching texturesqualities distinctly reflected in product design and fashion. In the built environment, particularly in interiors, this phenomenon translates into a renewed interest in maximalism, where the message is clear: "Less is a Bore" contrasting with the minimalism that defined previous generations.Although minimalist aesthetics catering to millennial preferences persist, many spaces have started to incorporate more subtle color elements, often in pastel tones. This "late minimalism" appears to be an attempt to adapt to emerging trends, even with an unconscious resistance to the bolder and more vibrant aesthetics favored by younger generations. It will be interesting to observe how both spectrums evolve, shaped by generational transitions and the trends they bring. However, contrary to popular belief in design, neither is here to stay. Only time will reveal their evolution, paving the way for the upcoming Generation Beta and the possibilities they will bring.Save this picture!We are in a transition where the metaverse, AI-driven architecture, and data insights are shaping future designs. In a world where online platforms constantly provide data on user preferences, architects could adopt a more metrics-based approach to building design. This means taking into account not only user demographics, but also social media activity: what types of spaces are most frequently shared, how people interact with those environments, and what visual elements resonate with digital audiences. Public opinion and digital audiences could become a driving factor in the design of buildings or spaces. Will architects be able to design timeless structures that balance social media trends and functionality?In the opposite sense, there's a chance that all this will settle down just as other technologies and innovations did when they reached their peak. Or why not? Counter-narratives will emerge that spark a new era of innovation, taking the focus away from the influences of social media and turning the gaze back to regional architectural styles, local resources, and manual processes. Perhaps what was perfected over centuries will regain prominence over what was designed to capture our attention for only a few seconds. It is not necessary to anticipate anything yet but to remain open to the ever-dynamic architecture's environment.Save this picture!Image gallerySee allShow lessAbout this authorEnrique TovarAuthorCite: Enrique Tovar. "Social Media-Friendly Design: Is Architecture Adapting to Viral Trends and Algorithms?" 28 Jan 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1025972/social-media-friendly-design-is-architecture-adapting-to-viral-trends-and-algorithms&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream