5 Mid Mornings

A group of popular local restaurants has officially banned tipping. Instead, they’ve raised their prices by 20% and pay their staff a much higher flat "living wage." The owners say it removes the "awkwardness" at the end of a meal, but some regular customers are complaining because they feel they've lost the power to "reward good service" or "punish bad service."

Would you rather pay a higher, "all-inclusive" price for your meal and never have to tip again, or do you prefer having the power to decide how much the service was worth?

A massive movement took off in late 2025 where entire neighborhoods of parents signed a "Community Pact" to not give their children smartphones until they turn 16. It wasn't just a solo parenting choice; they did it as a group so that no single kid felt like the "odd one out." It has sparked a massive debate between parents who think it’s a beautiful way to save childhood and those who think it’s "digital desertion" that leaves kids unprepared for the real world.

Is a "Smartphone-Free Childhood" a gift of mental health and freedom, or is it actually a disadvantage to keep kids away from the tools of the modern world until they are 16?

A woman recently went viral for dumping her "perfect" partner for a bizarre reason: he was too nice. She realized that because he never disagreed with her or challenged her, she had lost all respect for his opinion. She called him a "human mirror"—he just reflected whatever she wanted, which eventually drove her crazy because she felt like she was dating herself.

Is there actually such a thing as being too nice? Do you believe that being "too nice" can actually be a turn-off, and is it enough of a reason to break up with someone?

Natalie Abrahams, Founder and director at I Matter NPO speaks to us about what survivors of GBV can expect when they reach out to the organisation for psychosocial support. Natalie also shares what it takes to raise GBV awareness in communities and what young people need in the fight against GBV.

You don't owe a long-term friend a "breakup talk" or an explanation if you want to end the friendship. If the relationship has become draining or you’ve just grown apart, "ghosting" or slowly fading out is perfectly acceptable. You don't need to give an "exit interview" for a friendship that has naturally expired.

A world-renowned Michelin-star chef admitted in a recent interview that after cooking gourmet truffles and wagyu beef all day, his favorite dinner is actually crushed-up crackers in a bowl of cold milk. This has sparked a global "Confess Your Meal" trend where people are admitting to the low-effort, slightly "shameful" food combinations they eat when they are alone and tired.

What is the "lazy" or "weird" meal you make for yourself when you’re home alone that you would absolutely never serve to a guest?

A high-end restaurant group in New York and London has officially started a "Phone-Lock" policy. When you arrive, your phone is placed in a small timed safe at the center of the table. If you want to unlock it before the bill is paid, you have to pay a "distraction surcharge" of 15% on top of your meal. The owners say it’s the only way to get people to actually talk to each other again.

If you were at dinner with your partner or friends, would you be willing to lock your phone away for two hours for a discount? Or is having your phone on the table a "basic right" in 2026?

A 2026 dating report has highlighted a trend called "Love-Loreing." Instead of looking for "The One," a huge number of people are going on dates purely "for the plot." They admit that even when they know a date is going to be a disaster, they stay until the end just so they have a funny or ridiculous story to tell their friends in the group chat the next morning.

Would you ever stay in a weird or awkward situation (a date, a party, a job) just so you'd have a great story to tell your friends later? If you have ever done that, what happened?

Khulisa Social SolutionsSpeaking to the Founder & Managing Director of Khulisa, Lesley Ann van Selm, we find out more about the organisation's programmes, Rock 'n Rhyme as well as the People Puppet Programme for ECDs. Storytelling and Dialogues are also highlighted as a valuable tool for social change.

Inheritance should not be split equally between siblings. If one child stayed behind to care for the parents in their old age while the others moved away and only visited on holidays, the "caregiver" child should get everything. Blood shouldn't guarantee you a payday if you weren't there for the work.