AI-generated videos make Gen Z nostalgic for the 1980s

“The 1980s are calling,” a teenager with a retro hairstyle tells viewers as the Tears for Fears classic “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” plays in the background.

The entire montage created using artificial intelligence has garnered more than 600,000 likes on Instagram and is part of an online trend known as “AI nostalgia,” which can be perplexing for those who actually lived through the decade.

Maximal Nostalgia, the Instagram account behind much of this content, showcases a highly idealized version of life in the 1980s and 1990s.

This soft-focused fantasy is made possible by modern generative AI tools such as OpenAI’s Sora, Google’s Veo, and Luma AI’s Ray which can produce remarkably realistic videos that, at first glance, are difficult to distinguish from genuine vintage footage.

On Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, numerous channels are recreating the past through an AI-enhanced lens, portraying pre-iPhone youth as more present, outdoorsy, and eager to connect face-to-face.

One of the creators bringing this imagined 1980s world to life is Tavaius Dawson, a 26-year-old entrepreneur who wasn’t even born in that era.

“People who grew up with smartphones and social media often wish they had lived in a time when they didn’t have to worry about all this,” Dawson told AFP.

Rose-colored glasses

Experts familiar with the era can easily spot the anachronisms and subtle absurdities typical of AI-generated content — like bike lanes in 1980s New York City.

Still, the decade holds a powerful appeal for young people who were born long after it ended, making the 1980s a central focus of the growing AI nostalgia trend.

Accounts such as Maximal Nostalgia, Purest Nostalgia, and utopic.dreamer portray serene suburbs and city streets reminiscent of the feel-good films of that era.

Conspicuously missing, however, are the harsher realities of the time — rising economic inequality, the AIDS crisis, and widespread crack cocaine addiction.

Instead, the videos highlight the fashion trademarks of the decade: big hair, neon colors, bold patterns, and oversized shoulder pads.

“People often view the 1950s or 1960s through rose-colored glasses, forgetting the upheaval of those years,” said Anna Behler, a psychology professor at North Carolina State University, while explaining the concept of collective nostalgia. “Now, we’re seeing the same thing with the ’80s.”

Dawson insists his videos are not meant to serve as historical representations, but simply a way to spread positivity.

Even so, Behler warns that the increasingly lifelike quality of AI-generated videos may “blur the line between genuine historical footage and fabricated memories.”

While AI is a futuristic technology, it draws from the past for nostalgic visions that bring comfort in a lonely age.

"Nostalgia isn't a gimmick; it's emotional survival," said Simon Parmeggiani, creator of the Neptunian Glitter Ball channel that mixes a touch of fantasy with its look back at the 1980s.

Alicia West Fancher, a cosmetics industry sales director, remembers living through the 1980s and found herself deeply moved by the videos.

"I teared up," Fancher told AFP. "It's definitely not a fantasized version; that's how it was."

Dawson is now ready to trade up from AI to making live-action content set in this idealized version of the 1980s or 1990s.

"One thing we're certain of is that nostalgia doesn't fade," Dawson said.

France Says Goodbye to Its Beloved Pandas Heading Back to China

Two pandas at a zoo in central France are to return to China on Tuesday after the female was diagnosed with kidney failure, drawing hundreds of visitors for a final goodbye.

Huan Huan and her partner Yuan Zi arrived at the Beauval Zoo in 2012 as part of China's "panda diplomacy" programme, which sees the black-and-white bears dispatched across the globe as soft-power ambassadors.

The two pandas, both 17, were meant to stay in France until January 2027, but will return to China on Tuesday to live out their retirement at the Chengdu panda sanctuary, leaving behind some devoted fans.

More than 200 well-wishers braved a cold and rainy Sunday to say "bon voyage", including one couple dressed head-to-toe in panda-themed gear, who say they have visited the bears "more than a thousand times" since their arrival in 2012.

Patrice Colombel, an electronics technician, and his wife Veronique, an administrative assistant at a secondary school, told AFP they would not have missed the chance to see them off.

"They are the first pandas we have ever known. We wanted to be there to say goodbye to them," the couple visiting from the southwest city of Bordeaux told AFP.

Huan Huan and Yuan Zi will be escorted to Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport under heavy police protection for their 12:30 pm (1130 GMT) flight on Tuesday.

-'Engraved in our hearts'-
The pair produced three cubs while in France -- the first pandas to do so in the country -- and became star attractions at the Beauval zoo in Saint-Aignan-sur-Cher, which welcomed some two million visitors in 2023.

The decision to send them back to China came after Huan Huan was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease -- a common condition in bears around her age, according to zoo director Rodolphe Delord.

The move came with "a twinge of sadness", Delord said.

But the twins born in 2021 are expected to remain at Beauval for now, said Delord, adding he hopes to extend the zoo's partnership with China beyond 2027.

The eldest of the offspring, Yuan Meng, left France for his ancestral China in 2023.

For panda keeper Delphine Pouvreau, their departure will be "very hard" for the caretakers, who have forged a strong bond with the bears.

"We experienced the first birth of a baby panda in France here," she said.

"This memory will remain engraved in our hearts."

The giant panda was downgraded last year from "endangered" to "vulnerable" on the global list of at-risk species.

Only about 20 zoos outside China have pandas, which have become a symbol of Beijing's diplomatic friendships.

China has been using so-called "panda diplomacy", in which the bears are sent across the globe as soft-power ambassadors, for decades. In 1972, it gifted a pair of pandas to Washington, following US president Richard Nixon's historic visit to the Communist nation.

Malaysia says it plans to ban social media for under-16s from 2026

Malaysia plans to ban social media for users under the age of 16 starting from next year, joining a growing list of countries choosing to limit access to digital platforms due to concerns about child safety.

Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said on Sunday the government was reviewing mechanisms used to impose age restrictions for social media use in Australia and other nations, citing a need to protect youths from online harms such as cyberbullying, financial scams, and child sexual abuse.

"We hope by next year that social media platforms will comply with the government's decision to bar those under the age of 16 from opening user accounts," he told reporters, according to a video of his remarks posted online by local daily The Star.

The effects of social media on children's health and safety have become a growing global concern, with companies including TikTok, Snapchat, Google and Meta Platforms — the operator of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp — facing lawsuits in the United States for their role in fueling a mental health crisis.

In Australia, social media platforms are poised to deactivate accounts registered to users under 16 next month, under a sweeping ban for teenagers that is being closely watched by regulators around the world.

France, Spain, Italy, Denmark and Greece are also jointly testing a template for an age verification app.

Malaysia's neighbour, Indonesia, said in January it planned to set a minimum age for social media users, but later issued a less stringent regulation requiring tech platforms to filter negative content and impose stronger age verification measures.

Malaysia has put social media companies under greater scrutiny in recent years in response to what it claims to be a rise in harmful content, including online gambling and posts related to race, religion and royalty.

Platforms and messaging services with more than 8 million users in Malaysia are now required to obtain a license under a new regulation that came into effect in January.

Pakistan plans new federal authority to strengthen Cyber security

In response to growing threats in the digital sphere, the federal government has initiated steps to set up a Cybersecurity Authority.

According to a news article, the proposed authority will be responsible for recommending security protocols for the country’s critical digital infrastructure and overseeing the rollout of cybersecurity initiatives nationwide.

According to officials, the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunications has drafted the preliminary version of the Cybersecurity Act and circulated it among relevant stakeholders for review. The upcoming legislation aligns with the National Cybersecurity Policy, which lays out a nationwide framework for digital protection and is currently being implemented as part of the Digital Economy Enhancement Programme.

The move comes after the MoIT acknowledged in September that Pakistan has suffered multiple significant cyberattacks and data breaches in recent years. In a submission to the National Assembly, the ministry declined to share full details due to the sensitive nature of the incidents but offered to provide a complete briefing behind closed doors.

The ministry noted that inadequate staffing, limited technical expertise, weak monitoring mechanisms, and an overall fragile cybersecurity posture have allowed many cyber incidents to go unnoticed or unreported within institutions.

One of the major breaches cited involved the Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL), where attackers infiltrated the organization’s core data centre, wiping out 21 virtual servers. Operations were restored only after a three-day recovery effort from the disaster recovery site.

The report identified several systemic issues behind such incidents, including insufficient funding for cybersecurity, the absence of trained personnel, weak governance structures, and gaps in comprehensive security policies.

Meanwhile, ministry documents indicate progress on the Secure Data Exchange Layer and digital identity initiatives. Data belonging to Nadra, the Federal Board of Revenue, and the telecom sector has already been categorised as critical digital infrastructure, with the government prioritising the protection of these systems. Efforts are also underway to classify the Immigration and Passports Directorate’s systems as critical.

Until the National Cybersecurity Authority is formally established, the CERT Council, a body comprising 14 public and private sector organisations, continues to coordinate and enhance the country’s cyberattack response capacity. Work on the Pakistan Information Security Framework 2025 is also in progress, the ministry added.

 

Washington and Kyiv Stress Any Peace Deal Must Fully Respect Ukraine’s Sovereignty

Washington and Kyiv said on Sunday that any eventual peace deal to halt the war with Russia must fully uphold Ukraine’s sovereignty, following “constructive” talks between US, Ukrainian, and European officials in Geneva.

Negotiations, based on a US-proposed plan criticized for favoring Russia, produced an updated and refined peace framework, according to a joint US-Ukraine statement.

The conflict, which began nearly four years ago following Russia’s full-scale invasion, remains unresolved.

US President Donald Trump had set a deadline of November 27 for Ukraine to approve his plan.

Kyiv, however, sought modifications to a draft that would have required Ukraine to cede territory, reduce its army, and pledge never to join NATO.

“The talks were constructive, focused, and respectful, underscoring the shared commitment to achieving a just and lasting peace,” the joint statement said. It added that any future agreement must fully uphold Ukraine’s sovereignty while delivering a sustainable and just peace. Both sides pledged to continue working on joint proposals in the coming days.

Despite the diplomatic progress, conflict continues on the ground. A Russian drone strike on Kharkiv killed four people, local officials reported.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the discussions as making “tremendous” progress, while Andriy Yermak, head of Ukraine’s delegation, said the sides had achieved “very good progress.”

Rubio noted that remaining points of disagreement were not insurmountable and expressed optimism that a final deal could be reached.

He emphasized that any agreement would require approval by the presidents of the involved nations before involving the Kremlin, which had initially welcomed the US proposal. “Obviously, the Russians get a vote,” Rubio added.

'Zero gratitude' claim

His comments came after Trump earlier lashed out at Ukraine.

"UKRAINE 'LEADERSHIP' HAS EXPRESSED ZERO GRATITUDE FOR OUR EFFORTS," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, also accusing European countries of not doing enough to stop the war, but offering no direct condemnation of Moscow.

Not long after, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on X that his country was "grateful to the United States... and personally to President Trump" for the assistance that has been "saving Ukrainian lives".

Announcing a deadly Russian drone strike, Kharkiv mayor Igor Terekhov said on Telegram Sunday it was "truly horrible" that despite the negotiations, "Russian troops are attacking civilian objects, civilian infrastructure, residential buildings".

The Ukrainian delegation had referred to a new version of the US draft plan, which has yet to be published, saying it "already reflects most of Ukraine's key priorities".

At the end of the day, Rubio said he thought Trump was "quite pleased at the reports we've given him about the amount of progress that's been made".

Asked about whether he believed a deal could be reached by Thursday, as demanded by the US president, he said "the deadline is we want to get this done as soon as possible".

"I think we made a tremendous amount of progress. I feel very optimistic that we're going to get there in a very reasonable period of time, very soon."

European 'centrality'

Rubio said that his delegation had met Sunday with "national security advisors from various European countries".

Ukraine's delegation also met high-level officials from Britain, France and Germany.

The US plan was drafted without input from Ukraine's European allies, who were scrambling Sunday to make their voices heard and boost Kyiv's position.

"Ukraine must have the freedom and sovereign right to choose its own destiny.

They have chosen a European destiny," EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said in a statement, stressing that the "centrality" of the European Union's role must be "fully reflected" in any peace plan.

A number of leaders called Trump Sunday, with Downing Street saying UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the US president had agreed "that we all must work together at this critical moment to bring about a just and lasting peace".

Bangladesh Urges India to Extradite Ousted Leader Sheikh Hasina

The Bangladeshi government announced on Sunday that it has formally requested India to extradite former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was sentenced to death earlier this week over a deadly crackdown on a student-led uprising.

Hasina, 78, has been in hiding in India since her autocratic rule was toppled in August 2024. During her tenure, she had received support from New Delhi.

Bangladesh’s interim foreign affairs minister, Touhid Hossain, told reporters on Friday that the government had “sent a letter seeking the extradition of Sheikh Hasina.”

He did not disclose further details of the request, which Bengali newspaper Prothom Alo reported was the third official extradition request since Hasina fled the country.

Following her conviction on Monday for crimes against humanity, Bangladesh’s foreign ministry stated that India has an “obligatory responsibility” under a bilateral treaty to facilitate Hasina’s return.

India’s foreign ministry responded that it had “noted” the verdict but did not comment directly on the extradition request. There has been no immediate response to the latest letter from Dhaka.

Bangladesh remains in political turmoil since the end of Hasina’s rule, with violence affecting election campaigning ahead of polls expected in February 2026.

The United Nations says up to 1,400 people were killed in crackdowns as Hasina tried to cling to power, deaths that were central to her trial.

India's past support for Hasina has frayed relations between the two neighbours since her overthrow.

But tensions appear to have eased slightly when Bangladesh's National Security Adviser Khalilur Rahman visited India this week for a regional security summit and met with his counterpart Ajit Doval.

Media reports in Bangladesh said Rahman has invited Doval for a visit.

US filings reveal Meta buried key evidence linking social media to mental harm

Meta allegedly halted its own internal research into the mental health impact of Facebook and Instagram after early findings showed a direct causal link between the platforms and declining user well-being, according to newly un-redacted court filings in a class-action lawsuit brought by U.S. school districts.

The documents reveal that in 2020, under a project code-named Project Mercury, Meta researchers partnered with Nielsen to study the effects of temporarily “deactivating” Facebook and Instagram accounts.

To Meta’s surprise, internal files show that users who stayed off Facebook for a week reported significantly lower levels of depression, anxiety, loneliness, and social comparison—outcomes that contradicted Meta’s public stance.

Instead of releasing the findings or commissioning further research, the company shut the project down, claiming the results were influenced by the prevailing “negative media narrative” surrounding social media.

Privately, however, Meta employees told Nick Clegg, then the company’s global policy chief, that the study’s conclusions were solid.

One researcher reportedly wrote that the Nielsen study “does show causal impact on social comparison,” followed by an unhappy emoji.

Another staff member warned internally that burying the results would be comparable to the tobacco industry hiding evidence of the harms of smoking.

Despite having internal evidence of mental health risks—particularly for teens—the filings say Meta went on to tell U.S. lawmakers that it had no way of measuring whether its platforms harmed young girls.

In response, Meta spokesperson Andy Stone said Saturday that the study was discontinued due to flawed methodology and insisted the company has taken extensive steps to improve user safety.

“For over a decade, we have listened to parents, researched the issues that matter most, and made significant changes to protect teens,” Stone said.

'Hidden product risks'

The allegation of Meta burying evidence of social media harms is just one of many in a late Friday filing by Motley Rice, a law firm suing Meta, Google, TikTok and Snapchat on behalf of school districts around the country.

Broadly, the plaintiffs argue the companies have intentionally hidden the internally recognised risks of their products from users, parents and teachers.

TikTok, Google and Snapchat did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Allegations against Meta and its rivals include tacitly encouraging children below the age of 13 to use their platforms, failing to address child sexual abuse content and seeking to expand the use of social media products by teenagers while they were at school.

The plaintiffs also allege that the platforms attempted to pay child-focused organisations to defend the safety of their products in public.

In one instance, TikTok sponsored the National PTA and then internally boasted about its ability to influence the child-focused organisation.

Per the filing, TikTok officials said the PTA would "do whatever we want going forward in the fall […] they'll announce things publicly, their CEO will do press statements for us".

By and large, however, the allegations against the other social media platforms are less detailed than those against Meta. The internal documents cited by the plaintiffs allege:

Meta intentionally designed its youth safety features to be ineffective and rarely used, and blocked testing of safety features that it feared might be harmful to growth.

Meta required users to be caught 17 times attempting to traffic people for sex before it would remove them from its platform, which a document described as "a very, very, very high strike threshold".

Meta recognised that optimising its products to increase teen engagement resulted in serving them more harmful content, but did so anyway.

Meta stalled internal efforts to prevent child predators from contacting minors for years due to growth concerns, and pressured safety staff to circulate arguments justifying its decision not to act.

In a text message in 2021, Mark Zuckerberg said that he wouldn’t say that child safety was his top concern "when I have a number of other areas I'm more focused on like building the metaverse". Zuckerberg also shot down or ignored requests by Clegg to better fund child safety work.

Meta's Stone disputed these allegations, saying the company's teen safety measures are effective and that the company's current policy is to remove accounts as soon as they are flagged for sex trafficking.

He said the suit misrepresents its efforts to build safety features for teens and parents, and called its safety work "broadly effective".

"We strongly disagree with these allegations, which rely on cherry-picked quotes and misinformed opinions," Stone said.

The underlying Meta documents cited in the filing are not public, and Meta has filed a motion to strike the documents.

Stone said the objection was to the over-broad nature of what plaintiffs are seeking to unseal, not unsealing in its entirety.

A hearing regarding the filing is set for January 26 in Northern California District Court.