Noughties star joins Leeds International Festival of Ideas line-up to tackle social media
Star joins line up for Leeds International Festival of Ideas which is due to start next week
Entertainer Tulisa Contostavlos knows only too well what it’s like to have other people write her story.
From her early career as the front woman of N-Dubz to judging TV talent juggernaut X Factor, the singer has spent more than a decade in the public eye.
She has seen fam from both sides of the screen - and is now turning the tables.
Tulisa is joining the panel at Leeds International Festival of Ideas next week to ask the bigger question: if everyone's a publisher now, who's in charge of the story?
The panel, which includes Katy Leeson, Dr Sophie Bishop and Mark Farid, hosted by the BBC's Joe Tidy, asks is it time to switch off?
It comes as figures show on average, we check our phones over 100 times a day, with social media transforming how we think, vote, shop, and even date.
But in a world of AI-generated content and mis/disinformation, has social media started to control us more than we control it?
The provocative debate explores the platforms shaping modern life and analyse influencer culture to addictive doomscrolling.
The festival, which starts next week, also includes headliners broadcaster Louis Theroux, Tim Minchin and music legend Judge Jules discussing a variety of different subjects shaping our every day lives.
Writing for the YEP earlier this month Leeds BID chief executive Andrew Cooper said: “This sixth edition contains five days of bold conversations exploring the big issues shaping our world today, led by experts, creatives and changemakers from around the globe.
“The event is organised by LeedsBID with one simple objective: to put Leeds on the map through a creative and innovative event, which stands out in a place-making way to elevate our city positively.
“We see on TV, in parliament and in society a very adversarial and combative discussion environment, underpinned by a lack of tolerance to see others’ point of view.
“With the Leeds International Festival of Ideas, we have created the opposite - a festival with the ability to host civil conversations while having differing points of view. This is what makes the event so refreshing and why so many people have previously attended and already purchased tickets for this year.”
For tickets visit https://leedsinternationalfestival.com/