Brazil’s economic woes are knocking Carnival festivities off the list of priorities and at least 48 towns or cities have cancelled carnival parties and events for 2017. But in Rio, where a disgruntled population has been forced to cut back on leisure spending, Carnival is being kept on.

Why are Brazilians splashing on beauty services when they’re skint? What’s got them bringing the bar into the home? And why are family dynamics changing so drastically? This Cultural Snapshot uses local statistics and case studies to explore behavioural norms shared by Brazilians in 2016.

After a spate of police brutality incidents in the US, Facebook’s reaction was worryingly non-committal, despite being a key medium for raising awareness. Around 70% of young people believe social media can be a force for good, but some channels are better suited to social change than others.

Brazil is home to 21 of the 50 most violent cities in the world, with drug trafficking, gang wars, political instability and poverty all fuelling the country’s high crime rates. How are regular Brazilians reacting to persistent urban violence? And how does crime affect their lifestyles?