With over 61% of people reading online reviews before making a purchase decision, it’s even more important than ever to separate the good ones from the bad. But with peer reviews and professional write-ups often having contrasting opinions, who should we trust – and why?

Ever since TripAdvisor came onto the scene, guests have been able to review hotels. But what if the tables were turned and hotels were able to review guests? One hotel in Australia is about to find out with a new social experiment called ‘reverse reviews’ that offers well behaved guests rewards.

Public shaming is back on the agenda. From fears of being photographed eating on the tube, to apps that erase pics from the night before – the spectre of public criticism looms large. Has social media revived this age-old mechanism of control? Or can shame be a force for positive change?

Insurance is a necessary evil; it's a grudge purchase that people would rather not think about. Smart insurers like Progressive are using black box technology to monitor their customers – safe driving can lead to double-digit cost cuts. But are people comfortable trading their data for rewards?