Lifestyle

Wearing Different Hats, in Different Spaces: Dr. Amany Sabbagh Sets the Example for a Positive Work Balance

Published

4 years ago

June 2, 2021

Everything Dr. Amany Sabbagh does, she does with compassion, balance, and intention. As one of the top aesthetic physicians in Lebanon, with almost a decade of experience, Dr. Sabbagh is very well researched in her field, and careful about the information she shares and the products she uses. Nine years ago, Dr. Sabbagh began her training with Dr. Nada Soueidan, a leading pioneer in cosmetic dermatology. She has since become an attending aesthetic physician and active partner at Dr. Soueidan’s clinic NuYu MediSpa in Beirut. In her day-to-day life, she operates as an expert in two spheres: inside the clinic and outside the clinic, primarily on social media. In these two spaces she performs different, but equally critical services for her clients and followers.

In the clinic, Dr. Sabbagh is responsible for making sure that her clients receive high-quality, personalized care when they are in her hands. The entire process of treatment at NuYu revolves around the client’s unique needs, health concerns, or goals. Dr. Sabbagh is the first to speak with the clients and carefully get to know their specific case. When she isn’t helping her clients achieve their goals herself, she delegates to the highly skilled team of specialists at the clinic. She is also a manager, in the sense that she must ensure that she sends the clients to the right specialist in the areas of aesthetic medicine, nutrition, and dermatology, among others. In this way, she is able to be active in ensuring a high-quality experience for her clients, from the moment they walk through the door.

Outside of the office, Dr. Sabbagh is also striving for a high-quality experience-on social media. She has amassed over 15,000 followers on Instagram and Facebook. As they say, with great power comes great responsibility. Her thousands of followers rely on her informative and uplifting posts. Just like her position at NuYu, she wears multiple hats in order to be the best source for her followers. As a physician, she is committed to providing the most up-to-date, science-based information, and, as a person, she understands the importance of self-care and the power of seeing positive messages on social media. From beauty and nutrition tips, to the latest in cosmetic products, Dr. Sabbagh ensures that all the posts she creates and puts into the world are well-informed and compassionate.

One of her recent initiatives is hosting conversations with other beauty experts, dermatologists, and plastic surgeons in Lebanon. These weekly discussions are a means to expand the knowledge base available online and provide different perspectives on issues in the field. Most importantly, these conversations are educational and provide Dr. Sabbagh’s followers, and anyone else who tunes in, the opportunity to learn from highly qualified experts in a variety of related disciplines. So far, Dr. Sabbagh and her guests have covered anti-aging, surgeries, beauty tips, and other procedures. Much like she does at NuYu, Dr. Sabbagh delegates her social media presence to other experts when it’s beneficial to her trusted followers.

Like all physicians, Dr. Sabbagh balances her practice and her life between human connection and scientific procedures. In all aspects of her career, she promotes reliable sources of knowledge, scientific research, and expertise. However, she is also a champion of positive energy and building up self-confidence. Her infectious smile and patient voice make her approachable on both an Instagram feed and in an intimate office setting. In these ways, Dr. Sabbagh has established herself as a leading name in her field, and not only a source of knowledge, but also a positive influence for those who work with her or follow her online.

Lifestyle

Confronting Propaganda: Street Smart Documents Honest Reactions to Gaza Indoctrination Footage

Published

5 days ago

November 6, 2025

Michelle Langton

Photo Courtesy of: Street Smart

Byline: Michelle Langton

In a recent project, the Street Smart team gathered 20 strangers and presented them with propaganda footage from Gaza that has circulated widely online but remains largely unfamiliar to many audiences. The aim wasn’t to provoke outrage or test media literacy in a classroom setting. It was to capture raw, unfiltered emotional reactions to material that reveals how narratives are formed at the source. The resulting video offers a candid look at how people process shocking content and how their perceptions shift when they see what is rarely shown on mainstream platforms.

The Structure of the Experiment

The format was simple. Participants were seated and shown a series of clips from Gaza, including children’s programming and broadcasts containing intense ideological messaging. No background information was provided, and viewers were not instructed on how to interpret what they were seeing. After watching, they were asked for immediate reactions.

The footage elicited a wide range of emotions. Some viewers were stunned by the content, admitting they had never seen anything like it before. Others expressed disbelief, questioning why this kind of material isn’t more widely discussed. A few were visibly shaken, saying the experience fundamentally altered their understanding of the situation.

By presenting the footage without narration or added commentary, Street Smart allowed participants’ genuine responses to emerge. The experiment revealed how propaganda can affect an entire generation. It can shock, unsettle, and force people to reconsider their assumptions.

Why This Project Matters

Sage Fox and Dorani aligned the purpose of this experiment with Street Smart’s broader mission of challenging prevailing narratives and encouraging critical thought among younger audiences. In an environment where footage spreads rapidly across digital platforms, propaganda can shape public opinion long before context catches up.

By showing the Gaza Indoctrination footage in a controlled setting and recording uncoached responses, the team aimed to expose the emotional and cognitive impact of this type of content.

“The first reaction is often the most revealing, because it shows how powerful images can be without context.”

The Range of Reactions

While each participant brought their own perspective, several themes emerged. Some expressed sympathy with the imagery itself, saying it was emotionally powerful.

One participant said, “It makes me question what I see online every day. How much of it is shaped this way?”

Their comments highlight how propaganda resonates differently depending on prior knowledge and exposure. Many viewers have simply never encountered such footage directly.

Street Smart’s Approach

This project continues a pattern established by Sage Fox & Dorani’s earlier videos. Rather than relying on experts or lengthy analysis, Street Smart focuses on real people and their honest reactions. The approach is simple but effective. Present potent material, listen to what people say, and share those moments with a wider audience.

The Gaza Indoctrination footage experiment fits this model. It doesn’t attempt to draw final conclusions or offer political commentary. Instead, it documents how people respond when they’re exposed to narratives that are usually filtered through intermediaries.

Implications for Media Literacy

Beyond its viral potential, the video raises broader questions about how people interact with powerful imagery online. Propaganda operates on emotional reflexes. As this experiment shows, those reflexes are often unexamined until they’re brought to the surface.

Sage Fox & Dorani hope that projects like this push audiences to think more critically about what they see and share.

“The purpose is not to tell people what to believe. It is to remind them that every image comes from somewhere, and that source matters,” they said.

Next Steps for Street Smart

As Street Smart’s platform grows, Sage Fox & Dorani plan to conduct similar experiments in different contexts. They intend to use their direct, street-level approach to highlight how people react when presented with challenging material.

The Gaza footage project is one piece of a larger mission. The team uses simple methods to shed light on complex issues. By focusing on authentic reactions, they continue to build a unique space in online media that blends cultural investigation with raw human response.

A Window into Unfiltered Thought

“We showed 20 strangers real propaganda footage from Gaza — and filmed their unfiltered reactions” is not a dramatic exposé or academic study. It is a clear, unmediated record of how individuals respond when confronted with material designed to persuade. In that restraint lies its strength.

By documenting these moments, Street Smart shows how awareness can begin with a pause. A brief space between seeing and believing.