Latest Stories from Charlie
the endless battle to conquer my fears
Whether it’s doing something relatively mundane like boarding a flight, or delving into the existential dread of getting older, my life is a constant battle to not let anxiety win. Now that I’m nearly thirty (gasp), I’m being invited to weddings, stag dos, the lot. My first ever stag is in Dublin this weekend, where I’ll be flying from Bristol airport. I’ve only ever flown four times and haven’t boarded a...
Why are Gen Z embracing the Y2K nostalgia wave?
The thirst for 90s and Y2K fashion is seemingly never-ending, with Gen Z fully embracing the digital cosiness of yesterday’s tech and style. What is it about this era that attracts young people more than others? If you’re an older Gen Z like me, you probably remember some of the Y2K era, at least past the mid-noughties. Think flip phones, rudimentary desktop computers, major-label boybands, girl groups and the rise of...
Explaining the great Gen Z booze renaissance
The latest surveys and economic reports suggest that Gen Z are returning to booze and buying drinks. What’s causing young people to increase their alcohol intake amidst all their health-conscious habits? New studies this week seem to suggest that Gen Z are back on the booze and buying alcohol significantly more than they used to. That’s despite all the chitter-chatter by marketers in recent years that young people are a ‘health-conscious’...
is the age of celebrity worship coming to a close?
Over the past decade, we’ve seen the idealism of celebrity and wealth come crashing down in numerous scandals and legal disputes. With more of us financially struggling than ever, and with unrest steadily growing across the globe, are we finally shedding the idea that celebrities know any better than us? Last week, Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs was found guilty of two separate incidents of transporting former girlfriends to engage in prostitution...
How are Gen Z coping with climate anxiety?
With constant news coverage surrounding our hot summers and the collective failure to reach climate carbon targets, how are young people dealing with the uncertainty that surrounds their future? The climate crisis is back in the headlines this week. Experts now believe we have only two years left of our carbon budget if we’ve any hope of keeping global warming below 1.5C. That means countries have to drastically start scaling back...
Vaccine progress for children stalling worldwide say experts
A combination of vaccine scepticism, cuts to international aid budgets and the pandemic has lead to a stall and even reversal of vaccination programmes for children, experts warn. A new global study has revealed that progress in vaccinating children against various life-threatening diseases has stalled over the past two decades. It has even reversed in some countries. Experts are urging for a greater effort to provide more accessibility to vaccines across...
New study suggests ChatGPT use linked to lower brain activity
Fresh research from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Media Lab suggests that frequent use of ChatGPT to write essays might be linked to cognitive decline. It turns out that using ChatGPT every day to write essays and perform literary tasks may be having a negative impact on our brains. New research from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Media Lab involved measuring the electrical activity of three different groups of people. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogcSQ-cFRVM& All three...
Experts warn two years left of carbon budget to meet 1.5C targets
We only have two years left to lower our global carbon emissions if we want to meet the 1.5C of warming target, experts have warned. More news about the climate crisis this week and, unfortunately, it’s not exactly positive. Scientists are warning that the globe has only two years left of carbon budget if we are to keep worldwide temperature increases below 1.5C. This means that we can still emit...
Why Gen Z gravitate toward niche social apps and communities
While young people use mainstream platforms like Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok, there is a growing appetite for smaller, niche communities. What’s drawing Gen Z to these smaller spaces? If you’re an older millennial, you’ll no doubt remember the days when Instagram, Twitter and Facebook first launched, promising novelty connections with friends and family. Since those early years, social media platforms have evolved into highly-addictive, complex, corporate spaces, where an increasing percentage...
Donald Trump launches new gold phone and service network
US President Donald Trump has unveiled a new gold smartphone and nationwide service network, fittingly titled ‘Trump Mobile.’ The business initiative raises questions about conflict of interest. The Trump Organisation has just announced ‘Trump Mobile,’ a new smartphone line and monthly network plan that is set to cost $499 USD upfront with a $47.75 USD monthly charge on top. Each ‘Trump Mobile’ phone is cased in a gold material, and...
