Latest Stories from Charlie
Why Justin Bieber’s Coachella comeback resonated with Gen Z
Justin Bieber’s Coachella headline performance was a huge hit with Gen Z this week. Sitting with a laptop and playing old YouTube videos, the singer’s minimalist approach rattled millennials who still expect the spectacle of yesteryear. Justin Bieber’s Coachella headline show has been all over social media this week, breaking records for views, engagement, merch sales, and salary payouts. Reportedly making over $10 million USD for his two-hour setlist, Bieber...
Why is Andrew Tate #1 on Substack?
Manosphere figurehead and notorious misogynist Andrew Tate has the #1 bestseller spot on Substack this week. Is the platform at risk of becoming as toxic as every other social media platform? Andrew Tate has found his way onto Substack. The long-form essay sharing platform (where we publish The Common Thred and The Gen Zer every week) is mostly used by progressive, creative types and has built a reputation for...
Are Gen Z angry at Kanye West?
Yeezy season is cancelled Kanye West, also known as Ye, has been barred from entering the UK this summer. He was scheduled to headline all three days of this year’s Wireless festival, but a huge backlash prompted the Home Office to ultimately revoke his ETA following years of racist and antisemitic comments. Kanye West, also known as Ye, has been barred from entering the UK this summer. The rapper and producer was...
Artemis II astronauts travel furthest ever distance from Earth
NASA’s lunar mission Artemis II has been a huge success. The crew has shared viral images of Earth from space and the moon’s previously unseen far side.
Artemis II has successfully reached the moon as part of its flyby lunar mission. The crew has now swung around and is headed back toward Earth, having travelled farther from our planet than any other astronauts in history.
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Why dynamic pricing is a constant Gen Z headache
a pint costs how much? When it comes to personal finances, data shows that Gen Z are worried about their future and trying to save wherever they can. It doesn’t help, then, that companies are increasingly using dynamic pricing to muddy what’s affordable and what isn’t. Anyone who’s purchased concert tickets over the past few years will know the frustration that dynamic pricing has introduced into the modern consumer experience. For big...
Why are Gen Z suddenly so nostalgic for 2016?
2016 was the year of Pokemon Go, The Chainsmokers, Snapchat dog filters and skinny jeans. Gen Z are currently on a nostalgia binge, with searches for ‘2016’ having increased 71% in the last year over 2024. What’s going on? We’re not even two weeks into the year, and everything already feels exhausting. Trump is currently threatening to take over Greenland, Iran is in turmoil and Elon Musk’s X platform is under...
Gen Z are suspicious of relationship age gaps. Why are we surprised?
From Jay Z to Spider-Man, age gaps between couples have always been prevalent amongst the celebrity elite. Gen Z deem them far less socially acceptable than previous generations, and for good reason. The rest of the world needs to catch up. When we mention age gaps in relationships, what comes to mind? Leonardo DiCaprio consistently dating women under the age of 25, perhaps? How about Jerry Seinfeld dating (or grooming,...
Crimson Desert developers apologise for using AI art
The massive open-world RPG Crimson Desert has been a big hit with gamers, selling over 3 million units in five days. However, despite the early success, developer Pearl Abyss has now come under fire for using AI assets without prior disclosure on Steam. The video game developer Pearl Abyss has faced criticism for using undisclosed AI-generated artwork in its new open-world RPG, Crimson Desert. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdmoGYg8tB0 Players were quick to notice signs...
Were we wrong about Marty Supreme?
A few months ago, we heralded A24 for its viral, Gen Z-focused marketing. Now, only two months later, Timothee Chalamet has fallen out of public favour, and Marty Supreme has lost nearly every award at all major shows, including the Oscars. What happened? Well, the Oscars came and went…and Marty Supreme picked up zero awards. It follows on from a largely unsuccessful awards run across the board, with the film missing out on...
Gen Z men have regressive views on gender roles…but why?
New survey data has found that almost one-third of Gen Z men believe a wife should ‘always obey her husband,’ among other traditional gender norms. Why are young men seemingly so regressive when it comes to equality? Are Gen Z men’s opinions on gender roles and women’s rights regressing? New data is reigniting a debate that has been underway for several years, as Ipsos and the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership...
