Latest Stories from Charlie
Why is Peppa Pig beefing with Clairo?
In a new interview with Pitchfork, the beloved children's cartoon Peppa Pig has said she ‘doesn’t know’ Clairo. The fallout on X has been huge, with major label artists chiming in. It’s a perfect example of new-age, Gen Z marketing. What happens when a cherished, cartoon pig takes shots at major musical artists? Viral tweets and a boost in brand engagement, of course. Yes, it might seem absurd, but Peppa Pig...
How a fragmented internet is reshaping Gen Z marketing
TikTok? Pinterest? Reddit? In our era of AI search engines and algorithmic feeds, social media has become intensely personal and wildly scattered. With audiences now splintering, how can marketers hope to reach Gen Z? Social media marketing has come a long way since the prehistoric days of 2010. Back then, brands were still finding their footing when it came to online advertising, often clumsily announcing a new product or campaign...
Yes, it’s true: Sony is ditching physical discs in 2028
Sony has announced it will no longer be making physical discs for any new releases starting in January 2028. A major blow to the secondhand market, the change means that console players no longer own any game they purchase.
Sony, the producer of PlayStation consoles, has announced that it will no longer make physical discs for new game releases, starting from January 2028. The news was announced in an
viral Vinted allegations + Merlin the World Cup duck
I just want to buy some secondhand clothes, blud Everyone knows that Gen Z loves an upsell. Any thrifted items, secondhand seasonal wear, or funky footwear can find a good home… for the right price and on a decent platform, of course. This explains the rise (and rise) of Vinted, the Lithuanian-based peer-to-peer marketplace that allows users to buy, sell, and swap their personal belongings. Last year, the company announced it...
Love Island tanks as Gen Z cools on influencer culture
ITV’s staple reality series drew just 600,000 viewers for its first episode this year, the lowest in its decade history. Amidst format fatigue and waning relevance, is it possible that Gen Z (and, to some extent, Gen Alpha) has largely abandoned the superficial, picture-perfect aesthetic of the traditional influencer? Love Island, ITV’s long-running reality TV series, has seen a steady decline in ratings and audience retention over the past few...
Almost one in four European voters now back far-right parties
New research by more than 150 political scientists has found that European voters are now almost five times as likely to vote for far-right parties as they were in 1995. Anti-establishment parties have also seen a surge in popularity. Far-right parties are on the rise across Europe, new research suggests. Analysis by more than 150 political scientists from 21 countries was recently published by PopuList, with the study led by...
Gen Z rejoining the EU + TikTok nuns are blowing up
we’re going viral, sister If you’re an older Gen Zer like myself (I’m a borderline millennial, I’ll be honest), you may remember the absolute shock of the Brexit vote way back in 2016. We live in an era of constant political upset these days, what with Keir Starmer being booted from office this week, Donald Trump continuing to baffle overseas, and ex-Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau constantly making tabloid headlines for...
The UK shuts down social media for under 16s…what could go wrong?
pack it up, it’s over Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced plans to ban social media for under-16s in the UK, starting next year. With Gen Z relying so much on digital communication, could we be depriving young people of niche communities, education, and self-expression? If you’re under 16, social media is about to become a lot more inaccessible and dull, at least in the UK. This week, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced...
Levi’s subverts World Cup rules for social media campaign
Levi’s isn’t allowed to show its logo during World Cup games at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium this year. After being forced to cover up with a white sheet, the company has embraced the meme and utilised it across its social media channels. What does Levi’s, a globally recognised brand, do when FIFA’s World Cup rules ban visible logos inside US stadiums? Throw a white sheet up, of course! This...
Why Gen Z is rejecting perfection (and Steven Bartlett)
Self-proclaimed business mogul Steven Bartlett has faced ridicule in recent weeks for lamenting his decision to have several glasses of wine. It’s a sign that Gen Z and social media might be starting to reject perfectionism and over-optimising everything. Picture this: you’ve just finished a six-hour ultramarathon, wolfed down your fourteenth isotonic energy gel, responded to all forty-eight of your Hinge matches, and updated your financial portfolio to capitalise on...
