Latest Stories from Charlie
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...
Is Microsoft attempting an Xbox comeback?
After years of declining hardware sales, Xbox might be making a genuine comeback, having impressed at its recent showcase. What’s going on? Is Microsoft course correcting Xbox and its wider gaming division? That seems to be the growing sentiment among fans and experts this week following Xbox’s impressive 2026 showcase, which featured new footage from Halo: Campaign Evolved, Gears of War: E-Day, Fable, Persona 6, and a limited edition, transparent...
If Gen Z drink less, why are Buzzballz booming?
The colourful cocktails known as Buzzballz have exploded in popularity over the past few years, appealing mostly to Gen Z. Not without controversy, these pre-mixed drinks run counter to research suggesting young people are consuming less alcohol. So, what does it all mean? If you’re under the age of 25, I am almost entirely confident that you know what a Buzzball is. If you're a little older (especially over 30), you may be...
Murdoch’s son buys Vox Media assets worth $300m USD
James Murdoch, the son of famed media mogul Rupert Murdoch, has announced a deal to purchase New York Magazine from Vox Media. He will also acquire Vox’s news site and podcast network. Son of Rupert Murdoch, James Murdoch, has announced a new deal with Vox Media worth $300 million USD. He is set to acquire New York Magazine, Vox’s news website, and its podcast network. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ph9OTBEuDdg The deal will be through...
Wait…is everything a stealth marketing campaign?
An investigation by Vulture has claimed that underground agencies, often living on closed platforms like Discord, are paying ordinary people to post clips and create artificial hype around everything from Justin Bieber to skincare brands. Is every trend and social media conversation secretly being manipulated by stealth marketing? What if everything you see online, such as a viral cultural moment, a skincare product, a controversial celebrity scandal, or an election campaign, was...
