Latest Stories from Charlie
Should we be worried about AI merging video games?
Gamers have started mashing together different video games using AI tools. So far, we’ve seen Mario in Halo, Minecraft in Skyrim, and much more. Mind-bending results aside, the tech required to pull this off has some people worried about online security and digital infrastructure. Ever wondered what Super Mario 64 would look like in Halo: Combat Evolved? How about Wii Sports in Silent Hill? Fancy a Minecraft session in the...
Gen Z has no era-defining sitcoms. Why?
this article was written in front of a live studio audience (my colleagues) Sitcoms have long been a television staple, with each generation having at least one defining show that remains a comfortable favourite. Gen Z, however, has no central programme to call its own. What gives? Creating a hit sitcom is no easy feat. Pulling together an array of likeable, funny characters and handing them interesting stories that (by and large)...
ASOS customers hit with threatening notification from ‘hackers’
Clothing retailer ASOS has launched an investigation after some mobile customers received a notification claiming that hackers had ‘fully compromised’ company data. Some ASOS customers received a push notification on Tuesday claiming that hackers had ‘fully compromised’ company data, The Guardian reports. The message included a link to Telegram, the largely unmoderated chat service, directing users to a channel supposedly operated by a cyber gang called the ‘Xuayne’ group. The fashion...
Have phone screens ruined Gen Z romance?
swapping date night for swipe time Research shows phone screens consistently disrupt romantic experiences and emotional intimacy between partners, while also making dating feel transactional and exhausting for singletons. Are Gen Z missing out on connection and real love? Finding the time to put our phones down and actually sit with a partner can be tricky, particularly in an era where Gen Z are pressured to be as productive, self-driven, and...
The rise of ‘grandmaslop’ puts Gen Z’s privacy at risk
which AI platform have you given my likeness to grandma? Old people are generating AI photobooks, photographs of ‘memories’ from decades ago, and fake family scenes that never happened. While it might be fun for grandma, Gen Zers who are more savvy about AI infrastructure are concerned about privacy and consent. The rise (and rise) of AI poses many threats: widespread redundancies, excessive water use, even the potential extinction of...
Is it acceptable to bring an iced coffee into a job interview?
Recruiters are debating on TikTok whether it’s okay to bring iced coffee into a job interview, highlighting discrepancies in professional standards between different generations and industries. Would you bring iced coffee into a job interview? A debate has been underway on social media this week as Gen Zers and older professionals consider whether it’s ‘inappropriate’ or an unnecessary restriction that makes new, potential employees uneasy. It began when TikToker @caitlinrecruiter uploaded...
Google fined by Irish data watchdog for GDPR violations
Tech giant Google has been fined £345 million by the Republic of Ireland’s Data Protection Commission (DPC) over misuse of location data following a six-year investigation. Google has been hit with a fine of £345 million by the Republic of Ireland’s Data Protection Commission (DPC) over mishandling of location data. The DPC undertook a six-month investigation across three specific features provided by Google: ‘Web and App Activity,’ ‘Location History,’ and ‘Location...
Why are the music charts full of old songs?
someone put on Mr. Brightside, please The UK music charts are full of old artists right now, featuring everyone from Oasis to Michael Jackson to The Goo Goo Dolls. It seems Gen Z is consuming youth culture from the twentieth century as if it were contemporary, leaving pop music in a bizarre position. Have you glanced at Spotify’s ‘Top 50’ song lists lately? Any unassuming observer would expect new music, given that most chart...
Why is Insomniac’s ‘Wolverine’ facing backlash?
Despite reportedly having a budget of $300 million USD, Insomniac’s latest superhero video game ‘Wolverine’ has faced intense criticism for being too forgiving, linear, and patronisingly handholdy to the point of frustration. Is this a warning to other AAA developers? Insomniac, the developer behind the recent, critically acclaimed ‘Spider-Man’ games, is facing criticism following the release of its latest title, ‘Wolverine.’ The game follows a new, original story from the X-Men...
Macklemore dropped from Ed Sheeran’s tour after ‘free Palestine’ speech
Rapper and musician Macklemore has been removed from Ed Sheeran’s ‘The Loop’ tour after making comments on stage regarding Palestine. He took to Instagram to explain and defend his position, arguing that ‘there is no neutral position between the oppressor and the oppressed.’ Macklemore has reportedly been dropped from Ed Sheeran’s ‘The Loop’ tour following his comments on Palestine during a recent performance. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmSErSKL874 He had been the opening act for the...
