Latest Stories from Jamie
Does ‘nickel-and-diming’ make Gen Z stingy?
‘I’m bad at maths, let’s just split it three ways!’ After a delayed train you rock up later than your pals to the bar, and see everyone is already tucking into posh burgers with added Canadian bacon. Having had a hearty breakfast, you opt for a handful of mozzarella sticks and a simple pint. Before wrapping up, you return to the table after a quick trip to the urinal and see...
looksmaxxing wasn’t so toxic? + doing better for kid stars
When did ‘we’re gonna make it, brah’ become ‘you’re chopped’? This isn’t what Zyzz wanted for us. There are certain historical figures whose importance only becomes apparent years after their death. Van Gogh. Kafka. That bloke from the ‘Succulent Chinese Meal’ video. I’m throwing Aziz Shavershian, known to everyone other than his mother as Zyzz, in that list. Before the term looksmaxxing had any online traction, the Australian bodybuilder was the...
Deep Dive: Has Gen Z lost energy for social change?
When it comes to social change in 2026, Gen Z has lost all the vim of yesteryear. When and where was this energy lost? Let’s break it down. In the late 2010s Gen Z was synonymous with social change, a broad catch-all term encapsulating the desire for a more equitable and just world. In 2026, however, the cohort is now more likely to be mentioned in the same breath as subjects...
Ignore the news, Gen Z alcohol moderation isn’t a ‘myth’
Recent global figures on alcohol consumption showed that Boomers have the lowest drinking participation rate of any generation. Some outlets are saying this is proof that Gen Z aren’t big on moderation after all. Here’s why they’re wrong. This is why statistics without context aren’t worth acknowledging. Market research firm IWSR released its latest figures on alcohol consumption this week. Its twice-yearly survey includes data from thousands of adults...
social change comedown + gen z go mute
right here, right now! or whenever… I ain’t gluing myself to Oxford Street or throwing orange paint at the Lamborghini dealership. I’ve got bills to pay. Remember in the late 2010s when Gen Z was synonymous with social change, a broad catch-all term encapsulating the desire for a more equitable and just world? In 2026, that link has become tenuous at best, and you’re more likely to associate the cohort with...
gen z scale back socialising + ariana grande quits public life
thank u, next If your weekend plans involve anything more expensive than a stroll around a National Trust park, chances are your Gen Z chums will mentally run the numbers the second you pop up in the group chat. ‘Will I still be a reasonable level of skint come Monday?’ Given the cohort is synonymous with moderation on just about everything, whether it’s sex, alcohol, or nights out – anything but...
‘uk poo’ hits socials + earnest isn’t entertaining
the sun goes down, my zoot comes up I have frankly no cause to spend the amount of time I do on Twitter (not calling it X). It feels like overegging the pudding to call it a guilty ‘pleasure’, but it somehow remains my social app of choice. This week, however, has been a stark reminder of why, having turned 30 many moons ago, I need to bin Twitter off for...
AI detection is coming to Substack
Substack is rolling out a new AI detection feature able to scan posts, notes, replies, and comments. Substack is one of the last safe havens for organic human-written content, right? This week, the beloved writing platform announced its imminent integration with AI detection software Pangram. It will allow users to instantly scan a post, comment, note, or reply – anything over 100 characters – for the presence of text generated...
odyssey’s anti-woke boycott fails + pokémon traders get strapped
nolan is too goated to ‘go broke’ This ain’t no little live-action Disney remake. It’s Christopher Nolan. In the least surprising turn of events this summer, the masses flocked to see The Odyssey on opening weekend across the globe. The movie already boasts a 95% critic score and a 97% user score on Rotten Tomatoes, making it the most critically revered Nolan project to date, though it is early days, granted. In terms of the...
gen z’s luddite uprising + zero chill bison
delete the apps, rebuke the horniness, move back home The so-called ‘digital natives’ are biting the hand that fed them, because it fed them mostly FOMO, insecurity, and addiction. Chat about AI is everywhere in the mainstream, but if you broach the topic on any campus other than MIT, it’s likely you’ll be met with the blank stares of hungover folks who wish you’d shut the f*ck up. Between rinsing the market...
