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it’s all happening thanks to the internet
Hello hello, and welcome back to another newsletter 🙂
It seems the weeks are just flying by lately, so I hope you’re as happy to hear from me as I am to be writing once again! In this week’s edition, we’re showcasing some of the latest and greatest news in culture, fashion, economics, and more.
To give you a sneak peek: young people are toppling their governments worldwide, Stella McCartney broke her own sustainability record in Paris, men are fetishising autistic women on dating apps, and the BDS boycott is causing huge layoffs at Nestlé…
There’s a lot more than that in store, so let’s get cracking!
💬 culture
Why are men fetishising autistic women on dating apps? – dazed digital
Women are noticing a problematic trend developing across various dating platforms: a rise in straight men listing ‘slightly autistic’ as a trait they seek in their potential partner. Although it’s possible some of these guys are neurodivergent themselves, the language being used (a touch of the ‘tism) suggests their outlook is more of a fetishisation over actual preference. As Martinez writes for dazed: ‘It’s telling that the vast majority of these profiles state they want a girl who is only “slightly autistic,” which implies that they’d be happy to date a woman with more ‘palatable’ autistic traits (eg, someone with a broad range of passions and interests) but would draw the line at a partner with less socially ‘acceptable’ characteristics (eg, someone who exhibits more obvious stimming behaviours).’ The term ‘tism rizz’ was originally used by neurodivergent community to describe the charm of some of their unique traits, but now that outsiders have adopted it, its original meaning is being lost – and the people it was meant to make feel more self-assured are actually being further marginalised.
The contagious Gen Z uprisings – new york times
In recent months, youth-led anti-government movements have emerged in Indonesia, the Philippines, Kenya, and Peru. Gen Z protesters have successfully toppled governments in Nepal and Madagascar, and meanwhile in Morocco, large-scale protests continue. The exact triggers for each of these movements have varied. In Nepal, government corruption, out-of-control nepotism, and an abrupt social media ban caused by negligence sparked riots. In Madagascar, a government failure to deliver water and electricity led young people to say to say enough is enough. Gen Z is connected via one thing – the internet – and they’re proving just how useful and powerful of a tool it can be. Whether they live in the city or in a mountain village, young people are communicating their discontents in online spaces, sharing information and memes, and figuring out how to mobilise in unison. Young people clearly have the power to bring about change. But with governments collapsing and political leaders fleeing, what happens next?
🪶 fashion
No plucking way: Stella McCartney pioneers plant based fashion feathers – guardian
Stella McCartney might sometimes feel like she is on a one woman mission to convince the fashion industry that it doesn’t have to be so harmful to the planet and all its living beings, but damn does she do a great job at it. At her Spring/Summer fashion show in Paris this week, McCartney debuted her newly developed vegan feathers (or ‘fevvers’) made from a plant-based material that had been naturally dyed. The fevvers appeared in the final three looks of her collection, the entirety of which was made from an impressive 98 percent sustainable materials. This topped her previous record from last year, which was made of 96 percent sustainable materials. Next year, McCartney’s label will celebrate turning 25-years-old. Along with that milestone, it can celebrate never including leather, fur or skins in its products.
Why more designers are adopting a made-to-order model – vogue business
As the costs of operating within the fashion business rise, a number of designer-led brands are shifting towards the made-to-order model. Speaking to designers such as Robert Wun, Steve O Smith and Standing Ground about what the benefits of making each garmet on request are, Vogue uncovered that it enables creatives to hone in on their craft and elevate the brand and product, while retaining tight control of production and drastically reducing waste. Some designers also noted that switching to made to order methods allows them to develop a closer relationship with their client, helps them focus more closely on creating high quality pieces, and cuts out having to meet with overseas buyers interested in buying their products on wholesale. Still, the made-to-order market can be challenging, and it is suggested that emerging designers will always benefit from the consumer insights and cash flow gained by placing their designs in retail stores, at least at first.
💰 economy
Nestlé is laying off over 16,000 employees under its new CEO – fortune
Looking to cut costs, Nestlé has announced it is slashing 12,000 white-collar jobs, as well as an additional 4,000 manufacturing and supply-chain positions around the world. These huge cuts amount to a 6 percent reduction in its global workforce, and will occur in stages over the next two years. Though company spokespersons insist that the decision is rooted in ‘transforming our ways of working, streamlining the organisation and processes, and leveraging digitalisation and automation,’ some outlets have suspected that wide-scale boycotts linked to Nestlé’s involvement in the genocide in Gaza are having a serious impact on their sales numbers – a fact that the company admitted previously. Fortune reports that for the first nine months of 2025, Nestlé’s sales fell 1.9 percent to around $82.8 billion USD, compared to the same period last year.
US-China trade war clouds global economic outlook as ‘new normal’ emerges – reuters
Despite Donald Trump’s aggressive and headline grabbing ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs, finance experts are noting that the world economy has displayed surprising resilience, having yet to feel any real negative impact from them. At the second instalment of the twice-yearly meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, officials greed that climate change is the biggest overall risk to global trade. Lesetja Kganyago, South Africa’s central bank governor, stated that climate risk has huge implications for insurance, economic fundamentals, and financial stability. He warned: ‘In trade negotiations, you can walk away and find another trading partner. With climate, when you walk away from the negotiations, the whole planet gets warm and we will all suffer.’
🇯🇵 world news
Israel continues deadly Gaza truce breaches as US seeks to strengthen deal – al jazeera
Several outbreaks of violence have taken place since a fragile US-brokered ceasefire was agreed between Israel and Hamas on October 10. At least 97 Palestinians have been killed in total, including children, according to local health officials. Israel said a series of strikes that hit Gaza on Sunday were in retaliation for a truce violation by Hamas fighters, who it claimed shot and killed two Israeli soldiers. Hamas denied involvement in the event, saying it has no contact with any of its remaining units in Israeli-controlled parts of Rafah and ‘is not responsible for any incidents’ there. One official accused Israel of fabricating “pretexts” to resume the war. US Vice President JD Vance is expected to arrive in Israel this morning to put pressure on Netanyahu not to walk away from this ceasefire deal, amid concerns that he is considering resuming the genocide.
Sanae Takaichi makes history as Japan’s first female prime minister – japan times
On the 21st of October, Sanae Takaichi was elected prime minister by Japan’s parliament, becoming the country’s first ever female leader. The 64-year-old Liberal Democratic Party leader is often referred to as Japan’s ‘Iron Lady,’ which is fitting considering she is an admirer of former UK PM Margaret Thatcher. During her campaign, Takaichi hinted she would appoint a high number of female lawmakers if she took government. The saying ‘third time lucky’ or ‘third time’s the charm’ must be true, as this was Takaichi’s third attempt at becoming Japan’s leader. Her election also makes her Japan’s fourth PM in five years. Some of the challenges she will face upon taking office are: fixing a sluggish economy, navigating a rocky US-Japan relationship, and attempting to unite a divided ruling party.
🚫 recommendation
One of the best decisions I made of 2025 was turning off news app notifications on my phone. It’s a relief not to be constantly interrupted by buzzes from the 24 hour news cycle, and instead consciously choosing to engage with what’s happening globally when I have time/mental energy for that. Nine times out of ten, the news popping up on your phone is bad – and would you be friends with a person who only blurted out negative information multiple times an hour? NO! Free yourself!
ps. I heard the common thred newsletter published every Tuesday is an excellent option for whenever you feel like dipping ya toes back into what’s going on around the world 😉
Thanks for reading and make sure to subscribe for the latest news on Gen Z and youth culture! Also, don’t forget to check out The Gen Zer for a weekly roundup of more trending insights, stories, and discussions.
Until next time!
