live the uncurated life + try not to cringe

am i being too earnest?

Good day!

The last few weeks have been an absolute whirlwind, but we’re happy to announce that we are back serving up our weekly newsletter! If you’ve been missing us… I promise you that this edition is about to be juicy enough to make up for our radio silence.

Hot off the press is a Thred-published article about why the ‘lucky girl syndrome’ trend is problematic, a deep dive into Gen Z’s biggest dating fears, why bioplastics might not be the saving grace we thought, a couple fun stories to boost your mood… and much more

You don’t want to miss this! Let’s get into it.

Culture corner

The fatalism of the ‘lucky girl syndrome’ trend – thred
Did you manifest getting what you want, or are you just privileged? It’s a question we should ask, especially with the rising popularity of the ‘lucky girl’ trope in digital spaces. Not only does the ‘lucky girl’ ideology promote the idea that life’s events simply happen to women instead of us making the smart moves and decisions to get what we want, it also suggests that one can just relinquish total control ‘to the universe’ and arrive at a favourable destination with zero effort. It ignores that all the manifestation in the world is useless without a little help from some form of privilege – financial privilege, social privilege, pretty privilege… the list goes on. Seriously, would you tell a unhoused person to try manifesting a home? A Palestinian to manifest an end to the Israeli occupation?

The biggest dating app faux pas for Gen Z? Being cringe – wired
Gen Z would rather be called ugly than cringe, but what exactly causes someone to be categorised as such? Being earnest, honest, and happy… duh. That’s right, young people – known for crying into their front cameras and posting it social media for the whole world to see – are steering clear of any semblance of vulnerability on dating apps. Though most Gen Zers will tell you they’re not proud of how easily they’re cringed out by sincerity, they believe their judgemental attitudes towards others on dating apps is fostered at least partly by their user design. Let’s face it: online dating is inherently ‘cringe’ and ‘unnatural’. Who, in real life, would introduce themselves with the disclaimer that they’re looking for a long term relationship? But trying to pretend dating apps aren’t cringe is kind of cringe…. if you ask me.

Our world

The world has tuned out Gaza at the worse possible point – vox

In the next few weeks, Israeli leaders will begin to put into motion a plan they described as ‘the concluding moves’ of the war in Gaza. Called ‘Gideon’s Chariots,’ the operation’s plan calls for the mass destruction of remaining buildings in Gaza and the ‘conquest’ of much of Gaza by Israel. What does this mean for Palestinians? It seems that they will be offered relocation to a ‘humanitarian area’ or given the choice to leave the Strip entirely. This moment is one of the most significant in nearly a year – yet millions of people have stopped paying attention ‘perhaps fatigued by the war’s endless horrors, perhaps distracted by the dire political situation at home.’ This article explores exactly why we should not let our awareness dip.

Starch-based bioplastic may be as toxic as petroleum-based plastic – guardian
New peer-reviewed research suggests that starch-based bioplastic – hailed for being biodegradable and sustainable – may be as toxic as regular plastic. Bioplastics, made from plant-based material such as corn starch, rice starch or sugar, are used to make fast fashion clothing, wet wipes, straws, cutlery and more. Testing on mice, scientists now believe that prolonged use of these materials can cause organ damage, changes to the metabolism, and gut microbe imbalances that can lead to cardiovascular disease, among other issues. Other studies have found they also don’t break down as quickly as once thought.

Beauty + style

Can a face cream recreate the feeling of falling in love? – dazed digital

You know humanity is in its pathetic era when we’re looking to beauty products to deliver on a deep emotional experiences. Nevertheless, neurocosmetics are on the rise – with one new skincare product formulated to mimic ‘the dermatological effects of being in love’. The topically applied ingredient activates receptors in the skin to ‘biomimic many of the beneficial effects of oxytocin’, also known as the “love molecule.’ With loneliness on the rise, fragrance makers and skincare formulators are working overtime to cultivate new ranges of neurocosmetics as we speak. Because if catching feelings is cringe, at least our skincare regimes can make us feel something?

Gen Z uses ChatGPT as their stylist. What does it mean for brands? – vogue business
Getting ready for job interviews and first dates is stressful enough as it is, so why bother making the tough decision of what to wear? Just ask ChatGPT. That’s what young people are doing, according to videos on TikTok. It may seem clever at face value but not everyone is amused. Stylists have already blamed TikTok trends for ‘flattening everyone into the same five aesthetics’. Could AI-generated style advice be the wrecking ball that destroys individuality altogether? Let’s bloody hope not.

Just for fun

In pursuit of an uncurated life – digital tinz (via substack)

At first glance, this may sound like another one of those ‘social media bad, real life good!!!’ articles, but it’s not. It’s a piece that explores the joy of beautiful places and taking photos of them, the feeling you get when visiting iconic landmarks you’ve seen a thousand times online, while also realising that living in the moment is important. Obsessing over going only to Instagrammable cafés or highly-rated-on-Google restaurants might mean missing out on stumbling into a local spot that doesn’t meet aesthetic standards but serves up some of the best flavours you’ve ever experienced. And for us foodies, isn’t that what really matters?

1 astronaut and 220 days of photos from space – nyt
Don Pettit, NASA’s oldest active astronaut, returned to Earth on April 20th, the day he turned 70 years old. That trip marked his fourth trip to space, which lasted 220 days at the International Space Station. Amazed by the views from the many windows on board, he decided to share what he saw on a daily basis with the world. At times, he had as many as five cameras set up at once, capturing panoramic views of outer space and Earth. The image below is just one of these amazing snaps, but there are many featured in the article linked.

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.