redefining luxury + digging deep for resilience

Happy first of the month!

I have to ask: is the April Fool’s spirit dying out or are we all just too exhausted from the absolute joke of our governments to play even more pranks on each other? If you experienced a silly little trick today, let me know. I seem to have made it through this day unscathed…

In this week’s edition of our newsletter, we’ll be exploring how media companies are scrambling to retain modern audiences, what happens when we’re constantly in contact thanks to tech, Gen Z’s struggle with resilience and redefinition of luxury, and Tiffany & Co’s journey into…. environmentalism?

I know, I’m just as pleasantly surprised as you. Let’s go!

📲 Tech

An international survey has revealed that 39 of people are actively avoiding news to some degree. The number of people getting their news online, whether through a news website or on social media, fell across every age group over the last decade. News avoiders are comprised of three groups: 1) former news consumers who are dialling back 2) those who have never engaged with news in the first place, and 3) young people who appear to have lost trust in established news brands. What does this mean for mainstream news outlets? As it turns out, a lot of sleepless nights.

The epidemic of constant communication – good riddance (via substack)
Just because we can talk all the time, does that mean we should? Has truly missing somebody become a thing of the past when we can just pick up the phone and speak the person within seconds? Whatever happening to missing someone, truly longing for them, the kind of yearning that resulted in some of the best written love songs of all time? In this essay, Amanda Brown unpacks the problem with our culture of constant communication, the unrealistic expectations this has created in our personal relationships, and what we lose when we never truly have time apart from anyone.

🌏 World

Asked why Israel broke the ceasefire agreement by launching unexpected attacks on the northern region of Gaza, an Israeli official said: ‘Deception was the point.’ Israel’s violation of the shaky ceasefire agreement resulted in one of the deadliest days since the start with more than 400 Palestinians killed in nighttime airstrikes on homes, including five Hamas officials and women and children. The UN also reported that the IDF had killed 15 Palestinian paramedics one by one, before burying them in a mass grave, in their uniforms, along with UN ambulance. This article explores a cluster of reasons why a continued assault looks set to resume in Gaza, despite no real movement from Hamas.

Can Donald Trump actually seek a third term? – al jazeera
On Sunday, Donald Trump said he was “not joking” about the possibility of seeking a third term as president of the United States. Although the US Constitution prevents presidents from being elected more than twice, Trump has said, “There are methods which you could do it. A lot of people want me to do it.” This suggests he has figured out a kind of work-around. This article explores the handful of ways a US president could try to remain in the oval office, with one of the strategies involving Trump running as vice president in 2028. If a Republican is elected president and then resigns, dies, or is removed from office, Trump could theoretically succeed to the presidency. Legal scholars have said this would be unconstitutional, as if acting in an ‘unconstitutional’ manner has ever stopped this orange beast before.

⚡️ Society

How Gen Z’s eating habits are redefining luxury – thred.
Why are all the girlies obsessed with eating tinned fish? Well, experiencing luxury no longer means moments of opulence and exclusivity. Gen Z are seeking out curated experiences and products that resonate with their values, even if it means embracing items once considered mundane. These days a nicely packaged, artfully designed tin of sardines will do. In this economy, people still want to experience something that feels luxurious, while still being able to pay their bills. To the surprise of us all, good ol’ cheap tinned fish in finely-crafted artisan packaging has bridged that gap.

The Gen Z resilience drought – voyeurism (via substack)
I can’t even begin to say how important this piece by Jordan Stacey is! We’ve all had moments where our day has been so insanely challenging that we felt to give up in the face of the slightest inconvenience. But the increasingly mainstream idea that we should live in constant comfort, require others around us to bend to every one of our personal needs, and blame our laziness on some kind of inherent and undiagnosed dysfunction can be extremely damaging. This article – which some may find difficult to digest – does a great job at balancing compassion for neurodivergence with criticism of entitlement.

💍 Style

America’s multiracial population has grown by 164 per cent in the last decade, according to the US Census Bureau. The fastest-growing segment of the population – 18 to 44 year olds – saw a 300 per cent increase in people identifying as multiracial. Looking to stay ahead of the market, beauty companies are preparing themselves for a future where consumers are more diverse than ever. Those at the helm of this incoming shift will need to evolve their product offering to serve a multiracial and multicultural consumer, building product lines that suit an array of melanin-rich skin types and a wider range of hair textures.

Tiffany & Co is striving to save our iconic blue oceans – dazed digital
Tiffany’s iconic blue is an exclusive, custom colour created by Pantone called “1837 Blue,” a nod to the brand’s founding year. In a brand new campaign, the colour is being used to raise awareness of Tiffany & Co’s ocean conservation efforts. In partnership with the The Nature Conservancy, the jewellery brand’s new campaign showcases oceans across Africa, Australia and the Caribbean, where a shade similar to the signature colour is naturally found and where countless marine life is at risk. Currently, Tiffany & Co. is committed to the 30×30 goal, helping to protect 30 per cent of the world’s oceans by 2030. In 2023, it celebrated reaching the milestone of donating $100 million in grants to global organisations work to benefit communities and the environment.

🎶 Recommendation

Just discovered this artist today and thought I’d share here because it’s dreamy, bubbly, and unlike anything I usually listen to. The slightly scary cover art does not match the vibe of the music at all… how’s that for a daily reminder not to judge a book by its cover! 😋

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.