gen z

Bilingual

Is Gen Z Saving Hollywood?
2 months ago
- Fandango's survey showed high Gen Z theater attendance, but it was based on a biased sample of movie enthusiasts.
- Other surveys (Pew, Gallup) reveal Gen Z sees fewer movies than previous generations at the same age, with a significant drop since 2007.
- Overall box office has not recovered to pre-pandemic levels, and the non-moviegoing population has increased.
- Moviegoing has shifted from spontaneous habit to planned outings, reducing frequency.
- Theaters are adapting by adding amenities like games, dining, and premium seating to attract Gen Z, but this may create an affordability perception issue.
Why pubs are closing: meet the new Gen Z social scene
2 months ago
- Pubs in the UK are closing at an average of nearly two per day, with over a quarter having closed since 2000 due to rising costs and cultural shifts.
- Gen Z is increasingly avoiding heavy drinking, favoring sober social activities like running, padel, and coffee raves for community and wellness.
- Young Britons view alcohol as a problem and obstacle to productivity, unlike older generations who saw it as a solution to stress.
Would You Go Back to a Time Before Smartphones If You Could?
2 months ago
- Nostalgia for pre-smartphone eras is a growing cultural force, with 67% of Americans wishing to return to a time before everyone was 'plugged in'.
- Psychologist Clay Routledge argues nostalgia is not about escaping the past but about helping people navigate present challenges and plan for the future.
- Gen Z, despite never experiencing a pre-internet world, shows strong nostalgia for analog times, driven by a desire for control (over technology) and community (organic social interactions).
- Rising sales of 'dumbphones', iPods, vinyl records, and independent bookstores reflect a pushback against digital overload and a yearning for tactile, in-person experiences.
- Nostalgia is often misunderstood as anti-progress, but research shows it boosts goal motivation, optimism, creativity, empathy, and social connection.
- Gen Z may lead a cultural shift toward more intentional tech use, balancing digital convenience with analog, real-world engagement.
The Light Flip Is the Stylish Dumb Flip Phone of Your Dreams
2 months ago
- Light Phone III was criticized for being too similar to a smartphone, despite limited apps.
- Light Phone introduces Light Flip, a dumb flip phone with no front screen, targeting Gen Z who want to avoid smartphone appearance.
- Existing flip phones on the market are poor quality, break easily, and lack proper network certification.
- Light Flip costs $299, with a 24-month subscription option at $39/month including service plan.
- The device uses a D-pad, T9 typing, and limited tools (Phone, Alarm, Calculator, etc.), with an SDK for third-party apps.
- Hardware includes plastic build, 2.8-inch OLED display, 12MP camera, replaceable battery, USB-C, headphone jack, but no NFC.
- Cultural backlash against smartphones and AI is strong, with events like the Summer of Ludd festival booing smartphone users.
- Commodore's Callback 8020 offers a similar retro flip phone that runs Android but blocks social media and browsers.
- Light Phone cofounders welcome more options in the market to normalize non-smartphones.
'Chinese Dreamcore,' Where Gen Z Relives a Brighter Past
3 months ago
- Young Chinese are using Chinese Dreamcore, a digital subculture, to cope with current economic hardships by reminiscing about the early 2000s.
- This trend involves sharing nostalgic content like old photos, memes, and retro aesthetics from childhood, serving as a 'digital pain reliever'.
- Chinese Dreamcore resonates emotionally with Gen Z, who feel a loss of familiar past scenes due to rapid societal changes and urbanization.
- Artists and creators contribute through eerie mash-ups, animations, and photography to preserve memories and express subconscious feelings.
- State media warns of risks like existential crises from over-immersion, though it's seen as more superficial than past nostalgic critiques.
- The trend has gone mainstream, appearing in games, ads, and products, while fostering community and healing through shared vulnerability.

gen z

Is Gen Z Saving Hollywood?

Why pubs are closing: meet the new Gen Z social scene

Would You Go Back to a Time Before Smartphones If You Could?

The Light Flip Is the Stylish Dumb Flip Phone of Your Dreams

'Chinese Dreamcore,' Where Gen Z Relives a Brighter Past