Gen Z wishes goodnight to bedtime stories for children
According to Dr Seuss, 'you're never too old, too wacky, too wild, to pick up a book and read to a child'.
But when it comes to the bonding experience of sharing a story together, research suggests that Gen Z parents are less likely to read to their children than previous generations.
Parents aged 28 and under, who are the first generation to have grown up with social media, were the least likely to value reading out loud to a small child as a 'fun' experience.
The research also found that parents were more likely to read to girls than boys.
Only 29 per cent of boys aged two and under were treated to daily story time with an adult, compared with 44 per
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Metro
10 hours ago
- Metro
Straight men are using gay dating apps for ego boosts
Less than an hour before a hookup, I was hit with that most dreaded of texts: 'Sorry but I can't come today.' Wanting to give the benefit of the doubt, I replied asking if he wanted to rearrange. Only, this time, my message went undelivered. There was no mistaking what that meant – I'd been blocked. I had met 32-year-old Jimmy* on Grindr, and we had spent half of the night exchanging nudes and compliments. He told me he was just looking for a casual hookup early on into our conversation, so while I never expected much to come from meeting him, it still stung to realise I was just his 3am bit of fun. Then again, I suppose I should have seen it coming. He did tell me he was straight, after all. Finding a straight man on a gay dating app is like spotting a cloud in the sky these days – they're everywhere. In fact, to a certain extent, it feels like our platforms have been infested by them. But what, I hear you ask, are heterosexual men doing on these platforms? Why go through these interactions if there's nothing to gain? The simple answer: They're in it for the ego boost. With thousands of members from all over the world, our vibrant LGBTQ+ WhatsApp channel is a hub for all the latest news and important issues that face the LGBTQ+ community. Simply click on this link, select 'Join Chat' and you're in! Don't forget to turn on notifications! It's no secret that the way we date has evolved in recent years. As a key example, digital platforms continue to dominate the modern dating world with 72% of Brits meeting through apps. However, research shows that some people are using these digital spaces not to date, but to seek validation, and to be liked and affirmed. And I for one have been stung by this on more than one occasion. When I matched with 20-something Harry*, we had a lot of virtual fun. We spent two weeks entertaining each other online exchanging intimate photos and several flirty conversations, until eventually we set a time and place for a date. On the day we were supposed to meet, he became unresponsive, so I chased him down, asking if we were still on. That's when he admitted he was straight. At that moment, a weird feeling erupted in my chest; it wasn't heartbreak, more a question of how I could have got it so wrong and I knew I wanted, and deserved, answers. 'What was the point?' I asked, to which he blurted out something about how it 'felt good' and how he'd liked it when I'd 'gassed him up' – GenZ for 'giving compliments'. Suddenly I started thinking back to conversations I'd had with other men who I'd thought had ghosted me. If my conversations with Harry had given him a sense of validation all from a few compliments, then maybe other men who never followed through were in the same position – straight and seeking an ego boost. 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The flirting followed by the cancelling of plans, blocking and dismissiveness has a profound effect on queer people. It's one thing if the guy is still struggling with his sexuality, but it's another when he's just using queer men for his midnight pleasure, a fleeting ego boost with no care behind it. We're left feeling invisible and disposable, questioning what's real or not. As a community we already face discrimination, sometimes from these very men in the outside world. So when we're exploited for their ego boosts online, it feels casually cruel. More Trending Though they might not be snapping heartstrings, they're manipulating them, which feels like the worst betrayal of all. If you're a straight man after some online fun, queer people just have one request: Be honest. We already struggle to find intimacy, so false promises on meeting up just deepens wounds. Using us as a source to boost your ego won't get you anywhere, but being upfront with your intentions might just score you a cheeky bum pic. View More » *Names have been changed Do you have a story you'd like to share? Get in touch by emailing Share your views in the comments below. MORE: I've been revising for my son's GCSEs – I'm more stressed than him MORE: I won't sleep with anyone else until I figure out my sexuality MORE: Two people stabbed and one shot during World Pride parade
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Daily Mirror
One in 10 Brits have had the same best friend since they were 10 years old
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The Sun
a day ago
- The Sun
Average age Brits meet their ‘best friend for life' is revealed in new study
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