Latest news with #Gen Z
New York Times
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Why We Mistake the Wholesomeness of Gen Z for Conservatism
'N.Y.C. art schools see record-high application numbers as Gen Z-ers clamber to enroll,' Gothamist's Hannah Frishberg reported earlier this month. Art school has a reputation for being totally impractical and mildly dissolute. But what members of Gen Z like about art school, Frishberg explains, is that it has 'a comforting, human sense of purpose.' The art school trend sounds counterintuitive at first. During times of economic uncertainty, the cliché is that young people usually go to law school or do something else that seems pragmatic, steady and lucrative. Yet art school can offer young people a set of tangible, hands-on skills and a road to employment that is set apart from an increasingly artificial-intelligence-driven corporate world. I have been interviewing 20-somethings about dating, politics, faith and their aspirations for a couple of years now. Dozens of conversations with members of Gen Z have convinced me that the most prominent aspect of their generational character is that they're small-c conservative. This is frequently misunderstood as politically conservative (more on that in a second). But what I mean is that they're constitutionally moderate and driven by old-fashioned values. It might be hard for us to recognize just how wholesome Gen Z is, or what that represents for America's future. But we should try. It's not just their 'Shop Class as Soulcraft' disposition — their bias for the local and the handmade and against tech overlords — that makes this generation seem like a throwback. Or their renewed and unironic interest in things like embroidery, crocheting and knitting. There has been a lot of grown-up chatter in the past few years about the fact that Gen Z teenagers are having less sex, drinking less and doing fewer drugs than millennials and members of Gen X did. Teen pregnancy is at record lows. There's probably not a single reason behind these shifts. Of course, Gen Z consists of millions of people, and generalizations are not going to apply to every member. But I can see, in the ways this generation is different from previous ones, a clear desire for moderation in all things. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
South China Morning Post
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
‘Life 4 Cuts' Korean photo booth trend hits Hong Kong – 4 popular ones to try
Gone are the days when photo booths were only for taking passport photos. In Asia, photo booths where users can customise their snaps with decorative stickers, filters and more have been popular since the 1990s, when purikura booths debuted in Japan. More recently, South Korea's 'Life 4 Cuts' (L4C) have become popular, especially among members of Gen Z. This type of photo booth prints out four snapshots on a vertical or horizontal strip embellished with colourful borders and filters. What is more, at some stores customers can pay to have their photos made into wearable accessories. Life 4 Cuts on display at Hong Kong photo studio Photo Lab+. Photo: Nancy Wang You can experience the fun for yourself at one of the many L4C booths that have recently popped up across Hong Kong. Here are four offering different styles. 1. FotoDopa Have you ever wanted to take a photo with your celebrity crush to mark a special occasion? At this self-service photo booth in Mong Kok's New Town Mall, you can do just that.
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
$105,000 superannuation warning over growing ‘mini-retirement' trend driven by Gen Z, Millennials
Australians are being warned taking a 'mini-retirement' could have a much bigger impact on their superannuation retirement savings than they think. The new work trend is being driven by Gen Z and Millennials and involves taking several shorter breaks over the span of your career, rather than waiting to retire. Perth man Riley McPherson recently completed his first mini-retirement, taking two months off between jobs in property. The 39-year-old said he planned to take a micro-retirement every five to 10 years. "I wasn't spending as much time with my family and connecting with my kids," he told 9News.'Mini-retirement' trend offers young workers 'happiness' as Baby Boomer 'glory years' dream dies NAB, ANZ slash interest rates as lenders move despite RBA cash rate hold: 'Not a coincidence' ATO tax return warning for 2 million Aussies over dangerous act While taking a micro-retirement could mean more time with your loved ones and boost your mental wellbeing, Colonial First State head of technical services Craig Day said it was not without long-term costs. "You may end up actually having a much bigger impact on your retirement nest egg than you may otherwise have thought," he said. Calculations found a 26-year-old who took a year off each decade could end up with 20 per cent less in their superannuation by the time they retire. That's a hit of around $105,000, which means their retirement savings could run out six years can also be downsides when it comes to your career. Unlike a sabbatical, where you can take a break and come back to your same job, a mini-retirement often means you will have to find a new job when you return and won't be paid during your time off. Realistic Careers recruiter Tammie Christofis Ballis said taking a few months or even years off could backfire down the line when you're looking for a new job. "If you keep taking career breaks, it's not going to look good, because it looks like you're just going to pack up and go. Employers want longevity," she told Yahoo Finance. Ballis said employees could also risk seeing a dip in their salaries and face stiffer competition from those who have more recent experience. Perth financial planner Fran Hughes is a mini-retirement specialist and took her own mini-retirement last year. "We're working longer but also we're living longer and if we continue this trend, we might actually continue to work till age 70 and only have a short period of time that is 10 years to enjoy our golden years,' she told 9News. Last year, KPMG analysis found the average age of retirement in Australia was now 66.2 years for men and 64.8 years for women. Hughes said people seeking a mini-retirement may have to 'pay it forward and go without today' in order to achieve it. "The biggest planning mistake is not to plan it out," Hughes said.
The Sun
12-07-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Young people more worried about bread and butter issues than trans debate
YOUNG people are more worried about bread and butter issues than racism and trans, a poll shows. Nearly 60 per cent of 18 to 30 year olds cited housing as their biggest barrier to getting ahead. 1 Followed by high taxes, a difficult job market and student loans. Sexism and racism were the least important barriers polled, selected as important by only 15 per cent of respondents. There was also net positive support for a cap on legal migration and banning biological males from women's sport, according to the Policy Exchange survey. Youngsters also agreed it is more important to speak the truth than avoid offence. Dame Caroline Dinenage, chair of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, said it sent a clear message on the need to focus on the issues that 'bind us as a nation'. The findings of the poll chuck cold water over claims Gen Z want their politicians to focus on woke issues rather than the same bread and butter topics that other voters are concerned with.
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
The End of Car Culture? Why Today's Youth Aren't Into Cars Anymore
Read the full story on Backfire News Gen Z isn't killing car culture — but they're definitely not inheriting it the same way. For over a century, the automobile has symbolized freedom, rebellion, identity, and even masculinity. The garage was the sacred space. The open road was the proving ground. And for millions of teens, getting your license was the most important milestone of all. But something's changed. According to the U.S. Federal Highway Administration, only about 60% of 18-year-olds had a driver's license in 2024, compared to over 80% in the late 1990s. That number drops even more for urban teens and especially Gen Z women. Why? Because cars don't mean the same thing anymore. Car prices are at all-time highs. Even used vehicles are expensive, with the average used car price hovering around $27,000 in 2025. Insurance for young drivers is brutal. Some Gen Z drivers are quoted $400–$600/month for basic liability coverage. Gas, maintenance, and repairs are unpredictable expenses. Wages haven't kept up. The average young worker can barely afford rent, much less a reliable car and garage space. To many young people, owning a car just isn't a smart financial move—it's a luxury. Phones replaced cars as social lifelines. A license used to be the only way to hang out. Now, it's all Discord, FaceTime, and TikTok. Urban design is shifting. Many Gen Z teens grow up in cities with decent public transportation or ride-share access. Environmental concerns are growing. Climate-aware youth often see cars—especially performance models—as unnecessary emissions. Fewer parents are into cars, so fewer kids are raised wrenching in the garage. Surprising stat: Only 1 in 10 Gen Z teens surveyed by AAA listed 'freedom' as the top reason they wanted a car. For previous generations, it was #1. Local meets are dying, often shut down by cities over noise or crowd concerns. Project car prices are sky-high, pricing young wrenchers out. YouTube and TikTok show the finished builds, not the first wrench turns. Everything feels unattainable—six-figure builds, SEMA-only cars, algorithm-driven perfection. Key insight: Gen Z isn't lazy or uninterested—they're just not being invited in the way past generations were. Despite all this, car culture isn't gone. It's migrating. Sim racing (Assetto Corsa, iRacing, Forza) is more than a game—it's a gateway. TikTok and YouTube creators are blending gaming, humor, and car builds in new ways. Young builders like Jimmy Oakes, Collete Davis, and ThatDudeinBlue are reshaping how gearheads connect. Budget off-roading, low-buck drift builds, and junkyard projects are gaining traction. More young women and LGBTQ+ creators are claiming space in the scene, broadening car culture beyond its macho roots. Electric conversion projects are sparking new interest—performance meets sustainability. 'Trash builds' and '$1,000 projects' are performing better than supercar content. Creators are breaking down complicated installs and lowering the intimidation factor. Accessibility. The barrier to entry has to come down—more DIY, more realism, fewer show cars pretending to be daily drivers. Mentorship. Parents, uncles, aunts, older enthusiasts—invite them in. Give them tools. Let them fail. Real-world spaces. Cities must protect and support legal places for meets, track events, and wrench nights. Media that shows the journey, not just the finish line. Gen Z values authenticity. "Don't show me your polished engine bay. Show me the busted bolt you broke learning how to fix it." Reason Impact High cost of entry Pricing out new drivers and builders Digital-first social lives Less urgency to own or drive Climate concerns Combustion cars viewed as problematic Cultural shift Cars aren't central to identity like before Lack of local support Fewer legal meets, affordable builds, real mentors
