Digital Detoxes and Neo-Traditionalists

"tinder is back"

Chappell Roan, Charli XCX, and Sabrina Carpenter are performing at the Grammys this weekend; 11-year-old North West made a guest appearance on the new FKA twigs album; Gracie Abrams fans started a Change.org petition to replace her tour opener (the music is too “slow-paced,” they feel); and TikTok-loaded phones are selling for thousands online after law prevents new downloads.

THE CULTURAL ASCENDANCY OF THE NEW YOUNG RIGHT, nymag
It’s tough to pick a favorite quote from Brock Colyar’s report from an inauguration weekend spent with the Gen Z Trumpers, but the 28-year-old conservative influencer describing the event as “Republican Coachella,” and adding that “Donald Trump is our Beyoncé,” is certainly up there. (Also: “MAGA is MTV for Gen Z. This isn’t the fringe. This is youth pop culture. I’ve been saying this for years,” said Mitchell Jackson, a publicist and crisis consultant who works with conservative podcasters.)

LIFE ACTUALLY, A NO BULLSHIT STUDY, d1a
In partnership with the USC, Day One surveyed 1,022 Gen Zers across the country “to understand their hopes and dreams.” They found that nearly 29% of our respondents fell into the archetype category they’ve dubbed “Neo-Traditionalists.” This cohort values so-called traditional lifestyle choices, like homeownership and suburban living; prioritizes making money and living comfortably over creative pursuits; and hopes to have stable, long-term relationships.

COLLEGE ISN’T DEAD TO GEN Z YET. ENROLLMENT JUST HIT A POST-PANDEMIC HIGH, fastco
Despite rising costs and concerns over the value of a college degree, new data suggests young people are still invested in higher education. College enrollment in the United States increased in the fall of 2024, for the first time surpassing pre-pandemic levels.

SCREENS HAVE TAKEN OVER CLASSROOMS. EVEN STUDENTS HAVE HAD ENOUGH., wsj
In American schools, “class time has become screen time,” a shift that runs counter to advice from experts to limit tech use. Students in grades one through 12 now spend an average of 98 minutes on school-issued devices during the school day, more than 20% of the average instructional time. “I don’t like having my eyes glued on a screen for a while,” said eighth-grader Aubrey Ortiz, in San Antonio. “It gives you a headache and I really lose my focus.”

IS THE DIGITAL DETOX INDUSTRY A SCAM?, dazed
With nearly half of Gen Z actively seeking to reduce screen time, a digital detox industry — from productivity-boosting apps to technology-free wellness retreats — has emerged. Global search interest for “digital detox retreat” rose by 50 percent in 2024; the digital detox apps market size was worth around 0.39 billion dollars in 2023, and it’s predicted to swell to around 19.44 billion by 2032.

TINDER TAPS TIKTOK INFLUENCERS TO LURE GEN Z, axios
Tinder worked with six creators to produce a series of TikTok videos, posted from September to December, about their experience using the dating app, and then the brand commissioned a study on whether the campaign had shifted brand sentiment among young singles. The sponsorship was a success: After watching the content on TikTok, 53% of respondents said they found dating apps more appealing and 58% said they were likely to use Tinder. I’ve noticed a sentiment shift in my own FYP in the last few months, and now I know why!

One last thought:

@ariesparadise101new year new me !

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