Gen Z

Born 1997–2012, Gen Z are digital natives, socially minded and a rebellious force to be reckoned with.

Youth Culture in 2025

From immersive experiences to creator-driven content and innovative storytelling, pop culture and media innovators are reshaping how audiences engage with entertainment

Macro Trends

Gen Z Now and Next

Gen Z are entering adulthood burdened by global challenges, yet lack the tools or role models to drive the change they envision, leaving them paralysed by paradox

Markets

Gen Z Dating Futures

As dating app fatigue grows, in-person social spaces, sports, and college communities are emerging as popular screen-to-scene alternatives

Micro Trends

Erotic-tainment

A backdrop of sex-averse culture is only making audiences thirstier, leading to an explosion of entertainment that brings smut to the masses

Micro Trends

Safe Hate Spaces

A new wave of content creators is normalising complaining by sharing petty grievances and creating safe havens for connection

Big Ideas

Neighbourhood match

Global – Airbnb’s new booking app is designed to inspire people to connect more deeply with their holiday destination.

Viewpoints

Julia Cordray: Online Identity

The Peeple co-founder on the need for cast-iron digital identities.

Peeple : Julia Cordray : Online Identity

Big Ideas

Worth a thousand words

US – Microsoft has developed a visual storytelling system that uses artificial intelligence to describe the content of images.

Microsoft : Margaret Mitchell : Artificial Intelligence

Big Ideas

Unglue yourself

UK – Glued is an app that gamifies digital downtime for the family.

Device Addiction : Digital Detox : New Sublimity

Micro Trends

Snapshot News

Global – As their audiences move to mobile, news outlets are streamlining their content to fit smaller contexts and shorter attention spans.

Mobile News : Quartz : Refinery29

Big Ideas

Watch and learn

UK – The BBC has launched iPlayer Kids, a new app available to download on tablets and smartphones.

BBC : Gen Viz : iPlayer Kids

Big Ideas

Dressed by data

Stockholm – New fashion brand Ivyrevel uses algorithms and data analysis to create designs that are tailored to its customers.

Ivyrevel : Stockholm : Artificial Intelligence

Big Ideas

Workplace staples

Boston – In Workbar’s collaboration with office suppliers Staples co-working enters the big-box retail environment.

Staples : US : Workplace Futures

Big Ideas

Hail BMW

Seattle – BMW is set to be the first motor manufacturer to offer a car-booking service to rival Uber.

BMW : ReachNow : Seattle

Viewpoints

Elise By Olsen: Recens Paper

The 16-year-old youth culture magazine editor explains why it is time to rethink teen stereotypes.

Elise By Olsen : Gen Viz : Recens Paper

Big Ideas

In the Zone

North America – Zone by adidas is a heart rate monitor that uses the Cloud to share a student’s personal fitness data with teachers.

Adidas : The Optimised Self : ZONE

Big Ideas

Sugar crash

Europe – Reducing sugar intake is a key concern among Europeans, according to a new survey by inulin producer Sensus.

Sensus : Sugar : Artificial Sweetener

Big Ideas

Smooth operator

North America – Women’s lifestyle brand PopSugar wants to be the iTunes of fashion and accessories.

POPSUGAR : Seamless Transactions : ShopStyle Checkout

Viewpoints

Joen Schauman: Social travel

Trip Republic’s chief experience officer talks about the importance of inspiration to the holiday booking process.

Joen Schauman : Trip Republic : Social Planner

Big Ideas

Check-in chat

Global – Facebook’s Messenger app now integrates KLM flight information and boarding passes.

KLM : Facebook : Messenger

Big Ideas

Mii too

Global – Nintendo is launching mobile gaming with Miitomo, a social messaging app letting people to interact using digital avatars.

Miitomo : Nintendo : Avatars

Big Ideas

SXSW Interactive 2016 Review: Part 2

Part two of our show review looks at the key take-outs from SXSW Interactive that will continue to resonate in 2016 and beyond.

Gen Z : SXSW : SXSW Interactive

Communities

Gen Viz

Gen Viz is a global, liberal and visual-first tribe at the forefront of key emerging trends among Generation Z.

Gen Z : Teenagers : Teen

Macro Trends

Gen Viz

Teenagers are no longer self-absorbed souls struggling through puberty. Abstinence and realness are the order of the day for these new social activ...

Gen Viz : Generation Z : Visual First

Big Ideas

Nomadic editorial

North America – Obsessee is a new magazine that will exist solely on social media platforms.

Obsessee : Gen Viz : Media

You have 0 free News articles remaining. Sign up to LS:N Global to get unlimited access to all articles.

BECOME A MEMBER