The Digital Native

The Digital Native, authored by Erifili Gounari, explores the intersection of Gen Z culture with digital trends, focusing on social media evolution, fashion, lifestyle aesthetics, and the impact of technology on society. It critically examines contemporary issues, nostalgia, and the changing landscapes of engagement, self-expression, and societal norms.

Social Media Trends Gen Z Culture Fashion and Lifestyle Digital Technology Impact Societal Norms Entertainment Industry Authenticity and Identity Nostalgia and Future Predictions

The hottest Substack posts of The Digital Native

And their main takeaways

Annotating booktok and its evolution

39 implied HN points • 31 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Social media Literature Trends Community
  1. Booktok originated as the book side of TikTok and has evolved from bookstagram and studyblr.
  2. Booktok showcases a shift towards overemphasis on smut and dark romance, leading to concerns about content consumption.
  3. Booktok's landscape includes categories such as 'horndogs,' 'mean girls,' and those who focus on the plot, calling for a return to discussing storylines over smut.

The future of social media 🔮

137 implied HN points • 17 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Social media Video Audio Text
  1. The history of social media platforms reveals how they evolved over time from the first websites to the current popular ones.
  2. The future of social media is shifting towards more video content, engagement with photos, the rise of podcasts, and the importance of authentic self-expression.
  3. New platforms like Threads are emerging, offering unique ways for users to connect and share content, hinting at a return to more honest and less curated social media trends.
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The Gen Z-fication of the Femme Fatale

78 implied HN points • 06 Mar 23
🎭️ Culture Fashion Film Youth culture Gender Social media
  1. Femme fatales have been powerful and controversial characters throughout history, representing strong women with control over their lives.
  2. Hollywood redefined the femme fatale as a symbol of power, autonomy, and charm, breaking stereotypes and paving the way for bold female characters in media.
  3. Gen Z is rebranding femme fatales as 'dark feminine,' appreciating characters like Maddy from Euphoria who show a mix of boldness, charisma, and vulnerability.

What's a tomato girl? 🍅

58 implied HN points • 01 Jun 23
🎭️ Culture Fashion Social media Aesthetics Subcultures
  1. Tomato girl is a popular aesthetic trend linked to European summer vibes and Mediterranean girl aesthetics.
  2. The tomato girl's appeal lies in her fashion choices and slow-paced lifestyle, which are anchored in tradition and natural elements.
  3. Food micro-trends like tomato girl and others offer a unique blend of food, art, and fashion creativity, allowing individuals to embody different aesthetics through personal interpretations.

How's Gen Z feeling about AI? 🤖

39 implied HN points • 01 Aug 23
🕹 Technology AI Chatbots Social media Graphic design Music
  1. AI has a long history in pop culture and is currently experiencing a boom with new technologies like ChatGPT and AI-generated images.
  2. AI is impacting various industries like social media, graphic design, and music, but human creativity and expertise are still valued.
  3. Gen Z has mixed feelings about AI, with many believing it will enhance rather than replace their skills, but also expressing concerns about ethics and regulation.

MSCHF, escapism, and Gen Z

58 implied HN points • 10 Apr 23
🎭️ Culture Art Fashion Social media Youth culture
  1. MSCHF is an art collective that blends absurdity and fashion, known for their unconventional drops like the Jesus and Satan shoes.
  2. MSCHF stands out by creating viral content without traditional marketing, appealing to Gen Z's love for novelty and escapism.
  3. In a world craving newness and belonging, unique and weird ideas like MSCHF's products provide escapism and captivate attention.

Nostalgia, Gen Z, and film cameras

39 implied HN points • 20 Feb 23
🎭️ Culture Nostalgia Gen Z Film
  1. Nostalgia for past eras is strong among Gen Z.
  2. Gen Z is rediscovering the joy of film photography and embracing authenticity over heavy editing.
  3. Old movies are also making a comeback with Gen Z, providing an escape and a slower pace of life.

Women + the entertainment industry

39 implied HN points • 21 Mar 23
🎭️ Culture Entertainment Fashion Gender History Social media
  1. Women in entertainment industry have played influential roles throughout history, from propaganda tools to shaping fashion trends and societal norms.
  2. Models have evolved over the decades, from pin-up girls to supermodels to Gen Z models, each contributing to changing body ideals, fashion, and industry standards.
  3. The digital era, especially social media, has given models more control over their narratives, allowing them to connect with audiences, advocate for causes, and shape trends in a more personal way.

Trend predictions & a trip down memory lane

0 implied HN points • 19 Sep 23
🎭️ Culture Trends Fashion Music Food Social media Design
  1. 2010s trends are making a comeback, with elements like music and fashion becoming popular again.
  2. Different trends from the 2010s include Indie Tumblr kids, Hyperfeminine style, Vaporwave, and a phase with moustaches and big glasses.
  3. Predictions for future trends include matte makeup and heavier eye looks in fashion, resurgence of pop DJs in music, colorful and experiential food trends, and a return to VSCO filters in social media aesthetics.

Hot topics on our radar 👁️

0 implied HN points • 20 Oct 23
🎭️ Culture Celebrities Media Art
  1. Artistic expression can include 'demonic' imagery in media, it's not necessarily anti-religious.
  2. Celebrities have curated personas and boundaries, they aren't your friends.
  3. Parasocial relationships with celebrities can lead to stanning and blurring the line between reality and entertainment.