The hottest Youth culture Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Culture Topics

The Facebook Boomer reactor core

Taylor Lorenz's Newsletter • 865 implied HN points • 14 Jun 25
🎭️ Culture Social media Digital Trends Youth culture Online behavior Privacy issues
  1. Meta is launching a new AI feature that shares private conversations from users, which can be quite personal and sensitive.
  2. This tool shows that there's a mix of excitement and concern about privacy on social media, especially with big platforms like Facebook.
  3. It highlights the ongoing struggles we face with technology—balancing connection and privacy in our online lives.

Rebel Girls

gender:hacked by Eliza Mondegreen • 1190 implied HN points • 21 Oct 24
🎭️ Culture Feminism Gender Issues Youth culture Identity Media influence
  1. Young girls today face new challenges that weren't present in the past, like social media pressures and unrealistic beauty standards. These factors can harm their self-esteem and mental health.
  2. There's a growing concern about the lack of safe spaces for girls and women to express themselves freely. Many fear speaking out due to potential backlash or judgment.
  3. It's important for girls to learn to love their bodies and build confidence. Staying active, making real-life connections, and enjoying their freedom can help them navigate their identities and lives better.

Divers subjects

Disaffected Newsletter • 1918 implied HN points • 27 Aug 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Civil Rights Government Policy Social Issues Technology impact Youth culture
  1. Many people now accept that AI can make mistakes, and they think it's normal to just ask for help later. This mindset can hurt our rights, like due process, especially when it comes to important things like licenses or voter registration.
  2. We’ve changed how we view young and old people in society, putting too much focus on the youth and not enough value on the wisdom of age. This shift has made being older seem less important and even embarrassing for some.
  3. The rise of the 'teenager' as a separate identity is a recent cultural change, and it leads to neglecting the responsibilities of nurturing and guiding younger generations instead of just letting them act out.

The Medium Is the Monster

Default Wisdom • 669 implied HN points • 24 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture Internet culture Media Studies Social Commentary Youth culture Digital Identity
  1. The internet is now a part of everyday life, and many people feel they are always online. This constant connectivity can lead to a disconnect from the physical world.
  2. Young people's media consumption can numb their emotions and foster negative behaviors, as engaging with internet culture often separates them from real-life experiences.
  3. Online communities can influence offline actions, as seen in tragic events where individuals blur the lines between fiction and reality, leading to serious consequences.

Smash The Technopoly!

After Babel • 2052 implied HN points • 19 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Media theory Technology impact Digital ethics Youth culture Philosophy
  1. Many young people today feel negatively about smartphones and social media, with a large percentage wishing these technologies had never existed. This shows a growing anxiety about their impact on life.
  2. Neil Postman and Marshall McLuhan teach us that technology shapes our thoughts and behavior in ways we might not notice. The medium we use communicates messages that can change how we feel about ourselves and the world.
  3. We need to reclaim control over technology to protect our moral values. It's important to start discussing and setting limits on how we use digital tools to ensure they serve us, not the other way around.
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Desire Digest 004

Many Such Cases • 519 implied HN points • 05 Sep 24
🎭️ Culture Relationships Social Trends Gender Studies Youth culture Sexuality
  1. Many young women are feeling let down by casual sex, with issues like non-consensual choking becoming more common. There seems to be a gap between what some women want and what men think they want.
  2. There's a noticeable trend of Gen Z pushing back against intimate scenes in films. This could be reflecting their real-life attitudes towards relationships and intimacy.
  3. The author is aiming to create a more interactive newsletter experience, involving live discussions and advice columns, making it a more engaging space for readers.

Do You Have Aura—or Are You Mid? A Gen-Z Slang Dictionary.

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 927 implied HN points • 18 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Youth culture Slang Literature Social Issues Language
  1. Gen Z is often thought to lack ambition and social skills, but many young people want to challenge those stereotypes. They feel connected to past generations and want to fight for causes they believe in.
  2. A recent essay contest revealed that Gen Z has unique perspectives on communication, especially through their slang. Young people believe these terms help unite them across different backgrounds.
  3. Understanding Gen Z slang can be tricky for older generations, but it's an important part of their identity. Words like 'rizz' and 'slay' are not just casual language; they reflect the culture and experiences of young people today.

Gen Z’s Jerry Springer show

Taylor Lorenz's Newsletter • 3194 implied HN points • 24 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture Media Trends Social Issues Entertainment Youth culture
  1. Jubilee Media aims to promote empathy and healthy discussions through social experiments and debates. They want to show different viewpoints but need to be careful with misinformation.
  2. The format of Jubilee's videos can sometimes lead to controversial discussions, making some critics think they're just trying to create drama for views.
  3. The rise of technology, like AI and video sharing at fast speeds, is changing how we experience media and interact, like using QR codes at weddings instead of hashtags.

Inside the CEO shooter standom

Taylor Lorenz's Newsletter • 4418 implied HN points • 09 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Media Pop culture Social Trends Youth culture Online Communities
  1. People have started to view a shooter, who targeted a CEO, as a kind of hero because of frustrations with the healthcare system. Many are expressing support for him online, turning him into a symbol of rebellion against insurance executives.
  2. There's a growing disconnect between mainstream media and the general public. Some believe that media figures, who live in comfort, fail to understand the struggles ordinary people face, leading to misguided narratives about events like this shooting.
  3. Elon Musk’s idea that his platform is a replacement for traditional media may actually create echo chambers. It’s important for people to seek out diverse viewpoints and critically analyze information instead of relying on just one source.

Letter to Zoomer men

Jeff Giesea • 1177 implied HN points • 07 Jul 24
🎭️ Culture Mental health Social media Youth culture
  1. Don't give in to feelings of hopelessness or nihilism. There are still opportunities to create a meaningful life.
  2. Although you face unique challenges, your generation has the power to build new systems and institutions for the future.
  3. Stay positive and find joy amidst struggles. Your youth and perspective can lead to big changes down the road.

The woman behind the viral Texas breakup speaks

Taylor Lorenz's Newsletter • 3941 implied HN points • 23 Oct 24
🎭️ Culture Social media Relationships Digital Communication Youth culture
  1. A musician named Jillian Lavin shared her painful breakup story, where she moved to Texas for her boyfriend, who later ended things with a note. Her video went viral, sparking lots of reactions online.
  2. Different social media platforms reacted differently to Lavin's story. People on Twitter were harsher, while those on Instagram showed more compassion and understanding.
  3. Lavin expressed that despite her viral fame, she'd give it up to be back with her ex-boyfriend, highlighting the emotional toll of the breakup and the public's reaction.

The trouble isn't with young people, it's with grownups who won't be the grownups they need to be.

A B’Old Woman • 919 implied HN points • 25 May 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political Commentary Youth culture Government Accountability Public Opinion Media influence
  1. Young people are acting just like they always have and are not the problem in society. The real issue lies with adults who fail to take responsibility and guide the youth.
  2. It's important for adults to use their life experience to help young people learn how to handle power and responsibility. Young leaders may not always be ready, so they need support from experienced adults.
  3. Mixing generations is valuable, but adults in leadership roles need to have enough life experience. This way, they can manage situations better and set a good example for younger people.

The Monthly Salon: November

The Abbey of Misrule • 309 implied HN points • 30 Nov 24
🎭️ Culture Social media Mental health Relationships Youth culture
  1. Social media can be harmful, especially to young girls. It often preys on their insecurities and can lead to feelings of anxiety and shame.
  2. Many people feel a sense of disconnection in modern life, creating a desire to find deeper meaning and connections. This could lead to a spiritual revival among younger generations.
  3. There's a push for community and personal limits in response to the pressures of technology. People are looking to reclaim love and meaningful relationships in a world dominated by social media.

Biden’s Commerce Sec. Says She’s Reluctant to Ban China’s TikTok Because Democrats Would ‘Lose Every Voter Under 35 Forever’.

Raheem Kassam's Substack • 3636 implied HN points • 09 Mar 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics National Security Foreign Relations Youth culture Technology
  1. Biden's Commerce Secretary is hesitant to ban China's TikTok to avoid losing young voters
  2. TikTok, owned by ByteDance backed by China, is a national security concern
  3. There may be impending restrictions on TikTok and similar apps due to foreign ownership and data practices

Zoomers, Video Games, and The New Culture

Trantor Publishing • 758 implied HN points • 04 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Youth culture Cultural critique Social Interaction Counterculture
  1. Zoomers are facing challenges in various aspects of life like mental health and education due to factors from the past. The struggles of the youth reflect societal issues accumulated over time.
  2. The digital world, including video games, has become a significant part of Zoomers' lives, impacting how they engage with culture and consume media. Modern entertainment focuses more on prolonged engagement rather than quality.
  3. To address societal challenges and engage with younger generations effectively, there is a need to create shared cultural experiences and provide opportunities for meaningful connection and competition beyond digital distractions.

Self-aware villains, tech secessionists and a theory for why everything's getting worse

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 718 implied HN points • 10 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Social media Friendships Technology Internet Youth culture
  1. The Facebook party album from 2008 was a unique sociological spectacle that reflected youth relationships and friendships
  2. Social media platforms have evolved in how they enable users to navigate and express their friendships, from Facebook to Instagram Stories
  3. Modern digital signals of relational closeness, like group chats and Instagram grid posts, continue to play significant roles in mapping friendships

The Links guide to newsletters

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 838 implied HN points • 25 Nov 23
🎭️ Culture Internet Art Technology Youth culture Pop culture
  1. The author shares a list of personal favorite newsletters, including ones on internet culture, technology, and youth trends.
  2. The post includes a request for reader feedback through a survey to shape future content and projects.
  3. The newsletters recommended cover a range of topics from internet treasures to big-picture cultural analysis, providing readers with varied insights and perspectives.

Changes in the Demand for College

In My Tribe • 394 implied HN points • 18 Oct 24
🚌 Education Higher education Gender Issues Cultural Trends Youth culture
  1. More women are going to college, but many young men feel it's not a masculine environment. This creates a gap where some boys are looking for other paths instead.
  2. There's a belief that too many people are attending college, especially those who may not need a degree for their career goals. It might be better for those individuals to seek alternative options.
  3. The way colleges handle dating and social interactions may be discouraging relationships, leading some to think less about the college experience as a place to meet partners.

Pop über alles

Banana Peel Pirouette • 197 implied HN points • 09 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Music Youth culture Pop culture Social Commentary Artistic expression
  1. The evolution of music criticism, the rise of poptimism, and the shift towards commercial pop music have reshaped the music scene and challenged traditional ideas of authenticity and subcultural affiliation.
  2. The collapse of the middle ground in the music industry mirrors broader economic shifts, with mainstream pop stars dominating the landscape and influencing youth culture.
  3. Poptimism and hustle culture celebrate a pragmatic acceptance of commercial success over traditional values like originality and authenticity, reflecting a broader cultural trend driven by economic realities and the digital age.

Did this really happen?

Disaffected Newsletter • 799 implied HN points • 25 Feb 23
🎭️ Culture Social Behavior Urban life Youth culture
  1. A group of joggers tried to cross the street in a way that almost caused a car accident. It seemed like they were trying to get hit, which was unusual behavior.
  2. Society is losing basic public courtesies, like waiting for the traffic light and respecting road rules. Many people no longer follow simple manners in public spaces.
  3. This incident highlighted a troubling change in behavior among pedestrians, with a feeling that some people may purposely put themselves in danger for attention or fun.

Of Fuckboys and Men-Children

Castalia • 299 implied HN points • 13 May 23
🎭️ Culture Gender Issues Societal Trends Youth culture Masculinity Psychology
  1. Many young men struggle with growing up and often exhibit childish behavior, like pursuing unrealistic dreams instead of stable jobs. This immaturity can frustrate the people around them.
  2. Men in their 20s often feel a loss of status as they transition from high school or college to the workforce. This can lead to desperate actions, such as trying to date many women to regain a sense of worth.
  3. While their behavior may seem immature, these so-called 'men-children' often have big dreams. They may take risks, willing to fail to find their place, which is seen as a part of their journey into adulthood.

Have TikTok aesthetics replaced subcultures?

Default Wisdom • 177 implied HN points • 13 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture Youth culture Subcultures Media influence
  1. Aesthetic trends on platforms like TikTok do not necessarily replace individual personalities or subcultures; they can actually contribute to creating new subcultures.
  2. Online fandoms and digitally native subcultures are real and significant, even if they may not fit traditional ideas of what a subculture looks like.
  3. Algorithms play a big role in shaping what we see online, including aesthetics and trends, but they do not completely control our genuine interests and involvement in subcultures.

How fascism is hijacking our pop culture coping mechanisms

Teniade Topics • 137 implied HN points • 01 May 23
🎭️ Culture Pop culture Media Literacy Artistic expression Youth culture Ethics
  1. Pop culture is being used as a coping mechanism in the face of fascism.
  2. There is a shift towards valuing plot efficiency over art and depth in movies and media.
  3. Debates about on-screen sex scenes involve discussions about consent, relevance to the plot, and the balance between moral complexity and protection in a neofascist era.

The Gen Z-fication of the Femme Fatale

The Digital Native • 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.

MSCHF, escapism, and Gen Z

The Digital Native • 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.

xleepy fay: femcel z-dolls and the memetic urge surfing of their irl compulsive insanity

Do Not Research • 19 implied HN points • 16 Oct 22
🎭️ Culture Generation Z Online Culture Social Issues Youth culture Internet culture
  1. The current generational gap leads to a crisis where older governing systems clash with the beliefs and needs of the younger generation, especially Gen Z.
  2. Femcel z-dolls navigate a digital world filled with information overload, developing a keen eye for discerning truth from propaganda.
  3. Online communities provide an outlet for femcel z-dolls to fulfill their urge for transgressive behavior in a memetic way, seeking relief and connection in a futureless reality.

Google made an A.I. so woke it drove men mad

Read Max • 8 HN points • 28 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Technology Media Youth culture Social media Online Communities
  1. Google created an A.I. that unintentionally generated racially diverse images, leading to controversy and criticism.
  2. The purpose of A.I. chatbots like Google's Gemini remains unclear, raising questions about their ideal use and user expectations.
  3. The cultural shift away from tightly-knit, geographically-rooted subcultures may impact youth's sense of validation and self-worth.

Wishful thinking

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 59 implied HN points • 11 Dec 20
🎭️ Culture Internet Social media Trends Pop culture Youth culture
  1. The trend of 'shifting' to alternate realities has gained popularity among teenagers, offering an escape from the challenges of the current times.
  2. Shifting involves a belief in transporting one's consciousness to a different, controllable environment, often inspired by Harry Potter and filled with desired experiences.
  3. Many individuals engage in shifting practices as a means to cope with the restrictions and difficulties of 2020, seeking solace and excitement through this imaginative practice.

Don't keep calm OR carry on

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 24 Feb 16
🎭️ Culture Social media Internet culture Memes Online Harassment Youth culture
  1. Humans once expressed emotions widely, but social media now limits us to a few emojis, raising questions about influencing young voters.
  2. Online harassment silenced a scientist, showing how internet trolls can have a significant impact beyond just online platforms.
  3. Becoming a 'weird Twitter' celebrity can be dissonant, as hundreds of thousands may see a tweet instantly, blurring the line between privacy and fame.

What are you doing?

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 27 Aug 22
🎭️ Culture Social media Trends Internet culture Youth culture Online Communities
  1. The BeReal app prompts users to post unfiltered and uncurated photos, revealing the banality of everyday life, leading the author to prefer 'fake stuff'.
  2. Key weekend reads explore topics like TikTok audio memes, the dangerous side of QAnon, and the evolution of social justice into a quasi-religion.
  3. Various internet trends are discussed, from the aesthetics of 'weird girls' to extremist alternatives to YouTube, providing a glimpse into the diverse online landscape.

Millennial obsolescence

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 09 Oct 22
🎭️ Culture Internet Social media Online Trends Youth culture Memes
  1. The market for memes has consolidated over the years, with fewer platforms generating a larger share of memetic content, impacting the influence of smaller sites.
  2. Millennials, the first to grow up on social media, are now navigating growing older online, with platforms evolving and trends shifting.
  3. There is a shift in online culture, from the types of food photos shared on Instagram to the rise of podcasts critiquing wellness consumerism, reflecting changing digital trends.