Gen Z Cool / Weird

I have talked a lot this week about a perplexing experience I had last Saturday night at the Perfectly Imperfect 5th anniversary party [SIC] homie Tyler Bainbridge was kind enough to invite my chunc ass to. The London rapper Fakemink was headlining and I was curious to see what the kids are into for myself. It was ... shambolic (as rappers playing

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For Madison and her peers, metal braces are a look to be celebrated, personalized and, of course, documented online. Spend a few minutes scrolling the apps and one will find no shortage of orthodontic content.

After all, the analog version of almost everything is what’s cool in many corners of adolescent life. But the braces trend may come as a particular surprise to parents who came of age in the 20th century, when pejoratively termed “tinsel teeth” were something to be dreaded — signaling awkwardness and used in pop culture for comedic effect.

Metal braces have shed their negative reputation and, for some tweens and teens, have become a coveted signifier of cool (colored bands and all).

Millennials, in turn, are defending the acronym as a necessary tool for tone and nuance. TikToker Anna Gaddis sparked the debate by clarifying that “LOL” signals lightness, not laughter, prompting over 5.8 million views and comments like “If I don’t use ‘lol,’ I sound rude” and “It’s to soften delivery.”

• Lest you think 2016 nostalgia has fully peaked: The Chainsmokers surprised Ohio State students by crashing a Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity party before the big Ohio State vs. Texas football game, turning the event into a massive, impromptu concert. The EDM duo performed hits like “Closer” and “Roses,” prompting the below reactions from Gen Zers:
  
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Salish and her dad have taken the MrBeast playbook (eye-catching thumbnails, over-the-top challenges, click-driven storytelling) and tailored it to a Gen Alpha girl audience. Instead of million-dollar stunts and bro humor, their videos center on wholesome dares, tween friendship drama, and “shipping” sagas (“ARE THEY DATING?”).

Earlier this month, TikTok users began to notice a scarcity of fresh memes circulating on the platform. Normally, there are dozens of memes in circulation simultaneously, but lately things have slowed down. By mid-March, there hadn’t been any major breakout memes or viral personalities. TikTokers began to declare that we’d officially entered a... See more

Cheesecake / Apple Pie

TikTokers are using a trending audio to show just how much they love dessert—by dramatically widening their mouths every time each dessert word is mentioned. The bigger the craving, the bigger the jaw drop.