i think that’s exactly the thing that’s happening: that time collapsed because, in the late 2010s and early 2020s, tech and entertainment started thinking numbers and, instead of thinking older, they went younger. thus, when you have 17 year olds in 2018 who are prime targets for becoming lifetime customers converted, you shift away after they’ve been captured and because they’re now hitting 25 — and that means the 15 year old is more attractive (and a novel head to spin). that, to me, is why the second wave for Gen Z collapsed into the first, as the skibidi of it all was better for marketing while the ok boomer of it all didn’t last: it’s less about them and more about what’s easier to advertise. the other item: covid, which swallowed up gen z via culture’s antsiness to leave that behind. that’s my theory at least!!
I would add that Gen Z, like Gen X, so flagrantly rejected boomer hegemony. Gen X, unlike the hippies, were too apathetic for boomer-run media. Gen Z of course is off putting for the other reason: they are activists, but in a way that exposes the boomer narrative as a sham ("most important election messaging," etc.) Perhaps they hope to stunt the growing influence of Gen Z by focusing on A. Colbert's Skibidi Biden may be the most blatant example of this
exactly: the skibidi biden thing really represented a, uh, torch passing in a lot of ways. i do think the gen z song isnt over but perhaps more in an instrumental as the (premature) gen alpha thing is going to blow up in brand's faces as they are a shitposting super smart chaotic generation who are going to undo the mechanics of the machine in a way that gen z has only hinted at. which might THEN make brands, businesses, politics, etc. try to opt for a greater plurality and return to gen z — but at that point everything will be too loose and gen z will have sharpened their knives enough to gore them. at least that's my hope! we shall see!!!!!
Let me ask a question before I forget.
The '60s was the decade of the first wave boomer. The 70s the second wave.
80s - first wave gen x
90s -second wave
00s - first wave millennial
10s - second wave
20s- first wave gen z
How is Gen Alpha eclipsing second wave gen z, who arguably have not had their moment yet?
i think that’s exactly the thing that’s happening: that time collapsed because, in the late 2010s and early 2020s, tech and entertainment started thinking numbers and, instead of thinking older, they went younger. thus, when you have 17 year olds in 2018 who are prime targets for becoming lifetime customers converted, you shift away after they’ve been captured and because they’re now hitting 25 — and that means the 15 year old is more attractive (and a novel head to spin). that, to me, is why the second wave for Gen Z collapsed into the first, as the skibidi of it all was better for marketing while the ok boomer of it all didn’t last: it’s less about them and more about what’s easier to advertise. the other item: covid, which swallowed up gen z via culture’s antsiness to leave that behind. that’s my theory at least!!
Wow good answer. A lot to think about.
I would add that Gen Z, like Gen X, so flagrantly rejected boomer hegemony. Gen X, unlike the hippies, were too apathetic for boomer-run media. Gen Z of course is off putting for the other reason: they are activists, but in a way that exposes the boomer narrative as a sham ("most important election messaging," etc.) Perhaps they hope to stunt the growing influence of Gen Z by focusing on A. Colbert's Skibidi Biden may be the most blatant example of this
exactly: the skibidi biden thing really represented a, uh, torch passing in a lot of ways. i do think the gen z song isnt over but perhaps more in an instrumental as the (premature) gen alpha thing is going to blow up in brand's faces as they are a shitposting super smart chaotic generation who are going to undo the mechanics of the machine in a way that gen z has only hinted at. which might THEN make brands, businesses, politics, etc. try to opt for a greater plurality and return to gen z — but at that point everything will be too loose and gen z will have sharpened their knives enough to gore them. at least that's my hope! we shall see!!!!!
Yeah, alpha is definitely a hail mary pass. Side note: loved the freak matching essay as well! Possibly more.
freaky times call for freaky antics!!!!!!!!!
Not a rhetorical question by the way, If you're seeing something I am not lmk
I always enjoy this showing up in my inbox but today was especially delicious. 10/10!
HELL YEAH
Yes. You should be worried (or at least keeping an eye on) what’s going on with bird flu ☹️
dang. but you're right!!!!!!!!!