On socials, there’s a lot that can be perceived as cringe. Trying to be something you’re not and doing things purely for attention is not cool to Gen Z—they want authenticity from their friends, influencers, and brands. Nothing fake or performative, please! Trying to force a persona that isn’t the real “you” can come off as desperate. And the worst cringe is when someone posts something trying to be funny and fails miserably. As one 13-year-old girl put it, cringe is “Weird, and not funny, but you try so hard to be funny.” But no matter how much Gen Z...
8/7/25
The Cringe Trend Report
What does it mean to be “cringe” today? Brands are constantly getting comments that they’re...
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