Young Germans love this 89-year-old influencer. Known online as “Opa Werner,” Werner Kalecinski has earned 200K followers using Gen Z slang and trying youth trends—some of which he does not care for. He dislikes every matcha he taste tests, but fans love to see his negative reviews. Even brands aren’t afraid of his honesty as they send him products to try. He didn’t become a star by himself though—Kalecinski auditioned to become a social personality through a friend whose son manages and develops creators. But despite being a “character” of sorts, his personality seems to resonate with young people because playfulness is not something they often see from the older gen in Germany, and Opa Werner reminds them to approach their own life with whimsy. (NYT)
