For Gen Z, being themselves means climbing cringe mountain. While the phrase “cringe mountain” was coined back in 2023, it’s resonating with young people right now. YPulse recently dug deep into Gen Z’s cringe culture, in which being on social media from a young age has made them hyper-conscious of any form of embarrassment—because it always has the potential to be globally public. But some young influencers and celebs are starting to speak openly about the necessity of being sincere, even if others see them fail. Because, as the originator of the phrase puts it, “the land of the cool” only exists on the other side of cringe mountain—so taking the risk is the only way to find real confidence. (NYT)
👀 Read more from YPulse: The Cringe Trend Report
