- Oct 23 2019
TikTok clubs are the latest trend in high schools around the country.
TikTok clubs are the latest trend in high schools around the country. In teacher-approved clubs focusing on the app, students are watching popular TikTok clips, creating skits, imitating dances, and strategizing on how to become TikTok famous. In other schools, students have been using TikTok for class projects and broadcasts. While some schools are still apprehensive about the app and block or limit it from their servers, one thing is for sure: TikTok is only continuing to grow in popularity. (NYT)
- Oct 23 2019
In an age of uncertainty, Millennials are making astrology popular again.
In an age of uncertainty, Millennials are making astrology popular again. YPulse’s Practical Magic research found that 30% of young consumers read their horoscopes, and many see the supernatural as a fun escape. Astrology hasn’t been this popular since the ‘70s. Now, Millennial astrologists are selling online courses, striking up brand partnerships, writing books, and starting businesses. Co-star, the daily horoscope app that launched in 2017, has been downloaded six million times. The decline of organized religion, rise of economic instability, and political upheaval are all being credited for its resurgence. (The New Yorker)
- Oct 23 2019
Becoming a pro-gamer is becoming a realistic career plan for some teens, but they might still need to convince their parents.
Becoming a pro-gamer is becoming a realistic career plan for some teens, but they might still need to convince their parents. Entering the pro-gaming scene means a potential six-figure salary, live tournaments, fans, and sponsorships—all of which can be a surprise to older generations, who often still have negative views of gaming. Esports are also increasingly a part of academia: In the last school year, $16 million in esports scholarships were offered nationwide, and it is a varsity-sanctioned high school activity in at least 17 states. (The Washington Post)
- Oct 23 2019
Deceit and scams are making brands question the worth of the influencer economy.
Deceit and scams are making brands question the worth of the influencer economy. Influencers have strained ties with advertisers, losing trust by inflating, and buying, their followers. Analytics firm HypeAuditor investigated 1.84 million Instagram accounts and found more than half used fraud to boost follower counts, and influencer deception will reportedly cost advertisers $1.3 billion this year. At the same time, YPulse research finds that 45% of 13-37-year-olds have purchased something that an online celebrity has recommended, so some of the risk may be worth it. (WSJ)
- Oct 23 2019
Netflix plans to borrow $2 billion for new content, as the streaming wars ramp up.
Netflix plans to borrow $2 billion for new content, as the streaming wars ramp up. With Disney+ and Apple+ about to launch, Netflix announced this week that it will borrow $2 billion to fund new content. The brand’s content budget for 2019 is projected to be $15 billion, up from $12 billion in 2018. Rivals are taking (buying) back the comfort shows that Millennials and Gen Z love to binge, and more than ever Netflix is banking on originals to keep and win subscribers. (Forbes)
- Oct 23 2019
Student newspapers are filling a reporting void as local papers disappear.
Student newspapers are filling a reporting void as local papers disappear. From Michigan to Arizona, more than 2,000 newspapers have closed or merged, leaving more than 1,300 communities without any local news coverage. Student journalists have stepped in, with young reporters covering everything from politics to the #MeToo movement. But one major issue they face is the temporary nature of these students’ jobs, as they move on after graduation. (NYT)
- Oct 23 2019
Whole Foods already has predictions for the big food trends of 2020.
Whole Foods already has predictions for the big food trends of 2020. The brand rounded up its list of foods they think will take off in the upcoming year, including foods for kid foodies, burgers that are part meat part vegetable, and, yes, booze-free beverages. The latter has had major momentum this year, with YPulse research showing 56% of 21+ Millennials are interested in non-alcoholic cocktails. In past lists, Whole Foods predicted the coconut-flavored craze as well as the healthy, plant-based diet trend. (Fast Company)
- Oct 23 2019
Walmart and Mattel are opening up virtual toy stores.
Walmart and Mattel are opening up virtual toy stores. The brands are “leasing floors” in virtual store KidHQ, an interactive programming startup that lets young shoppers browse toys and merchandise through choose-your-own-adventure videos. In Walmart’s Toy Lab, participants can watch child actors play with 40 different toys, while on Mattel’s Barbie DreamFloor, they can help Barbie be an influencer and browse Barbie house or space shuttle products. The “grown-ups only” floor lets parents view their children’s wishlists and buy items through Walmart’s website. (WSJ)
- Oct 23 2019
Miller Lite’s new campaign asks people to unfollow them on social media.
Miller Lite’s new campaign asks people to unfollow them on social media. Tapping into the interest in unplugging from tech, the DDB campaign includes a TV spot showing the danger of “follow culture,” and touts having a beer with friends as the “original social media.” Miller Lite’s Instagram and Facebook accounts also plan to go dark for two weeks. According to the brand, “We know that today’s generation of new drinkers will spend more than five years of their lifetime on social media, and yet are only meeting up with their close friends less than a few times a month…we want to remind them that while social media is great, it’s no replacement for hanging out in-person over a Miller Lite.” (Ad Age)
- Oct 23 2019
Millennials work more, sleep more, and play more than previous generations.
Millennials work more, sleep more, and play more than previous generations. A new Bureau of Labor Statistics report gives a glimpse into the daily life of a Millennial, finding on average, they spend more time working, providing child care, and socializing than older consumers. They also sleep more, getting an average of nine hours of sleep a day, compared with 8.6 hours recorded by older generations. What do Millennials do less? Household chores, civic or religious work, and leisure activities. (The Washington Post)