Trend Taster: corporate sleaze edition
In this week’s edition of the Trend Taster, we round up the snackable trends, stats and insights from around the world, including:
Community-driven gratitude spaces combat digital negativity
Millennials outshop Gen Z on social media
Gen Z and Millennials are making cruising cool again
Explainer: Corporate Sleaze
Gen Z's phone call phobia
Community-driven gratitude spaces combat digital negativity
A new wave of social platforms is emerging to combat digital negativity. From AI-powered compliment generators like AIcompliment.me to community-driven gratitude spaces like Kyndr or What Went Well Today, these platforms are reimagining online interaction with positivity at their core. This shift reflects a broader transformation in social media, where mental wellness and genuine community building are becoming as important as engagement metrics. The trend suggests that tomorrow's most successful platforms might not be the ones with the most users, but those that make users feel their best.
Millennials outshop Gen Z on social media
New data from the Retail Technology Show indicates Millennials increased their social media purchases by 36% year-over-year, now averaging 21 purchases on TikTok compared to Gen Z's 20. The trend extends across platforms, with Millennials outspending Gen Z on Facebook and Instagram. Only Roblox remains Gen Z territory, where they made 13 purchases annually compared to Millennials' 12. These numbers signal a broader democratization of social shopping beyond its assumed youth-centric roots.
Gen Z and Millennials are making cruising cool again
Cruise lines are riding a millennial wave, with nearly half of Royal Caribbean's recent passengers being millennial-age or younger. The CLIA report reveals that millennials now make up 22% of all cruise passengers globally, with Gen Z adding another 14%., looking for shorter "mini cruises," Instagram-worthy spaces, and celebrity chef partnerships. This isn't just about attracting younger guests either: 28% of cruisers were part of multi-generational trips, signalling how cruise lines are successfully bridging the generation gap while catering to younger travellers' desires for experiential, social media-friendly getaways.
Explainer: Corporate Sleaze
Inspired by celebrities like Beyoncé and runways like Saint Laurent, "corporate sleaze" is turning office wear on its head. This trend blends professional pieces with unexpected skin-revealing twists. While not exactly boardroom-ready, the style reflects a post-pandemic shift towards more personal, comfort-driven fashion that breaks traditional dress code norms.
Gen Z's phone call phobia
A striking 70% of young adults now prefer texting to phone calls, and over half associate unexpected calls with bad news. This isn't just about preference, it's reshaping education and business. These 'digital natives' who seamlessly navigate social media, often freeze at the sound of a ringtone, with 23% of 18-34 year olds saying they never pick up calls.
