Speak Now or Forever Hold Your Comments: How Gen Z Is Redefining Modern Romance

If you know this man, please speak up

Alcohol is Having Its Cigarette Moment—and Gen Z Is Here for It

The hottest cocktail on your FYP might be missing one key ingredient: alcohol. While Dry January is nothing new, the growing wave of youth embracing sobriety feels like a plot twist no one saw coming. Even creators like Halley Kate and Alix Earle have hopped on the trend to share how they’re doing Dry January.

This shift gained momentum after the Surgeon General kicked off the new year with a sobering warning about alcohol’s link to cancer. Suddenly, those espresso martinis and Aperol spritzes just don’t hit the same.

What does hit? Water, mocktails, and anything sans booze. For Gen Z —this newfound love for sobriety feels more like a movement than a moment. As alcohol begins to mirror the fate of a Marlboro Red, the social staples are shifting too. Mango puff vapes and Liquid Death are now the go-to duo for party-goers. When we polled our YouthTellers about their drinking habits, the results echoed what the internet’s been signaling for a while: Drinking just isn’t cool anymore. 76% of YouthTellers expressed interest in alcohol-free events, and when asked about participating in Dry January, nearly all said the same thing: they’re doing it for their health.

So, if sobriety is the new status symbol, what does this mean for alcohol brands?

Fifty is the New Twenty: Redefining Aging in a World Obsessed with Youth

Getting older has never been cooler—especially for women. In an era where Gen Z is swapping movie nights for TikTok scrolls and tuning out awards shows altogether, even the Golden Globes can’t capture their fleeting attention. This year’s ceremony came and went, with few fashion moments to make the internet erupt.

But then, Demi Moore took the stage. Her acceptance speech wasn’t just inspiring—it was a reminder of how the narrative around aging is shifting. As Gen Z teeters between pledges to age gracefully and sneaky preventative Botox appointments, one thing is clear: 50 and up is thriving. It’s not just cooler—it’s hotter, wiser, and, honestly, more enviable than the chaotic energy of your twenties.

Age isn’t just a number anymore—it’s a flex.

Speak Now or Forever Soft Launch: Why Gen Z Is Keeping Dating on the DL

Oversharing might be the norm for some, but when it comes to who—or how—Gen Z is dating, the vibe is simple: keep it private.

Even public figures are embracing discretion. At the Golden Globes, Zendaya and Tom Holland’s engagement made headlines, not because of an elaborate public display, but because of its minimalism. No big announcement, no joint red-carpet moment—just Zendaya, a solo entrance, and a ring that spoke volumes. Once confirmed, the news revealed an engagement that was as low-key as it gets: a moment shared by just the two of them.

This emphasis on privacy—both online and IRL—is almost exclusive to Gen Z. In a recent YouthTellers poll, 70% said they avoid sharing details about their relationships, intimacy, or sex lives on social media, even on private accounts.

“My romance life. I keep romance and sensitive relationships offline for the betterment of my relationships, as everyone doesn’t want their info out there,” shared Naimah Thompson, 23.

For those who do share, it’s all about the soft launch: a subtle hand placement, a tag off-screen, or a flirty restaurant photo. The “hard launch” (a full-fledged relationship post) is fading fast—along with using terms like “boyfriend” or “girlfriend.” And for the ultra-private? The latest trend is all about sneakily showing your partner—or their room—on a TikTok spam account. For Gen Z, love isn’t gone; it’s just gone incognito.

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