Latest news with #GenZ-ers
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Health
- Newsweek
Nearly Third of Kids Now Look to AI for Emotional Support—Report
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A new study has found that nearly a third of children are turning to artificial intelligence (AI) for emotional support. While therapy and school counselors have historically been keystones of mental health resources for kids, the current younger generation has a new technology option to turn to. Why It Matters AI has skyrocketed in popularity, offering tools to boost productivity in workplace tasks and school assignments. While children often use technology to assist with research for their papers, AI has also proven particularly effective in helping humans address their mental health issues. However, limited research has been conducted about the possibility of long-term effects. In a May 2024 YouGov survey, 50 percent of respondents said the 24/7 availability and immediate access made AI chatbots helpful for mental health purposes. And 38 percent cited the chatbots' non-judgmental interactions as a pro. What To Know A new report from Norton found that 28 percent of parents said that their children turn to AI for emotional support. This trend is also reflected in the experiences of mental health clinicians. "I am seeing that a lot of children and young adults are returning to AI resources for emotional support," Kathryn Cross, a licensed professional counselor with Thriveworks, told Newsweek. "We also see this as a trend on social media. We are seeing people find comfort in AI responses, partly because they are receiving answers based on what they are looking for, rather than evidence-based advice." Children are facing unique mental health challenges, with 24 percent of parents in the Norton report saying their child has been cyberbullied. Roughly 41 percent also said their children turn to AI for companionship. Since many children are using tablets by the age of 2 and parents routinely give their kids phones before age 12, according to the Norton survey, the youngest generation may be facing loneliness and searching for meaningful relationships in a new and unprecedented technological environment. An April Gallup poll found that 79 percent of Gen Z, those born between 1997 and 2012, had used AI tools; however, 41 percent reported experiencing anxiety with the technology. Adult Gen Z-ers were more likely to say that AI made them anxious (53 percent) than their younger, school-age Gen Z-ers (21 percent). File photo of a smartphone displaying the ChatGPT logo resting on the keyboard of a laptop also displaying a ChatGPT logo. File photo of a smartphone displaying the ChatGPT logo resting on the keyboard of a laptop also displaying a ChatGPT People Are Saying Kathryn Cross, a licensed professional counselor with Thriveworks, told Newsweek: "While AI can provide what feels like useful insights on personal issues, it can also do damage, seeing as AI tools are unable to ensure long-lasting treatment based on evidence and real-life responses to crises. AI provides emotional support based on an algorithm, and it is programmed to give a response that is suitable for a person based on the wording used and the history that the program is picking up based on an individual's usage." What Happens Next The long-term risks of AI usage for therapy or emotional support are unclear, but experts warn that it cannot adequately support people in crisis like a trained human therapist. "The risk is that if someone is using AI tools as a replacement for therapy or other mental health treatment, these tools are unable to be hands-on with someone who is really in need of an interpersonal relationship," Cross said. "Nothing really compares to human to human contact and support."
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First Post
2 days ago
- Politics
- First Post
Sex recession: Why Gen Z is saying no intercourse
Does Gen Z have a problem with sex? One in four Gen Z adults has had zero sexual partners, and they are masturbating less than before, according to studies. But why are they staying off sex? read more Gen Z are those born in the 1990s and early 2000s. They come after the millennials, also known as Gen Y. Gen Y came after Gen X – the original alphabet generation. Representational Image/Pixabay Gen Z has a problem with sex. Specifically that they can't get any – in what has been dubbed the 'sex recession'. This, according to Carter Sherman, author of The Second Coming: Sex and the Next Generation's Fight Over Its Future. Sherman, who is a reporter at The Guardian, interviewed over 100 Gen Z-ers under the age of 30 for her book. She previously worked for Vice News. But what do we know? What does it mean? Why is this happening? STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Let's take a closer look: A brief look at Gen Z First, let's take a brief look at Gen Z. Gen Z are those born in the 1990s and early 2000s. They come after the millennials, also known as Gen Y. Gen Y came after Gen X – the original alphabet generation. The data shows that over 60 per cent of 18- to 29-year-olds lean to the Left. Gen Z women are said to be the most left-wing bloc in history – particularly on issues such as the environment, gun control and abortion. What do we know? Sherman in her book said the data reflects the scope of the sex recession. She quoted a 2022 study as showing that o ne in four Gen Z adults have had zero sexual partners. She said in 2023, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed that a third of high schoolers had sex. That number was nearly 50 per cent in 2013. Sherman says Gen Z is even masturbating less than before. She said what she discovered was contrary to the media narratives that they are disinterested in sex or simply prudes. 'Many of them are very horny. They would like to be having sex, and in fact they feel a lot of shame over the fact that they haven't had sex yet or that they're not having sex enough', Sherman told Wired. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Sherman in her book writes that young people feel 'stranded before the maw of a vast and dehumanising internet.' The ubiquity of porn in the lives of Gen Z cannot be taken for granted. She described the internet as a 'TikTokian carousel of porn' and also a 'mass social experiment with no antecedent and whose results we are just now beginning to see'. Sherman said many Gen Z-ers had learned about sex from porn – which had impacted their ideas about sexual preferences. 'A lot of young people told me that they felt like porn had normalised 'rough sex' and in particular had normalized choking. If you're under 40, you are almost twice as likely to have been choked during sex. And I talked to one young woman who was telling me, you know, when she was first having sex in high school, and all of her friends were having sex, all of them were getting choked, and she was like, 'Some of us liked it, but not all of us liked it', Sherman told Wired. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The ubiquity of porn in the lives of Gen Z cannot be taken for granted. While some data show that nearly half of adult Gen Z-ers think porn is harmful, three-fourths of young Americans have done so by the time they turn 18, Worse, 15 per cent have watched it at age 10 or below. Why is this happening? Sherman has claimed that Gen Z is worried about being punished for having sex. Sherman has said that these attitudes are a result of sexual conservatism – which seeks to eliminate abortion and access to birth control – being on the upswing in America. This has become more far more acute in the aftermath the fall of Roe vs Wade. Sherman in her NPR interviewed described Gen Z as 'petrified' of the consequences of sex. '…I think that feeling that people are now going to face a kind of punishment for sex, because they'll be forced to have kids that they don't want — I think that is really rife within Gen Z. And that contributes to this overall miasma of anxiety and fear around sex that really doesn't lead people to want to have it,' Sherman said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD She also pointed to the MeToo movement having unintended consequences of having created concern around sex but not providing women with ways to improve the system. Gen Z in America worried about being punished for having sex. This has become more far more acute in the aftermath the fall of Roe vs Wade. AP 'So for the young women I talked to, that makes the whole world just seem so much more dangerous because it just makes it seem like now you know that something bad happened, but no one else cares,' Sherman added. She also blamed Covid-19 for depriving this generation of real life experiences when it comes to sex. '…I think that they are very interested in sex, but they're not necessarily able to put it into practice as much. I mean, this is a generation that grew up during COVID, and so they missed a lot of key milestones — they just missed out on having that really critical IRL experience to know what it's like to try and get with somebody else,' Sherman said. With inputs from agencies
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Movie theaters are in trouble. Gen Z is here to save them.
Streaming might be dominant entertainment right now, but young adults are seeking real-life community at the cinema. When young people turn out at the movie theater in droves, they make headlines for flinging popcorn and screaming. Accused of being antisocial homebodies, some theaters have tried to lure them off their couches and into their seats by letting them keep their tiny beacons of light and distraction out during phone-friendly screenings. Some say they're willing to turn their hallowed halls into amusement parks with bowling lanes and roller-coaster-esque 4DX screenings, all to boost their offerings and keep the hallowed tradition of theatergoing alive in the digital age. But as ticket prices rise and at-home streaming options proliferate, what if Gen Z is the movie theater industry's greatest hope? According to a Yahoo News/YouGov Survey conducted May 22-27, 2025, Americans surveyed say they prefer to wait to see a new movie when it's available on streaming (61%) rather than seeing it in theaters (23%). But young adults under 30 are the age group most likely to head to the cinema, according to the poll. About half (49%) have seen a movie in a theater in the past six months, and 60% in the past year. And when a new movie comes out, respondents under 30 were the most likely to say they'd see it in theaters (31%) vs. waiting for it to become available on streaming (53%), compared to adults 30 and older. So what's enticing them to put their phones down, travel to the theater and give the big screen their attention for a few hours? 54% of Gen Z-ers surveyed said they want 'an experience I can't get at home.' More than half of poll respondents under 30 said an interesting plot (56%) and lower ticket cost (55%) could persuade them to get their butts in seats too. 'The most coveted demographic' Though assumptions about Gen Z's affinity for phones and hatred of spending money might lead some people to believe that they might not love theatergoing, it's actually an organic part of the young adult experience. George Huang, a filmmaker and professor at UCLA, tells Yahoo it makes total sense that younger generations are more likely to go to the theater than their millennial, Gen X and boomer counterparts. They typically spend less time fretting about work, kids and taxes, Huang says. And Hollywood knows this. 'The most coveted demographic has always been young adults … economically, they have the most spare time,' he explains. 'And movies, in comparison to sporting events or live concerts, are still the cheapest ticket around.' Young audiences are also 'trendsetters and cultural arbiters of cool … and let's face it, who doesn't want to be cool!' Huang adds. 'A decline in Hollywood films' Studios have long had an eye out for young adults. Susan Doll, a film historian who teaches at Ringling College of Art and Design, tells Yahoo that the industry has prioritized reaching young moviegoers since the 1980s. In the years leading up to that decade, the artistic ambitions of legendary filmmakers like Martin Scorsese and Francis Ford Coppola led "to excesses in budgets and shooting schedules," which corporate conglomerates that bought film studios weren't particularly fond of. As a result, new executives focused on budget control and commercial franchises to boost profits. They noted the financial success of 1975's Jaws and 1977's Star Wars, and a 'fascination and then dependence on blockbuster movies' began. Executives also took note of the fact that young viewers would go to the theater to see movies like 1978's Superman and Halloween multiple times, creating a fan base that would carry over to sequels and series. 'These beloved films tended to be viscerally sensational, relying heavily on action, fast pacing, and special effects. They were also uncomplicated, and without irony or moral ambiguity,' Doll says. The young demographic then became the primary demographic. In Doll's opinion, the 'dominance of formula, the adherence to genres driven by expensive special effects, the embracing of the clichéd heroes played by costly stars and the acceptance of costly marketing strategies … please a young demographic, [but] the end result is a decline in [the quality of] Hollywood films,' she says. 'This generation of moviegoers ... is really smart' Still, the industry needs money to survive, and box office numbers don't lie: Audiences are flocking to see movies made for the youngest theatergoers. Five of the 10 biggest films at the domestic box office in 2024 — Inside Out 2, Wicked, Moana 2, Despicable Me 4 and Kung Fu Panda 4 — were rated G or PG, suggesting they were targeting young audiences that include children younger than Gen Z. But all 10 of them — even the PG-13-rated, Oscar-nominated Dune: Part Two and expletive-filled, R-rated Deadpool & Wolverine — were constructed from familiar intellectual property and involve the heavy use of special effects that studios have long used to target young people. Not every Gen Z theatergoer wants to see a blockbuster based on well-known characters. Multiple theater owners tell Yahoo that they were moved by the success of director Ryan Coogler's film Sinners, which is among the top three most successful movies at the 2025 domestic box office to date. Box office stats can't capture the trend in seeing older, classic movies that theater owners say they've noticed. When David Lynch died in Jan. 2025, the nonprofit Belcourt Theatre in Nashville screened his offbeat hits Mulholland Drive and Eraserhead. Those movies are accessible — and popular — on streaming services, but young people turned out in droves to see the auteur's masterpieces on the big screen, just as Lynch would have wanted. Stephanie Silverman, Belcourt's executive director, tells Yahoo she sees a lot of young people at the theater, and she's not alone. She spoke at a conference of European independent cinemas in 2024, where she heard that young audiences across the globe are showing up for the rereleases of prestigious classics like The Seventh Samurai and Princess Mononoke. 'This generation of moviegoers … is really smart. Whether it's spending time on [movie review social media site] Letterboxd during the pandemic, or having a curiosity about past filmmaking and how it connects to current filmmaking,' she says. 'They come in curious, wanting to see films that are recognized as important that they could watch on their televisions at home, but they want to see them in community.' This is a massive victory for theatergoing, Silverman says, because it creates lifelong customers. As these Gen Z-ers start families, they might have less time to go to the movies at first, but could pick that back up when the kids are old enough to go to the theater. 'Our fractured digital selves can feel whole' Since Gen Z was raised with easy access to technology and the internet, they spend that excess of alone time online. They still crave in-person events, though, seeking a sense of identity and community in an ever-fractured world. Theatergoing can provide that. Jack Goodson, a Gen Z expert known as the Identity Consultant, tells Yahoo that 'cinema isn't just a format — it's a ritual, and rituals matter more when identity is unstable.' 'Gen Z isn't saving cinema. They're reminding it what it's for — collective myth, emotional cohesion and the rare moment where our fractured digital selves can feel whole,' he says. But since Gen Z's moviegoing habits are driven by their desire to develop identity, some experts say studios could do a better job making movies that make them feel represented on-screen. Michael Tran, who co-authored UCLA's annual Hollywood Diversity Report in 2025, tells Yahoo that 'racial/ethnic and gender diversity has unfailingly remained a key predictor of success at the box office' — but younger moviegoers aren't rushing to the theater as much as they could because they're 'hesitant to see films that do not cater to them.' According to data from the UCLA report, young adult women, particularly those of color, are vital consumers. Studios and filmmakers not tapping into that demographic is leaving money on the table. Barak Epstein, operator of the Texas Theatre in Dallas, tells Yahoo that young people naturally flock to their cinema. They saw a lot of success last year with Sean Baker's buzzy, Oscar-winning Anora, and again this year with a movie called F***toys that hasn't been picked up for distribution yet. Filmmaker Annapurna Sriram is 'going on tour with it like a rock band,' and young people are turning out with enthusiasm, Epstein says. I saw this firsthand at a 4DX screening of A Minecraft Movie. The enthusiasm of Gen Z and Gen Alpha viewers led to theaters creating special "chicken jockey" screenings that featured sanctioned chaos. It was delightful. For Gen Z, moviegoing is a ritual. It's an easy and relatively inexpensive way to access community and celebrate identity. Now they just need other generations to catch on and keep that experience alive. 'Sometimes I'm like, 'How do I find older people?' Epstein laughs. __________________ The Yahoo News survey was conducted by YouGov using a nationally representative sample of 1,560 U.S. adults interviewed online from May 22-27, 2025. The sample was weighted according to gender, age, race, education, 2024 election turnout and presidential vote, party identification and current voter registration status. Demographic weighting targets come from the 2019 American Community Survey. Party identification is weighted to the estimated distribution at the time of the election (31% Democratic, 32% Republican). Respondents were selected from YouGov's opt-in panel to be representative of all U.S. adults. The margin of error is approximately 2.9%. Solve the daily Crossword
NDTV
3 days ago
- General
- NDTV
Gen Z Stare: All About The Viral Trend That Has Generations Talking
A new trend dubbed the "Gen Z stare" is sparking debate across social media and the workplace. Characterised by a long, blank, expressionless gaze in a variety of social situations, the look has gone viral through videos on TikTok and is being widely discussed - both humorously and seriously - across generations. According to ABC News, the stare is often seen in response to casual greetings or workplace queries, leaving older generations puzzled or even frustrated. Critics often assail the stare, making snap judgments about what it means: boredom, indifference, superiority, judgment or just sheer silliness - even a death stare. "A lot of Gen Z folks are saying, 'Sorry, this is just the way we talk,' while others say this is more specific to customer service," said Brad Mielke, host of ABC 's Start Here podcast. Mielke added that even Gen Z workers are noticing it in their peers. "You even have Gen Z-ers sort of noticing this in each other," he said, calling the moment a rare instance of self-reflection for the hyper-online generation. But others argue it goes beyond facial expression. In an article for Forbes, author Bryan Robinson warns against jumping to conclusions. Robinson said he spoke to Vintage's chief research officer Joe Galvin who told him, "The 'Gen Z stare' is more than just a viral buzzword. Similar to past trends such as 'quiet quitting', it is a pervasive one, highlighting a larger issue in today's workplace: A growing generational disconnect in employee communication and expectations." The stare, Galvin notes, can be misinterpreted as disinterest or defiance, but it may stem from Gen Z's lack of exposure to real-world social interaction - particularly during the pandemic, when screens replaced face-to-face communication. In some cases, experts liken the frozen expression to a trauma "freeze" response, reflecting stress or uncertainty rather than disrespect. As generational differences come under the spotlight, workplace leaders are being urged to rethink how they assess engagement. "Are team members truly disengaged, or are leaders relying on outdated ideas of what attentiveness and participation should look like?" Galvin asked. "Misreading body language can lead to confusion, frustration, and missed opportunities to connect." The trend follows other generational behaviours like the "millennial pause" and baby boomers - those born between 1946 and 1964 - signing texts like letters. As Mielke noted on ABC News, "We've all got them... This is the first time Gen Z is under fire from the rest of the generations." Whether a fleeting fad or a sign of deeper disconnect, the Gen Z stare is forcing a wider conversation on social media about how we read - and misread - each other in the modern workplace.
Buzz Feed
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
22 Old-School Childhood Things That Don't Exist Anymore
Earlier this month, we asked members of the BuzzFeed Community, "What's something that was normal when you were a kid but probably never happens now?" Everyone from Boomers to elder Gen Z-ers chimmed in with the things they vividly remember from their owl childhoods that either a) would never fly today or b) simply went extinct. So, let's go down this nostalgic rabbit hole together, shall we? "Knowing the phone numbers of all friends and family by heart. And having the ability to hold a brief, polite conversation with a grown-up, prior to asking if (no nicknames when talking to parents) is home, please?!" —lucyec1980"Calling your friend's house and having to talk to their parent you'd pick up the chunky landline and be like:'Hi, um… can I talk to Isis?' 😳And their mom would be like, 'WHO'S THIS?'And you're just standing there sweating like you're applying for a job. 😭"—sharpwolf3045 "My mom used to send me and my sister into Target to get stuff we needed, like groceries and soap. This was when we were like ages 8 and 10. She wanted us to be independent! I never see unaccompanied children anywhere nowadays. My sister and I are 26 and 28 now." "'Be kind, Rewind.' Also, calling the movie theaters to find out what is playing and at what time." —bivvy92"Reading the newspaper to determine what new movies were playing and when."—kathyms "Indoor recess on rainy days in elementary school consisting of board games, coloring, library trips, etc." "Ice cream trucks. We used to have ice cream trucks that made regular routes in my childhood neighborhood and in my grandmother's neighborhood, where I spent a big chunk of my summers as a kid. The sheer excitement of scrounging up money and running down the street to get ice cream when we heard the music will always be one of my favorite childhood memories. It's a shame kids today will never share that excitement." —carpentermegann16 "Having a question or a thought and not being able to google the answer." "Being able to just air out our silly little problems on social media without having to deal with know-it-all randos dealing out shitty, unsolicited advice." "No one under 15 wearing makeup, name brands, or having a cell phone. I just became an adult, but I can honestly say those were the days. 🥲" —lilwolf4138"Actually having an awkward phase!"—wittymagazine967"Playing with your siblings and neighborhood friends for hours without being bored or worrying about what you looked like at all times."—tatertot "During the summer, riding my bike to the library and just READING. I miss that so much. The library's AC was amazing, and its water fountains were icy, so when I arrived sweaty from biking, it made the trip very much worth it. At home, we had a window box unit and tepid tap water! I did this by myself, as a kid. The library was about a mile away. No one questioned it; it was quite common. No longer." "My husband can't wrap his head around the fact that it's not necessary to record every single show he likes now. I've tried for years to show him where to find episodes that have already aired. Quit filling up the DVR, lol. We're old." —anyninjawould "My parents thought nothing of going out for dinner with friends, leaving my siblings and me at home alone. My sister was 8 when she started 'babysitting' my brother (6) and me (4). We had the phone number for the restaurant, but that was about it. Today, that would be seen as neglect!" "Having 'best looking' contests senior year for our high school yearbooks." —annaetienne "Looking for change in the phone booths and buying candy at the thrift store." "Using a card catalog to find books at the library." —mommamurph05 "Hearing a busy signal when calling a phone number." "Staying out all night in line for concert tickets. So fun!!" "Not being supervised by adults at all times. I would take the bus back from school on my own from the age of 8 or 9, stay home for hours until my mom got back, had my snacks..." —itsallinyrhead1"Leaving the house after eating cereal at 7 a.m. and not coming home (or having parents hear a peep from us, pre-cell phones) until we came crashing in our 10-speeds just in time for supper. Those were the days, man."—littlefairywanderer"'Be home by dinner!' Doubt many parents are comfortable saying that these days."—charmingfish91 "Being sent to my room for 'punishment'. Can't believe it actually was a punishment. Now I go to my room when I am in trouble with my siblings and I need a break from everybody 'cause they suck." "Going to a drive-in theater and waiting for the sunset for the movie to start. The concession stand was waaay in the back, and everyone's kids were all in pajamas because we weren't staying awake until that movie ended..." —icymagazine491 "The Five O'Clock Whistle. Fire stations used to blow a whistle every afternoon at 5:00 to let you check your clocks/watches. It also helped us Gen-X kids who were roaming around the neighborhood unsupervised know that dinner was coming soon." "Riding into town in the back of my grandpa's pick-up truck. No seat belts, no cap." —chilllion4232"Riding in the back of a station wagon with no seatbelt. Facing backwards. No belts. No airbags. Just vibes and nausea."—jessicajonesluv"'Driving' on Grandpa's and Mom's laps! I'd 'steer' while they had the gas and brakes. Learning to drive a stick shift at 12 years old, in the snow. Maybe that's why I'm always asked to drive now."—stephaniev23 And finally, "Common sense. Not just blindly following social media trends (or the equivalent) without that little voice saying, 'Hang on, this is stupid.'" Now it's your turn! What's something that was normal when you were a kid but probably never happens now? Tell us in the comments or via the anonymous form below:
