Brother, can I put my lipstick in your purse?
Welcome back to another newsletter from the Common Thread! ➿
This week, we look at men’s growing penchant for designer handbags, the millions (and billions) still being made on OnlyFans, the joys and mistakes of maintaining modern friendships, and a groundbreaking breakthrough in medicine.
As always, there is a little more to discuss, so let’s get started 🙂
The biggest trend in luxury resale is… men’s handbags! According to TheRealReal’s last annual reportSearches for men’s handbags increased 900 percent last year, with Gen X and Millennial men spending more on these items than any other age group. The most searched brands were Gucci, Fendi and Chanel. In 2024, it turns out the worst thing a man can do is carry a sexy little designer handbag.
As Generation Z matures, virtual stores get an AI boost – Fashion store.
Young people’s love of gaming is gradually seeping into the online shopping experience, and immersive 3D storefronts are sitting alongside traditional e-commerce grids more than ever. Artificial intelligence is speeding up this process, making it easier for brands to create virtual shopping experiences, some of which are even tailored to each individual shopper. This technology is only likely to get better, so it’s safe to assume that marketing tactics will soon get even better. more irresistible
Have you noticed that more and more internet users are developing apathy as a way to cope with their dissatisfaction with everything (or everyone) around them? This wonderful, insightful essay by Catherine Shannon shows us possible causes for this mindset, while also giving us reasons to keep searching for meaning, keep worrying, and keep believing that we deserve to find happiness by pursuing the things that matter to us—no matter how big or small.
Exploring the friendship paradox – the Atlantic.
Are young people really lonely? The average American says he has four or five friends, while less than 4 percent of respondents say they have none. The problem may actually be that we never get around to see our friends. Americans spend now less than three hours per week with their friends, compared to more than six hours a decade ago. Most of our friends don’t know each other, which means we have to meet two (or more) times to see them. This is a problem when most people feel like their free time is more scarce than ever. Research shows that people with more resources are better able to maintain friendships, while better access to third places – often granted by wealthier people – increases the likelihood of having more friends. Long live for free third places!!!
Will biometrics be the key to travel and shopping in the future? This technology is increasingly being used in payment apps and airports. Its proponents say it “eliminates friction, saves time and shortens queues.” For these mechanisms to work, public services must collect, extract and store your personal data in the cloud. This brings with it a host of potential security risks and a new set of concerns for consumers.
OnlyFans has many fans – Morning coffee.
OnlyFans’ pandemic-fueled popularity is showing no signs of waning. Last year, the number of creators on the platform increased by 29 percent, reaching a whopping 4.1 million. There are now 305 million people visiting the platform regularly, spending a total of $6.6 billion in 2023—an increase of $1 billion from the previous year. All of this activity has made OnlyFans owner Leonid Radvinsky insanely rich. In the last fiscal year, he earned $472 million in dividends—he gets a 20 percent share of every transaction made on the platform—and has more than 1 billion dollars in the last three years. What do you all think about it?
Good news for anyone suffering from chronic urinary tract infections. Scientists are beginning to eliminate antibiotic-resistant bacteria in patients using CRISPR, a renowned gene editing technology. This may sound like science fiction, but it is entirely possible to inject the DNA of viruses into human DNA to give someone resistance or total immunity to certain diseases. This revolutionary approach could change the lives of millions of people who struggle with stubborn, recurring urinary tract infections that don’t go away with antibiotics.
“Our Cow Angus” is a project that tests society’s moral compass – Thread.
The art collective MSCHF is known for challenging society’s mindset with its unique and provocative works, including the infamous Big red boots and ATM best list exhibited at Art Basel in Miami. For their latest project, the organization rescued a cow from a slaughterhouse and pre-sold it as burger packages and leather bags. They then named the cow Angus and asked customers if they wanted to cancel their orders to save Angus from being killed for profit. More than 500 days before the cow’s slaughter day, some people have already canceled their orders. Still, current forecasts do not paint a particularly rosy picture for Angus. Will the remaining customers feel remorse?
Thanks for reading and be sure to subscribe for the latest news on Gen Z and youth culture. Also, don’t forget to check out Die Generation Z for a weekly summary of other current findings, stories and discussions.
