BAMA: The Crimson Tide earns a spot in the 2023 college football playoffs.
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FORTNITE: Fans react to the newly released chapter 5 of the popular game.
Gen Z’s Love For Turning The Anti-Hero Into An Internet Icon
What it is: George Santos was expelled from Congress on Friday after lying about pretty much everything. But, if you’ve been online lately, especially in apps like TikTok, you may have noticed that as Santos continues to involve himself in a scandal, his popularity within the Gen Z crowd has continued to rise and made him an internet star. From having a shrine made in his honor to endless numbers of memes and TikTok videos, the more absurd Santos has gotten, the more Gen Z’s obsession with him has grown. And Santos is just one of the many controversial figures that Gen Zers have turned into popular “internet icons”. We’ve seen the same happen with people like Jeffree Star, Shane Dawson, and Trisha Paytas, who despite crossing the line towards controversy all of the time, have managed to stay uncancellable with the help of Gen Z.
What brands can learn: There is something admirable about Gen Z’s ability to find the funny side of even the most controversial and negative events or people. However, as brands continue to try and find ways to connect with this audience online, mostly through comedy, they must remain vigilant as to what or who this generation is obsessed with. Jumping into a funny trend, using a popular phrase, or trying to one-up the humor of Gen Z online can prove to be the wrong move when you’re dealing with a generation who will see the funny side of the most absurd or dark. And while a lot of this humor from Gen Z is sarcastic, for brands it can prove detrimental both on and offline.
Examples: 1 2 3
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