NEETs, school wars, connected masculinity and baby boo
Social media ban, live streamers, reading habits and are DVDs the new vinyl?
Nearly 1m 16-24s NEET: latest figures show a rise to almost 1m of 16-24s not in employment, education or training (NEET) in the UK in Oct-Dec, particularly affected by cuts in hospitality and graduate schemes and an increase in young women out of work. However, compared to the same period in 2024 this was down 0.4%
Bank of England chief economist Huw Pill this week said that there is an ‘acute’ effect on youth employment because of the national insurance and minimum wage increases.
Meanwhile should young people get a trade, go to uni - is it any wonder they’re feeling angry and let down?
Social media ban: technology secretary Liz Kendall will launch the consultation next week on a social media ban for u16s, while speculation mounts that it will be supported.
Meta announced parents will get a notification if repeatedly search for harmful content.
an anonymous 15-year-old shares the online hate, objectification and misogyny she experiences online in a letter to the Guardian
Mumsnet calls for social media ban with cigarette style health warnings on phones
Young men aren’t the only ones struggling: U.S focused but a look at the data that shows how young women are having a hard time - carrying more debt (as more have degrees), struggline more with mental health etc - and a push back on the narrative that it’s young men who are fighting a ‘harder’ battle.
London School Wars: the Met Police urge pupils not to get involved and asks platforms to take down/ban accounts promoting fights with weapons as a wave of TikTok and Snapchat posts encourage pupils to join ‘school wars’ fights (and record and share them) across London.
Teens want ‘connected masculinity’: they’re over superheroes an distant, stoic male characters. Instead, the ‘Teens & Screens’ survey by UCLA of 10-24s, found Alphas & Gen Z want to see more fathers “enjoying parenting” and “showing love to their kids”
Children in care facing school rejection: a look at the challenge many care homes face getting children into nearby schools, and a heart wrenching perspective of a 16 year old rejected by 14 schools who said they couldn’t meet his EHCP. "No matter how nice I am, they only see what they want to see. Why should I care about my education when no-one else does?"
Live streamers killed the vertical video star: a look at the reach and sheer £/power (however short lived) some of the biggest live streamers are having and how streaming has broken out of just being for gamers.
And also
Can Cornwall’s fishing industry attract and retain young employees who face an alternative of part time/seasonal work?
Only 10% of boys aged 14-16 read for pleasure, National Literacy Trust find
Calls to reform student loans to make them fairer continue.
Baby Boo meme explained - earworm/new 6-7 warning
Are DVDs the new vinyl - a look at the embrace for ye olde disc among Gen Z
Is Gen Z’s post-materialism impacting the retail industry?
A look at the online spending habits of Gen Z. TikTok (volume wise) is biggest, but Roblox is fastest growing
The irony of some adults questioning Gen Z’s interest in physical media yet at the same time wanting a phone ban and less screen time….