We have become a nation of squares. Young people drink less, use fewer drugs, have less sex and generally don’t party as heartily as previous generations. Back in my day, we got strangers pregnant and drank excessively until we almost died of alcohol poisoning every damn weekend! Where do we begin to understand what is wrong with today’s children? Let’s start with what they are drink.

What are “dirty sodas”? And what do they say about the nation’s new puritanism?

Despite their evocative name, “dirty sodas” are non-alcoholic drinks, usually made with a carbonated water base enhanced with cream and flavored syrups – like an Italian soda, but with a different name. The drinks took off in Utah, where the Swigs drive-thru franchise claims ownership, and were popularized by the cast of the Hulu TV show. The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.

The rise of dirty sodas in Utah reflects the growing popularity of mocktails nationwide, especially among young people. Elaborate mocktails have become a mainstay of bar menus around the world, and there are entirely Alcohol-free “cocktail bars” open in urban areas. These aren’t depressing watering holes for the ex-drinkers who work in their programs, but hip places where beautiful people go – without drinking, I guess?

Soft drinks are part of an even larger societal shift toward sobriety and chastity. Not only do young people drink less than previous generations, but they have sex less often and take fewer drugs. They don’t even like rock’n’roll.

This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it’s a bit difficult for an old cat like me to navigate. What are you even doing? TO DO in a bar if you don’t have a few drinks? And what even are Are today’s teenagers not reprobate and thrill-seekers, more daring and immoral than I ever was?

Why are people searching for #glasscleaner on TikTok?

Young people are not entirely puritanical. Which seems random hashtag #glasscleaner is going after TikTok for allegedly allowing illicit viewing of images that TikTok does not approve of. A scan of the tag reveals many videos urging people do not search the term on the social media platformand other seemingly innocent videos with what appear to be very high view rates.

The idea is that some videos have been tagged #glasscleaner Or #bmw actually contain hidden and prohibited images. Apparently, someone discovered that if you bury obscene content under enough filters, it can get through thanks to TikTok’s automated obscene detection technology. They are labeled #glassclearner and #BMW for unknown reasons.

However, I’m not entirely convinced that this is actually happening. I’ve really tried to look for the images I’m not supposed to be able to see (it’s in my nature) and I can’t make anything out, so either TikTok has become aware of the methods people use to post bans. images and destroyed the incriminating screens from orbit, or there was never anything illicit under these hashtags, and it was all just a ruse or prank.

Anyway, I’ve heard that there are websites devoted to only showing immoral images and videos, and there is no need to have a secret hashtag to view them. (Don’t quote me on that.)

“Gleaming” and the new acceptance of neurodiversity

Young people may be teetotal Mormons channeling their desire to beat TikTok’s content moderation, but they’re definitely better people than previous generations. When I was in high school, if someone was autistic, they were given a mean nickname and left to fend for themselves at the bottom of the hierarchy. But kids today aren’t as depressed. Being autistic is not only accepted, it’s celebrated. Which brings me to YNG Martyr hip-hop track “Gleaming”, which features the lyrics “The gang ain’t neurotypical.” My brother is autistic. She thought he threw up gang signs; it’s just my friend who stimulates. Bars!

October 29, YNG Martyr posted a snippet of the song on his Instagramwhere it quickly took off, gaining nearly 6 million views in less than a week and inspiring people to use the clip to show theirs neurodivergent gangs And loved ones vomit it autism gang sign. This is heartwarming, especially for anyone who has a family member with autism.

The full clip followed a week later. It’s… very good. Check it out below.

Battle of the Child Influencers: Baby Gronk vs. the Rizzler

Remember Baby Gronk? The Instagram influencer gained fame online thanks to pee football highlights clips and a social media presence designed to make it seem like the 12-year-old was already a famous and sought-after athlete. Baby Gronk is a product of today’s times, and the crass materialism he embodies is a different kind of excess than the binge drinking of past generations, but no less excessive.

On the other side of the cultural coin is the Rizzler. Today’s hot young internet guy achieved his viral fame as part of the Costco guysa group of regular, unassuming guys who go to Costco, say “Boom” and… I don’t even know what else these people do, but they certainly do it aggressively, and a lot of people like it. Unlike Baby Gronk, the Rizzler and his co-horts AJ and Big Justice blew up pretty big to have appeared on Tonight’s show.

That doesn’t seem to sit well with Baby Gronk, who tweeted a video of himself threatening to kick the Rizzler’s “big butt.”

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But it is still the report that tells the real story of the battle for the souls of online influencer fans: There are almost 5 million views on B. Gronk’s threat and only 1.7k likes, which suggests people aren’t doing it to want to see Baby Gronk beat the Rizzler. Unlike Baby Gronk, the Rizzler is considered age-appropriate, child-like, wholesome, and sincere.

What does all this ultimately mean? No one can say for sure, but if the fate of online child stars follows a similar trajectory to that of traditional child stars, the long-term prognosis for Gronk and Rizz is not good.

Viral videos of the week: Calimar’s complaint calls

Stand-up comedian White Squid found a simple recipe for viral video success: He solicits anonymous workplace complaints from employees, then confronts their bosses, reading verbatim what the employees Really think about management.

Adopting the character of Agent Ratliff with “OCDA, Occupational Cares Diversity Affairs”, White started with phone callsbut didn’t reach the “millions of views per video” level of success until it actually started show up in offices and warehouses in an official-looking uniform, putting heat in the faces of bad bosses. White always informs his staff that OCDA is “a real company and these are real complaints,” and explains that “once I write it down, it becomes true.”

Reactions are mixed. Sometimes people immediately see through the schtick and tell him to get lost. Sometimes an entire office gets involved trying to figure out who exactly this guy is and whether to take what he says seriously. Certain workplaces sit down with him and try to resolve the problem.

Seeing authority figures brought down to earth has been a comedy classic since the silent films, but beneath this brazen premise there is something real being said about the nature of small power within capitalism and how whose workers’ voices can be so downplayed that a comedian must be hired to voice them.

On one level, these videos constitute harassment – ​​the middle managers who tend to be targeted don’t have much more power or agency than their employees – but on the other hand, it is It’s hard not to be amused. Discover White’s TikTok Or Instagram and see what you think.