Politicians enter reality television and Gen Zers switch jobs for personal skill development…this week in social change
Thred Media
An award-winning Gen Z-led consultancy agency helping brands and agencies to connect with today's youth.
Welcome back to our social change newsletter!?
We’ve got the rundown on the latest social change stories and all things Gen Z right here in one convenient package. Whether it’s scientific discoveries on Mars, politicians regrettably trying their hand at reality television, or Gen Z studies on employment behaviour, all the info you need is right here.?
Let’s take a peek at this week’s biggest stories.
Elon Musk bought Twitter recently and has warned about new changes to the platform, including an $8 USD charge to be verified. Our deputy editor Jamie took a deep dive into the potential ramifications of such a move and why it might not be the best idea.?
Elsewhere, Stormzy and Adidas launch #Merky FC to improve diversity in football careers both on and off the pitch. Plus, new evidence of an ancient ocean has been found on Mars, strongly suggesting that life once existed there. Exciting stuff, right??
Our remote writer Flo also considered the social pressures surrounding ‘queerbaiting’ online, as Kit Connor feels forced to come out as bisexual on Twitter. A student at the University of Surrey has also designed a robot fish to clean up microplastics.?
All of that is wildly interesting, but what about our featured articles from this week? Our writer Jessica has weighed in on Matt Hancock’s decision to appear on I’m A Celebrity! Get Me Out Of Here, while a new study by Amazon suggests that young people are more focused than ever on developing personal skills at work, even if it means changing jobs. Let’s take a closer look.
On Tuesday, the wiser half of Britain collectively scoffed and eye-rolled after learning that its former health secretary Matt Hancock had signed up to star in reality TV.
The line between politicians and celebrities is becoming increasingly blurred. So much so, that British politicians now think going on TV and eating crocodile testicles will make them seem relatable. Critical analysis of the politician-to-celebrity arch largely suggests that mass media is to blame – but why is a Tory MP participating in reality TV so cringe?
Several academics have noted a shift occurring over the last few decades, where the public has begun ‘to favour personalities over political parties, performance over the programme, and authenticity over competence.’
They argue that the media’s involvement in facilitating political debate has accelerated this phenomenon. Fox News and Trump loyalists are a recent and obvious representation of this.
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Nowadays, political issues are regularly presented by news broadcasters as ideals and opinions of a certain figurehead, rather than the ideology of the entire party.
Interested to hear the full story? You can check out Jess’ piece in its entirety here on the Thred website.?
Speaking of job changes, it looks like Gen Z are keen to ditch their current employers in 2023 in favour of personal skill development.?
A new study by Amazon has found that nearly three-quarters of Millennial and Gen Z employees are anticipating quitting their current job in order to build their individual skills elsewhere.
In addition, 78% fear they lack skills to advance their career. 71% are concerned they lack the education to advance their career, while 58% are worried their skills are already outdated. 70% also feel unprepared for the future of work.
Where does this leave people moving into next year? According to those surveyed, 89% feel extremely to somewhat motivated to improve their skills, with 76% of those attributing their newfound drive to the pandemic. Skill development is a top priority for 83% of workers – nearly 90% have already begun to invest in new skills to use at work. Read the full report on our website here.?
Don't forget to keep a tab open on Thred.com for more from our global Gen Z writing team every single day. If you want more updates and planet-positive ways to take action, sign up for our email newsletter, and check out our youth empowerment opportunities through our Change Maker Network page.
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