Bubble tea – affectionately known as ‘boba’ in the US – is running out due to the pandemic. The shortage has prompted conversation and mourning among fans, especially young Asian Americans, many of whom see boba as not just a drink, but a symbol of identity.

From hard seltzers to yellow wine, Chinese Gen Zers are turning to 'healthier' alcoholic beverages. In an effort to create a more wholesome drinking culture, alcohol is being transformed into a positive symbol of self-gratification and identity wayfinding.

While too little choice is limiting, too much can be paralysing. With the options in the alcohol and drinks space ever expanding, people are drawing on identities and values in other areas of their lives to narrow down their options. As a result, modern drinking moments and where they happen can say a surprising amount about how people see themselves.

Cultural memory is getting shorter, with mass digitisation causing people to seek solace in the recent past. But it’s not solely about innocence – ‘nowstalgia’ is fuelled by a desire to reimagine and right perceived wrongs. So, how is a meme mindset impacting Gen Z’s media consumption and style?