The past decade has seen political polarisation – accelerated by social media’s filter bubbles and echo chambers – deepen and mutate. An ominous era of a polycrisis has shattered any remaining societal consensus. Meanwhile, powerful anti-establishment voices have stepped into the void.

As Gen Zers enter the workforce and burnt-out Gen Yers recalibrate their priorities, a new culture is emerging around work – one that values rest, appreciates idleness, and would rather be happy than industrious. Could this shift in approach mark a new era of anti-ambition?

Gen Zers have been labeled lazy by the corporate world because their ambition looks different from their predecessors in the workplace. Further inspection of their work ethic shows that it extends beyond their nine-to-five, with side hustles challenging the anti-ambition accusation.

At first glance, TikTok trends such as ‘bimbofication’, ‘the rockstar girlfriend’, and ‘sugar baby aesthetics’ appear to be firmly anti-feminist – a stark contrast to the era of the ‘girlboss’. But what do these narratives reveal about the evolution of female empowerment on social media platforms?

The Museum of Failure spotlights numerous commercial ideas that didn’t pan out, aiming to stimulate discussion about accepting and learning from mistakes. Amid pushback against constant self-optimization, people want reassurance that it’s okay that their lives aren't picture-perfect.