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Main Header Menu

The Daily Dot

Mustafa Gatollari has been an internet culture writer for over a decade. He has a passion for connecting what’s trending on social media to solid research—helping to separate clout-chasing claims from facts.

Mustafa Gatollari

2 panel image. Woman holding long cocktail glass on left. Two cocktails being cheered on right.

“Why would I not want to put down my drink?”: Woman goes to bar, orders Aperol Spritz. Then she looks at the glass

Anna is a freelance writer with far too much time on her hands. When she&#8217;s not writing about memes and internet slang, she can be found running TTRPGs online.

Anna Good

Culture

“How did everyone suddenly master new smiles?”: Woman calls out how people are smiling differently these days

Is Gen Z’s “princess nails” trend chic or just boring?

3 panel: BlackBerry phones. Left: Woman in sunglasses underneath caption reading "Quick how do I tell work I can't lock in today becasue I'm too busy starting a Blackberry summer revolution" Middle: BlackBerry phone under caption reading, "POV: You bought a blackberry in 2025 bc iPhone is ruining your life" Right: 12 blackberries in a row

Gen Z wants a digital detox, and BlackBerries are suddenly cool again

Rebekah is a freelance reporter for the Daily Dot.

Rebekah Harding

Gen Z reportedly hate leaving bar tabs open—and it’s annoying bartenders

Susan is a freelance writer following humanity one UGC at a time.

Susan LaMarca

Gen Z’s latest chaotic TikTok trend ends in a mouthful of toilet paper

Charlotte is a regular Daily Dot contributor with bylines in Insider, VICE, Glamour, The Independent, and more. She holds a Masters&#8217;s degree in Magazine Journalism from City, University of London.

Charlotte Colombo

“Point-blank unhireable”: Gen Z women are making more than men in the UK. Is the gender pay gap reversing in the US, too?

Lindsey is a Seattle area writer interested in all things society, including internet culture, politics, and mental health. Outside of the Daily Dot, her work can be found in publications such as The Mary Sue, Truthout, and YES! Magazine.

Lindsey Weedston

“The Gen Z gaze”: Gen Z’s refusal to say hi to customers is setting off older generations

2 panel image of a stressed teacher and teenagers on their phones

“If my 10th graders could barely read I’d walk out too”: Teacher quits after revealing many of her students “can’t even read”

A person taking a selfie and a bottle of perfume.

Memes

“The face vs the perfume” meme is all about personality, scent, and self-parody

2 panel image: of people explaining the concept.

The “cut them off” dating trend encourages brutal honesty—and fast exits

3 panel image showing the original character and hairstyle along with people trying to copy the look.

“Topanga hair” is TikTok’s latest beauty fixation. Here’s how to get it

3 panel image showing 3 examples of the trend.

“Feel ugly?” Gen Z is boosting their self-esteem by making fan cans…of themselves

2 panel image of a person talking on the left and an illlustration of a phoenix rising on the right.

“Fire and ice” theory states that Gen Z sees Millennials as failures. Millennials fight back: “It’s not that easy anymore”

3 Panel image of teens in bright 2010 fashion

Gen Z