Buzz
This week’s youth culture highlights are a rollercoaster of extremes. From brilliantly absurd memes and uplifting YouTube creators to the troubling rise of figures like Andrew Tate and Meta’s unsettling VR platform Horizon Worlds, it’s a chaotic mix. As the old saying goes, the falcon cannot hear the falconer; things fall apart; the center cannot hold. Dive in and enjoy the ride!
Peer into the unsettling future with Meta’s ‘Horizon Worlds’
This week, Mark Zuckerberg, the face of Meta, shared a screenshot of his avatar in the virtual realm of Horizon Worlds. The result was far from impressive. It’s baffling that this image was intended to draw people into the platform. Instead, it feels like a grim preview of a dystopian future we’re headed toward if we don’t change course. The screenshot sparked widespread ridicule. Kotaku described Zuck as a “legless imitation of a Nintendo Mii with bizarre buttons and lifeless eyes,” while Twitter users piled on with comments like this gem from @CybernetSauvig1: “This is for kids who grew up on Wii Sports but somehow look like they’re one year from retirement.”
What’s the story behind the “Girl Bro” meme?
What’s the deal with TikTok’s “Ring of Fire” trend?
Sometimes, you just need to indulge in videos that are completely absurd, utterly pointless, and devoid of any redeeming qualities—like those under TikTok’s #ringoffire tag. Here’s the gist: Play Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire” in the background and sprint down the street at night carrying the most random items you can imagine—a fish, a table, 15 Big Gulps, a propane tank, a 40-ounce drink, a pizza, and some bongos, or whatever. That’s it. It might not sound entertaining, but trust me, it’s hilarious. Or maybe I’ve had one too many. Either way, explore the hashtag to find your own favorites.
Who is Andrew Tate?
I’d rather not discuss Andrew Tate, but it’s necessary because if you know a young man aged 16 to 25, chances are he’s aware of Tate and might even admire him. Dubbed “The King of Toxic Masculinity,” Tate boasts nearly five million followers on his Instagram, and videos tagged #AndrewTate have racked up 12.7 billion views on #TikTok (though much of it is critical). What’s the appeal? A mix of misogyny and get-rich-quick schemes—content so distasteful it makes me want to scrub myself clean. Tate, a former kickboxer, was kicked off a reality show after footage emerged of him hitting a woman with a belt (he claims it was consensual). Now, he labels himself a “life coach” and peddles dubious advice. I’m done thinking about him now.
Viral video of the week: Staying at an underwater hotel
YouTuber SafiyaNygaard runs a charming and engaging channel with over 9 million subscribers. She explores quirky activities like letting Instagram pick her outfits and visiting a cheese-themed park in Korea. This week, she stayed at an underwater hotel. To reach Jewel’s Lodge in Florida, you must SCUBA dive. Originally a 1970s research station, the hotel isn’t luxurious—it’s cramped, likely smells musty, and offers little beyond staring at murky water with few fish. While I wouldn’t stay there, I appreciate the video for letting me experience it vicariously. That’s the beauty of SafiyaNygaard’s content: she does the unusual so we don’t have to.
