380. YPulse. 10 Trends You Can’t Ignore.
MaryLeigh Bliss
September 18, 2025
Listen to full episode :
In this episode MaryLeigh Bliss, Chief Content Officer at YPulse, shares ten emerging trends that shine a light on what Gen Z cares about and how they’re shaping culture. While none of these individually warranted a full deep-dive, together they paint a vivid picture of what’s catching young consumers’ attention right now, and where marketers should take note.
Highlights include:
Recession Indicators: Gen Z is labeling everything from skinny jeans to snack choices as tongue-in-cheek signs of looming economic doom, underscoring their financial anxiety.
Accessible Adventures: Unique, low-cost, community-driven experiences (like art vending machines or local lookalike contests) are prized alongside big-ticket events that form the backbone of the ‘joy economy.’
The New Self-Medication: From adaptogens to beta blockers, Gen Z is normalizing quick-fix coping mechanisms for stress and anxiety.
Unemployment Era: Dark humor and memes help them process job insecurity and fears of AI displacement.
Aura Farming: Slang evolves—“aura” now signals effortless cool, with “farming” borrowed from gaming culture.
Coffee Buckets & Beyond: Oversized drinks, coffee-themed events, and flavor experimentation mark Gen Z’s spin on coffee culture.
Viral Games in Roblox: Mini-games created by Gen Z are exploding in popularity, signaling their influence as both players and developers.
ChatGPT as Life Coach: 65% of young consumers have turned to AI for advice on relationships, health, and more—expect increasing reliance on AI for personal guidance.
Trinket Takeover: Bag charms, minis, and collectible “treats” dominate accessory culture, echoing Beanie Babies but with a functional twist.
The New Sitcoms: User-generated TikTok miniseries rival traditional TV, proving binge culture is alive, just in micro format.
Together, these trends show a generation that is financially anxious yet creativity-rich, craving both connection and novelty. For brands, the opportunity lies in meeting Gen Z where they are: blending affordability, authenticity, and cultural fluency.
YPulse is the leading authority on Millennials and Gen Z: tweens, teens, college students and young adults. They provide strategic insight to companies and organizations via their subscription-based syndicated research content as well as their custom research and consulting services. Staffed with a cross-functional team of researchers, marketers, writers, and technologists, they give their clients a 360-degree view of what it’s like to be a Millennial or Gen Z today.
As Chief Content Officer, MaryLeigh Bliss oversees YPulse’s syndicated products. Her role also involves acting as a culture and youth insights expert, consulting with brands to identify actionable insights, align young consumer strategy, and layer generational and youth knowledge over data findings.
MaryLeigh has worked with a range of brands, including Facebook, Hampton, Bravo, HBO, Target, Best Buy, and Gap, and has been quoted as a youth insights authority by publications including The New York Times, Digiday, Business Insider, and Adweek. She has appeared as a Gen Z and Millennial expert on Bloomberg News, Fortune, and NPR Marketplace, and been a speaker at many off-sites and conferences. MaryLeigh’s interest in youth culture originated from her love of YA literature and pop culture anthropology, and she is continuing her passion for decoding and demystifying the next generations of consumers at YPulse.
Learn More:
Click here to sign up for Ypulse
MaryLeigh Bliss
YPulse