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It’s enough to make you splutter on your specialty coffee with soy milk: Generation Z has decided that vintage is the new modern.
In an age where social networks are awash with invasive algorithms and surveillance levels beyond a dystopian science-fiction novel, young people are finding refuge in a platform that many of us had filed away in our memory drawer: Tumblr. Yes, that chaotic and cozy corner of the internet once the go-to place for memes, fan-fiction and endless debates about television series.
An article in Fast Company, “The Tumblr revival is real — and Gen Z is leading the charge”, explains how zoomers desperate to escape the algorithmic junk and influencer overload that characterizes most platforms now make up more than 60% of new registrations, and 50% of monthly active users.
But why Tumblr? For starters, its focus on art, culture, and fandoms offers a respite from the commercialized, polarized content found on other platforms. In addition, it offers anonymity and has managed to resist commercialization, making it a safe space conducive to experimentation and self-expression.
There’s an irony to all this: Zoomers, who have a reputation for guarding their privacy and online security, nevertheless seem willing to share personal…