"What has Gen Z hooked: Driving music, fashion, F1 & more" - SocialSamosa

From rap feuds to viral fashion, Gen Z is steering the global cultural narrative. February 2025 proved it — a month where music, sport, and marketing collided under their influence.

At the Super Bowl, Kendrick Lamar’s performance of Not Like Us turned his feud with Drake into a global event. With 133.5 million viewers, the set broke records, sent bootcut jeans trending, and flooded TikTok with memes and lyric breakdowns. It was a masterclass in how Gen Z transforms entertainment into digital culture.

In pop, Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan became the faces of Gen Z authenticity. Carpenter’s Espresso hit 250 million streams, while Roan’s Good Luck, Babe! made her a breakout star. Both blend unapologetic artistry with brand power — from Prada and Samsung to Sephora — embodying the generation’s demand for individuality and impact.

Elsewhere, Duolingo once again proved that chaos sells. Its “death of Duo” campaign — a fake global funeral for its green owl mascot — went viral, boosting daily active users by 51% and showing how irreverent, meme-driven marketing wins Gen Z’s attention.

Rising star Doechii cemented her status as a Gen Z icon too, merging genre-bending music, bold fashion, and raw online presence. Her hit What It Is (Block Boy) became a TikTok anthem, landing her brand deals with Nike and Cash App and a Best New Artist win at the BET Awards.

In South Asia, the India vs Pakistan Champions Trophy match turned into a meme festival after influencer “IITian Baba” mispredicted India’s loss — and brands like Flipkart and Fastrack capitalized with witty, viral campaigns.

Meanwhile, Formula 1’s fandom exploded in India, driven by Netflix’s Drive to Survive and a Gen Z audience blending motorsport with lifestyle and social media buzz.

Economically, Gen Z’s influence matches their spending power — set to reach $12 trillion globally by 2030. But their loyalty hinges on authenticity and values; for this generation, a product isn’t just bought, it’s believed in.

From diss tracks to dashboards, Gen Z isn’t following trends — they’re building them, one viral moment at a time.

Original Article: https://www.socialsamosa.com/samosa-snippets/what-has-gen-z-hooked-music-fashion-f1-8765635