• Some Gen Z workers are finding it hard to get into the workforce due to the demands of "entry-level" jobs.
• Leaders should value Gen Z's creativity and entrepreneurialism, not base decisions on "young-ism."
• Zoomers can push back against stereotypes by going into the office and listening to older colleagues.

Plenty of entry-level jobs are no longer entry-level.

Mona Mourshed, the CEO of the employment nonprofit Generation, said many employers are now looking for two to three years of work experience for such roles.

"Job vacancies are down for entry-level roles, and that's true across the world," she told Business Insider. "Then, on top of it, to get those job vacancies, hiring requirements have gone up."

Labor market commentators previously told BI there's a surplus of available workers, and this is only getting more true as highly skilled employees are being laid off from the likes of Meta, Google — and the federal government.

The "unbossing" of the workplace is also likely a factor, with millennial middle managers being squeezed out in the "Great Flattening" and wading into the hiring pool. Without these people in companies and mentoring junior employees, more experience is necessary for new hires to thrive.

The group most likely to be affected is Gen Z — the youngest cohort of workers, which is also set to make up 30% of the workforce by 2030.

Making it harder for young workers to find jobs could be short-sighted. "They tend to be entrepreneurial in spirit, they collaborate with their peers, and they embrace diversity," said Stephanie Chung, JetSuit's former president and the author of "Ally Leadership: How to Lead People Who Are Not Like You."

"The older generations need to come to grips that there are many ways to achieve the goal and that their way of working is one way," she told BI. "It's not the only way. "

Mourshed said most entry-level roles are not what they used to be: "When you went through a training, or you have a degree or a certificate, and you're seeking to get your first work experience — that's gone."

'Young-ism' on the rise

There are many influences at play, including negative stereotypes about Gen Z's work ethic and the balance tipping in favor of employers, making room for experienced talent over "underperformers."

Jennifer Moss, a workplace culture strategist and author of "WHY ARE WE HERE?: Creating a Work Culture Everyone Wants," told BI that "young-ism" is on the rise.

Gen Zers are sometimes labeled difficult, demanding, and even weird in interviews. Many are fed up with work and don't want to climb the corporate ladder, thinking the juice isn't worth the squeeze.

Some attribute this to the pandemic and being stuck at home in some of their most formative years. Moss thinks Gen Zers actually became more ambitious after lockdowns and now seek lives with purpose.

"This can be a great driver of engagement and lots of really positive business outcomes," she said.

Chung said employees hiring for entry-level roles should consider Gen Z's positives, such as their ability to think outside the box, courage to take calculated risks, and that they are "super collaborators."

"These folks collaborate on everything from school projects, to slaying dragons while immersed in a fictitious game," she said. "Gen Z sees collaborating as a way of life — they don't know anything different."

Leaders create a company's culture, so they need to address workplace disengagement, said Leena Rinne, a VP at online learning platform Skillsoft.

"Feeling that Gen Z doesn't have a work ethic, that they're entitled, that they lack motivation — those can be addressed through leadership," she told BI. "If we believe those are learnable skills, then as an organization, as leaders, we should be investing in Gen Z to actually be able to do it."

Forging connections

Gen Zers can fight back against negative stereotypes, by realizing that technology cannot replace experience, Chung said.

Older generations have significant knowledge "that doesn't always get captured by computers," she said.

Going to the office more often is another good idea, in Chung's view, given the opportunities for forging connections and ad-hoc learning.

"Sometimes simply being present can lead to impromptu conversations that may enhance your thinking or change the trajectory of your career," she said.

Chung thinks workers should ask what they can gain from interacting with those outside their cohort. "Everyone can learn something from anyone if they're willing to try. All generations add value to a company — how do we both win?"

• MrBeast said on a podcast that his enormous success has meant sidelining his mental health.
• He lives in "hard mode," but the pressure of working all the time and being so famous has a cost.
• Workplace professionals warn neglecting mental health for success can lead to burnout and bad choices.

The world's biggest YouTuber doesn't prioritize his mental health — and thinks he wouldn't be as successful if he did.

Jimmy Donaldson, better known to his 364 million YouTube subscribers as MrBeast, appeared on Steven Bartlett's "Diary Of A CEO" podcast on Thursday.

"There's definitely times where I would cry," he said. "But if my mental health was a priority, I wouldn't be as successful as I am."

Workplace professionals and psychologists warned that MrBeast's mindset can be a slippery slope.

Donaldson told Bartlett, a British entrepreneur and investor who's on the panel of the British version of "Shark Tank" called "Dragons' Den," said nobody made videos like his because "no one wants to live the life I live or be in my head. They would be miserable."

Donaldson said he lives life in "hard mode," but the pressure of working all the time and being so famous was taking its toll. He revealed he had read upward of 5,000 messages telling him to kill himself.

"We were not meant to receive this kind of feedback from basically anyone, anywhere in the world, just all consistently, day in and day out," Donaldson said.

"This is the life I chose. You want success, you want to change the world, you want to do this. And this is the price you have to pay."

MrBeast's level of fame isn't for everyone

From the outside, Donaldson looks like he's winning. He has a major Prime Video show, "Beast Games," is the biggest online celebrity on the planet, and has multiple successful businesses.

However, he's also faced criticism about his inner circle, how he runs his companies, and conditions on the set of "Beast Games."

Workplace experts told Business Insider that neglecting your mental health to pursue career gains can lead to burnout and poor decisions.

"I can imagine why a successful businessman would cast their mental health aside to prioritize their goals and success," Stephanie Boucher, a registered psychotherapist who specializes in burnout and trauma, told BI.

"Hustle culture" had some merit, she said, but ignoring your mental health was likely to be counter-productive in the long term.

"MrBeast might have found success while casting his aside, along with likely many successful people," Boucher said. "However, the costs are significant."

Slippery slope

Heather Lamb, a doctor of education and a workplace well-being expert, said Donaldson's statements about mental health were "disturbing."

"Mental health should be considered as a stumbling block for long-term success," she said. "In the workplace, forgotten mental health can lead to burnout, reduced creativity, poor decision-making, and a decrease in physical health."

Lamb said that while putting your mental health aside can work in the short term, your performance will eventually start to suffer.

Breese Annable, a clinical psychologist and career coach, told BI it is a common and false belief that success and mental well-being are binary choices.

"While short-term trade-offs can sometimes be necessary for big goals, the idea that mental health has to be sacrificed for high achievement is both misleading and, ultimately, self-defeating."

Annable said success is a relative term, and many will achieve money, influence, and titles while sacrificing their well-being.

"But it doesn't come without a cost," she said. "Mental health isn't just about emotional stability. It directly impacts cognitive function, decision-making, creativity, and relationships — all of which are essential for sustained success."

The costs often aren't recognized until it is too late, Annable added, "until they've already burned out or find themselves looking back and questioning whether the career they built was worth what they sacrificed."

The mind is like a 'rubber band'

Jessen James, a former psychiatric nurse turned behavioral psychologist and leadership coach, told BI that he interpreted Donaldson's words differently. Neglecting one's mental well-being can be dangerous, but he felt how people handle and adapt to situations is more important.

"It's a bit like a rubber band — the more you stretch it, the less it returns to its former shape," he said. "That's how the mind works. The more you stretch it, the less it will go back to its original state."

James said problems occur when people neglect their basic needs such as rest and refueling.

Donaldson may look back and wish he had been kinder to himself, had taken more time for himself, or hadn't focused so much on entertaining others over his own needs, James added.

"He might well do all of that in the future, but then he'll also counteract that with the achievements he's got. So, there'll always be a rationale behind why he did it."

• Bosses are running low on empathy, and some companies are cutting roles.
• It's an employers' market, and some are using tactics to get rid of low performers.
• It may be time to work harder and not seek extra flexibility, said Suzanne Lucas, an HR consultant.

Bosses are running low on empathy. Some want their workers back in the office more often and are becoming less interested in the demands of mental-health-conscious Gen Zers wanting work-life balance.

They have a good enough reason: An era of revenge quitting may be on the horizon, but right now it's an employer's market.

Meta, Microsoft, BP, and Boeing are just a few of the companies laying off staff in 2025.

Some employers are also getting more creative about how they're letting low-performing staff go, engaging in tactics such as "stealth firing," in which they implement strict return-to-office mandates to make employees' roles increasingly uncomfortable and less appealing.

Others are cracking down on "little sins," terminating workers for small indiscretions. Meta fired some workers who used food vouchers improperly, while some EY staff met the same fate for watching multiple training videos simultaneously.

Joe Galvin, the chief research officer at the executive coaching platform Vistage, told Business Insider that bosses were under more pressure to ensure their employees are top performers.

Workers, on the other hand, are wrestling with what pandemic-era flexibility they're prepared to give up.

"Maybe bosses are saying, 'I don't have to put up with this millennial or Gen Z stuff,'" Galvin said. "There's a common thread underneath it all, and that's the tension between the boss and the worker."

Employers' market

The power dynamic between employers and employees is a constant pendulum, and it can swing at any moment.

"When it's an employers' market, which it is right now, companies are much more picky than when it's an employees' market," Suzanne Lucas told BI. Lucas is a human-resources consultant and writer who became known for her blog, Evil HR Lady.

Many highly skilled and experienced people have lost their jobs recently. Google has offered buyouts to 25,000 employees, and at least 65,000 federal workers have opted into President Donald Trump's deferred resignation program.

The volume of talent entering the job-seeking pool means "companies can be really choosy right now," Lucas said. "If you're a slacker, I can find someone to replace you. In other words, employees better be working hard."

Meta fired about two dozen staff last year for using their $25 meal credits to buy things other than food, but Lucas said it was never really about the actual purchases.

"Once somebody breaks that barrier, then everybody else starts breaking that barrier," she said. "It's really not a matter of punishing someone for buying toothpaste — it's a matter of making sure everybody knows that there is a line that you don't cross."

Protecting yourself

Mona Mourshed, the CEO of the employment nonprofit Generation, told BI workers could protect themselves in a turbulent environment by investing their time in new skills, particularly in learning about AI tools.

"What's very clear is that within every company, there are some people who are power users, and everyone else is dabbling or not really using it," she said. "We all need to figure out how to make the most of it."

Mourshed also recommended getting exposure to different parts of the business with projects or teamwork.

"Do that because, essentially, it enables you to have cross-functional skills," she said. "In your team, there might be some disruption, but maybe that creates an opportunity for you in a different team of the same organization, or potentially another one."

What's very clear, Mourshed said, is that "doing the same thing for a decade is a pattern of the past."

Lucas said not all companies would fire workers for small indiscretions, but if an employer is looking to let people go, those making minor missteps could be first on the list.

"My advice to the employees is to realize that you need to be a good worker — it's called work for a reason," Lucas said. "Maybe work harder. Maybe now isn't the time to be asking for extra benefits and extra flexibility."

• A billionaire couple won a refund for a moth-infested London mansion they bought in 2019.
• The buyers accused the seller of concealing the moth infestation.
• A High Court judge ordered the seller to refund much of the cost of the house as well as damages.

A judge ordered a refund for a billionaire couple who paid £32.5 million (about $40 million) for a mansion with a "severe moth infestation."

A UK High Court judge ruled that Iya Patarkatsishvili, daughter of the Georgian billionaire tycoon Badri Patarkatsishvili, and her husband Yevhen Hunyak, can hand the home back to the seller, the property developer William Woodward-Fisher.

Patarkatsishvili and Hunyak purchased Horbury Villa in Notting Hill, west London, in May 2019. However, the judgment states that within days of moving in, they started noticing moths flying around and landing on their cutlery.

The couple found moths in clothes, wine glasses, and toothbrushes and swatted away hundreds a day, the judgment stated.

Pest control companies found that insulation in the ceiling was the source of the issue. The works to replace the insulation cost £270,000, the hearing heard.

The claimants accused Woodward-Fisher of knowingly selling the house with the moth infestation. He was found to have known about the issue since early 2018 but failed to inform Patarkatsishvili and Hunyak.

Woodward-Fisher told the court he had been informed that moths were not vermin and "therefore not relevant to this inquiry."

The judge ruled that Patarkatsishvili and Hunyak should be refunded much of the house's cost, minus £6 million for the time they lived there, plus substantial damages. Woodward-Fisher was ordered to pay the couple £4 million in damages, including £15,000 for their moth-damaged clothes and £3.7 million they paid in stamp duty.

Chris Webber, an attorney at the firm Squire Patton Boggs who represented Patarkatsishvili and Hunyak, said the couple "hope the case will serve as a warning to unscrupulous property developers who might seek to take advantage of buyer beware to sell properties by concealing known defects," The Guardian reported.

Patarkatsishvili is a theater director. Her father, who died in the UK in 2008, was once Georgia's richest man worth $12 billion, per Forbes. Some of his assets passed to Patarkatsishvili.

Woodward-Fisher is a former rower who competed for the UK in the 1970s.

Horbury Villa was built in the mid-1800s and spanned 2,800 sq ft. After being extended, the property covered 11,000 sq ft and featured a pool, spa, cinema and gym in the newly created basement, according to the website of architect Anthony Paine.

• T-Mobile and Starlink announced a satellite-to-cell service to help eliminate "dead zones."
• The service provides connectivity in areas not covered by cellular networks.
• T-Mobile Starlink will also be available to customers of other cell networks.

T-Mobile is targeting cell "dead zones" by offering satellite connectivity with Starlink for both iPhone and Android users.

The network used an ad during the Super Bowl on Sunday night to launch the beta version of the satellite-to-cell service, which will also be available for customers of competitors such as Verizon and AT&T.

CEO Mike Sievert said in a press release that T-Mobile Starlink will automatically connect to compatible devices with no cellular coverage. "It's a massive technical achievement and an absolute game changer for all wireless users ... we're officially putting 'no bars' on notice," he said.

Starlink, part of Elon Musk's SpaceX, provides coverage from satellites, meaning users will be able to send and receive text messages in areas not covered by mobile towers on the ground. About half a million square miles of the US lacks cell coverage — an area close to the equivalent of two states the size of Texas.

Data and voice call coverage will follow later, T-Mobile said.

The Starlink service will be free until July for a limited number of testers. After that, T-Mobile customers on the Go5G Next plan will continue to have free service. Those on other plans will be charged $15 a month, discounted to $10 if they sign up before the end of February.

Customers on other networks will be charged $20 a month.

Potential users can sign up here.

Mobile networks providing similar satellite coverage in conjunction with Starlink include Rogers in Canada, Japan's KDDI, Telstra and Optus in Australia, Salt in Switzerland, and Ukraine's Kyivstar.

Starlink traffic tripled in 2024 after launching in more countries including Chad, Mongolia, and Argentina.

It is also offered on flights from airlines including United, Air France, and Qatar.

Elon Musk also donated free Starlink terminals to Los Angeles when the city was battling wildfires in January.

T-Mobile shares rose 4% in premarket trading in New York. The stock has risen more than 50% over the past 12 months, valuing the company at $281 billion.

• Some young consumers exploit loopholes like wardrobing and "digital shoplifting" to save money.
• These practices are hurting retailers' bottom line.
• Brands are imposing stricter return policies and fees in some cases to combat the problem.

Some young consumers are trying to make their money go further by taking advantage of retail loopholes such as returning items after wearing them once, using chargeback services on credit cards — or even pretending they didn't receive the things they ordered.

In response, some retailers are hitting back by imposing stricter return policies and fees.

"Returns are very expensive for brands — it's an enormous part of their cost structure," Michael Yamartino, the CEO of Route, which works with some 13,000 brands to track and insure packages, told Business Insider. "If it's being abused, it's easy for that to make the brand unsustainable."

Shoplifting in the digital age

Some consumers are reportedly engaging in a practice called "digital shoplifting." They buy a product online that gets delivered safely to their home, but they lie to the retailer and say they didn't order it, or claim it never arrived or was stolen, scoring a refund for an item they're keeping.

They might also report the transaction to their credit-card company and request a charge-back to get their money refunded, while still keeping the item.

Socure, an anti-fraud company, recently surveyed 2,000 people and found about half of Gen Z and millennials who earn more than $100,000 a year said they had digitally shoplifted in the past year. Wealthier customers might be more savvy about bank and merchant policies and how to abuse them, a Socure executive told Fortune.

Inflation hitting 40-year highs and interest rates breaching 5% for the first time since the financial crisis have turned the screw on many households. Combined with influencers marketing digital shoplifting as a money-saving hack on social media, and generous refund policies among merchants, may help explain the trend.

Serial returners

Returns are also a headache for retailers as it takes time and money to transport products back to warehouses, assess their condition, issue refunds, repackage and ship them to a new customer, or liquidate, donate, recycle, or dispose of them.

The National Retail Federation and Happy Returns, a UPS company, projected in December that the value of returns in the US would be $890 billion in 2024, with retailers estimating that about 17% of purchases would be returned.

A previous NRF report found that return rates for online purchases in 2023 were 17.3% — far higher than the 10% rate for in-store purchases.

"Serial returners" in the UK send back goods worth almost £7 billion ($8.7 billion) of items a year, a report by Retail Economics and the returns company ZigZag found.

Route's Yamartino told BI that the rise in online shopping since the pandemic meant an "increase in the returns rates, particularly with younger buyers."

Route's State of Ecommerce Report 2024 report found that Gen Z is the most likely cohort to engage in "wardrobing" — buying items with the intent to return them after wearing them — with 40% of the Zoomers in a survey of 1,250 consumers saying they would do so.

Social media has also popularized shopping hauls — showing off multiple items you bought from one store. Many of these items may be sent back after one use.

"What we're seeing is people buying it, using it lightly, and then returning it," Yamartino said. "So it's just the right item, it's exactly what they want, but they don't want it for that long."

Many young consumers have grown up with social media stars, "so there's a lot of concern about image," he added. "Using something like wardrobing as a tactic can help you fake it till you make it."

Brands fight back

In response, some companies have started adding tags or ribbons to items to prevent them from being returned once worn or charging customers if they send back items too often.

Asos started telling some customers last year that they could not make any more orders if they had returned too many things too often, The Cut reported. The fashion retailer has also introduced a £3.95 ($4.90) return fee for some UK-based shoppers unless they keep items worth more than £40.

Other retailers cracking down on repeat refunders include Oh Polly, Zara, and PrettyLittleThing.

It's a difficult balance to strike as many consumers like to purchase multiple items from online stores because they're not sure of the sizing and don't want to be penalized for returns.

Route can help brands create profiles for customers, Yamartino said, so loyal customers aren't affected, and others are invited to pay a small amount upfront rather than hefty fees.

"It lets us use the data that we have on folks to make the right decision about those purchases, and lets the brands protect themselves and help offset the cost of these returns programs that are getting more and more expensive," he said.

• Jess Evans founded Bored Of Dating Apps after being constantly disappointed by dating apps.
• Her events offer an alternative to meeting someone online, focusing on real-life connections.
• There's one very important rule: no ghosting each other.

When Jess Evans was going through a horrible breakup a few years ago, she did what many people do in that situation: downloaded some dating apps.

"What I found there was just your usual string of disappointing experiences," Evans, 33, told Business Insider. "It was just one disheartening experience after the next."

Vowing to ditch the apps for good, Evans thought about other ways to meet someone. Uninspired by the options, she called up a friend and told her she was going to put on her own one-off dating night.

As a journalist with no events experience, Evans worried it would be a flop. But it wasn't. More than 200 singletons looking for love showed up.

That was in February 2022, and Evans hasn't looked back. Bored Of Dating Apps events now take place in London and Manchester in the UK, and launched in New York last year.

It's been so successful that BODA is now Evans' full-time job. She also met her now-fiancee at one of the events, so she swears by how effective they can be.

"Even if they haven't met someone romantically, people go home feeling so much better," she said. "They're like, oh my goodness, I can't believe how many amazing single people there are. It's just about getting off the apps and actually getting people in the same space."

People crave real-life connections

Many agree that dating apps aren't fun anymore, with Gen Zers in particular rejecting them. A Forbes Health survey of 1,000 Americans last year found that 79% of Gen Z respondents said they were experiencing dating app burnout.

This trend has left some apps struggling. Shares in Match Group, which owns Tinder, Hinge, and Match.com, have fallen 64% over the past five years as the number of paying users dips. Match also announced layoffs last July.

Evans has also noticed people fighting back against the surface-level dating culture that apps promote.

Rather than judging someone on a few photos and a list of vague interests, you get to take them in as a full person. After all, a profile cannot tell you whether you will have chemistry in person.

When she was on the apps, Evans said she felt like she was constantly battling against the perfect idea of a woman. The curse of dating apps is that they encourage you to think the grass is always greener, rather than see all of the good traits of the person you're seeing. Some call this the paradox of choice.

"There's always someone hotter or taller or thinner or someone with a better job, or someone who holds their pen in a particular way so you don't get the ick," Evans said. "As long as we were only ever hooking up, the apps would always have you back in their pocket again."

One of the biggest lessons Evans has learned is for people to embrace dating outside their "type."

"When we look at exactly what that type is, it's often quite an outdated tick list of ours," Evans said. "Someone that we think we ought to like layered over time with our 14-year-old teen crush on an American show doubled with a familiar face of an ex-boyfriend in university that it didn't work with."

Dating apps have led people to shut out people who they could have had a "beautiful relationship with," Evans said, simply because they didn't look exactly right on the surface.

"Because they haven't fitted their rigid, on-paper litmus test, they haven't given it a go," she said. "We've been judging people so much on just a few words on a page."

Finding love and a community

There's one golden rule anyone attending a BODA event must follow: ghosting is strictly prohibited.

"We want everyone to look after each other," Evans said. "So if you meet someone tonight and go on a date with them, please don't ghost them after."

Evans said this basic rule of social interaction has been lost along the way, largely because of dating app culture.

Ghosting and standing people up have become the norm, with little consideration for someone's feelings.

This cycle is particularly frustrating for people in their 30s who may have friendship groups full of people settling down, getting married, and having children.

Evans felt this way herself. She felt isolated as her friends became more occupied with their own families, and spare cash once devoted to nights out with the girls was set aside for family holidays and living expenses.

BODA gave Evans the opportunity to socialize and find people in the same situation, and it has become a community as well as a place to find love.

"It felt amazing to have those friendships where we could have loads of fun together and go out on a night out together and wing woman for each other," she said.

The art of the spontaneous flirt

BODA events include socials where singles can mingle and "meet-cutes" in bookshops, which mimic the old ways of flirting and meeting a potential match in the wild as depicted in romcoms.

"So many people, both men and women, have just really, really wanted to lean into the element of that romance," Evans said. "People are really, really craving romance right now."

Other past BODA events include hikes, supper clubs, painting evenings, and yoga, where people can practice the art of what Evans called "the spontaneous flirt."

The goal is for people to find deeper connections — and that's working for some. Evans told BI there have been 15 engagements and a "BODA baby" since the events started.

That's what makes all the hard work worth it, she said. "I'm such a hopeless romantic. I love that I get to watch people fall in love."

• Some people are embracing "low-buy year" to curb their consumerism and slash their debt.
• After an era of doom spending, many are tired of being strapped for cash.
• They say capsule closets, Vinted sales, and "Project Pan" promote mindful consumption.

Some people are getting serious about curbing their consumerism and needless spending by committing to a "low-buy year."

While "doom-spending" was a tactic some used to make them feel better about the economy and geopolitical issues in post-pandemic 2023, it looks like that era is over.

Now, what's hot are capsule closets and "Project Pan" — just two of the methods heralded as ways to save rather than spend during a low or no-buy year and help people develop a more mindful approach to consumption.

Elysia Berman, who documented her journey out of $48,000 worth of debt on social media, told Business Insider that the trend may be related to people tiring of the "pressure to keep up."

"I think people are feeling a bit burned out," says the New Yorker.

There's a cost-of-living crisis, and while spending mindlessly was fun for a while, people are sick of being broke and owing thousands to credit-card providers and buy-now-pay-later apps.

"They're tired of being sold to and taken advantage of," Berman added. "People don't want to be defined by their possessions anymore."

The reality of micro-trends

Debt and personal finance have become huge on social media, particularly TikTok, in the past couple of years. There, you can find raw and candid conversations about salaries, savings, debt, and ways forward.

Ellen Robinson, who lives in London, noticed that the number of beauty products and clothes she'd been purchasing had been steadily creeping up in the past few years due to services like TikTok shop.

Rather than actually wanting the items she was adding to her cart, she was getting a rush from what that stuff represented.

"I was sort of buying into things because I wanted the lifestyle that thing portrayed in my head rather than the thing itself," Robinson told BI.

Black Friday in November was a turning point for her because all the discounts felt "really in your face." She's also grown skeptical about the latest fashion micro-trends that disappear from social media feeds as quickly as they emerge.

"I feel like everybody's now become more aware of how fast the trend cycles are moving," she said. "Every couple of weeks, we're like, it's now the fisherman trend, it's now the cute cat trend, or whatever, and I think people are just exhausted by it."

Although she's always been interested in sustainability, Robinson has stepped up her efforts and plans to purchase just 12 items in 2025. "Rather than not buying anything at all, I'm being a little bit more considered and buying myself one piece a month that fits into my wardrobe in a variety of different ways."

The 'one in, one out' rule

Mia McGrath told BI that her low-buy year is about "becoming conscious about what I consume."

The Londoner works in fashion, which means she's under added pressure to look on-trend. However, she's unsubscribed from the brands she likes and no longer receives tempting messages about their latest offers.

McGrath also follows the "one in, one out" rule and will only buy something new after getting rid of something else. She recently purchased a cashmere sweater, but only after she sold five items on Vinted.

To help others stick to their rules, McGrath recommends finding non-material things to consume, such as audiobooks or experiences with friends. "Maybe it's traveling more or something that's intangible that still means a lot to you — and reconnecting with that side of you that didn't always see shopping as your only form of fun."

Marika Thurlow, who is UK-based, is sharing her weekly purchases on TikTok to keep her accountable.

Rather than immediately make purchases, she now screenshots them and then comes back to them a week or so later.

More often than not, the urge to buy has disappeared. "It's funny how your brain works. You just forget about things," Thurlow told BI.

Rewiring the dopamine hit

Rashi Grover, who lives in Ontario, Canada, became wise to the realities of the dopamine hit from buying new makeup or clothing because it wouldn't last.

"We click add to cart, and then for a few days, we're excited about our order," she said. "Then, as soon as it arrives, we play with it for maybe 30 minutes, and then that's it, done."

Growing up watching content on platforms like YouTube, Grover said she and many of her peers thought it was normal to aspire to have huge collections of makeup and clothes like the influencers they looked up to.

Now a little older and saving for a house, Grover realized she needed to stop. The fast-fashion hauls that were so popular during the pandemic now feel so wasteful, she said.

"I bought so much junk off Shein. A couple of months ago, I was going through my closet, and I was just so ashamed of myself."

Instead of being tempted by makeup, Grover has been participating in "Project Pan," which forbids buying more beauty products before finishing those you have already.

"It's learning and distinguishing between a want and a need," she said. "Do I really need this, or should I just be satisfied with what I have?"

Future you will thank you

Getting into debt is easy. Everything is "stacked against us" in this regard, according to Amos Nadler, the founder of Prof of Wall Street, who holds a doctorate in behavioral finance and neuroeconomics.

"It's a battle to stay on the straight and narrow," he told BI, especially with relentless marketing and something called "present bias."

Our brains have evolved to heavily discount the importance of things the further away they are. That's why it's much more appealing to buy something right now rather than abstain for several months to get yourself out of debt.

Yet it's possible to develop an appetite for saving rather than spending, Nadler said. Rules such as a "low-buy year" are a good place to start.

When Berman spoke with BI, she had just learned she had been laid off. But she was thankful she had started taking her finances seriously and has paid off more than $35,000. A year ago, "it would've been a totally different story."

"These little financial lessons, they compound over time," said Berman, who recommends a low-buy year to everyone — not just those in debt. "Future you will be grateful to past you for reining it in."

• "The Traitors" is a reality game show with both US and UK versions — and one is clearly better.
• The British show is played by ordinary people, which makes you root for them more.
• The use of reality stars and overproduction on the US version distracts from the show's spirit.

"The Traitors" is the best reality TV show ever made, hands down.

As a Brit, I've only ever watched the UK version. I avoided "The Traitors US" for no real reason. Maybe it's a simple bias or the dedication Claudia Winkleman has earned from her constant presence on my TV since I was born. (She's also the co-presenter of "Strictly Come Dancing," the UK version of "Dancing With the Stars.")

I will admit that I was a little skeptical of using reality celebrities rather than unknowns, thinking this would dull some of the magic.

But I wanted to give it a fair shot. In a matter of days, I binged both seasons that are available in the UK (both are available on Peacock for US viewers) and took lots of notes.

Now that I've watched both, I can confidently say I know which one is better.

An immediate hit

The set-up of "The Traitors" is what makes it so special. It hinges on deceit and teamwork in equal measure against the backdrop of a gorgeous and secluded Scottish castle.

It's loosely based on the board games Mafia or Werewolf and first appeared as "De Verraders" in the Netherlands in 2021.

The contestants have to work together to get the most out of the challenges and increase the prize pot. The majority of them, known as "the faithful," also have to weed out any of "the traitors," who are murdering them off one by one.

Every night, the contestants gather at the roundtable and banish the person they think is most likely to be one of the traitors. Later, the traitors meet and decide who their next victim will be. The faithful only know who didn't make it when they don't return for breakfast the next day, and their portrait is unceremoniously flung onto the floor.

Fans knew the UK version was a hit from the first episode on November 29, 2022. The show has been a huge ratings winner for the BBC, with the season two final peaking at almost seven million viewers. The US edition, while it's still good, also suffers from wanting to dramatize the lightning in a bottle the show already achieved — something I think holds it back.

SPOILERS ahead!

Teamwork and deceit

The UK show is presented by Claudia Winkleman, who leads the players through the rules of the game and the various challenges. In the US version, it's Alan Cumming. Both are excellent hosts and fashionistas, and I would love to see them team up at some point, even just for the beautifully rustic tartan outfits.

While the UK "Traitors" fills the castle with complete strangers, many contestants on the US version have already appeared on reality TV shows such as "Big Brother" or one of the "Real Housewives" editions. Admittedly, I only recognized Kate Chastain from "Below Deck," and John Bercow, a former Speaker of the UK House of Commons.

I get the vision, but immediately, this made me a bit wary because reality show contestants already have an idea of how production works. They know how to get screen time and have their moment in the spotlight.

My worry was that in the US version, both the audience and the contestants have pre-judgments of one another. You also missed out on important context if you haven't seen those other shows.

Having strangers take part, on the other hand, sets the audience up nicely for getting to know them as the game progresses.

Another difference was the players' attitudes. In the UK version, there was a big emphasis on teamwork. The players all knew there were traitors among them, but their camaraderie as a team always came first.

In the US version, almost everyone seemed to have a secret. This made it hard for the players to trust one another.

This is actually a fate that season 3 in the UK, the finale of which airs on Friday, seems to be suffering from. The show depends on the delicate balance between trust and deceit. But a common critique this year is that the contestants aren't playing as a team as they did in previous seasons.

Is this just the way reality TV goes when it is proven to be popular? Does it suffer from its notoriety and then attract a different kind of person?

You need to root for someone

In both versions of the show, there's little evidence to go on, so the faithful are voted out at an alarming rate at the beginning. But in the US version, they would be weirdly candid about voting for someone else simply to save themselves.

This is a flaw in my view. It made them all pretty hard to root for. In the end, I sort of wanted Cirie to win, but I also didn't really care.

In seasons one and two in the UK, Wilf and Harry, respectively, will go down as impeccable traitors. Wilf fell at the final hurdle while Harry played with all his fellow contestants like putty until the very end.

The UK contestants also just seemed to respect the game more. Whenever someone was banished, they would leave immediately. In the US, they all took advantage of their reality show moment, getting in the last word, swearing, throwing out insults, and more.

Other players also got up to say goodbye, which just felt a bit jarring and went against the escapism aspect. Respect the decorum of the game I say!

The US show definitely has its great moments. In season one, when the players voted Christian out after his chaotic gameplay, it was very satisfying. But that was nothing compared with Hannah, in UK season 1, flipping the script on her best friend and traitor, Wilf, right at the last second, throwing her pouch into the fire for it to burn red, revealing she was finally seeing him for what he was.

Reality stars bring their own drama, but no amount of needless cliffhangers will compare to Miles's panicked reaction that Diane survived his murder attempt, or indeed, Ross throwing out a wink to the camera in plain sight while his fellow faithful knew nothing about Diane being his actual mother. Nothing, too, can top Harry ousting Paul because he became too big for his boots.

There's also none of the glorious buffoonery that the UK is known for, like Meryl winning in season 1 completely by accident, or when Ross was recruited as a traitor only to fail spectacularly.

In the US, it all just felt a little too serious at times. When Cirie took all the money for herself at the end of season 1, it was bittersweet rather than electrifying, like when Harry betrayed Mollie in the final of UK season two.

Harry was correct in his exclamations after his win. "The Traitors" truly is the best game in the world.

But the normies who have no aspirations to be famous are an important part of that. It's a dramatic, heartfelt, tense, and ridiculous game at its core — and there's just no need to gild the lily.

• Zara Dar left her doctorate in bioengineering to become a full-time creator, including on OnlyFans.
• She switched to content creation after becoming frustrated with academia.
• Her content combines STEM education with more adult OnlyFans, where she's earned more than $1 million.

A bioengineer who once thought she'd be a professor decided to abandon her doctorate program and become a full-time creator, including making content on OnlyFans.

The 24-year-old from Texas, who uses the pseudonym Zara Dar on social media, knew this was a gamble, but she couldn't see herself following in her professor's footsteps.

Dar sent Business Insider her OnlyFans dashboard, which shows her net income since she started on the site in January 2022 was $1.4 million, putting her among the top 0.1% of creators. In an interview with BI, she said the sum was "something I never imagined possible."

She earned $50,000 in her first three months on OnlyFans. She now posts more regularly. Her earnings for December 2024 were $240,000.

After starting OnlyFans, Dar began posting lectures to YouTube and Pornhub in 2023, focusing on science, technology, engineering, and math, or STEM. Her YouTube and Pornhub accounts both link to her OnlyFans page and funnel users there.

On OnlyFans, in addition to posting STEM content, she posts erotic photoshoots and exchanges messages with fans, a major source of revenue for creators on the platform. According to her dashboard, Dar's total income from messaging is $661,000.

Dar said doing both STEM lectures on YouTube and PornHub alongside adult content on OnlyFans "makes my approach not only unique but also more relevant to who I am."

She chose OnlyFans after becoming frustrated with academia

Dar spent two years in grad school at a top-tier university, achieving a master's degree and working toward a doctorate in biomedical engineering. Dar doesn't share where she studied publicly for privacy reasons. BI has verified her degree and confirmed the institution.

Dar told BI she left her doctorate program at the end of 2024 after realizing "it wasn't the right fit."

Her doctorate research was in computational biology and drug discovery, where she explored how computational models can replace drug experiments on animals.

But her research was less hands-on than she thought. Her professors seemed to spend more time trying to secure funding than working in the lab, she said.

"I think, as a professor, I would feel disconnected from the actual work associated with my name," Dar said.

Dar said she received the stipend as a doctorate student was "barely enough to cover basic living expenses," which was stressful. She started to think about other ways to earn a living.

Her STEM niche led to OnlyFans promoting her work

Dar found that her STEM niche set her apart on OnlyFans, which promoted her videos on its main page.

Her YouTube channel recently reached 150,000 subscribers. Her videos include explanations of neural networks, machine learning concepts, and how she developed her own OnlyFans notification robot.

"This made me realize I can have an actual career by continuing to share educational and artistic content on OnlyFans," Dar said.

Dar has had setbacks. Her Instagram, where she discussed topics such as the Leidenfrost effect and Schrödinger's cat, was banned for sexual content because she was showing cleavage, which put a dent in her earnings. The account has since been reinstated.

She has focused more on her social media presence since quitting her studies.

Her YouTube video about dropping out of her doctorate made Zar $40,000 in just 24 hours — more than her annual stipend as a graduate student, she told BI.

Dar said several management companies have approached her to offer their services to help her run her page, but she has declined them so far.

Dar said OnlyFans isn't for everyone

For many, OnlyFans doesn't provide a steady income. The total paid out to creators in 2023 equalled nearly $1,300 per creator, according to an analysis by Variety. Dar said she has to continually post videos and photos and interact with fans to stay popular. The main funnel to Dar's OnlyFans is her STEM content on YouTube and Pornhub, which is hard work but something she enjoys.

She also worries about her privacy. "Being so visible on the internet has its downsides," she said.

She said many people assumed she had abandoned STEM by doing OnlyFans.

"The truth is quite the opposite. OnlyFans has given me the freedom to learn, research, and share whatever I'm passionate about," Dar said.

Despite how much she makes, Dar said she is careful with her money, investing it, trying to live frugally, and avoiding luxury purchases.

Dar advised creators considering OnlyFans to find a niche and to "never do anything you're uncomfortable with."

"My experience on OnlyFans proves that you don't need to create porn to earn a substantial income," she said.

Dar said there is a diverse range of content on OnlyFans, and she aims to be unique with her erotic content by posting only artistic photoshoots that she feels reflect who she is.

"One of my photoshoots explores the two paths I face in life: continuing to work for others or working independently," she said.

"In that set, I wrote a poem inspired by Robert Frost's 'The Road Not Taken' and wore a hard hat while being topless to symbolize the choices in front of me."

Dar told BI that, besides her content creation, she would like to offer online STEM courses or start a social-media consultancy. She is also pursuing another master's degree in computer science online.

"Working full-time online enables me to continue my education at my own pace and research what I enjoy," she said.

• TikTok creators face losing their income as a potential US ban looms.
• In response, some TikTokers are vowing not to pay taxes on their earnings from the app.
• TikTok supports 224,000 US jobs and contributed $24.2 billion to GDP in 2023, according to one analysis.

As the deadline to decide TikTok's fate nears, some creators are wondering what it means for their income.

Some say that if their social media business is suddenly yanked away, they won't be filing their taxes — either out of spite of because they simply won't have access to their earnings details anymore.

"If the government bans TikTok, I'm not gonna pay my taxes," said one creator, Spencer Hudson, in a video. "I said it. TikTok is my job, alright. I get money from this."

Hudson said he paid taxes on his TikTok income last year, but this year, he's "not doing that."

"You can't take away my job and still demand taxes. That's not how this works, alright?"

TikTok's time could be running out. Unless the Supreme Court steps in or delays the divest-or-ban law, the platform will start to "go dark" for US-based users on January 19.

A ban could have a significant impact, with some small business owners warning that their livelihoods will be destroyed.

Some also say they'll no longer be able to access their 1099 forms that are used to report income.

"My place of employment no longer exists," said TikToker Patricia Walker. "What taxes? Uncle Sam, I'm sorry to tell you this, but what money?"

Walker also asked if she could "file for unemployment," adding: "You took my job away."

Sen. Ed Markey's Extend the TikTok Deadline Act, which he proposed in a press release on Monday, aims to fight for the platform on this basis.

He said that TikTok had its problems, but that the "stakes are high" for millions of Americans.

"Like every social media platform, TikTok poses a serious risk to the privacy and mental health of our young people. I will continue to hold TikTok accountable for such behavior," Markey said in a statement.

However, he said a ban "would impose serious consequences on millions of Americans who depend on the app for social connections and their economic livelihood. We cannot allow that to happen."

An Oxford Economics report found TikTok is responsible for 224,000 jobs in the US. In 2023, it contributed $24.2 billion to GDP in 2023, and $5.3 billion in taxes paid.

TikTok Shop, for example, pulled in millions in sales a month on the platform last year, including $100 million on Black Friday alone.

As the potential ban inches closer, creators have been flocking to alternative apps, including Chinese-owned Lemon8 and RedNote, also known as Xiaohongshum.

• A man from Vancouver caught people's attention because they thought he was RedNote's CEO.
• Jerry welcomed new users who had been flocking to the app ahead of a potential TikTok ban.
• People got a bit carried away, and it became a viral case of mistaken identity.

Americans flocking to the Chinese app RedNote thought the platform's CEO had left them an encouraging message.

Turns out, he wasn't the CEO. He's just a guy from Vancouver.

Jerry, who shares a RedNote account with his girlfriend Dani that has about 31,000 followers, posted a video on January 13.

In the video he welcomed US users who had been signing up ahead of a possible ban on TikTok. He said the app, also known as Xiaohongshum, was mainly Chinese-speaking, and it was a place people mainly used for finding restaurants and sharing lifestyle content such as makeup videos.

"But do feel free to speak English and post English content because I believe there are a lot more English-speaking people on this platform nowadays," Jerry said. "We need to build this community."

Mistaken identity

For reasons that aren't entirely clear, some users assumed Jerry was RedNote's CEO.

His video got reposted on TikTok, and the rumor quickly spread around the platform. People thanked him for welcoming them with open arms while the potential TikTok ban loomed.

Jerry's video was also mentioned at the end of a Fox 5 New York news segment about the ban threat.

"The CEO of RedNote even made a video welcoming new users who speak English to the app, and he also encouraged them to never stop sharing their voice," said Jennifer Williams, a sports reporter for FOX 5 News.

On Tuesday, Jerry and Dani, on their TikTok account FakeCEORealGF, tried to clear up the confusion. In the video, Dani showed Jerry what had happened, and he responded with disbelief.

"Guys, I'm not the RedNote CEO, just to be clear," Jerry said.

"I'm just another normal guy in Vancouver," he added. "I didn't expect this post to go viral like this, and thank you for all the comments, but I want to clarify that I'm not the CEO of RedNote."

Jerry said all the points he made were still true, and he hoped new users enjoyed the platform.

Dani, who is Chinese and grew up in North America, and Jerry, who was born in Shanghai and moved to Canada a decade ago, said they had enjoyed watching Chinese and American cultures merge on RedNote.

"Guys, I hope you guys aren't mad at us," Dani said. "We're really sorry for any misunderstandings this caused."

TikTokers who made the error joked in the comments that Jerry had been promoted.

"We married the first guy to be nice to us," one viewer wrote. Another said: "He said 'welcome' and we said 'THE CEO?!?!'"

Others remarked on Jerry's American accent, remarking, "We have to start using critical thinking skills."

Jerry and Dani and Fox 5 New York did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Business Insider.

TikTok faces a January 19 deadline to comply with a divest-or-ban law requiring its US operations to be sold. It remains unclear what the ramifications of the bill could be.

Creators have been highly critical of the ban, saying their small businesses and livelihoods will be destroyed. Black creators, who were instrumental in the platform's growth, could be significantly affected.

Element of trolling

In response, TikTok users have been considering their options and downloading alternative apps, including Lemon8 and RedNote. Both have rapidly climbed the app download charts in recent days.

The influx to RedNote has been helping some of its users learn English, BI reported this week.

There's also an element of trolling going on. Frustrated about losing a valuable resource for their income and ability to mobilize, TikTokers are leaning into downloading other Chinese apps to send a message.

A major criticism of the potential TikTok ban is that it is hypocritical. Many claim it focuses heavily on one app while leaving alone other tech companies such as Meta, which owns Instagram.

• Job ads have been getting too lengthy and have long lacked salary details.
• Hiring managers are being inundated with applications thanks to AI.
• The situation is untenable and something needs to change, hiring experts say.

Job ads need an overhaul. They're often too lengthy, too demanding, and may prompt candidates to lean more on their networks to avoid a relentless application-rejection cycle.

With an era of "revenge quitting" on the horizon, companies that want to attract top talent may want to rethink what they post on job boards, use AI sparingly but smartly, and remember that hiring is an inherently human process.

Research from the HR and recruitment software company iCIMS, shared with Business Insider, found that job openings were up only 3% between December 2023 and December 2024, but applications rose by 13%.

Rhea Moss of iCIMS told BI that this underlines a "self-fulfilling prophecy" in the job market: candidates can't help but contribute to the vicious cycle by applying for more jobs.

"There's an interesting confluence that's happening right now, of candidates feeling like their résumé isn't being looked at, and recruiters feeling like they have too many résumés to look at," Moss said. "Something has got to change here."

Too wordy and demanding

Job hunting can be frustrating. Susan Levine, the founder and CEO of the recruitment and advisory firm Career Group Companies, told BI that job ads "frequently paint an unrealistic picture of the roles they represent."

Using buzzwords to draw attention rather than accurate descriptions can contribute to the culture of love-bombing and ghosting in the jobseeking world, where candidates believe they are perfect for a role — only to hear nothing after an interview.

"This practice can mislead candidates, leading them to believe they are a strong match when their qualifications may not align with what the company truly needs," Levine said.

Ads can also be too long and demanding. Data from the recruitment software and hiring platform Applied, shared with BI, found more than a third of "entry-level" job ads sought an average of 2.5 years of experience.

Michael Horn, a lecturer at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and coauthor of "JOB MOVES: 9 Steps for Making Progress in Your Career," said: "Job descriptions are really, really broken at this point."

"They have gotten ridiculous in terms of the number of listed and credentials and qualifications," he told BI. "They read much more like legal documents."

Ashley Ward, the founder and CEO of the recruitment agency W Talent Solutions, said poorly constructed job ads contribute to a frustrating cycle for all involved.

"A job ad should serve as a compelling invitation, not a laundry list of unattainable qualifications," Ward told BI. "Yet, too many ads are designed more as exclusionary gatekeepers than as tools for engagement."

'Soul-crushing' process

Shannon Talbot, a former banking director and VP at an advertising agency turned career coach, told BI that hiring managers often "copy and paste old, potentially irrelevant job descriptions because they're in a rush to fill the role."

"These descriptions turn into wish lists of requirements rather than focusing on what's truly needed. Add to that the lack of transparency around salary and job levels, and it's no wonder candidates feel frustrated."

The language of job ads can be off-putting. The Applied report, which analyzed just over 7,500 ads, found that using masculine wording (including "individual," "challenging," and "driven") reduced the number of women applying by 10%.

There's also no guarantee the jobs being advertised actually exist.

A recent analysis from Greenhouse found that as many as one in five jobs advertised online may be "ghost jobs" — roles that are never filled, and companies may never have any intention of filling in the first place.

"The job market has become more soul-crushing than ever," said Jon Stross, president and cofounder of Greenhouse.

The human touch is missing

AI was supposed to make everything better, with job hunting becoming easier and more efficient than ever on both sides of the process.

But for all its benefits, using AI the wrong way could make everything worse.

Horn said hiring managers may receive thousands of applications, mostly from people wholly unsuitable for the job.

"Individuals applying to things are struggling to figure out, thinking, I don't even know what this means. Am I a good fit for this? I have no idea," Horn said. "Might as well let the AI apply, and then we'll figure it out later."

Meanwhile, good candidates may be automatically rejected by an algorithm.

Rise of the networks

When met with an unfulfilling market, people may instead turn to their networks for their next career move, said Horn.

This could have consequences for DEI. Managers have a tendency to want to hire candidates like themselves, whether they mean to or not. Networks becoming more important could have a disparate impact on underrepresented groups, Horn warned.

Hiring managers can help make the application process more transparent by maximizing automation while maintaining the human touch.

Lisa Frank, the founder and CEO of the recruitment and coaching firm LBF Strategies, said hiring managers should embrace AI but remember that it can't be fully relied on to make decisions.

"You're still dealing with humans, hiring other humans, humans working with other humans, or working for or managing them. We can't turn our backs on that," she told BI.

• An Australian ugg-boot company has rebranded as Since 1974 after a legal battle with a US giant.
• Deckers Outdoor Corporation owns the Ugg trademark in more than 130 countries.
• For many Australians, "ugg" is a generic term for sheepskin boots rather than a brand name.

An Australian ugg-boot company has changed its brand for foreign customers following a lengthy legal battle with an American rival.

Ugg Since 1974 is owned by Australian Leather and was sued by Deckers Outdoor Corporation for its use of "ugg."

Now, after almost 10 years since the legal battle began, it's been forced to rebrand as Since 1974 for customers outside Australia.

The American brand Ugg, founded in 1978, was acquired by Deckers Outdoor Corporation in 1995 for $14.6 million. Ugg sells the products most US consumers associate with the term "ugg boots."

But in Australia, "ugg" is more a generic term for a style of sheepskin shoe first popularized by surfers since the 1960s than a brand name.

Dozens of companies in Australia and New Zealand have trademarks containing the word "ugg," which is why many in the region take issue with Deckers' ownership of the trademark in more than 130 countries.

Australian Leather brought a lawsuit to remove a trademark for "ugg" and keep it as a generic term.

"This is not just about me; it is about Australia taking back 'ugg,'" Eddie Oygur, the owner of Australian Leather, told The New York Times in 2021. "The trademark should never have been given in the first place to the US."

But the case was rejected by a federal appeals court that year.

Todd Watts, the owner of Since 1974, announced the rebranding on his TikTok account on Monday.

"We've been proudly making Australian boots for over five decades and three generations, and we also own the trademark here in Australia, New Zealand, where the boots originated, where ugg boots originated," Watts said. "But the Decker lawsuit has made it hard to share our story and our boots with everyone else within the world."

Watts added it was "extremely hard to fight a lawsuit against a multibillion-dollar company, especially as a family-owned Australian-made business."

The video has amassed 2.4 million views and generated passionate responses from some customers. Some said they didn't know there were so many companies making ugg boots, and others said they would order only from Since 1974 now.

"I've been telling everyone to only buy Ugg since 1974 and NOT US Ugg. ❤️" one viewer wrote.

"I always wondered how Uggs were sold so cheaply and now I know why!" wrote another, echoing other viewers' thoughts that Since 74 sold higher-quality products. "Will buy me a pair of Since 74s from now on!"

Watts said in his video that nothing would change except the brand's name.

"Our roots are still the same, our quality is still the same, the product is still the same, and more importantly, our story is still the same," he said. "We are the original, and we will still be the original no matter what our label says on the back of our boots. It isn't just about boots, it's about resilience."

Deckers is valued at $31 billion after its stock soared 70% in the past 12 months. It also owns brands such as Hoka and Teva.

Deckers Outdoor Corporation and Since 74 didn't immediately respond to requests for comment.

Correction: January 14, 2025 — An earlier version of this story misstated the year Deckers Outdoor Corporation acquired Ugg. It was 1995, not 2005.

• About a fifth of recruitment ads in 2024 were "ghost jobs," a Greenhouse report found.
• Ghost jobs frustrate candidates and erode trust, but hiring managers continue to see the benefits.
• Greenhouse and LinkedIn now offer verification features to help identify potential ghost jobs.

Everyone has a story about a role they thought they were perfect for, only to hear nothing back or be ghosted later on.

You may have even been love-bombed during an interview and told you were the ideal candidate, only for it to be crickets afterward.

Greenhouse may have an explanation. It found that between 18% and 22% of jobs listed with it in 2024 were appeals for new workers that never actually got filled.

The hiring platform surveyed 2,500 workers across the US, UK, and Germany, finding that three in five candidates suspected they had encountered a "ghost job."

In analyzing the data, Greenhouse found that about a fifth of the jobs posted on its platform could be classified this way — jobs that go up on boards but don't actually exist.

"The data highlights a troubling reality — the job market has become more soul-crushing than ever," Jon Stross, Greenhouse's president and cofounder, said in a statement.

Spotting a fake job ad

Ghost jobs are not a new phenomenon. Business Insider reported in 2022 on a survey of 1,000 hiring managers conducted by the lending firm Clarify Capital. Half of managers said they kept job postings live even when they weren't actively recruiting because they were "always open to new people."

A Resume Builder survey last May found that seven in 10 hiring managers also think it's "morally acceptable" to post ghost jobs, while three in 10 companies have posted fake listings.

Other reasons for putting up these ads include giving the impression of company growth, placating frustrated staff members, or holding out hope for the perfect "unicorn" candidate.

While hiring managers may see the benefit, in reality, ghost jobs frustrate candidates and erode trust in the process, BI's Tim Paradis reported last year.

The Wall Street Journal reported that in response to persisting ghost jobs, Greenhouse and LinkedIn now have a verification feature to help candidates weed out ads that may be a waste of time.

Some ways to identify a ghost job, BI previously reported, include it being up for 30 days or more, can no longer be found on the company's website, or a vague description of the role and its requirements.

• Gen Z and millennials keep buying plushies, or stuffed animals in a boost for the toy market.
• A Mintel analyst said plushies are "kind of hot right now."
• Adults spent more than $1.5 billion on toys for themselves in the fourth quarter of 2024, Circana found.

Gen Z and millennials' love of plushies is bringing some cheer to the toy industry.

Young adults adore their stuffed animals, whether they're hanging onto the battered old ones from their childhood, buying a viral 5ft goose on TikTok shop, or spending a premium to add to their collections of Squishmallows.

A recent Jellycat pop-up in the London department store Selfridges was filled with patrons buying fuzzy $25 or more versions of cod and fries, mimicking a British fish and chip shop, The Economist reported. In Asia, a furry, spikey-toothed rabbit creature called Labubu has a hold over people well into their 30s.

This comes amid struggles for the toy sector.

A report by the market research company Circana found that toy sales across the G12 nations declined by 1% in the first half of 2024. That was an improvement on the 8% decrease in 2023, which Circana credited to purchases being made by adults — for themselves.

The report found that people aged 18 and over accounted for sales worth more than $1.5 billion in the last three months of 2024, putting them ahead of purchases made for toddlers aged 3 to 5 as the industry's most important age group.

Juli Lennett, Circana's vice president and toy industry advisor, said in a statement that "while the toy industry is feeling the heat, it is ripe with opportunity."

Mintel's Traditional Toys and Games report, published in October 2024, found that plushies were particularly in demand. The report found that stuffed toy sales have been growing, and just over a third of all toys and games purchased in the US in the past year were building sets and plush toys.

Brian Benway, the senior tech and gaming analyst who worked on the report, told Business Insider plushies are "kind of hot right now."

He said plushies are "tracking right along with Lego and building-set type of toys and games. Lego, of course, is a huge brand in the toys and games industry, so to see plushies up there with Lego is very positive for them."

Spark nostaglia

Melissa Symonds, executive director of UK toys at Circana, told BBC News that adults buy toys for the "positive mental health benefits, as they spark nostalgia and bring escapism from global turmoil."

A more cynical outlook is that some millennials and Gen Zers are slow to grow up, partly because they faced delays in reaching pivotal life moments such as getting a job, moving out of their parents' homes, and buying a house. For them, plushie collecting is merely a coping mechanism.

Carter Kench, a content creator and avid Squishmallows collector, told The Washington Post in 2023 that he owned more than 400 of the round stuffed animals made by Jazwares. The company was bought by Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway in 2022.

Kench said the experience of searching for a specific plushie was "something special — I feel like Indiana Jones every time I'm on the hunt."

Data from Mintel showed that 52% of all people buying games last year were adults buying for themselves.

'Little bit of happiness'

"It's becoming more acceptable," Benway said, with communities on social media being more open about sharing their interests.

"A lot of people are taking the approach that, well, I don't care if other people think this is dumb, this brings me a little bit of happiness, a little bit of joy, so I'm going to keep doing it."

Benway added: "Lady Gaga posted a picture of her bed just absolutely covered in Squishmallows on Instagram. So if Lady Gaga can do that, anybody can."

A report by Grand View Research found the global market for stuffed animals and plush toys is expected to grow 8.2% annually until 2030. Sales of cartoon toys catering to fandoms are predicted to rise even more, with a 9.8% annual increase.

• Micro-trends that circulate on social media can trigger some to make too many online purchases.
• Buy-now-pay-later can make the true costs of buying items seem lower.
• These payments add up over time, leading to a debt spiral that's difficult to escape.

Buy-now-pay-later services (BNPL), such as Klarna and Affirm, have made it easier than ever to keep up with influencer micro-trends — but young people say such services are increasingly trapping them into a vicious debt cycle.

Jess Riley, a 31-year-old content creator who has shared her debt journey on TikTok, said that BNPL, combined with micro-fashion trends, almost led her to financial ruin.

"I was definitely one of those people that was very susceptible to influencers," she said. "When someone put out a new necklace, I instantly wanted that necklace … I would put it on Klarna just so I could have it."

This impulse buying was just that, though. Sometimes Riley would forget what she ordered almost immediately.

Riley is far from alone. Consumers and commentators who spoke to Business Insider say BNPL tempts people to make impulsive purchases and rack up debt by making it seem like costs are less than they actually are.

It makes shopping online so easy that it almost becomes mindless, particularly on social media.

Simon Trevethick, head of communications at StepChange, a UK debt charity, told BI that the lack of regulation of BNPL apps means people can accumulate multiple debts across various providers "often without proper affordability assessments."

"If repayments become unaffordable, these debts can then incur late fees and interest charges that place people in financial difficulty," he said.

In the US, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau took steps last year to increase regulation of BNPL providers, Reuters reported. Lenders will be required to refund returned products, and provide assistance with billing disputes. However, they are not required to assess whether a customer can afford the loan and repayments.

The affordability illusion

The exact amount owed to BNPL services is unknown, but between 2019 and 2021, the number of such loans in the US increased by 1,100%, according to the CFPB.

In the 2024 holiday season, Americans were expected to spend $18.5 billion using BNPL services, Reuters reported.

"If you are unable to afford your purchase today, you can explain away not having the money by making multiple payments over time," Traci Williams, a certified clinical psychologist and financial therapist, told BI.

"Unfortunately, what you don't consider is that not being able to afford it today likely means just that — you cannot afford it."

Toni-Ann, who posts content on TikTok about paying off her debt under the handle @financeaccountingdiaries, told BI that social media, with the power of influencers and algorithms, plays a role in the debt spiral.

"It pressures you to want to buy what everybody else has got or whatever you keep seeing advertised. Then Klarna is an option, so you're just like, 'oh, I just can spread the payments'," she said.

These services make it feel like you only owe a small amount, but in reality, the sums add up.

Beth Fuller shared her story on TikTok, where she has reduced her $8,000 of credit card debt to almost nothing by cutting back on needless spending.

Fuller told BI she felt the pressure to keep up with the latest fashion she saw influencers share on social media. She said she realized that once she'd bought something, her brain would move on to the next thing.

"Things were feeling outdated so quickly," she said. "I was like, surely I can't need more stuff. But an event would come around, and I just wouldn't feel on trend for the event, even though I'd bought clothes last month."

Curbing the habit

People typically don't like waiting to buy things, Williams told BI, which makes BNPL so tempting. It also hurts less to stretch the payments out.

"Our pain receptors in the brain are more likely to be activated by larger purchases," she said. "Mentally, it seems easier to pay small amounts over time than in one lump sum."

Williams recommended asking yourself if the purchase is something you want or need and then considering saving up to pay for it outright: "Focus on stopping the bleeding by no longer using these services."

A Klarna spokesperson told BI the company offers "a fairer and more sustainable alternative" to traditional credit.

"We conduct strict eligibility checks on each purchase using real-time data, constantly reassess our lending criteria and spending limits to ensure we only lend to those who can afford to repay, and we restrict the use of our services after missed payments to stop debt accumulating," they said.

An Afterpay spokesperson told BI it did not conduct hard inquiries or report account activity to credit bureaus. They said the company also capped late-payment fees at 25% of the order value.

Customers are offered small spending limits when they first join, the spokesperson said, and 95% of installments in the third quarter of 2024 were paid on time, and 98% incurred no late fees.

Getting out of the hole

An Affirm spokesperson told BI there were no late fees or hidden charges, and if a customer did not repay their loan, they could no longer use the service.

However, the influencers BI spoke to said BNPL helped maintain their shopping addictions. Toni-Ann has almost paid off all her debt. She said it was hard to get out of the hole, but it started with changing her habits.

When she spoke to BI last year, Riley only owed another $800 and expected to be debt-free within weeks.

She has relapsed and used BNPL a couple of times but doesn't beat herself up about it. Overall, she's mostly changed the way she thinks about spending and doesn't let herself be tempted by the micro-trends influencers are promoting: "It's a marathon, not a sprint."

Jyoti Mann contributed reporting.

• Narcissists struggle to have positive feelings about someone whom they're mad at.
• For many people, the best thing to do is to cut a narcissist out of their life.
• If this isn't possible there are some tactics you can use to stop the argument from escalating.

Arguing with a narcissist can lead to hurt feelings or worse. 

Narcissists tend to be incapable of "object constancy," which means they struggle with having positive and negative feelings at the same time. Once they are fired up for a fight, they can only comprehend their feelings of resentment and anger. 

As a result, even the smalles argument can escalate quickly and fiercely. An issue you thought was unimportant or even irrelevant may blow up into a relationship-ending showdown. 

Narcissists can be very delicate, depending on what sub-type they are. They are often deeply insecure underneath their bravado, so they easily mistake other people's comments and actions for "attacks on themselves," Alena Scigliano, a psychotherapist and author of "Swimming with Sharks: Surviving Narcissist-Infested Waters," told Business Insider in 2023. 

Here's what you can expect from an argument with a narcissist and what you can do to keep things from spiraling out of control, according to experts.

Learn to look for the signs of an argument.

Scigliano said when you're familiar with the narcissist in your life, you'll learn their patterns. But some common signs a narcissist is gearing up for an argument include "physical agitation, facial expressions becoming sinister, darkened eyes, and a change in their posture to become more imposing or intimidating. Their voice may also suddenly get deeper or sterner, she said.

"Whatever the signs may be, they will reflect the narcissist's desire to regain control of the situation or reestablish their authority," Scigliano said.

Expect name-calling or the silent treatment.

Fights with a narcissist are very different from regular relationship spats, Elinor Greenberg, a psychologist and author of "Borderline, Narcissistic, and Schizoid Adaptations: The Pursuit of Love, Admiration, and Safety," told BI in 2023.

Some of her clients have screamed at her over minor inconveniences, such as packages arriving during their session.

"If they're going to yell at me over the UPS man, you can see just how hard it is for them to have a relationship without getting nasty," she said.

When offended, narcissists may accuse their partner of being "disrespectful" or "selfish." The world revolves around them, in their eyes, so focusing on anything else feels like a direct attack.

Narcissistic rage ranges from direct confrontation with name-calling and insults to calculated, closed-down reactions like giving their partner the silent treatment for hours.

"They give you the cold shoulder, or they walk out and they find another partner," Greenberg said. "But it's all done silently and coolly and coldly — you know what you did.

Know you'll find yourself going in circles.

Expect to feel frustrated with how the argument seems to be going nowhere.

"Because narcissists are fantastic at spinning others around in their webs of manipulation, you can easily become disoriented as to how the argument even began, frustrated over their circular arguments, and hopeless with regard to resolving anything," Scigliano said. 

"Oftentimes, people give up and give in just for the sake of ending the argument and reestablishing a modicum of peace," she said. 

Don't argue about "right" and "wrong."

There's no point trying to figure out who is "to blame" for something, as narcissists will never admit fault. They're also not necessarily trying to "win" the argument. 

"Be aware that narcissists don't argue to prove a point," divorce attorney Derek Jacques of The Mitten Law Firm told BI in 2023. "They argue to feel a rush of satisfaction of putting you down and belittling you." 

Instead, try to empathize with their feelings.

Some therapists debate whether narcissists mean to cause harm to their loved ones. Regardless of their intent, their attacks can still wound those around them. 

Narcissists become "visibly disappointed, frustrated, angry, and at times, violent when they don't receive the feedback, praise, and admiration they expect, especially from partners," Terrell Strayhorn, a professor of education and psychology at Virginia Union University, told BI in 2023.

"Their superiority complex compels them to lash out — verbally, emotionally, psychologically, and physically — against those who disappoint them," Strayhorn said.

One way to soothe a narcissist is to empathize with their feelings, Greenberg said. 

If you are in a relationship with a narcissist, you might naturally have a lot of empathy. You may be able to use that trait to help control the situation.  

Greenberg suggested saying something like, "You must have felt very hurt by what I did. I can understand why you are feeling that way."

Stay calm, and use "we" language.

Saying "we" rather than "I" or "you" includes yourself in the behavior, Greenberg said. The narcissist is probably angry that you dared to defend yourself, so you can try and remind them you're in this together and that it would be better for everyone to stop.

Scigliano also recommended remaining calm, not sharing your feelings, and sticking only to the facts.

"Expressing emotions makes it easier for the narcissist to twist the conversation around and work you into a tizzy," she said.

Redirect them by asking about a topic that interests them.

Narcissists love talking about themselves and can be know-it-alls.

Dangle a new topic in front of their face to steer the conversation away from conflict. This might not be that effective in the midst of a fierce debate, but after some time has passed, the narcissist will probably take the bait.

Another tactic is to ask for advice. It's a slightly less transparent way of changing the subject that also makes the narcissist feel superior. 

Avoid taking the bait yourself.

As retaliation for whatever hurt they feel you've caused them, narcissists will bring up past slights or accuse you of being selfish at that moment. 

One way to deal with a narcissist is to "avoid engaging with them on their level," Jacques said. That could mean biting your tongue, even as they're spewing insults at you.  

Even an innocuous statement might provide a narcissist with ammo, Jacques said. "Take those opportunities away from them and you remove their power."

Greenberg also said that by ignoring the name-calling, you can often avoid the fight. If you respond to it, things are likely to escalate, and you're giving the narcissist exactly what they want — your pain.

Remember to put yourself first.

Being in a romantic relationship with a narcissist can be an emotionally draining, damaging process. Using these methods to deal with a narcissist may help deescalate upsetting and potentially dangerous, situations.

For most people, though, breaking up with a narcissist is the better, safer option. The very nature of being a narcissist means they don't see anything wrong with themselves, so they are unlikely to ever change or seek help. Ultimately, your energy is better off being used elsewhere.

If you suspect you might be in an abusive relationship, or you know someone who is, there are services you can reach out to. The MyPlan App from One Love and the National Domestic Abuse Hotline are resources that can help.

This article was first published in February 2018 and was last updated on January 10, 2025.

• An Audible ad has sparked a debate on TikTok over audiobook speed preferences.
• Someone in the ad said that anyone who listens to audiobooks "real fast" is a "psychopath."
• Critics argued the ad's tone was condescending, while others said taking offense was an overreaction.

An Audible advertisement has caused a stir on TikTok, upsetting some fans with the suggestion that there is a right — and wrong — way to listen to audiobooks.

Over the weekend, Audible released an ad promoting its narration speed feature in which celebrities, authors, and audiobook narrators were asked for their thoughts on the ideal listening speed.

Some said they liked to listen at 1.5 or above ("SNL" star Bowen Yang said 1.8). Others, however, were purists and thought the right pace was "the speed at which it was recorded."

But one remark struck a nerve, particularly on BookTok — the community of literary fans on TikTok.

One respondent suggested that she thought people who "go real fast" were akin to being a "psychopath."

While some viewers saw the video as lighthearted fun, others took offense and felt Audible was alienating its audience.

"I listened to your judgmental ad on 2x speed 🙄" one viewer commented. Another asked: "Is this rage bait??"

Some said they found the tone of the ad condescending, especially as consuming audiobooks and other media at a faster speed can be helpful for some people with ADHD.

Sonya Barlow, an author and presenter who has been diagnosed with ADHD, for example, told Vice in a piece about speed-watching movies that she thinks it helps her to focus.

"I'm used to running around. So when I watch TV or listen to podcasts, it's not that I am rushing the show; more that I'm avoiding the silences and long pauses in between, which can slow things down," Barlow said.

Stephanie Mitropoulos, who posts book reviews to her 88,000 followers on TikTok, made a video in response.

"They literally have a clip of someone saying that if you listen over one time speed, you are psychopathic," she said in her video, which amassed more than 300,000 views.

Mitropoulos said her preferred speed was somewhere around 1.85, and she knew of many other people who liked to listen to 1.5x or above.

She said she thought it was "absurd" to make such a flippant comment.

"Why would you even post that? Why would you put that out there? Why are we trying to shame people for listening at the speed that is most comfortable for them?" Mitropoulos said. "I don't spend $16 a month to be called a psychopath."

Many commenters echoed Mitropoulos's views, but others thought it was an overreaction.

In the comments under Auduble's original video, viewers have shared dismay that some were upset by it.

"This is what made people upset?" one person wrote. "This can't be it."

A TikToker called Emma Skies, who has 174,000 followers on her BookTok account, said in a video she feared society was "losing context" and taking the ad too seriously.

"Do we truly think that it's strange or anger-inducing or offensive that when a performer, an audiobook narrator, is asked, Hey, at what speed do you think your performance and your peers' performances are best consumed? And that that performer says, 'the speed at which I performed it'?" Skies said.

She felt the ad was intended as a joke and not meant to mock anyone — especially as Audible was promoting the speed function.

"Nobody cares. They're not going to stop you," she said. "There's a reason that that's an option on Audible."

In a message to Business Insider, Skies said her video was less about Audible and more about "encouraging people to keep in mind the context of any piece of media they see, even silly little ads."

Skies also pointed to Audible's royalty rates, which, at 25%, have been criticized as lower than the industry standard.

Authors who are exclusively linked with Audible benefit from a higher rate of 40% — something Skies also took issue with.

"Audible Exclusives are hoarded not only from other retailers (as one might expect of a retailer exclusive), but also from being available to public libraries because of Amazon's monopolistic business practices," she said.

Amazon and Audible did not respond to requests for comment from BI.

• AI is reshaping job searches, offering speed and automation for rudimentary tasks.
• There are pros and cons for recruiters, who are now getting more applications than ever.
• Candidates should use AI as a tool, experts say, adding personal touches to stand out.

AI is transforming job searches for both candidates and recruiters.

But with all the tools that make the application process easier and faster than ever, there are traps you can fall into.

Andrea Miller, the founder of LeadWell Company, a global leadership consultancy that helps organizations navigate the future of work, told Business Insider that while AI can save time and effort by streamlining applications, optimizing resumes, and improving interview preparation, it also comes with some challenges.

"Generic, AI-generated applications can fail to stand out," Miller said, "And relying on AI without reviewing its output can lead to mistakes or misrepresentations."

Recruitment and AI pros explained to BI the dos and don'ts of using these tools and how candidates can make the most of the technology available when job hunting.

Mock tests, interviews, and portfolios

James Uffindell, the founder and CEO of the graduate recruitment platform Bright Network, told BI that AI can be very advantageous in the job hunt, especially for underrepresented and neurodiverse candidates.

"It helps level the playing field by offering better preparation opportunities, such as practice assessments and mock interviews, that may not have been otherwise available," he said.

Candidates can take advantage of many tools, such as CV builders like Kickresume and mock interview platforms like Interview Warmup by Google. Indeed's Pathfinder also helps people discover career paths that fit their skills.

Jason Heilman, the senior VP of product, automation, and AI at the staffing industry software company Bullhorn, told BI the company has a screening agent where candidates can conduct their first interview with an AI — something that could one day replace resumes entirely.

"You really get to see so much more," Heilman said of the technology. "It unlocks so much more of the person's potential beyond what a résumé could ever capture."

Heilman said it benefits candidates to be responsive and open to changes, even if it feels a bit strange at first.

"Be willing to try out these screeners," he said. "Lean into the opportunities to respond, and lean in when you are faced with new AI tools like this."

Cori Lunnen, the VP of recruitment marketing operations at HireClix, told BI that candidates should not hesitate to use AI tools to create a résumé, cover letter, or portfolio.

"The future is undeniably AI-driven," she said. "So some recruiters will want to see examples of how a candidate can successfully integrate AI-generated content with their own creativity."

The goal should be to use AI as a starting place, Lunnen said, "but then ultimately create something more unique or tailored to the opportunity it's designed to engage."

Be careful with prompts

According to Jennifer Burns, director of career development of Cornell University's executive MBA program, learning to put in the right prompts is crucial.

She advises candidates to put their resumes into ChatGPT along with the job description and ask a question like: "What are the 10 most important skills and keywords a hiring manager will look for to fill this role?"

"For the most useful output, you want to begin with input. For example, you can provide details such as your degree, your major, and your past experience," Burns told The Wall Street Journal.

"You can also input information about your major accomplishments, some of your highlights, and what motivates you, thinking about what you're good at and what you like doing. Then, after you share that information, you can ask specific questions."

Burns said AI tools can also help you determine good questions to ask at the end of the interview.

But she warned that candidates must ensure that everything makes sense and that they have a thorough understanding of the role. "Just putting in keywords for the sake of putting them in to match a job description isn't going to serve you well," she told the publication.

A personal touch is still important

On the recruiter's side, implementing AI can free up mental bandwidth, previously dominated by administrative tasks like scheduling, so recruiters can focus on providing a better experience for the candidates who move to the next stages.

But this has its downsides too. Uffindell said some recruiters are seeing a 500% increase in the number of applications, which makes it important to still stand out.

"It's important to view AI as a tool to support, not replace, your own words," Uffindell said. "While AI can help streamline the process, relying on it too heavily can lead to generic applications that fail to showcase a candidate's unique qualities."

Vrijen Attawar, a former career coach and now the founder and CEO of the AI-powered career guidance platform Careerspan, told BI that in this current environment, candidates should apply to fewer jobs so as to "not contribute to the application spam pile."

"Avoid the temptation to use easy apply or other similar tools to apply for jobs," he said. "Instead, save your time and sanity for the opportunities you can verify are real and excite you."

All AI tools have limitations. Some make things up or exaggerate information, so it is a candidate's responsibility to proofread everything and ensure it is accurate before submitting an application.

"ChatGPT 4's knowledge cut-off is April 2023, for example," Uffindell said. "So any major industry updates or company changes since then won't be included in ChatGPT outputs, so you'll need to do your own research, too."

Uffindell said personalizing each application to the specific role is still crucial because employers are looking for candidates who can communicate their strengths well and who have good soft skills.

"The strongest applications will combine AI's efficiency with the candidate's own knowledge," he said. "Showcasing not only the right skills but also the ability to navigate AI's limitations."