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As soon as ChatGPT launched, Odyssey Gohain saw the writing on the wall. The now 27-year-old was working as a marketer in Amsterdam at the time, looking to move into a more senior role when the powerful AI tool started replacing individual tasks, then team membersincluding an older colleague whose career Gohain idolized. I thought maybe in three, four years, I’ll be in her place. And then she got laid off, says Gohain, who was let go soon after herself. After moving back home with her parents in 2023, Gohain started an independent marketing business as a solopreneur. Two years later, she is still earning less than at her previous role, but says the transition has offered other benefits. After that [career] roadblock, I was really struggling to figure out my next step. It felt like I was staring at a blank wall, she says. Now there is more stability. Even though there is not a lot of money in it, there is a confidence that I will get there. Things felt harder before. Ironically, the very technology that threatened Gohains career in the traditional workforce is proving to be a game changer in her new independent venture of assisting startups with their organic marketing strategy. I actually made a few sales through ChatGPT, she says, explaining that the AI platform has come to replace online search. People are searching for my niche on ChatGPT, and I have been seeing a lot of traffic come from it. As young people struggle to kick-start or grow their careers in a stagnant job market, and as the barriers to entry for entrepreneurship continue to plummet, thanks to technology (ironically, the same tech thats turning the workforce on its head), many are taking the leap into solopreneurship. A New Generation With a New Definition of Career Success In a recent survey of 2,300 Americans ages 18 to 34 that was conducted by Citizens, a Rhode Island-based financial institution, only a quarter expressed interest in climbing the corporate ladder. Instead, 67% respondents said they have pursued an entrepreneurial ventureof which more than a third identified as solopreneurs rather than employers or gig workers. There’s a complete redefinition of careers happening among young people, says Mark Valentino, head of business banking at Citizens. They’re redefining what career success looks like, what life success looks like. And they’re stating it in a manner that is more about adventure, flexibility, sustainability, and a quality of life that is goodbut that is not necessarily so tied to monetary success. Valentino explains that values like flexibility, meaning, and work-life balance are often more attainable as an independent business owner than as a traditional employee, especially in the current job market. The barriers to starting a business today are also the lowest they’ve ever been, he says, suggesting one can now register a business and develop a business plan in a matter of minutes online. There’s a little bit of a steer away from traditional corporate America in this generation as well, and theres been more economic barriers in their way, like the cost of college. Economic necessity drives solopreneurship That lack of financial independence is, ironically, also making it easier to start a business, Valentino says, as many are living at home for longer. The fact that they’re staying in the nest a little bit longer than previous generations gives them a little bit of freedom to take more risks, he says. If you are somebody who does have a little bit of support, or can live at home a little bit longer, you can take a little bit of a chance on becoming a solopreneur. According to a recent study conducted by payroll and HR solutions provider Gusto, Gen Z solopreneurs earn, on average, less than $10,000 during their first year, which is 73% less than those who are traditionally employed. By year five, however, average earnings exceed $60,000, or 28% more than their corporate counterparts. After five years, theyre able to really start taking advantage of the financial freedom that solopreneurship offers, says Gusto economist Nich Tremper. They’re able to take their skills to market in a way that allows them to really set their own price. That, he says, is an appealing prospect for a generation that is experiencing significant wage stagnation. People who are just starting out in their careers are dependent on early wage growth and gains to set the course for their overall earning potential later in life, and they do that by moving around to different jobs or getting promotions at their current job, Tremper explains. In a frozen labor market, solopreneurship is an opportunity for people to get that next boost in their income. Its about more than money Like the Citizens survey, however, Gustos data also suggests that this generation is motivated by more than money. According to the survey, 88% of Gen Z solopreneurs were motivated by the opportunity to set their own schedule, compared with 70% among all solopreneurs. Furthermore, 68% wanted to be their own boss, 41% reported being unsatisfied with their current or former job, and 40% said they took the leap to have a positive impact on their community. They really want to define what work means for them, Tremper says. The labor market is pretty frozen, so theyre going out and starting their own thing.
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E-Commerce
Another week, another questionable TikTok trend. The latest internet sensation has social media users asking someone to film them dancing. Instead, the dancer clicks the flip-camera button mid-dance filming the filmer instead of themselves. And while the trend is meant to be funny (and, of course, get clicks), not everyone is laughing. The prank, called the flip-camera trend, has resulted in hundreds of videos showing awkward, close-up faces of people who believe they are filming friends (or even strangers) circulating on the platform. However, some of the videos are awkward to view, and are resulting in some major embarrassment. That’s especially true when the videos get major traffic. While some of the videos appear to be all in good fun, some of them seem downright hurtful. Some videos show well-meaning strangers simply trying to help out, only to have their faces posted to the internet to be mocked by hundreds, thousands, or more. Some users have posted ultra-emotional responses showcasing the true embarrassment that may come with having your face shared across the internet without consent. Recently, TikTok user its.jusninii shared a video showing her in tears over the prank. “Me after seeing the flip camera trend and realizing how cruel you little kids are,” she wrote. The video clearly struck a chord, as it has over 2 million likes at present. But the user is not the only one who is airing their feelings about the prank. Hundreds of response videos have been trending where users, instead of making their own flip-camera videos, are calling out the users who are taking part. Many of the videos have the same message: they say the prank isn’t all in good fun. It’s actually bullying. In one recent video, TikTok user Nathalie Reynolds acts like she’s about to flip the camera on her filmer. Instead, she takes the opportunity to bash the prank, yelling into her phone “You thought I was about to flip the camera? This is not a trend. This is bullying!” And on Instagram, user @coquettesvanilla wrote that the entire trend is built around embarrassing people, and from that lens, it’s not okay. “We shouldnt be building a whole trend around tearing someone down,” the user wrote. “Bullying isnt always loud or obvious, sometimes it hides behind its just for fun. But if someone gets hurt, then it wasnt fun to begin with.” Bullying can take many forms, and these days, internet bullying is a huge concern, as kids spend more and more time online. But, according to StopBullying.com, it’s also worrisome because, in some cases, like if videos arent removed when someone asks, it can be permanent. “Most information communicated electronically is permanent and public, if not reported and removed,” the website explains. While many who’ve been pranked might not mind having their faces make the rounds on the internet, it seems clear that many feel downright violated. And when it comes to the question of bullying, the TikTok victims say it fits the bill.
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E-Commerce
The 2025 Leonid meteor shower is forecast to peak this weekend, lighting up the night sky with up to 15 meteors an hour whizzing by at 44 miles per second, according to Live Science. The Leonids peak is expected to be visible in both the Northern and Southern Hemisphere this Sunday, November 16 into early Monday, November 17, according to the Planetary Society. Expect prime meteor shower viewing, since the moon is expected to only be 9% full, giving viewers mostly dark skies. Here’s what to know about seeing the dazzling display. What is a meteor shower? Meteor showers, or “shooting stars,” occur as Earth passes through the trail of dusty debris left by a comet, per NASA. Meteor showers are usually named after the constellation or star near where the meteors first appear. The Leonids are aptly named after the Leo constellation, and come from debris from the Tempel-Tuttle comet. When is the best time to see the Leonid meteor shower? Typically, the best time to see a meteor shower is between midnight and before dawn. For the best viewing times in your area, see timeanddate.com. If you miss Sunday’s peak event, don’t worry. The Leonids will still be active the rest of the month, until November 30. Leonid meteor storms are a special treat About every 33 years, a Leonid meteor shower turns into a meteor storm, dazzling viewers with a treat1,000 meteors each hour, producing a dazzling light show. The last Leonid meteor storm occurred in 2002, with the next one forecast for 2031, the Planetary Society reported. The Leonids are best known for producing meteor storms in 1833, 1866, 1966, 1999, 2001, and 2002, according to the American Meteor Society.
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E-Commerce
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