2025 Culture review

If you’re like me and love to binge‑watch TV and movies, you might notice how much has changed in our culture. There are tough conversations now about what’s considered unacceptable, but was it ever really okay? Were we just bystanders who went along with it? Watching films and TV shows from the 2000s is eye‑opening.

While watching shows like Friends, Gossip Girl, and 8 Simple Rules, I was surprised by how many references to p*rn there were, especially in Friends and an episode of 8 Simple Rules.

I was shocked to see this in 8 Simple Rules, Season 1, Episode 8, considering it’s rated PG. For example, there’s a scene where a boy hides a magazine in his guitar case, and his mum talks to him about objectifying women. Whether it was to create awareness or not, it still feels uncomfortable.

In Gossip Girl, there is also a scene where a high school girl doesn’t give consent, which is deeply troubling. These scenes could perpetuate harmful norms, subtly influencing viewers to accept or overlook similar attitudes in real life. It raises the question of how these portrayals might have shaped our views on consent and respect, affecting the cultural climate for those who grew up watching them. Understanding media's influence is key to fostering a healthier societal dialogue.

This must have shaped the culture among both teen boys and girls who watched these shows. What’s more disturbing is that when I was in high school, it was trendy to have Playboy bunny bedding or cushions. I wasn’t allowed them, and, unknowingly, it was the Playboy Mansion logo, which is just odd to put on merchandise, which is wild! I fear it may have gotten worse before there is no switch off; teens are constantly connected, and it’s not just the people they know in real life, it's strangers on the internet.

As a 90s baby, our first phone would of been a Nokia phones, which you could only text, call, and play Snake on.

My worry now is how easily children and teens can access these shows on their phones and streaming platforms if parents don’t set parental controls. Recently, I saw that the government is introducing healthy relationships and consent education into the curriculum in England, something already implemented in Wales, and Australia has banned Social Media for under-16s. I am not sure banning teens is the best approach, since that is how they communicate, but there needs to be restrictions on the content they can see. Social media companies are working on that, and teens need to understand healthy boundaries online and not everything is private!

These are positive steps, but I also believe it starts at home — especially for boys — with good male role models, whether it is fathers, uncles, brothers, or male teachers.

There’s a real tension in society right now. We need men, yet many feel pushed aside, and I can understand why some women feel fed up, disrespected, and unsafe. Even something as simple as going to the supermarket in the dark can feel uncomfortable when men stare or linger. Yes, I have had that experience, and it feels very uncomfortable. However, there is hope for change. By fostering conversations and promoting mutual respect, we can create an environment where everyone feels safe and valued.

Encouraging everyone, especially young boys, to embrace empathy, listen, and support one another can lead shift to a healthier culture. It's about redefining what it means to be strong, caring, and understanding in our communities, but I think it also involves women speaking well of men and not stereotyping ‘all men are the same’ because they are not, and men stepping up and showing us that you are protectors in the right way and not possessive.

Thank you for taking the time to read, I know there is a lot to think about in the blog, and a lot of culture is shifting again for 2026!

Best wishes

Zoe