Tag: youth

  • Dua Lipa Brews up New Role as Nespresso Global Brand Ambassador to Ignite Youth Appeal

    Dua Lipa Brews up New Role as Nespresso Global Brand Ambassador to Ignite Youth Appeal

    Nespresso has recently announced that pop singer Dua Lipa will become its global brand ambassador in a bid to enhance its resonance with a younger, culturally engaged audience.

    As part of this collaboration, Dua Lipa is set to headline the Vertuo World campaign, which commences on April 14. The campaign will also feature a guest appearance by long-serving Nespresso ambassador George Clooney, linking the brand’s storied history with its modern marketing strategies.

    Leonardo Aizpuru, Nespresso’s chief marketing officer, expressed excitement about the partnership with Dua Lipa. He described the singer as an adventurer always eager to try new things – an ethos that is in perfect alignment with Nespresso’s brand direction.

    According to Aizpuru, the collaboration with Dua Lipa aims to inspire a new generation to confidently explore and appreciate new tastes. He emphasized that Nespresso’s core mission is to enable boundless exploration through exceptional coffee and that Dua Lipa embodies this mindset in a contemporary and seamless manner.

    This partnership marks a significant strategic move for Nespresso, which is facing mounting competition from both retail-ready and specialty coffee brands in the premium coffee market.

    By partnering with a global pop icon known for her trendsetting influence, Nespresso aims to appeal to a demographic that places equal importance on lifestyle and cultural relevance as well as product quality.

    In 2021, Nespresso demonstrated its commitment to retail expansion by unveiling a flagship boutique in Manhattan’s Flatiron District. This store is the largest and most immersive retail location that the company has opened to date.

    Questions & Answers

    Who has Nespresso appointed as its new global brand ambassador?
    Pop superstar Dua Lipa has been appointed as the new global brand ambassador for Nespresso.

    What is the primary objective of Nespresso’s partnership with Dua Lipa?
    The key goal of this collaboration is to enhance Nespresso’s appeal among younger, culturally engaged consumers and inspire them to explore and appreciate new coffee tastes confidently.

    What strategic shift does this partnership signal for Nespresso?
    Partnering with a global pop icon like Dua Lipa marks a significant strategic shift for Nespresso as it seeks to appeal to a demographic that values cultural relevance and lifestyle as much as product quality.

  • Indonesian Vape Retailers Implement 21+ Policy to Curb Youth Smoking Rates: A Step Toward Healthier Choices

    Indonesian Vape Retailers Implement 21+ Policy to Curb Youth Smoking Rates: A Step Toward Healthier Choices

    The Association of Indonesian Vape Retailers (Arvindo) has issued a directive to all its member stores to cease the sale of e-cigarettes to individuals under the age of 21. The Association has mandated that retailers display signage indicating the age restriction and confirm the age of customers using valid identification.

    The Chairman of Arvindo, Fachmi Kurnia, stated that this move aligns with governmental attempts to restrict access to vaping amongst the youth. This sentiment is shared by the Tar and Smoke Free Movement (Gebrak), which advocates for the usage of alternative tobacco products to be limited to adult smokers only.

    Additionally, Arvindo has encouraged policymakers to incorporate science-based regulations into their considerations and recognize the potential of vaping to reduce harm. This suggestion was supported by a 2025 study from the JAMA Network, which found that e-cigarettes were the leading tool for smoking cessation in England.

    On the other hand, Garindra Kartasasmita, Chairman of Gebrak, emphasized that e-cigarette retailers need to take a more proactive role in informing customers about the health risks associated with smoke and tar. He also urged retailers to provide comprehensive information about alternative products.

    These developments come at a time when Indonesia is grappling with persistently high smoking rates. According to government data, there are an estimated 70 million active smokers in the country, a significant portion of which are youths.

    Data from a global youth survey further revealed an increase in the smoking prevalence amongst students aged 13-15, from 18.3% in 2016 to 19.2% in 2019. The survey also indicated high smoking rates amongst those aged 15-19.

    Questions & Answers

    What directive has Arvindo issued to its member stores?
    Arvindo has asked all its member stores to stop selling e-cigarettes to customers under 21, display 21+ signage, and verify the customers’ age with valid identification.

    What is Arvindo asking of policymakers?
    Arvindo is urging policymakers to adopt science-based regulation and to consider the potential of vaping as a harm reduction strategy.

    What has been the trend in smoking prevalence among young people in Indonesia?
    According to a global youth survey, smoking prevalence among students aged 13-15 in Indonesia increased from 18.3% in 2016 to 19.2% in 2019, with the highest rates seen among those aged 15-19.

  • Malaysia Amplifies Youth Online Safety: Social Media Age Limit Raised to 16 with Mandatory ID Checks from 2026

    Malaysia Amplifies Youth Online Safety: Social Media Age Limit Raised to 16 with Mandatory ID Checks from 2026

    Starting from 2026, Malaysia has decided to raise the age restriction for social media registration to 16 years old. This decision was announced at a recent cyber scam awareness seminar, led by Minister of Communications, Datuk Fahmi Fadzil. The Malaysian government has expressed its commitment to safeguarding children online, and these steps are part of that pledge.

    Identity Verification and Age Restrictions

    Social media platforms will be required to put identity verification measures into place. The aim is to ensure that young users meet the revised age limit. Datuk Fahmi Fadzil explained that a similar regulation has already been planned for implementation in Australia, and that Malaysia will study and learn from the implementation strategies of other countries to develop the most effective practices.

    This initiative is part of an overarching plan to safeguard Malaysian children online. This plan will become law with the Online Safety Act, which will be effective from January 1, 2026.

    Guidance for Parents

    Parents have been encouraged to promote outdoor activities for their children and to monitor their usage of electronic devices closely, in order to reduce screen time. The intention is to cultivate healthier habits in children and to prevent them from becoming overly reliant on digital media.

    Addressing Social Media Use in Schools

    Last month, the Malaysian Cabinet proposed an increase in the minimum age for social media users to 16, a change from the previously suggested age of 13. In order to ensure this, social media platforms will need to verify the ages of users during registration using official identification documents such as MyKad, passports, and MyDigital ID.

    Furthermore, the Cabinet reviewed the idea of establishing a special task force to identify and address issues that schools across the country might be encountering due to the use of social media among students. In line with these discussions, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has disclosed that the Cabinet is also considering imposing a ban on smartphone usage for individuals below the age of 16.

    Questions & Answers

    Q: What changes are being made to social media registration in Malaysia?
    A: From 2026, the minimum age for social media registration in Malaysia is being raised to 16 years. Social media platforms will also be required to implement identity verification measures during registration.

    Q: What is the purpose of these changes?
    A: These changes are part of the Malaysian Government’s plan to protect children online. The measures are intended to ensure that young users meet the age requirement for social media usage.

    Q: What else is the Malaysian government considering to protect children online?
    A: In addition to the changes in social media registration, the Malaysian government is considering the establishment of a task force to address issues arising in schools due to students’ use of social media. There are also discussions about potentially banning smartphone usage for those under 16 years old.

  • Young Vietnamese look to cryptocurrencies to get rich quick

    Young Vietnamese look to cryptocurrencies to get rich quick

    Cryptocurrencies are becoming a new investment favorite in the country, but many are learning what goes up rapidly could come down at the same speed. This year Minh Quan of Hanoi started to study the cryptocurrency market for the first time after a friend urged him to invest in it. The real estate broker started with a $1,000 investment in a startup he barely knew.

    “I invested because the founders have good physiognomy,” he says.

    The startup picked up and the founders were able to secure funding from foreign funds, and Quan’s investment appreciated five-fold within a month.

    Young Vietnamese like Quan are becoming increasingly interested in cryptocurrencies, hoping to get rich quick despite a lack of legal support for them and high risk.

    Vietnam is among the top 15 countries in the world by number of cryptocurrency investors, with most being under 35 years old, Lynn Hoang, Vietnam country director for trading platform Binance, said.

    Though the government does not recognize Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, it still led globally in cryptocurrency adoption with 41 percent of respondents claiming to have bought Bitcoin and others, according to a survey in August by U.S. financial consultancy Finder.

    Minh Anh, who is in his 20s, has found that while predicting the market is nearly impossible, a thoughtful and safe investment strategy could help him navigate the cryptocurrency world.

    He only invests a small amount in it and only in cryptocurrencies managed by experienced people, he says.

    “I only invest 25 percent of my total assets into crypto. After placing an order I turn off the app to not be distracted by the volatility”.

    This year he made profits of hundreds of millions of dong (VND100 million = $4,380).

    But with great profit potential come great risks.

    With bank deposit interest rates sharply down, Hanh, a bank teller, withdrew money from stocks to invest in cryptocurrency futures, which allow investors to predict the market future and bet on it.

    However, lacking sufficient knowledge of the market, she lost all her money and decided to stop investing in futures altogether.

    Le Trong and his wife invested all their savings into cryptocurrencies in 2017 when the market was booming. They even borrowed to invest.

    But then the market fell, hurling them into a crisis as debt collectors began to call constantly. Trong’s wife went into a depression, and it took the couple several years to repay their debts.

    “I’ll never get involved with crypto again,” he says.

    Lynn Hoang of Binance says the two basic rules for cryptocurrency investment are knowing how to protect your investment and not using leverage.

    New investors should opt for cryptos with a large market cap, she says, likening it to buying blue chips in the stock market.

    Whether one’s strategy is to invest for the long term or short term, it is important not to be greedy, she warns.

    Thuong, an investor in Hanoi, has learned that lesson.

    When Bitcoin dropped to around $54,000 on December 4, she poured most of her savings into it, thinking she had found the bottom.

    But the fall continued down to $43,000, and, without cash, she has been unable to buy more to average the price.

    “Controlling your greed sounds easy, but it is not,” she says.

  • Chinese Streetwear brand INXX Expands

    Chinese Streetwear brand INXX Expands

    Chinese streetwear brand INXX is officially launching its US e-commerce site.

    “We want to open up to a broader market and develop more forward-looking and global design paths while forming our own symbols,” said co-founder Henry Mao.

    Targeting global youth, INXX achieved US$3.5 million in sales on China’s 2018 Single’s Day and is now setting sights on the major fashions of worldwide street trends. By keeping roots in its blended Asian streetwear background, the brand has been able to forge a strong identity while growing into new markets.

    INXX made its 2018 debut with a presentation on Vfiles. In its showcase at New York Fashion Week SS19, INXX blended craftsmanship with an underground urban street aesthetic, mixing surreal grungy graphics and a strong focus on design detail to achieve “a look without boundaries”.

  • Convenience stores a haven for most Saigon youth

    Convenience stores a haven for most Saigon youth

    Increasing numbers of Saigon residents are visiting convenience stores, and most of the youth hangout there. A survey by market research firm Q&Me in December found 80 percent of Saigon residents saying they patronize convenience stores. Of these, 61 percent are youth who also hangout in the stores, using in their eat-in space, attracted primarily by the air-conditioning.

    Fifty-four percent of customers said they use the eat-in space because it is a good place to stay for a short time, while 51 percent said they come for the wifi, said the survey, which polled 500 people aged 16-39 online and 721 visitors at 110 convenience stores in Ho Chi Minh City.

    The majority, 63 percent, of eat-in space customers are estimated to be in their 20s. Those in their 30s account for 16 percent, and teenagers, 15 percent.

    Those who age in their 40s and 50s account for only two percent of eat-in space users.

    Forty-four percent of customers use the eat-in space to drink, and 38 percent to eat and drink. Popular activities are chatting with friends, using their mobile phones and relaxing.

    The most popular foods at eat-in spaces are snacks, instant cup noodles and single customer hotpot. Instant cup noodles are popular during lunch and dinner time, while snacks are taken irrespective of timing.

    The eat-in space is most occupied during lunch time, from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m, with half of the seats taken, on average. The period between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. also sees a high occupation rate of 33-37 percent.

    The survey found VinMart+ has the highest number of stores at 805, followed by Circle K with 261 and Family Mart with 160.

    Family Mart is the most popular store with 87 percent of respondents saying they have visited it earlier and 12 percent said they recognized it.

    VinMart+ comes next with 84 percent participants visiting and 15 percent recognizing, while the figures for Circle K are 76 percent and 17 percent, respectively.

    The least popular stores are Shop & Go, 7 Eleven and GS25. Forty-two percent of respondents said they recognized Seven Eleven but have never visited a store. This ratio is 36 percent for GS25 and 30 percent for Shop & Go.

    The number of convenience stores in Vietnam has increased by 21 percent year-on-year to 1,819 as of May, the survey found. Most of them are based in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

    A previous report by market research firm Nielsen Vietnam had said that Vietnamese people have been going to convenience stores more often in recent years. It said that an average Vietnamese shopper make 4.5 trips a month to convenience stores this year, three times that of 2010.

    Since 2012, the number of convenience stores in the country has nearly quadrupled, Nielsen said.