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Millennials and Gen Z Increasingly Pessimistic About Their Lives, Survey Finds

bloomberg.com

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Re: Millennials and Gen Z Increasingly Pessimistic About Their Lives, Survey Finds

#11

Post by trevyn »

filoleg wrote: post #5

Could it also be that it just became less of a taboo topic to discuss in the west, hence why we see so much more of it? Also explains why we are trying to pin it on millenials/genZ, as younger people are typically the ones to experience a lot of anxiety and uncertainty about the future AND are the ones to typically care less about entrenched societal no-nos. Anecdotal, but I have family that lives in Eastern Europe,…

I think beyond it being a taboo, it simply doesn’t enter consciousness in many non-western (or non-US?) countries — maybe kind of like how Asperger’s was discussed before it even had a name — it wasn’t, or that person was just a bit “different” in certain ways.

Re: Millennials and Gen Z Increasingly Pessimistic About Their Lives, Survey Finds

#12

Post by klodolph »

2819b wrote: post #8

I think it boils down to "comparison being the thief of joy." Social media of all types are basically one giant comparison machine, and the people that are the most visible on social media are the richest/best looking/most successful etc.

I disagree 100%. It's easy to find a scapegoat but the reasons are complex, and from data we know that Millennials and Gen Z are having greater difficulty achieving basic levels of economic stability that were somewhat easier for previous generations. Students are graduating with increasing amounts of debt and entering a job market that can make it tough to pay rent if you don't have experience.

It's also easy to say things like "more people should go into STEM", which glosses over a couple parts of our reality--we do still need non-STEM employees, teachers, social workers, etc. even though they are not paid well, and even if you do graduate with STEM that doesn't mean you have skills that will land you a decent wage. Just to pick on an example, consider the choice between chemistry and chemical engineering. Both majors are STEM and seem quite similar, but chemical engineering is the one with good job prospects. Likewise, if you do something like mechanical engineering you might be expected to also do electrical and software, the employment prospects for non-generalist engineers is less than it once was.

Re: Millennials and Gen Z Increasingly Pessimistic About Their Lives, Survey Finds

#13

Post by luckydata »

ilovecaching wrote: post #6

I think this is predominantly due to these generations feeling the affects of social media. They are the guinea pigs of a world wide experiment. They’re the first generation that is constantly barraged with photos that lead them to fomo and unrealistic expectations. I would argue this is a greater factor in producing pessimests than a downturned economy or bearing the burden of the boomers mistakes (climate change et…

maybe we're also the first generation in a while that's seeing things considered normal by our parents systematically out of reach?

Maybe we're a little pissed off that the implicit promise society made us if we "worked hard and played by the rules" like politicians like to say is being systematically broken?

It's pretty clear it's not just the way we fell about things, we're objectively worse off than the previous couple generations by quite a long distance.

Re: Millennials and Gen Z Increasingly Pessimistic About Their Lives, Survey Finds

#14

Post by paulsutter »

mettamage wrote: post #2

One thing I'm pessimistic about is this pigeonholing thing regarding to one's role in a job. I'm a programmer and therefore I can only program. Or so it seems. People don't take me seriously at entry level positions of: - Consultant - UX Designer - Data Scientist - Marketing (analytics) I wish people would at least interview me on it. They'd be surprised what I know and am able to do. One person made it obviously cle…

Apply for a different job, growth marketing for example. They need a coder with an analytical mindset who wants to learn growth marketing, more than they need someone who has run ad campaigns before.

Or work in a smaller company where each person can take on a broader role.

Re: Millennials and Gen Z Increasingly Pessimistic About Their Lives, Survey Finds

#15

Post by syn0byte »

A single mother working as a waitress at Denny's in the 1980's had more spending power than a college educated cubicle drone in 2019; Let's talk about how is social media's fault!

Twice in the last 20 years - more than any other time in US history combined - The Presidential election went to the candidate that LOST the popular vote; These generations just lack a proper understanding of civics!

The beatings will continue until moral improves.

Re: Millennials and Gen Z Increasingly Pessimistic About Their Lives, Survey Finds

#16

Post by throwawayirit »

mettamage wrote: post #2

One thing I'm pessimistic about is this pigeonholing thing regarding to one's role in a job. I'm a programmer and therefore I can only program. Or so it seems. People don't take me seriously at entry level positions of: - Consultant - UX Designer - Data Scientist - Marketing (analytics) I wish people would at least interview me on it. They'd be surprised what I know and am able to do. One person made it obviously cle…

Do as I did and fake yourself some references. It might not be ethical but the hiring system is broken and I prefer a warm meal and a roof over my head.

Re: Millennials and Gen Z Increasingly Pessimistic About Their Lives, Survey Finds

#17

Post by empath75 »

WhompingWindows wrote: post #9

Social media's ills, rising wealth and income inequality, rising sea levels, mass extinction event, crumbling roads, shit wages, corruption in government and industry, governments overwhelmingly filled with representatives of other generations with different priorities...there is a huge list of reasons to be pessimistic and they are constantly thrown in our faces online.

Hopefully you eventually take to the streets and do something.

Re: Millennials and Gen Z Increasingly Pessimistic About Their Lives, Survey Finds

#18

Post by AnimalMuppet »

2819b wrote: post #8

I think it boils down to "comparison being the thief of joy." Social media of all types are basically one giant comparison machine, and the people that are the most visible on social media are the richest/best looking/most successful etc.

"Comparison is the thief of joy." That is beautifully said, and it's going in my permanent quote file.

You seem to be indicating that you were quoting from somewhere. Can you tell me where? (I'd like to get the attribution right.)

Re: Millennials and Gen Z Increasingly Pessimistic About Their Lives, Survey Finds

#19

Post by klodolph »

inflatableDodo wrote: post #3

This from Bloomberg, is a bit like when someone slaps you in the face with your own hand and then tells you to stop hitting yourself - https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-10-10/american-...

I read the article you linked, other than the fact that the headline is a bit of a cliche "Millennials are killing X", it didn't seem like the article was anything other than reporting on how tastes are changing.

Re: Millennials and Gen Z Increasingly Pessimistic About Their Lives, Survey Finds

#20

Post by oldjokes »

luckydata wrote: post #13
ilovecaching wrote: post #6

I think this is predominantly due to these generations feeling the affects of social media. They are the guinea pigs of a world wide experiment. They’re the first generation that is constantly barraged with photos that lead them to fomo and unrealistic expectations. I would argue this is a greater factor in producing pessimests than a downturned economy or bearing the burden of the boomers mistakes (climate change et…

maybe we're also the first generation in a while that's seeing things considered normal by our parents systematically out of reach? Maybe we're a little pissed off that the implicit promise society made us if we "worked hard and played by the rules" like politicians like to say is being systematically broken? It's pretty clear it's not just the way we fell about things, we're objectively worse off than the previous c…

I hear this complaint a lot, but never really any details. What specifically are you mad about being out of reach and which metrics do you think you're worse off on compared to previous generations?

Honest question. Is it just materials and money per person? Something more?

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