Deeply Unhappy Gen Z and Millennials Cause U.S. Drop in Global Happiness Ranking

https://gizmodo.com/unhappy-gen-z-millennials-us-drop-happiness-ranking-1851350932

by rntn • 2 years ago

29 46 2 years ago

Are they organically unhappy, which is to say for good reasons, or have they been made unhappy by being constantly online?

aurareturn• 2 years ago

I personally think that it's because Gen Z and Millennials have had a much harder time affording rent and a mortgage.

So organically based on your definition.

I actually know a lot millennials and Gen Z who have given up the dream of owning a home because they'd have to work a lifetime to afford one. Instead, they're living the "YOLO Instagram life" because they don't think it's worth it work like a slave just to own a home and have nothing else.

laylower• 2 years ago

yeah - who knew that being barely able to cover your basic needs but nothing else would cause the younger generation to be less optimistic about the future? Preposterous I tell you!

AlexandrB5• 2 years ago

Would be interesting to check the numbers when controlling for income/affluence. Intuitively I actually think that the "always online" thing is a big part of it, but don't have any numbers to back that up.

There's a few things that happen on social media that make me think this. First, there's a lot of "aspirational" content - "unboxing" expensive clothes, cars, etc. People hanging out in fancy houses or going to exotic locales. All of this is classic marketing stuff and IIRC has been linked to unhappiness in the past.

Second, there's constant political hyperbole online. Though maybe it's just the filter bubbles I hang out with. It's difficult to be happy when it seems that everyone is trying to convince you that the world will end if the next election doesn't go a certain way.

Finally, and this probably applies to younger people more, there's a flood of unrealistic body/face imagery on social media. While there were examples of this before (fashion/fitness mags) it seems harder to escape now. It's especially bad when you hear stories of people getting plastic surgery to look like the facetune version of themselves[1]. Now the aspirational image is not someone else - it's literally yourself run through photoshop.

[1] https://time.com/5357262/snapchat-plastic-surgery/

billy99k• 2 years ago

I can see Gen Z having issues, but I'm a millennial and I bought my house 9 years ago. Homes were very affordable. Rent for me from college -> this time was also very affordable. I heard the same arguments 10+ years ago: things are too expensive/I can never afford a house, when it just wasn't true.

"because they don't think it's worth it work like a slave just to own a home and have nothing else."

Too many people I knew in college partied and spent all of their money on booze, drugs, and the latest gadgets for years during college and many years after.

I saved my money and never had the latest smart phone until a few years ago. I don't think I went on a single vacation (besides some weekend trips) during my 20s.

silverquiet• 2 years ago

Good reasons implies that there are bad reasons, but I'd think there are just reasons. I suppose one question I would ask is are Gen Z and Millennials more online than Gen X and Boomers? I suppose that's the stereotype, but Facebook also has the reputation as a Boomer site these days; certainly my mother is a fan. And Boomers are not Greatest/Silent Generation - my dad bought a 486 in the 90's and told me not to tell my mom how much he spent, despite not needing one for any real practical reason. Boomers aren't helpless around technology; their generation invented most of the modern incarnations of it, and they had to learn to use it throughout their careers.

tamimio• 2 years ago

Let's recap some potential reasons:

- Inability to afford a house during their lifetime leaves them with the sole options of living with parents or renting with housemates.

- Significant artificial inflation in consumer goods, no solution in sight.

- A troubled job market: low wages, lack of employee protection or rights, no mandated paid time off, or unlimited sick leave. Attempts to unionize can result in termination.

- A challenging dating scene, influenced by numerous factors.

- Same in the political scene, where left/right, red/blue parties are irrelevant because nothing is changing.

- A decline in community engagement or lack of, with online platforms and technology playing a role, though not exclusively.

These are just a few examples. Now, take a look at Maslow's hierarchy of needs, we can see how these issues undermine the basic three levels, including the safety of shelter, employment, belonging, etc., and then you see some articles like this as if it is a surprise why it is the case.. unfortunately, the older generation screwed up and failed the new one.

toomuchtodo8• 2 years ago

Also:

- Remote work being pulled by ancient management (average age of US F500 CEO is 58) even though quality of life bump is proven.

- If kids are desired, they cost $310k 0-18 (Brookings Institute 2023) each, not including daycare and college.

EDIT: - Climate change data and early impacts being realized.

unfortunately, the older generation screwed up and failed the new one.

This is the crux. Great comment overall. Society grows great when trees are planted whose shade we won't sit in; instead, we clear cut the place. A whole cohort is trapped in a dysfunctional socioeconomic system they didn't build, but are forced to exist in. Would you be happy?

Related: https://www.axios.com/2024/03/20/world-happiness-america-low... ("Axios: U.S. hits new low in World Happiness Report")

AlexandrB5• 2 years ago

- Significant artificial inflation in consumer goods, no solution in sight.

I don't put a lot of stock in this. Inflation was double digits ~10% a few times in the 70s due to the oil shocks. And the FED interest rate was >10% as well. What we have now is nothing close to that.

Where inflation has been impactful is housing/healthcare/education. Consumer goods are quite cheap thought, all things considered.

- A challenging dating scene, influenced by numerous factors.

Those factors are largely social media. Tinder is not a good way to find a stable relationship in my experience. But online dating is considered the default for many younger people. There's also unrealistic expectations created by watching a constant stream of Instagram influencers.

shrimp_emoji• 2 years ago

In the 1960s, you could temp at a diner for a few weeks before snagging up a 2br/2ba on the GI bill, look to your partner who you met organically at a sock hop, and say to each other (in unison): "We can finally afford 2.1 children." And then you live happily ever after until today, when you die at around 80.

dividefuel• 2 years ago

Totally agree. I think there's a deep sense that "things are getting worse" across the board, and there doesn't seem to be much hope that the trends will reverse anytime soon.

floppiplopp• 2 years ago

"Millenials killed happiness."

up2isomorphism• 2 years ago

How can one be happy when they have 1/4 of net worth compare to their parents at the same age ?

ProcNetDev• 2 years ago

Maybe people are less happy because they belive viral misinformation?

https://economistwritingeveryday.com/2021/09/01/who-is-the-w...

There are a lot more boomers so they had more wealth in total but when viewed per capita millennials have similar wealth at the same age.

eadmund• 2 years ago

Not just similar wealth but — as you source indicates and other sources indicate — more!

It’s an indication of how powerful narrative is: despite the facts, folks just believe what they want to believe.

jurschreuder• 2 years ago

Alternative reasons:

1) More than 2 in 5 adults (42.4%) have obesity in the US.

2) Wealth is very unevenly distributed compared to Europe.

Being rich does not make you much happier. At least not enough that 10% rich people can compensate for 50% poor people.

GDP per capita gives a skewed image for happiness, you have to get the percentage that struggles financially.

Deeply Unhappy Gen Z and Millennials Cause U.S. Drop in Global Happiness Ranking

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