I'm a zoomer, still in high school and I try to pay attention to stuff that's going on in the culture. I'm from a pretty normal suburban area that's split as far as politics go so I think I have a good idea of the general experience for young people rn.
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Gen Z doesn't feel like life is inherently worth it. It's normal to hear people say things like "I hate myself" or "I want to die" or casually talk about wanting to commit suicide. Girls seem to say things like that more often but it's not really shocking to hear from everyone. Young people feel comfortable openly talking about their mental health and psychological problems even if they don't even know someone that well. Everyone just wants to share as much as possible. Although we're more likely to share with other teenagers than older people I think.
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Relationships aren't as much of a thing anymore. Same goes for sex. Guys will typically be "talking to" a bunch of different girls, flirting with them and being emotionally there for them without an actual relationship going on. It's common for girls to be "talking to" a guy who doesn't really put much effort into them while also having a bunch of "platonic boyfriends" who are basically in the friend zone and provide emotional support where the guy she's attracted to doesn't. Not really much actual sex going on any side.
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Almost every young guy is addicted to porn. This one is probably connected with the last. It's a pretty common thing for guys to go to the bathroom and wack off at school since a lot of us are straight up addicted to it now and can't go 8 hours without stroking one out. Sometimes guys will pack extra underwear in their backpacks and it's a meme to go through someone's backpack to see if they brought extras. It's really bad.
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Probably less than 10% of guys are gay or bi but something like 70% of girls are. Or at least they say they are. A lot of girls will say they're bi or pan but only want to date guys so I'm guessing they just say it to be progressive or keep their options open.
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Guys are extremely redpilled but the girls are almost always liberal. Black guys are the most conservative group in my school at least and white guys are usually split based on if they're gay or not. Most girls are very easily offended and try to act offended on behalf of everyone else. They're just really sensitive to things that aren't pc.
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Everyone is really stressed out and burned out. Zoomers have basically given up on "hustle culture" and the pressure to be always working and doing something productive. No one expects to be able to own a home or start a family when they're older so there's not much motivation to work hard. The stereotype that zoomers generally hate work is true. Most see it as a waste of time and something that makes life suck more than it's good.
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A lot of us can't do shit. I know a bunch of people who are terrified of driving and don't even want to get a license. No one can cook. No one knows how to build things or use old school computers that don't have built in apps. Anything serious is always taken care of by the parents because our parents don't trust us at all. We don't learn because they never let us do anything that's even a teeny bit risky or requires any level of judgment. I'm sure this isn't the case in rural areas but in the suburbs parents never let their kids grow up. And then they get pissed when we constantly need help doing things.
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We don't have attention spans. Watching a whole movie by itself without break is considered very boring to most zoomers. Concentration has to be broken up every few seconds or else we lose interest. We're used to a constant stream of different images and sounds and ideas so we're pretty good at multitasking, but intense concentration on just one thing is not our strength.
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Everyone feels like a celebrity. If older generations had "reputations" then we have something else, maybe like a "brand" or something. Social media puts us on a stage 24/7. Most zoomers only have 1-3 real friends and probably hate leaving their bedrooms but at the same time we're also constantly in competition with the whole world online. There's very little social activity for it's own sake. We socialize to produce an image of ourselves and none of it is real basically. But that's related to my last point.
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Religion doesn't play a serious part in most of our lives so our "story" has to be a personal one instead of a religious one. We have to tell a story of personal success with our lives because if we don't then we're worth nothing. I really wish I could word it in a better way but it's something I've been thinking about a lot. Since the universe doesn't have meaning anymore, the only way to have a meaningful life is to give it meaning ourselves by being unique I guess? I think that's something a lot of people feel subconsciously. We're really alone in a universe that makes no sense where no one has any objective role or determined future. We have to build everything ourselves because if we don't then what do we have? God gave us nothing, so we have to earn everything or just give up if we can't. That's the mindset I think. Even people who believe in God feel like this because religion isn't a part of the culture anymore. It's all personal achievement and individualism. There's nothing connecting ourselves to the world or connecting us to a story that's greater than ourselves.
Feel free to ask questions if u have any
Definitely. I have two sons as well, and the way they deal with strife amongst friends is... Just as it should be: forgiven and forgotten seems to come more easily to them.
Odd side note: Lots of them became pot smokers - these were kids who grew up going to church etc. who had formerly despised pot.
And I have come to the conclusion that they have found a way to stay sane and NOT wind up on pharmaceuticals, so oddly enough I support them in this. I just want to see them make it through this time and live to see better things.
Yup weed is pretty popular at my school. That and vaping especially.
It's kind of rough when it comes to girls cuz I honestly have no idea how we're supposed to interact with them. Most guys want to have a girlfriend but girls make it very clear that they don't need men anymore.
I wish you could move to a Midwestern conservative town. The girls there really ARE different from all of this.
I have a huge family in Kansas, and they are darn near 50s viewpoints and lifestyles. Is refreshing, and they lead happy lives. And they make pretty good money too
I feel like even conservative girls are raised to be independent and not really need a man. Human beings are a pain in the ass. Most girls seem like they're happier being alone and making money than having a boyfriend or husband.
You're partially correct. One of my daughters, millennium, is extremely independent.
Boys her age just wanted sex. She wanted a full relationship but her dating attempts were disastrous. One was a thief, one was a druggie and one was a liar/cheater. She decided not to deal with the garbage and was happier alone. She has an excellent career, is debt free and enjoys just being herself. I'm afraid by the time "Mr Right" comes along, she'll be so set in her ways that she won't commit to a relationship.
That is the prevailing attitude I've seen in some places.
And then, I kid you not, there are entire massive regions of the western world, especially in the US, that have been resistant to that thinking to the point where it just has not taken hold AT ALL.
These are strong young women who work hard and have strong morals, but their morals are quite "old school". They seek true love, true mates, FOR LIFE. A permanent husband. You will find that there is a world outside the world you've experienced.
BTW, on the subject of helicopter parents who keep their kids from growth:
God taught me something I have relied on heavily - this was against my learned belief system (because parents were being told to wrap their kids in bubble wrap and be sure they play soccer constantly); to let my kids try and fail. To get hurt. To go places that made me worry and not interfere. To let them grow up. It wasn't easy. I felt careless, as a parent. But it was reinforced on me in strange ways.
Years earlier I adopted baby ducks abandoned by their mother. They lived in my guest bath. When it was time for them to go and be free, I worried. I did not let them go. They both died. They were adults, and yet I could not let go out of fear for their safety.
I raised a squirrel from birth pretty much. He became an adult, and I was his bestie. He lived on my shoulder. When it was time to release him as an adult, I couldn't. I worried. He died.
It was an object lesson from God , and I knew what to do. So failing to RELEASE these young when it was time for them to live on their own.
God was right, I had been wrong. The adventures continue 😉 I no longer interfere with necessary growth, even if it comes with risk that might terrify me. I've learned to trust God. Took me a long time to learn to do that