Six-Chart Sunday (#49) – The Kids Aren't Alright
6 Infographics from the week + 1 Video (the Atlantic's Derek Thompson)
I hadn’t planned to dump on Gen-Z over the holidays, especially since I’ve just spent quality time with five terrific Gen Z’ers and work with countless other young stars. But since I’ve already written on “Millennials Writhing”… and ‘tis the season for “airing of grievances”… here are six reasons to worry about the rising generation.
Knowing Right from Wrong. 41% of Gen-Zers found the cold-blooded murder of a defenseless family man (UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson) “completely” or “somewhat acceptable” vs. just 40% unacceptable. Most shocking data point I saw all year. (Emerson College poll)
Sharing Traditional Community Values. One of this year’s more interesting analyses came from Public Opinion Strategies’ Bill McInturff, who looked at “key data by generation” (38 slides) and found Gen-Z a lot less likely to prioritize more traditional community values.
Embracing Free Speech. “Gen Z’ers – particularly those born since 2000 – are less likely to support free speech rights for groups with controversial views than Boomers and Gen X’ers” per data from the General Social Survey.
Over-Prioritizing Money. Gen-Z seemingly believe financial success requires a far higher salary and much greater net worth than older generations.
Bummed Out & Bringing Us Down. The U.S. fell out of the Top 20 happiest countries for the first time in 2024 according to the World Happiness Report, largely due to decline in self-reported happiness among those under 30. While American (60+) seniors ranked 10th in the world, Americans under 30 were 62nd. Of 134 nations surveyed, U.S. youth suffered the 6th biggest drop in happiness as compared to 15 years ago.
The Anxious Generation. Gen Z reports struggling more with mental health than millennials did when they were polled at the same age a decade prior and as compared to older generations. (Lots of fascinating work assessing potential causes including: Gen Z spends more than 7 hours per day online, has never known life without smart phones & face many financial uncertainties).
So in summary… put down your phone, show up on time (and in person), count your blessings, get off my lawn & pull it together, people. It’s an amazing time to be a young American!!! As Warren Buffet observed, “If you were to pick one time to be born and one place to be born, and you didn’t know what your sex was going to be, you didn’t know what your intelligence would be. You didn’t know what your special talents or special deficiencies would be… You’d pick today, and you would pick America.”
Happy Holidays!
VIDEO
The Atlantic’s Derek Thompson is one of the smartest, most interesting & dynamic writers out there. I loved “Hit Makers: The Science of Popularity in an Age of Distraction,” always enjoy his “Work in Progress” newsletter and eagerly await his upcoming new book with Ezra Klein, “Abundance” (hope to get him for another live discussion of it!)
The end is such a boomer ass take. I am a zoomer myself and you clearly do not understand young people and have complete contempt. It is not good for young people we can't afford a house, we can't achieve the social milestones of society expects us, and we're likely poor than our own parents. Are there things and those charts I think are problematic, yes. I turn 26 and I'll have to pay for my own health insurance. I understand why Luigi did what he did. Do I agree with what he did was right, no. But I understand it. Maybe you should ask why young people are in the situation there.
Until you do you might as well shut the fuck up
Wrong title: "The Kids Aren't All Right"
Fixed it: "The Country Is Not All Right"
And that's from a Gen Xer.