Gen Z

GEN Z, KIDS BORN 1997-2012 WHO HAD MID-CHILDHOODS IN THE 20-TEENS VOTE D. But this is just the tip of the iceberg.  They have high rates of depression, anxiety, self-harm , and suicide. Social psychologist began to notice this in 2013 as these things began to suddenly rise.  But the syndromes were not higher in older adults—just Gen Z. By 2020 25% of teen girls had symptoms of major depression. So what happened in 2012 or just prior? First iPhone 4 came out and selfies became all the rage. The helicopter parenting of years prior meant instead of kids 7 or 8 years old being allowed unsupervised socialization (the traditional age) this had extended to 10 or 12 years of age. Thus instead of the normal rough interactions causing psychological strengthening in early childhood, kids spent a childhood largely through the phones.  The depression numbers weren’t so bad in boys, 9%, but larger than the old normal of 5%.  Boys were playing video games and groups of boys competed, a healthy interactive activity.  But girls were drawn to ‘visual platforms’—instagram and tiktok.  Those are about display and performance. You post your perfect life and then look at others who have even better perfect lives. This phenom is called “compare and despair”.  It seems social because you are communicating but it’s performative. You don’t actually get good relationships. People in despair usually go defensive. Defensive mode is when you focus on threats.  Discover mode is when you seize information and create.  And sure enough, Gen Z is seriously behind in innovation, not inclined to take risks.  This has dire implications for the future of business in USA. Also the new ideology of woke/CRT valorizes victimhood. Those not inclined to take risks, seek accommodations and play it safe.  You are not going to swing for the fences or start a company. Here’s what is interesting about this.  It occurs in English-speaking countries.  Slavery guilt has rapidly spread to Canada and UK, but not Germany or Russia or China. And it has spread to US business. When the manager is afraid to speak up  honestly because of fears of being shamed on social media, the corporate culture gets dishonest and backfires in its purpose.  The impact of political discourse then moves conversations from honest personal interaction to the Colosseum of social engagement.  We don’t talk to one another, we perform. Amazingly Gen Z is not in denial.  They recognize the app-based life is really bad for them.  They wished they had childhoods more like their parents—playing outside, riding bikes with friends, having adventures. And as jobs expand when the R’s get control of government, socializing comes back, and Gen Z may seek a new normalism.