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Happiness – isn't that the thing most of us are striving for? The problem is, though, that not a lot of people nowadays feel happy. Young people are particularly disillusioned; according to the 2024 World Happiness Report, the young are the least happy age group of all.
This generation faces an interesting irony: the world has the resources to make life better and more comfortable for most people, yet most of us are still wildly unhappy. Communites like the Lost Generation subreddit reflect this sentiment pretty accurately. So, here are some posts that echo what the current generation thinks of the world and their place in it.
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#1
Wake Up America
RELATED:
#2
This Is So Heartbreaking
#3
We Are Not Free
If we were to believe Maslow's hierarchy of needs, we need our basic physical needs met in order to be happy. That includes food, shelter, stable income, and good health. Sadly, not all Americans have that. In fact, a whopping 37.9 million people were in poverty in 2022 in the U.S.
If the original Lost Generation got its name from living through two world wars, this current generation calls itself 'lost' because we feel that the system is rigged against us. As stated in the description for the r/LostGeneration community, we "did everything our parents told us to do... now what?"
#4
The Truth's S**t
#5
This Is How The World Ends
#6
8 Guys vs. 4 Billion People
One of the reasons experts say people under 30 are so unhappy is social media. The U.S. surgeon general Dr. Vivek Murthy told The Guardian that as of 2024, there is no data proving that social media is not harmful to children and adolescents. He says that governments having no regulation of social media for children is "insane."
It's not just the young people who are perhaps overusing social media. A typical user spends from two to two and a half hours a day on social media sites. Experts are saying that the prevalence of social media has contributed greatly to an epidemic of loneliness and isolation.
#7
Simple Truths, Complex Barriers
#8
The Land Of Dreams
#9
The Board Is Set, The Pieces Are Moving
JessieJ&LilyLovebug 3 days ago
And the poor kids become our soldiers, and if they survive their enlistment, they can go to college...this is the part they don't tell you...one of the reasons they don't really want to change anything.
Jonathan Haidt, an NYU social psychologist and author of "The Anxious Generation," wrote for the Atlantic about how spending too much time online can put us into a habitual state of defensiveness. "Kids going through puberty online are likely to experience far more social comparison, self-consciousness, public shaming, and chronic anxiety than adolescents in previous generations," he noted.
#10
Reminder To The Politician
#11
Cops Are Just Psychopaths With A God Complex
#12
Spending $788 Billion On Military Budget And Still Having No Healthcare
General Anaesthesia 3 days ago
That same country spends more on "healthcare" per capita than any other country on earth, with coverage at or below developing country level. So universal healthcare could be cheaper "but socialism!".
However, other reaserchers are seeing a more nuanced picture. They say that the unhappiness of young people comes from economic uncertainty. One in three adults ages 18 to 34 in the U.S. live with parents. Many of them do so because they can't afford their own place to live. According to The World Economic Forum, student loan debt and stagnant wages also contribute to a lack of financial stability for young people.
#13
My Bank Its $37 🥲
Gala Guiba Guerrero 3 days ago
I had not realized this had happened to my account (!I thought I made a payment from a different account) and since there was not enough money to cover the $35 penalty within 24hrs, it triggered another $35, and another… count 4 total… I kept putting $50 in my account, and couldn’t understand the deal. F*ck you WFar!
#14
🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
#15
Now I'm Thinking About It Too
Youth unemployment rates are also high not only in the U.S. but in other developed countries as well. The age-old "Get an education and you'll get a sturdy job" rule also often goes out the window. Joanie Bily, chief workforce analyst at Employbridge, told CNBC that many college graduates are taking jobs that have nothing to do with their degrees. "They’re looking to enter into the workforce and launch their careers, and many of them are taking jobs even in leisure and hospitality, because that’s where the jobs are."
#16
This Is Why You Don't Use The "Proper Channels"
#17
Know The Real Culprits
Bob Brooce 3 days ago
One of the things that really pisses me off is how much money and energy governments waste installing pretty lights and keeping them lit, and I get a reminder every time I drive over one of several bridges in my area.
#18
The American Dream Is Crumbling
The current generation is also very uncertain about the future of the planet. The climate crisis, political unrest, and the dire prospects for our species has many young people skeptical and wondering whether they should have children or if they should even bother working towards any goals.
#20
It's A Real Head Scratcher
#21
Basically, The Laws Exist To Protect The Capitalist Class
A 2021 BBC survey found that almost 61% of young adults feel extremely or very worried about climate change. Americans have similar worries, as at least 60% of college students say they have symptoms of anxiety due to the climate crisis. Many aren't happy with how governments deal with it, saying that for much of the world's leaders, climate change isn't a priority.
#22
Pretty Much Most Countries Just Say F**k You To Your Teeth And Eyes
#23
Freefromwork
#24
Hmmm Sounds About Right!
JessieJ&LilyLovebug 3 days ago
The guy who invented Monopoly would tell you that is why he invented the game...to show the evils of capitalism.
Political polarization is another issue that has many young people stressed. Although some people claim that Gen Z are pretty polarized themselves and good targets for extreme, anti-establishment candidates, others suggest that the new generation might be the one to phase out polarization from American politics.
#26
I'm So Sick Of This Dynamic
Liz The Biz 3 days ago
This. By the time I have finished work for the day, done all the household chores, looked after my kids, looked after my mother I don't have the time or energy to do anything else. My 'days off' are usually to do something for somebody else. I wish I could do things with the power of my mind and I wish I could be I two places at once.
#27
Don’t Be A Rat Comrades!
Data1001 3 days ago
Living in LA, I see a lot of homeless people ride the trains without paying (there are certain stations where this is incredibly easy to do). As long as they're not causing a commotion, not bothering anyone, and not smelling to high heaven, there's no way I'm going to tell the authorities about it. They're just trying to get by. Now, the people in nice clean clothes (who very obviously aren't homeless) who do that, I have no problem with reporting.
Authors of Generational Politics in the United States claim that all the previous generations (The Silent generation, Baby Boomers, and Gen X) were more polarized in their political views than millennials and Gen Z. They theorize that because these generations are less religious, more ethnically and racially diverse, a new political center could form, one where polarization isn't as prominent.
#28
America Is Immoral
Saddest_Lion 3 days ago
We can't cure cancer! It's not fair to all the people who already died from cancer! Why should I care about Your cancer? It's not My cancer, so I don't care about curing it!
#29
Exactly!!!
#30
This Needs To Be Shared!!
If you feel like the world is going to bits and no one else cares, just check out what people on the r/LostGeneration subreddit are saying. You may find that many actually have a similar mindset to you! You can also see more discussions about today's harsh realities in our previous posts about the subreddit here, here, and here!
#31
This Is What We're Up Against
#32
A Trans Man In Ohio Was Beat Up And Arrested For Using The Bathroom Associated With His S*x Assigned At Birth. This Isn't A Bug, It's A Feature
Rahul Pawa 3 days ago (edited)
There's some subtext here that doesn't get talked about enough. Those men beat that person up because they fully believed that person intended to rape a woman in the bathroom (If there's a different thought process behind their actions, please tell me because I don't see it). Their own actions belie their belief that men can't be trusted in private spaces with women because the man will rape the woman given the opportunity. What does it mean when a group of men believe this so much they beat up someone who was just trying to relieve their bladder?
#33
This Country Is So Depressing, All It Takes Is One Medical Emergency And Your Finances Are Ruined
The Cute Cat 3 days ago
2 month ago both of my son get DHF almost in the same time.. Both spend 10 days in hospital.. My family don't use insurance, because at that time I am just a freelancer while looking for a job.. It cost around 4 times average salary in my place.. That no crippling our economy at all..
#35
One Can Dream, Can’t They?
#36
Just In Case You Didn't Get The Message
CanadianDimes 3 days ago
It’s not beginning to look like that. It’s been that for several decades now, at least.
#37
Murica
Igor914624 3 days ago
Met a retired couple on a cruise ship that was living on the ship. They booked the cruises for years, and only had a PO box for mail. The cruise line would even ship their stuff to a new ship if they wanted to change locations. They could get off the ship and stay in a port until the next time the ship docked, and get back on. They loved it.
#38
Oh, No! Anything But That!
#39
No War But Class War
Norm Gilmore 3 days ago
Here in NZ landlords were given tax cuts that the National government said would make rents cheaper as they would "pass those savings on to renters" Hahahahahahaha...... (Their leader Christopher Luxon is infamous for saying in an interview "Let me be clear: I'm wealthy, I'm - you know - sorted." https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/536726/quote-of-the-year-2024-luxon-s-wealthy-and-sorted-in-running-for-annual-contest
#40
I Know A Lot Of Friends With The Side Hustle Mindset. I See It As Sad More Than Anything
#41
Thanks Reagan…
LaserBrain 3 days ago
Those people making money by buying and selling stocks are just parasites who don't actually contribute anything of value.
#42
You Are Drinking From A Bottle
#43
Let's Talk About This
#44
Some Bootlicker Making Poverty Wages Went And Shot A Pregnant Women To Protect His Capitalist Overlords
#45
The Cruelty Is The Point
#46
*angry Mao Noises*
Depressed Lesbian(she/they/he) 2 days ago
F*****g sad. Americas legal system is messed up. When I become a lawyer I’ll operate on a slide scale.
#47
Labor History Is Important!
Jane Jayne Jain Jeign Jein 3 days ago
Read the novels "The Jungle" or "Coal King" by Upton Sinclaire, or "The Grapes of Wrath" by John Steinbeck for insight into America's labour/poverty history (also available for free audio downloads from Libravox.com)
#48
This Logic Brought To You By The State Of Tennessee
#49
USA Would Never 😂
Random User 3 days ago (edited)
This "school lunch" was staged by the US-based food chain Sweetgreen. https://www.logicallyfacts.com/en/fact-check/false-no-this-photo-does-not-show-students-meals-in-rome-italy
Add New Image
What do you think ?
Rahul Pawa 3 days ago
Ugh. This makes me sick. I couldn't get through the whole list. Too much to be upset about. 😡
Karen Krause 3 days ago
Don't worry if you hadn't subscribed to Premium you wouldn't have been able to read it all anyway.
Load More Replies... Kelly Scott 3 days ago
Way to go, BP. These are tweets that could be used to inform and help others understand what people go through when it comes to health care and poverty. And you cut the list off wanting people to spend money to see the rest of it. That's pretty damn low of you. Shame on you! What sort of online site does something like this except for the despicable ones. Shame, shame, shame! I don't understand why you even bother to post things like this, except to point out that YOU are now part of the problem. Congratulations. It was a long way down to the basement but you finally got there.
nut nibbler 3 days ago (edited)
Boss : I'm ill so wnot be in today..... Also Boss: I don't care if you are ill with the same thing I'm not covering your shift, you have to come in and do your shift...... Boss yet again after collapsing on the floor: Why didn't you say you were ill.
Rahul Pawa 3 days ago
Ugh. This makes me sick. I couldn't get through the whole list. Too much to be upset about. 😡
Karen Krause 3 days ago
Don't worry if you hadn't subscribed to Premium you wouldn't have been able to read it all anyway.
Load More Replies... Kelly Scott 3 days ago
Way to go, BP. These are tweets that could be used to inform and help others understand what people go through when it comes to health care and poverty. And you cut the list off wanting people to spend money to see the rest of it. That's pretty damn low of you. Shame on you! What sort of online site does something like this except for the despicable ones. Shame, shame, shame! I don't understand why you even bother to post things like this, except to point out that YOU are now part of the problem. Congratulations. It was a long way down to the basement but you finally got there.
nut nibbler 3 days ago (edited)
Boss : I'm ill so wnot be in today..... Also Boss: I don't care if you are ill with the same thing I'm not covering your shift, you have to come in and do your shift...... Boss yet again after collapsing on the floor: Why didn't you say you were ill.
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