ADVERTISEMENT

Over the last few decades, folks have started to pay a lot more attention to the various differences in behavior and upbringing between each generation. After all, as technology shifts so quickly, so do the small things that end up totally shifting generational perspectives and beliefs on everything from work, to music, mental health and more.

Someone asked “What scares you the most about the next generation?” and people shared the possibly toxic traits and behaviors they’ve noticed. So get comfortable as you scroll through, upvote your favorites and be sure to comment your thoughts below.

#1

A young woman in distress, representing Gen A’s struggle with technology, sits in a softly lit room. I don't know. On one hand, I think younger folks are more open to talking about mental health. This is good, and sure beats my parents "just bury it so deep in your soul it never comes up" strategy.

On the other hand, it seems like kids today are way more sensitive about things. Sorry, but arriving too late to a sold-out movie or an airline losing your bag isn't a "genuine mental health trauma". No, that waiter isn't give you "microaggressions"... he's just in a f**king hurry because, if you look around, this restaurant is slammed.

tunaman808 , Blake Cheek / Unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

Add photo comments
POST
Jrog
Community Member
2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's not an issue with younger folk, it's mostly an issue with idiots on TikTok and Instagram. They are a loud minority.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
RELATED:
    #2

    Gen A girl using a smartphone while sitting on a couch, wearing a light blue shirt, and focused on the screen. The sheer ignorance. So many don't read books. They have limited vocabulary. I don't speak to many who seem to think critically. They are raised to take standard tests and consume content, rather than analyze and contemplate. It's terrifying.

    InsertCleverName652 , Pocstock / Unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Ace
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Older generations have been saying this, and probably most of the other items below this in the list, since time began. Everyone seems to conveniently forget just how little they knew when they were 20, and how much they resented older people trying to tell them stuff.

    PeepPeep the duck
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yes to that too but also if you grew up in the late 70s or 80s and early 90s, we did have a lot more cultural education in weirder ways - re-runs on tv (wether movie or series). And it varied from black and white 1930s right up to the years I mentioned first. So we had knowledge of ww2 pop culture through bugs bunny, randomly knew who people like fatty arbuckle, three stooges, Lucy etc learnt about various communist plights, movies and books about mythology that were more accurate than today’s stuff costume and lingo wise. The hippy era and women’s rights was a bit more well known in proper context, all from the type of media we had available then, even sex ed because of pòrn is an issue. These days the kids would have snippets out of context on social media and if they wanted too, then extend their search and look into things etc if it took their interests. We just got bombarded with the full deal and with commercial slots 😝

    Load More Replies...
    Becky Samuel
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Repeating things like "so many don't read books" over and over until people start to believe it is typical of how the media is driving beliefs these days. Young people under 30 are more likely to have read books in the past year than any other adult age range, and the percentage of them reading has gone up in the last few years. Over 80% of young people are regularly reading books - for context, this is higher than the literacy rate for some of the older generations.

    Wintermute
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Thank you! These are blanket statements from rage bait news outlets that want to start a generation war to keep people's minds off of the world's real issues. Generations have been repeating the same complaints about each other since forever. Y'know... I'm not sure why I even clicked on this list... DAMN YOU CLICK BAIT! DAMNNNN YOOUUUU!

    Load More Replies...
    Luke Branwen
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    And if they do read, it's those garbage "BookTok" books that read like something you'd get if you stuffed an AI with all the "trendy" tropes and then forced it to vomit. Some openly admit that they skip most of the paragraphs and read dialogue only. I'm not sure what's worse, reading Booktok slop or not reading at all.

    Bernd Herbert
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    And sometimes they even flex with that! "I've NEVER read a book!" Dude, that's nothing to be proud of

    ZGutr
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    and it shows in their ability to read, write, spell, talk and understand official documents.

    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    You can blame social media and texting for this. And yes, the irony that I'm condemning what I'm currently doing is not lost on me.

    LizzieBoredom
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    People decried the invention of the printing press because it would take jobs from scribes & monks, spread religious ideas contrary to the Roman Church, and lead to the decline in Latin.

    William Teach
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    In fairness, not reading books isn't just a GenZ and Gen A thing. Most people I know do not read, even for pleasure, and I'm Gen X.

    Fat Harry (Oi / You)
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm right on the cusp of millennial and gen X and I hardly read, but it's not because I don't want to, it's because I can't find the time!

    Load More Replies...
    iseefractals
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Critical thinking is seen to be 'hateful" or "discriminatory." Evidence of racism/sexism/phobia. People repeat the same demands, on the premise that its something they want, or "deserve" or term it a "right" and only see how it effects themselves. Anyone who dares to point out, or question the possible consequences to anyone outside of that niche group, is shouted down as some flavor of hateful bigot.

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #3

    Woman using a laptop in an office, surrounded by stacks of documents, working late as focus shifts to technology use by Gen A. How big the gulf between educated, critical thinkers and reactionary illiterates will be. And how the latter will significantly outnumber the former.

    AccessibleBeige , Getty Images / Unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    kansasmagic
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That's what scares me about the past, present, and future generations. Ignorance is not generational.

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #4

    Person with red hair resting head on arms at a table, capturing Gen A's digital fatigue. Their inability to function when things get tough. I work with many 18-25 year old, and the second something becomes too difficult or they get told something they don't want to hear, they sit on the floor and refuse to do anything. Or they stomp around crying out how we're all "toxic and abusive towards them."

    I see it other places as well. Part of life is, unfortunately, challenges, and things won't always go your way. The reactions they have are just downright frightening.

    SassyCatLady442 , jose pena / Unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    UncleJohn3000
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I think many of today's social problems stem directly from the 1990s "everybody gets a medal."

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #5

    Gen A individual with laptop and headphones, focused on screen, phone lying on sofa beside them. They CANNOT use a computer. They can surf the web, but cannot do anything useful. Many of my students are worse than my parents at doing simple things like attaching documents to emails or understanding the file path.

    Waltgrace83 , Steinar Engeland / Unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Luke Branwen
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It's because they constantly use a phone and have zero experience with desktops / laptops. They can't use anything that's not an app.

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #6

    Close-up of smartphone apps, including Twitter and Google, relevant to Gen A's digital habits. Increasing lack of critical thinking and the inability to differentiate truth or reality compared to what they are spoon fed by various types of media that don’t care about people’s best interests.

    We have already seeing the increasing consequences of that over the past 20 years, and it will only get worse.

    agent_uno , Brett Jordan / Unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

    #7

    Young Gen A girl with long hair seated on a bench, wearing pink sneakers, appearing thoughtful outdoors. Their arrogance and misusing buzzwords out of online YouTube therapy sessions, f.e. they were "traumatized" after that last math class. Their self centered behaviour will be trouble for us all down the road.

    Bwuppy , Getty Images / Unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    troufaki13
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    And the entitlement! Just because you ask doesn't mean you will receive.

    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #8

    A young Gen A boy sitting on a chair looking distressed, holding his head in his hands, inside a room. I teach young kids (so Gen Alpha). A lot of them can’t persevere through a challenge without going to pieces. And it’s not like “I’m crying because I can’t find my notebook because I’ve had a rough day and this is just the final straw.” It’s “I’m crying because I can’t find my notebook and no one is coming to rescue me despite the fact that if I looked in my desk for more than .5 seconds I’d find it.”

    They have no understanding of their actions having consequences. My class was out of control in the lunchroom (running, pushing, throwing food) and went all surprised Pikachu that the teachers supervising lunch kept them in for recess.

    They’re also lazy. We’re just starting to learn how to answer a question in a complete sentence and use evidence from a text to support our idea. I’m not asking for a ten page thesis, I’m asking for “I know the boy is happy at the end of the story because he said ‘This was a great day!’”. I model the skill, I give them sentence starters, and they still can’t even just complete the sentence starter, so they’ll just write “he’s happy” in their notebook and expect me to be like “Perfect, this is wonderful”.

    A lot of it is bad parenting. It’s not just the iPads and TikTok. A lot of parents will step in before a kid is ever even challenged by something and fix it for them so they don’t learn to problem solve. They expect me to spoon feed them answers and refuse to do anything that takes more than a minute of thinking. They also make excuses for their kids’ behavior and don’t discipline them (I had a parent this week try to explain to me that the problem isn’t that their daughter talks in class, the problem is that other kids are talking to her when she talks to them). I don’t foresee these kids being able to function in any career that expects them to do anything other than exactly what they want to do and that asks nothing of them.

    itscornlectric , mohamad azaam / Unsplash (not the actual phoot) Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Bartlet for world domination
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Different generation, but of the four 22-25-year-olds my company hired in the past few years, three didn't understand the concept of 'work'.

    View more commentsArrow down menu
    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #9

    Gen A individual using a smartphone, wearing a knitted sweater, focused on the screen. The brain rot they experience from all the social media.

    luminous_crownnn , Chris Yang / Unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Mrx Mrx
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That's not a young people thing. You wouldn't belive the AI and tiktok idiocies I get from colleagues in their 50s.

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #10

    A Gen A girl looking frustrated at a table with glassware, resting her head on her hand in a cozy setting. Their inability to think for themselves. They need to be told what opinions to have by whatever are the dominant ones on social media.

    orlybatman , Lucia Macedo / Unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    iseefractals
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This has been a growing problem for 20 years. Everyone has broken off into their respective "teams" parroting whatever the party line happens to be on any and all given subjects. Anyone that doesn't subscribe to that party line is immediately painted as the "opposition" Critical thinking, and objectivity are antiquated concepts for most people these days. "If you don't agree with me about everything, than YOU are part of the problem" It's exhausting.

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #11

    Industrial landscape with factories emitting smoke into the sky, reflecting environmental impact and pollution concerns. That they're inheriting a dying planet and student loan debt, low wages, and rising housing costs mean they're basically serfs with the illusion of freedom.

    jareths_tight_pants , Getty Images / Unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Abdullah Abd Rahman
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Student loan debt is a massive issue among the graduates in ultra-capitalistic US, supposedly the richest country in the world - where free or state-supported education is villified as "socialist" or "communist". It's not as big an issue as in many countries where education is free or subsidised by the Government - like in the UK ,much of Europe and many developing countries, like Malaysia.

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #12

    Young woman in professional attire, looking thoughtful, as another person offers support with a comforting hand on her shoulder. That they are so anxious, need constant outside validation and tend to be afraid to do things on their own.

    Dragon_Jew , Nini FromParis / Unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Daria
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    unfortunately, anxiety does affect your self confidence a lot, so I kinda understand it

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #13

    Stack of books on a white table, representing Gen A's preference for traditional reading over computer use. Nowadays attention spans have gotten so short , so many of them can’t sit through a book if they tried. It is sad i hope books don’t ever become a thing of the past

    anon , Thomas Franke / Unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Becky Samuel
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    And yet the statistics show that adults under 30 are more likely to have read a book in the past year than any other age group. Just because the media keeps telling you something doesn't mean that it's true.

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #14

    Two Gen A individuals using smartphones outdoors, highlighting modern digital skills. I see a general lack of empathy and so much social anxiety . Sometimes i am sure my grandkids would rather text people than have a face to face conversation... even with their friends.

    Life-Weird1959 Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Helena
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm not a younger generation and I'd much rather text than have a face to face conversation.

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #15

    That they cannot tell the difference between facts and propaganda online.

    katee_bo_batee Report

    #16

    Child from Gen A engrossed in reading a book at a wooden table, highlighting non-digital learning habits. Nonexistent reading comprehension

    There’s story after story of teachers who teach upper middle school with kids who can’t point out the main character of an elementary level paragraph story, or find the theme of a simple passage. It genuinely scares me that next election, some of these “covid babies” who had critical learning year(s) robbed from them will be voting based on what people tell them to think because they don’t have the mind to research for themselves.

    Accomplished_Bike149 , Brooke Cagle / Unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Sand Ers
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That's another one that spans all generations. More than half of adult Americans read at or below a 6th grade level. 6th graders are 11 years old.

    View more commentsArrow down menu
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #17

    Person applying a red checkered cloth to a foot injury, seated on a floor. I’m a high school nurse and this is what I see:

    - They have no patience and expect things to happen instantly. They don’t understand that there is no instant cure for things. For example: They think I’m crazy because I want them to sit for 10 minutes with ice on an injury.

    - they can not handle being uncomfortable at all. They want to call their parents and go home for everything.

    - anxiety. So much of it. They come in to the clinic freaking out because they can’t breathe, shaking, limb numbness, panicked look on their face, etc. I ask them if they could be having anxiety about something and they tell me they aren’t anxious about anything. But it’s pretty obvious they are. It just comes out of nowhere and for no particular reason. I deal with so much mental health. These poor babies.

    Tayesmommy3 , Vidal Balielo Jr. / Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Tyranamar Suess
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I love all the obviously very anxious people I see who tell me they're fine. Um...you don't look fine. Some genuinely don't know what anxiety is. It's very interesting.

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #18

    Gen A individual using a laptop, wearing a decorative ring, and jeans, engaged in technology interaction. Now think about writing. They can't use a stop. It's sentence after sentence after sentence nonstop.

    Ramonteiro12 , Mushaboom Studio / Unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Deborah
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Sometimes, I get so frustrated trying to understand what young people - even here on BP - are actually trying to say.

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #19

    They believe that they can demand high starting salary without working experience. Totally amused me.

    Cute-Organization844 Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Damned_Cat
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Ugh, yes! I used to have new staff in their early twenties constantly questioning why someone in the same position that had worked there for 8 years was making more than they were.

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #20

    Lack of coping mechanisms. I don't understand why, I am not a parent. But a lot seem to be unable to cope when things go awry, and very keen to claim a label which excuses/explains their total inability to cope. This is not criticism of those with genuine issues, I'm talking about the self-diagnosed.

    kerill333 Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Damned_Cat
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I worry about the young people who are so quick to label interpersonal issues as "toxic" and "red flag" and are so quick to advise others to dump a relationship, get a divorce, or go no contact with their families over common issues. They advise young teenagers to save their money and move out when they turn 18 (please tell me in what country that is even possible). They have no emotional intelligence and see no value in trying to resolve issues with anyone that causes them stress. They can't see the long-term damage cutting contact can do. I agree that there are times that a person does need to walk away, but it's not always that easy and it's not usually the first solution to a problem.

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #21

    Generation A teens at a party looking at smartphones, wearing festive hats. The thing that scares me the most about this new generation is that they are so reliant on technology. They are growing up in a world where they can't imagine life without the internet or their phones, and I think that's really dangerous. These kids are going to be adults soon and they're going to be completely unprepared for the real world if they can't function without a screen in front of them.

    Sofia_mariza , Victoria Romulo / Unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Susie Elle
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    To be honest, not having internet access CAN be a genuine problem, if you look at how many things are done via the web nowadays. I'd have a proper issue if I lost my phone if only because of the freakin' sign-in confirmation app codes I get sent for every freakin' account I need to make for everything.

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #22

    Two people on a couch, one holding a smartphone, demonstrating Gen A's interaction with technology. The sexism of some young men. It seems like they also don’t question sources and fall easily for propaganda pushed through social media.

    Qasar500 , Andrej Lišakov / Unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

    #23

    Cheating their way through school. These are future doctors or nurses.

    Basketballb00ty Report

    #24

    Person in protective gear walks by a bridge, holding a case, highlighting technology gaps in Gen A. That they will have a much lower quality of life than previous generations. Too many people and not enough fresh water.

    ElJerseyDiablo727 , Getty Images / Unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Becky Samuel
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    So sad that this is buried under a heap of "the youth of today.." and "we were all so much better behaved/smarter/tougher/just all round better in my day".

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #25

    I mentioned it elsewhere in response to how tariffs might impact my work:

    But I’m a biochemist and I often oversee the hiring process at a biotech company I’m at…. I HAVE NOT HAD AN AMERICAN WITH A GOOD COMPETITIVE RESUME SHOW UP IN MY INBOX FOR A WHILE. Even for your garden variety RA roles, almost nothing…

    so when I hear from teachers that “the kids are getting worse,” I DREAD what it’s gonna be like for Americans trying to break into tech constantly having to compete with nations that have their academic s**t together (China, South Korea, lots of EU countries, etc).

    Excellent_Routine589 Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Mike F
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Because nobody wants to pay for the public schools that they rely on to teach their children.

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #26

    Person sitting on the floor holding their head, light streaming in from a window; discussing Gen A digital habits. Their sadness. Young people seem so sad - and a bit depressed too. Sad people tend not to move things forward - they just try to survive. We took all the reasons they had for optimism, hovered over their every move, and now they seem to feel resigned and sad :|.

    BlinkyRunt , Meg Aghamyan / Unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Luke Branwen
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Then again... is there anything to be optimistic about? Climate change, the uprising of fascism, end-stage capitalism, unchecked "AI", nonsense "culture wars"... they'll grow up just in time to experience the fallout.

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #27

    Person in a striped shirt using a tablet, highlighting Gen A's tech interaction. Losing touch with the real world due to excessive screen time.

    Calm-Yam-8811 , Kateryna Hliznitsova / Unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Deborah
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I read a recent study that said more young people are becoming near-sighted, and a major factor is excessive screen time.

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #28

    Person stressed in front of a computer, reflecting generational tech struggles with Gen A. Still having to work at terrible jobs and feel miserable.

    Far_Beautiful_3969 , LARAM / Unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

    #29

    Child from Gen A in a red coat sticking tongue out playfully outdoors. No respect for the authority - kids today don’t pay any respect to elderly and not even their parents. They will grow up careless of other people, no empathy for anybody, just looking after themselves. There are exceptions of course, but majority of kids today are like this.

    notegreat_ , Annie Spratt / unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Vincent Philippart
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is the same refrain that has been repeated about "the younger generation" since ancient greece. I, for one, do not agree at all. Zoomers have no rebellion in them. They do and think whatever they are told, always hope for an authority figure to step in and solve their problems for them. Punk died in 2010.

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #30

    Person in black coat using a smartphone, representing Gen A technology interaction. Teacher here... the issues that worry me:

    * Cell phone addiction. Teenagers in class: head down. Teenagers at the bus stop: head down. Walking across the street, riding a bike, walking: head down. It makes me sad.
    * Inability to focus: brain rot, meme culture, short form content equates to everyone having the attention span of a goldfish.
    * Complete lack of any understanding of finances, lack of any aspiration, no interest in developing job skills that can help them in the future. This generation is going to be shocked when they find out how hard their parents work and how much it costs to live in their home town.
    * Complete lack of any knowledge or understanding of the forces that brought us to our current political environment that they are about to stroll into as voting age adults in a few years. The state of things will be taken for granted, resigned to fascism or openly embracing it. The will to enact change for the better is gone, seen as futile. It saddens me to my core.

    This isn't all the young people I see but I would say it's over 50% at least. There are many that give me great hope. The bright, intelligent, creative and deep feeling students I have will be the only forces holding back the ugly in the future. I hope that the value of empathy, self reliance and intelligence gains a resurgence among the youth. It makes me happy to see young people discovering older technology. I hope they someday realize the value in rejecting the need to be connected to the internet every single second of every single day of their entire lives. There is SO much more to enjoy in the world than your cell phone. I understand for many teens it is the only escape in their lives, I hope they can escape the grip of technology as well somehow.

    misterdudebro , Mesut çiçen / Unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Scott Rackley
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The second point is what I call "sound bite mentality". Really, son, you can sum all that up in 140 characters? Brevity might be the soul of wit, but it is frequently the source of dumbass.

    View more commentsArrow down menu
    Continue reading with Bored Panda Premium
    Unlimited content
    Ad-free browsing
    Dark mode
    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #31

    They have to "think" in a group, but that thinking is always vibes and feels and not facts and data.

    I am confused as to how when I was a child, we all thought the information age would be one of intelligent beings who could decisively act on data. If that data is not there, then how to find it and ingest it and comprehend it. Now, their decisions and ideas are fed to them, they outsourced their thinking to someone else. Even here in South Africa, our election cycle was full of comments about how lacking the youths are. Election campaign influencer videos would have comments "thanks for this, I might not have gone to register to vote" or "ilysm I will register too".

    Even juniors who come out of university, taking on development internships, are shocking. Mentoring becomes torture. I would understand if they were a first year student, but how they make it past graduation and into the workforce (so I'm actually convinced it because they all just used generative AI tools).

    There is no individual anymore, and the hive seems a combination of stupid rather than smarts.

    Listening to them read should also be included in the Geneva Conventions.

    PsiBertron Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #32

    As a teacher I have a lot to say about this. I'm GenZ, and many of my students are also GenZ. I have a mutual understanding with them and work very well with them. We understand each other's lingo, our interests are similar. I understand my GenZ students and can see myself in them every day, from my best ones to worst ones.

    Things are very different for the Gen Alpha kids. I don't teach any this year, but I did supervise them on a field trip the other day. They are so different it's quite scary. No attention span, strange sense of humour, extreme social awkwardness, no individuality. These students are difficult to talk to and they have no social queues.

    Maybe i don't understand them because I didn't grow up in the same era as them, but what I see are children who have had their brains melted by tiktok and other similar media, all the students show symptoms of autism and Ironically the students of the same age in the autism class are far more polite, understanding and socially aware.

    I'm scared of a generation that is shaped entirely by the Internet and serves at the whims of whoever the algorithm chooses to push. Gen Alpha should be called Generation Algorithm.

    Annatastic6417 Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Tyranamar Suess
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I think COVID impaired a lot of kids social skills. My son didn't even see other people's faces for 2 years bc everyone was wearing masks. So he was terrible at reading facial cues. And he wasn't able to play with other kids during that time either. He's been diagnosed with autism but I think a lot of it is bc critical brain structures weren't being developed while my child sat around only interacting with me or people in masks.

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #33

    “They Cannot Use A Computer”: 30 People Share Their Observations About Gen A The reliance on computers and an all electric system with batteries. If we get a bad solar flare it's the stone age.

    Frustrateduser02 , Getty Images / Unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Susie Elle
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I get what you mean, but this 'one bad day away from total disaster' thinking goes for everything. If we were to rely solely on manual labour, we'd be one bad epidemic or a war away from the stone age.

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #34

    “They Cannot Use A Computer”: 30 People Share Their Observations About Gen A How much screen time they'll have.

    VIBI__PLAYS , Igor Starkov / Unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #35

    “They Cannot Use A Computer”: 30 People Share Their Observations About Gen A I'm a Gen Z, and I'm afraid that Gen Alpha won't do as well in school because their parents (not all of them, of course) keep placing them in front of tablets.

    hawkeyethor , Kelly Sikkema / Unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Vincent Philippart
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Touch screens are poison for the developing brain. Endless dopamine dispensers that turn children into addicts.

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #36

    The lack of mature male role models.

    TopherMctopherson Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #37

    That they will expect to consume everything in 30 second sound bites.

    SchmeedsMcSchmeeds Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #38

    1. Tendency toward collectivism and failure to value individualism

    2. Lack of resourcefulness and of the innate need to “make do” for themselves

    3. Lack of curiosity

    4. Obsession with and confusion of appearance versus true experience.

    5. Lack of reading skills—comprehension and ability to read through anything more than 2 sentences or five bullet points.

    6. Abject lack of resilience in the face of adversity or challenge

    7. Lack of future time orientation.

    8. Financial illiteracy

    9. Ignorance of and lack of curiosity about history and humanities

    10. Self-centeredness.

    Xrsyz Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    troufaki13
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Also the amount of people that get offended on behalf of others while those others don't even care.

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #39

    “They Cannot Use A Computer”: 30 People Share Their Observations About Gen A Their relationship to the Internet. How much time they spend on it vs. in-person activities. How it’s been used as a babysitter for them. How protections for children on it are a joke. How creeps and bullies freely use it to prey on children. How very little guidance is given to kids in schools to be able to suss out what’s real or fake, and how propaganda, botting, and algorithms work.

    Blu_Skies_In_My_Head , The Jopwell Collection / Unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #40

    Like someone once said about Margaret Thatcher, they have no hinterland, no sense of history, or more accurately, they aren't being provided with a proper sense of historical context. They think the world didn't exist before they got here and won't exist after they're gone. They (and not just them, to be fair) don't understand where the dominant ideologies today came from or how they evolved, or how the technologies they use evolved with and are dependent on interconnected systems of commerce and exchange, or how political power circulates throughout the world. It's no wonder that they feel so much unfocused anger and disillusionment; it's an understandable response to constant bewilderment. To them, things just seem to happen, and happen again, for no discernible reason.

    Hoppy_Croaklightly Report

    #41

    “They Cannot Use A Computer”: 30 People Share Their Observations About Gen A Bunch of shut-ins home schooled by day drinkers & already on line. Don't see the problem.

    N0Xqs4 , Daria Nepriakhina 🇺🇦 / Unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #42

    That they actually find that skibidi brocoli hairdo cool and attractive.

    TheGreatCornolio682 Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #43

    I read comments on a space focused Snapchat and kids were saying stuff like “why do we waste our money sending stuff into space? We knows it’s all empty” and “Waste of tax $s we should just spend it on the military” and everyone and was agreeing with him.

    Admirable_Basket_143 Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Sand Ers
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    As if that's something new? I've been hearing "space exploration is a waste of money" all my life. And I remember the Apollo Program.

    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #44

    They are socially broken. All they do is consuming yt/ticktock content without needing for self-improvement. They don't want to read, draw, solve puzzles, even play games that teach being creative. Kids stopped having critical thinking and their opinions are based heavily on dumb edits. They don't respect elders and want to be treated like royals.

    I know same can be applied to Gen Z, but we weren't exposed to brainrotting shorts. Videos had more meaning put to them, could teach things and give food for thought (aside from elsagate, but most fellas just refused to watch it in pretty short time).

    I can't comprehend what society will become when kids are old enough.

    ThatNoname-Guy Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    kansasmagic
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "Their social media addiction is horrible, not like our social media addiction because our social media *meant something* man!"

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #45

    They are going to have to confront things that no other generation (in living memory) has ever had to deal with. And we prepare them for this by mocking their fears and the pain they feel about the future that awaits them.

    That kind of thing will test the resilience of the strongest souls, let alone a generation of gaslit, scapegoated & terrified individuals.

    anon Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    athornedrose
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    this is so crucial to me. the idea that older generations see all these complaints about the younger ones as things to mock and scorn as though they have nothing to do with it and are "helping" with "tough love" by putting them down. each new generation faces challenges the previous ones couldn't have imagined at the same age. cruelty, mockery, and dismissiveness of that has never helped the situation.

    View more commentsArrow down menu
    Scary Things About The Next Generation Word Search Scary Things About The Next Generation Word Search

    Scary Things About The Next Generation Word Search

    Explore the letter grid to find hidden words in all directions!