A quick Google search will tell you that “The Lost Generation” refers to the people who came of age during World War I. It was believed they felt disillusioned by the turmoil, supposedly turning them into rebellious and aimless individuals. But nowadays, the term seems to apply to all existing generations: boomers stuck in their ways, millennials left jaded from chasing their dreams, and Gen Z folks trying to find their place in today’s society measured by Instagram likes and TikTok followers. Whichever group you belong to, the Lost Generation subreddit will likely have something for you. This group of 376,000 members has no shortage of posts that express frustrations about student loans, rising healthcare costs, and wealth inequality. We’ve compiled some of them into this post, which may (or may not) stir some emotions. Fellow author Ernest Hemingway then used it as an epigraph to his 1926 novel, “The Sun Also Rises.” It was believed to be an accusation towards younger people in their 20s and 30s and their supposed lack of purpose during the First World War. An April survey by real estate company Redfin revealed that 78% of older Americans would choose to stay in their current homes, many of which are larger houses that used to accommodate their children. However, aging in place has caused a housing shortage since empty nesters own 28% of three-bedroom houses in the United States. That leaves only 14% for millennials with children. And with a shortage comes price hikes. In May, Bankrate released a report revealing that the median home sale price as of that month was $419,300, a 5% increase from 2023. This has urged many to delay marriage and having children. A recent survey by the Pew Research Center revealed that the average marrying age for a man is 30 and 28 for a woman. That’s a four-year delay for both genders compared to 1987. According to a 2023 Forbes report, the median student loan repayment amount of $25,000 to $30,000 per borrower could be a factor. Given such a debt load, many cannot afford long-term savings for a down payment on a home or retirement. For experts from Hofstra University, the obsession with technology and social media could be one reason. Associate professor Jamie Mitus says tech addiction may result in psychological disorders like depression, repetitive motion disorder, anxiety, and sleep deprivation, to name a few. “When you’re getting a device at five years old, you haven’t developed that ability to regulate yet,” he explained. “So it’s easier to slip into the impulsivity of using the technology and having a harder time breaking away from it.” They revealed that recent college graduates are failing job interviews, urging 60% of employers to offer more benefits to attract older workers. Experts like publishing entrepreneur Stephanie Kaplan Lewis are pointing to anxiety as a likely cause. In a January interview with The Guardian, she stated that Gen Z “won’t use corporate speech” and “may struggle with eye contact, body language, fidgeting, or not holding their phones.” An article published on the school’s official website in early 2024 mentioned greater acceptance of mental health matters, the use of AI to speed up scientific discovery of new drugs, and the improvement of healthcare as some things to look forward to. It isn’t all doom and gloom, after all. Follow Bored Panda on Google News! Follow us on Flipboard.com/@boredpanda! Please use high-res photos without watermarks Ooops! Your image is too large, maximum file size is 8 MB.
