Economist Analyzes Gen Z Pessimism: Social Media vs. Personal Agency

Afinetheorem · x · 2026-08-06

An economist highlighted that Generation Z is steeped in pessimism despite living in an era of relative peace, low unemployment, and no major recessions.

He argues that this is largely because social media structures inherently privilege negative affect. He emphasizes that adopting pessimism is a form of giving up agency and responsibility, and it's crucial for others to model progress, optimism, and responsibility.

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