Ed Elson is a writer, analyst, and co-host of the Prof G Markets podcast with Scott Galloway. He is also host of the First Time Founders podcast.
“What’s wrong with Gen Z?” This is the question I’m asked on every podcast or panel I’ve ever appeared on. Sometimes I laugh at the question. My day job is hosting Prof G Markets, a podcast where Professor Scott Galloway and I talk about money and finance — not Gen Z. But as a 25-year-old, I do have a front-row seat to our struggles.
I usually respond: “We are the most anxious, depressed, and lonely generation in history. Also, on an inflation-adjusted basis, we are the poorest.”
This statement never fails to shock people. You’d think I’d murdered a small poodle on stage. I soften my tone and explain: diagnosable anxiety and depression have doubled since the iPhone’s introduction. Loneliness is surging — 12% of Americans now report having no close friends, up from 3% in 1990. And financially? We’re the first American generation projected to earn less at 30 than our parents did at the same age.
All of this information is out there, we need only Google it. Yet, in a world where media fixates on distractions (say, a collegiate swimmer’s gender identity), the real issues fade into the background.
That’s why I appreciate this invitation to play editor for the day. In addition to keeping me informed, the Financial Times helps me to distinguish signal from noise — especially when it comes to generational trends. I’ve chosen eight articles that have enhanced my understanding of the issues afflicting my generation.
Anjli Raval explores why Gen Z workers are rejecting management roles. The explanation is simple: young people see low ROI in climbing the corporate ladder. Who can blame them? When strangers on Instagram claim to make millions on “FartCoin” and “SpankChain”, a “senior associate” title loses its appeal.
Global vineyard values are plummeting as young people increasingly drink less. I’d love to say this reflects our prudence, but I suspect it’s tied to our general lack of socialisation.
A rare bright spot: For the first time in nine years, South Korea’s birth rates have risen. The most alarming second-order effect of young people’s struggles is our global disinterest in having children. From Asia to America to Europe, birth rates are declining, so a reversal of that trend anywhere is encouraging. Fingers crossed the continuing-the-human-race trend goes viral.
While I still have you, a few other articles that caught my attention: Emma Jacobs, on teenagers’ wellness obsession. Victoria’s Secret’s Gen Z strategy. Why walking — and eating — are the new drinking. And on an unrelated note, an important piece on what’s really happening in American politics right now.
OK, back to my phone.
