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“Middle Class Is Over”: 45 People Share Things Young Gen Zers Aren’t Ready To Hear
CuriositiesMAY 12, 2025

“Middle Class Is Over”: 45 People Share Things Young Gen Zers Aren’t Ready To Hear

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Like the millennials before them, Gen Z is now the subject of every well-meaning and not-so-well-meaning thinkpiece about what they are doing wrong. But the fact is that it's still smart to listen to one’s elders and learn from their mistakes, experiences and stories.
Someone asked “What’s something Gen Z isn’t ready to hear?” and people shared their thoughts.
So get comfortable as you read through, if you are in the right category, perhaps take notes, upvote your favorites, and share your thoughts and experiences in the comments section below.

#1

“Middle Class Is Over”: 45 People Share Things Young Gen Zers Aren’t Ready To Hear
If you're "triggered" by some harmless, normal, everyday thing, to the point you can't function, then it's your job to get therapy. It's not society's job to reshape itself so **you** never experience stress.
112points

#2

Young woman sitting on the floor looking upset, capturing the challenges of the middle class for Gen Zers today.
Not every bad thing that happens to you is "trauma.".
104points

#3

Young person wearing headphones and plaid shirt, covering face in frustration, reflecting middle class challenges.
Other people aren't responsible for your safety or emotional comfort.
85points

#4

Young Gen Z woman holding notebooks and pencil, representing challenges middle class is over discussions.
You don't know nearly as much as you think you do.

When you look back at yourself 10 years from now, you'll realize this too.

It happens to everyone.
78points

#5

“Middle Class Is Over”: 45 People Share Things Young Gen Zers Aren’t Ready To Hear
It's actually not ethical, in most cases, to film and post random strangers. Your friends, with their permission? Sure. Someone on the street, clearly experiencing mental illness issues? Not ok. Goofy children you don't know in a park? Nope. People you're sitting with in the ER? Violation of privacy.



A good rule of thumb would be that if you're not willing to approach the person for permission to film or post (because they would be embarrassed, because they would be mad, or because they would deny permission) then you probably shouldn't be filming them. You aren't entitled to use other people's images for fifteen minutes of tiktok fame.
77points

#6

Teen girl wearing glasses and a purple beanie, looking at her phone in front of a chalkboard with formulas, reflecting middle class struggles.
I'm a part of Gen Z but I have something to add: the amount of disrespect some of us have is just shameful. I was sitting in class yesterday and the teacher was telling some kids to get off their phones RIGHT IN FRONT OF THEM and they just continued to ignore her and keep staring at their phones. You can last 1 hour of your life without your phone, put it down and do some work.
74points

#7

“Middle Class Is Over”: 45 People Share Things Young Gen Zers Aren’t Ready To Hear
Sometimes in life, you gotta do something you really dont want to do. Just buckle up and do it. No one in your life will do it for you.
72points

#8

Young woman gently holding a man by the shoulders, illustrating challenges faced by the middle class and Gen Z perspectives.
Dealing with confrontation and discomfort is a necessary life skill. Not everyone who challenges you and makes you “uncomfortable” through mere argument or disagreement is a bully. If you want to succeed in business or life in general you will need to handle difficult situations. Nobody owes you a “safe space” for your feelings.
66points

#9

Young woman sitting on a couch with head in hands, showing stress and anxiety about middle class and financial struggles.
Being mentally ill isn't quirky. The entire community around mental illness on tiktok is so anti recovery.
61points

#10

Young woman recording video on smartphone, illustrating challenges the middle class and Gen Z face today.
You don’t have to strive to be famous or to go viral. It’s perfectly ok to be average.
61points

#11

Large diverse crowd wearing masks raising fists during a middle class protest in an urban city street setting.
That boomers ran the civil rights movement. There's a lot of racist old people don't get me wrong but gen z act like they are the first generation to consider human rights.


Edit: for everyone telling me boomers were only teenagers during civil rights I implore you to go to a protest and notice how many teenagers show up. They don't have to work and they are often the most radical. Teenagers have always been a big part of social movements, y'all just hate boomers because your media has pitted the 2 groups against eachother for fun.
55points

#12

Two young women outdoors in casual wear, representing Gen Z discussing challenges of the middle class today.
I’m in gen Z, and I would say that one of the most important lessons I’ve learned is that it’s okay to *not* be opinionated. It is far more beneficial to yourself and others if you take time to listen and understand multiple viewpoints instead of seeking to form a concrete opinion.
Along those same lines, it is okay if your opinions change. That shows that you are growing and learning about what you value most in life.
49points

#13

Young Gen Z person wearing a black hoodie sitting on a dark couch, reflecting challenges of middle class and generational views.
Not everyone is special and sometimes people need to be told they aren't a good person.
49points

#14

Young Gen Z woman standing thoughtfully on a tree-lined path, symbolizing challenges middle class faces today.
“Every generation imagines itself to be more intelligent than the one that went before it, and wiser than the one that comes after it.”

-George Orwell.
49points

#15

Young man with tattoos and a split black and white shirt socializing outdoors, reflecting middle class and Gen Z themes.
Machine Gun Kelly is a talentless hack and you know it.
43points

#16

“Middle Class Is Over”: 45 People Share Things Young Gen Zers Aren’t Ready To Hear
Being gay and/or trans isn't a personality. Sincerely, someone gay and trans.
Report
43points

#17

Two young girls with face stickers taking a selfie indoors, highlighting challenges faced by young Gen Zers in middle class.
Guard your privacy AND YOUR KIDS’ PRIVACY. Your children don’t know who they are yet and you’re sharing a bazillion photos and videos and other c**p - or their literal c**p - with the world via internet. Don’t get me started on where convicts with child pRon start their collections… but I’ll give you a hint and it’s abbreviated SM.

The internet is fun and all but consider keeping some of that stuff as personal stuff. LOCK IT DOWN. (I’m looking at you, face scanner for iPhone, allowing apps to track your personal data, and location services). I know none of y’all read books anymore, but I’m sure someone’s talked about 1984 on a podcast.
42points

#18

Young Gen Z man with curly hair and glasses, wearing a floral shirt and striped tee, reflecting on middle class challenges.
People aren’t black and white. Everyone has good and bad traits, and no one is perfect.
40points

#19

Young woman in a summer dress reaching for leaves in a park, reflecting on middle class challenges for Gen Zers.
Get outside. It will do wonders for your anxiety and depression.
40points

#20

Man in pink shirt consoling distressed young Gen Z man sitting on bed, reflecting challenges middle class faces today.
Teenagers should know that it’s ok to feel depressed and heartbroken. It’s okay to feel like everything is out of control and that you should talk about all these feelings to an adult.
39points
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