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Gen Z: Generation Future Anxiety?

Blogby Sara Eivazi

This article was originally published in German. The English version is an automatic translation and may contain errors. The German original is authoritative.

Coalition collapse, inflation, a collapsing pension system, war in Europe and the Middle East – and then there's climate change.
The list of problems worldwide and here in Germany is long and feels like it's getting longer all the time. When you look at the headlines, it quickly creates the impression that threats are lurking everywhere, threatening one's own wellbeing and even one's existence in the future.
For many problems there seem to be no solutions and uncertainty among the population is growing. Above all, Gen-Z is becoming increasingly pessimistic and is afraid of what's to come. This is also confirmed by the trend study "Youth in Germany". There seems to be no trace of youthful naivety and optimism. 
Does the "Z" in Gen-Z now stand for future anxiety?

What concerns Gen-Z?

According to the study, the main topics for young people are inflation, war (in Europe and the Middle East) and expensive/scarce housing. 
Anyone who has moved house before can tell you a thing or two about the latter. 
Especially in major cities like Berlin, Munich or Hamburg this is noticeable, where a one-bedroom flat can cost well over €1000 per month, if you can find one at all. Many are desperate, because rents also seem to keep rising, whilst you can only dream of owning your own home. How are you supposed to afford that in the future?

"It was better back then. We had fewer worries." 

Not quite – future anxiety is not a new phenomenon. Young people have always worried about their professional and personal future. 
But over the last few decades the focus has shifted: global and societal problems now overshadow personal ones.
The main reason for this is advancing digitalisation. Our world is becoming more interconnected and it's hardly possible anymore to shield oneself from the world's problems. Live reports from war or about the consequences of climate change reach us in seconds – and often in abundance – and so for a long time now it's no longer just about things that only affect one personally. 
Social media also plays its part in the fear. The algorithms of TikTok, Instagram and co. are getting better all the time. Bad news gets more clicks and is consumed more, so the algorithm keeps suggesting more posts of the same kind. An increasingly strong sense of catastrophe emerges. 
Given all this, it's really easy to get lost in your worries and always assume the worst-case scenario. These fears can be burdensome – and they quickly manifest not only psychologically but also physically, for example through sleep disorders or constant stress. 51% of respondents to "Youth in Germany" reported suffering from stress, and around a third complained of exhaustion and self-doubt. 

The good news is, you're not alone.

In this context, it's important to know that you're not alone with your fears. Consciously engaging with them can help you cope with them better. This includes viewing bad news more objectively, reducing social media consumption and refocusing on the positive things in the present – even if that's often easier said than done. 
However, if the fear becomes overwhelming, you shouldn't hesitate to seek support – whether through conversations with friends or professional help. 
It's also worth noting that many young people are taking the initiative and trying to stand up for a better world, for example by questioning their consumption behaviour, volunteering or demonstrating for good on the streets.
What's special about the future is that it's uncertain. It brings risks with it, but also opportunities, and in the end it will probably turn out quite differently – perhaps even well – depending on how we shape it.

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