21 People Spill The Tea On Why Our Generation Has It Worse Than Our Parents
Let’s be real, every generation thinks they’ve had it rough, but Gen Z? We’re built different. Sure, our parents dealt with their own stuff, but did they have to juggle student loans, rent hikes, and side hustles just to survive? Nah. While they were buying houses in their 20s, we’re out here figuring out how to pay rent and still afford avocado toast.
Between living in a digital world that never sleeps and the never-ending pressure to ‘glow up’ both IRL and online, it’s like life is on hard mode for us. From climate doom scrolling, to Tiktok pressure getting “worser”, to hustle culture, it’s safe to say we’re facing a whole new level of chaos that makes our parents’ generation look like a walk in the park.
In this episode of Afrogist, we had our contributors share their thoughts on how and why our generation has it worse than our parents. Do you agree with them?
“I’ll say in every way, financially things were not this expensive in their time, the economy was better, the get rich syndrome was not there. Education was valued unlike now… everyone was sane. There was dignity in hardworking not stealing”
Aderoyalz (F)
Lokoja, Nigeria
“I feel our generation’s upbringing is more complex due to some important factors like increased academic pressure leading to more competition and stress to succeed. Technology and social media foster comparison and insecurity, unlike in our parents’ time.
Additionally, we often grow up with weaker social ties due to less community support. Protective parenting styles give us less freedom to explore and learn from failure. Moreover, constant exposure to global events and crises creates information overload, increasing anxiety and stress. All of these factors contribute to a more challenging environment than what our parents may have faced.”
Shudi
Lokoja, Nigeria
“I think our nation has deteriorated in so many ways, especially in Integrity value. Nothing seems wrong again, almost turning into the survival of the fittest. You’re either rich or politically brutal and no penalty for any actions. Other attributes of humanity are gradually going extinct.”
Akobundu (M)
Abuja
“Lack of Basic life Virtues and Morality”
Mike (M)
Nigeria
“Finance”
MBE (M)
Obo World
“Discrimination”
Mojo (F)
Nigeria
“1. Morals
2. Money
3. Bad government”
Bone (F)
Nigeria
“In keeping to family relationships, respecting the sanctity of marriage, intentional parenthood and actually eating healthy. I fear for parents this generation will produce:
Helem (F)
Nigeria
“In no way.”
Daniel Rain Olorunfemi (M)
Lagos, Nigeria
“I believe the economy is way worse than our parent’s generation, so navigating the waters of adulthood is harder now.”
Taiwo Hassan (M)
Nigeria
“In economic terms, our generation has it worse than our parents. The global economy is in a terrible state and it’s getting worse compared to the time of our parents. Inflation is also rising faster than purchasing power making it more difficult to afford the basic things. Unemployment and underemployment is another issue that’s more rampant in our generation.”
Victor (M)
Nigeria
“In the area of governance and cost of living. Our generation is having it worse than our parents. I can still remember my mum showing me some of her stuff she bought at 50 kobo and 1 naira back in the 1980s. I remember my Dad telling me how he used to travel from Lagos to my hometown Yala, Cross River State for about 600 naira then. But today, I can’t get a good meal for 600 naira. I can’t even remember the last time I saw 5 naira. It’s so sad, to be honest.”
Noel (M)
Lagos, Nigeria
“Dressing – Modesty”
Elijah (M)
Nigeria
“I think in the manner at which our essence (as it pertains to human interaction) is regarded heavily on feat. There’s so many of us trying to catch up with what I can call materialistic success, because nowadays that’s the only way success feels like success.
Then there is the woke phenomenon drowning us, causing a huge misunderstanding and lacuna in the order of things. “
Boy Child (M)
Nigeria
“In every area of our lives there is a false sense of surplus. Lots of job posts but not jobs. We meet lots of people but we make no connections.
It is draining.”
Anna (F)
Nigeria
“Mental Health and Social Pressure: Social media, unrealistic expectations, and decreased face-to-face interactions contribute to increased anxiety and depression.”
Victoria Hart (F)
Nigeria
“I’d say our generation does not need correction. Any small thing, ‘my mental health.’”
Metzuyan (F)
Nigeria
“Well, there’s free speech amongst children which does not promote regard for parents. Children rights are now extremes which makes parents vulnerable to correcting their kids. Also, parents and potential parents now engage in the disadvantageous aspect of social media, which does not promote the values and morals we once had.”
Heylee (M)
Lagos, Nigeria
“In our wokeness. This generation is so woke that our moral level has started to deteriorate. Indecency is applauded and respect is lost.”
Georgina (F)
Nigeria
“This generation corely has it worse than our parents generation in the aspect of morals: it is largely as a result of what they call “enlightenment & freedom of self expression”.
The aforementioned is not bad in itself, but there is boundless expression of it, which leads to overestimated expression of “perceived” rights, that makes the younger ones see themselves as being equal with older ones, feeling they know more and should be allowed to do things while the other ones sit back and learn. The extra level of distraction is something that may not be peculiar with the younger generation, but it is way too much, with social media being one of key agents of this distraction.”
Abraham (M)
Nigeria
“We live in a world where the economy is bad, we have been leaders of tomorrow since like forever, nothing works, moral standards have gone to the wind and everyone is just trying to survive and win; we probably don’t care who we trample on to get there. I think our parents’ world was kinder in human relationships and sane to an extent, also had a better economic condition.”
Abby (F)
Nigeria
No cap, it’s pretty clear our generation has some serious challenges to deal with. You need to work out, have a balanced life physically, emotionally, psychologically, mentally, socially and even spiritually. But even in the middle of all the stress, we’re finding ways to adapt and make things work. Whether it’s through online communities or finding new paths in the gig economy, we’re still hustling and thriving. At the end of the day, we’re shaping the future, one viral trend at a time.
Yes, each generation has its unique battles, but it’s obvious that we, the today’s young adults, face an entirely different world from what our parents experienced. With growing demands and limited solutions, the pressures are immense. However, in recognizing these struggles, we can begin to find ways to create balance, pushing for changes that will benefit not only us but the generations to come.
So, how about you? In what way do you think our generation has it worse than our parents? Leave your comments down below 👇
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