Mental Health

I'm sure smartphones don't help, but there is also an additional factor that I've observed: The social contract has changed radically. A lot of people from older generations have the idea that if they show up and do a good job at work, go to the doctor and obey what they say, read the newspaper and take it seriously, all these kind of "doing what you're supposed to" elements of life, that they'll be well-served and well taken care of. For young people, that is not at all the case. And, because they're not stupid, they've noticed (how could they not?), and it makes them cynical and nihilistic about the whole concept of "doing what you're supposed to" as a general life principle.

What else would you expect from a cohort that thinks any emotion or action that isn't rooted in a smug disdain for sincerity is "cringe". Fucking kids brains have been fried by fascist dogwhistle memes, incel rhetoric, and actual rapists peddling antisocial behavior as a life philosophy.

Really interesting study.

There are a ton of factors that influence this trend of decreasing conscientiousness

The author seems to attribute most of it to new technologies, but since no significant tech emerged around 2016 that would have began this trend, fell like it probably has to do more with the generational "hopelessness" felt by most people under 30.

The author does consider this, but I think forcing genZ to grow up with 1/16th of the wealth of boomers at the same stages in life seriously stunted their growth and independence.

And ignoring their almost impossible financial situations, their reward for working harder than any other generation in human history will be to watch the planet die around us while anyone in a position of power clings to it so they can rape kids or whatever they are obsessed with.

It's bleak for younger generations, and I can't exactly blame them for checking out.

Here's the NIH article: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4499872/ and the Financial Times article: https://archive.md/4YVBB The latter has more links to other sources.

We're boned

Arrested development. When people don't hit life mile stones they don't develop. When you can't cash flow positive your life despite doing everything you are were told by the system, you ain't got fucking time or energy to self actualize.

This is done on purpose.

Parasites want obedience with out even giving you the good boy treatment or much of any treat.

Anyone lapring the regime kool-aid lacks basic self respect and dignity. Most people ain't that stupid, thank god.

I'd like everyone to stop and consider what end of life care is going to be like for us with these fucked up kids running the show by the time we reach that stage.

I get that every generation ever has thought the younger generations weren't up to the task, but this isn't the same scenario. As other commenters are mentioning, these are people absolutely brain fried and desensitized from birth by aggressive, non-stop propaganda. They lack sympathy/empathy. Their roles models are literal rapists and fascists.

They're going to be amoral, poor, and completely unequipped to take care of the elderly, much less all the other aspects of society, by the time we reach the end of our lives.

Dark. Future.

Is this why customer service has gone downhill so dramatically? Never a smile or thank you anymore. Everyone is just miserable and rude.

When I worked for $5.15/hr in 2008 it was expected to be courteous and polite with customers or you'd be fired. I remember my manager at my first job specifically laying into me for not smiling enough. It was the most basic requirement of the job.

And people say that it's because wages suck nowadays, but that $5.15 from 2008 is now worth around $8 and yet fast food pays $15/hr starting around me. So kids nowadays make twice as much as I did and can't be assed to give a single fuck. I just don't get it.