‘Generation sensible’ risk missing out on life experiences, therapists warn. Reports of rise in social anxiety among overly cautious 11- to 25-year-olds who often interact online

33 comments

  1. Their futures have been sold down the drain, they won’t own a home,
    Won’t be able to start families and probably won’t even be able to retire.

  2. yeah cause doing anything out besides drinking cans in the park is too expensive

    also we live in an age where we can acknowledge social anxiety issues exist, when I was growing up we got shamed for this problem, ironically making it significantly worse

  3. Generation sensible? How about “Generation Broke”?

    Also, there have been years and years of adverts and campaigns on the following topics:

    – dangers of smoking
    – dangers of drinking
    – dangers of drugs
    – dangers of strangers
    – dangers of unhealthy food

    A generation of young people actually listen to advice and *that’s the problem???*

    You couldn’t make this up I swear

  4. Yeah glad I got my teen years a few years before and after the 08 crash. Don’t think I could afford half the shit I did back then now even with the rather small increase in the first year apprentice pay I was on in 08/09.

  5. I read this article up to the point it talks about drinking – basically there’s people worried that if less people drink that companies won’t make as much profit so they have to keep making articles about how being “healthy” by not smoking and drinking is “missing out on life experiences” to try and persuade some people to take up unhealthy and expensive habits.

  6. Sounds like a few business owners are worried young people aren’t giving them enough money, as they already took all of it from them.

  8. “It’s strange that young people now don’t seem to want to get drunk in a nightclub”, hm, well thanks to more awareness of the dangers of having your head kicked in or being sexually assaulted, it can’t come as much of a surprise.

    Back in the 1970s these might be “one offs” that happened “that one time”, but either it always happened a lot and you didn’t really know that because news didn’t spread like it does today (or people just declared the victims were asking for it, so it would never happen to you), or it *does* happen more often now. Plus crimes basically don’t exist now and the police will just laugh at you, or join in to kick your head in, or assault you.

    It’s often not even “I think this will happen.” It’s that it’s so commonplace you could go out once or twice and it *will* happen. Yet instead of thinking “could we make the country a safer place for young people?” we tell them that it’s ‘all part of life’ and they’re a lesser person for not having their phone nicked and a tooth kicked out.

  9. Choose a fucking big television, choose washing machines, cars, compact disc players and electrical tin openers.

    Choose life.

  11. UK Media:

    “We’ve spent the last 40 years telling parents that every stranger is probably a paedo or a murderer and that everything you can eat, drink or touch is probably poisonous or carcinogenic to their children.

    I’m at a loss as to why their children are so anxious. Let’s just blame the internet. What else could it be?”

  13. The title and opening line and a few others, just don’t match the “evidence” presented.

    >They have been deemed “generation sensible” for their focus on social issues, healthy living and drinking less alcohol. But therapists say generation Z could miss out on a wealth of life experience due to their overly cautious attitude to taking risks.

    Reading the article I don’t really see how they came to that conclusion based on the case studies.

    >…relationship issues for this generation when they are confronted with the reality of being in an office, being in a nightclub, being in a pub, or being on a date.”

    The article mentions anxiety but I feel out of context – trying to portray kids now days as socially awkward geeks that can’t talk to real people face to face. But the case studies talk of anxiety from pressure to achieve, or do well in life. Which is honestly very understandable when you consider the world that these kids are going into with; Shit pay, high taxes, high cost of living, missive debt for higher education, no ability to buy a house, crazy rent, little to no disposable income… the list goes on.

    ​

    >said generation Z claim they drink less alcohol than their parents because they feel under pressure to perform academically, are more health conscious and do not want to lose control.
    >
    >
    >
    >Seven out of 10 respondents said they felt they did not need to drink as much because they have a better choice of hobbies than their parents’ generation.

    Fucking good on them, gives me hope for the future when they get to voting age or begin to understand their needs to vote.

    ​

    >The researchers from the universities of Kent and Leeds surveyed 517 Britons aged 18 to 25 who described themselves as moderate or non-drinkers in 2020.

    The gall that this is being portrayed as a bad thing….?!

    ​

    >Many also said that they reduced their alcohol consumption due to the rising cost of drinks, university debt, and pressure to succeed in academia and their future careers.
    >
    >
    >
    >One focus group member, Jennifer, said: “[We are] hyper-aware of the world as it is, and the problems with climate change and the political climate in the world, creating pressure on us to be doing our best to be making the world a better place, rather than just like living for the moment and having fun.”

    Now we’re getting to the crux of the problem at hand. Basically kids are now branded as “generation sensible” because they are being forced to pragmatically approach what will be adulthood in a very difficult environment.

    Ugh, have to say that article was fucking abhorrent to read and really missing the point of the research, they didn’t even cherry pick their quotes very well.

    Did nightclub owners and breweries sponsor the article? If they did, they paid too much.

  15. The younger generations have so much on their shoulders. I’m 35, and it started getting shit for my generation, but I really feel for youngsters now. There’s no escape from news about global warming, wars and financial problems. No wonder people are anxious.

  16. I’m 25, definitely feel like I’m missing out on life because I just can’t really afford it. That being said, I also don’t wanna get drunk, smoke, do drugs, or do stupid shit. My generation grew up with those warnings and for the most part we actually listened. Now we’re all anxious and overly cautious and spend most of our time kind of just existing.

  17. It’s interesting that news pieces like this tend to focus on alcohol consumption. It seems the journalists believe drinking is an important part of having a healthy social life. I’ve enjoyed more than my fair share of drink and drugs and I have to say that this isn’t true in any sense. Relationships that depend on substances are weak and unhealthy, what is truly important is to connect with others when you are your genuine unaltered self.

    It’s a sad reminder of the widespread binge drinking culture here in UK, I’m glad my generation isn’t being harmed by it as much but of course we are not without our own vices and problems.

  19. Calling them “generation sensible” is an insult. they are “generation no-choice”

    Im 34 for reference, i HATE going on holiday because it costs so much and with how much life costs just to live, i find it a huge waste, thinking that could be used for bills and mortgage.

    i rarely buy new clothes, i have an older phone and PC.I was “lucky” that i got on the house ladder when i did, however while my friends were all out partying and going on flash holidays, i was working. saving every single penny to afford my deposit for my house. Worked every day of my life since i was 15, at 24, me and my wife bought our first home.
    We probably lost 95% of our friends because we were always “busy” but really we just didnt want to waste money

    Lockdown was heaven, couldnt go anywhere, so you didnt spend anything!

  21. I grew up almost completely online and feel I had a better teen and early adult life than everyone else I know.

    I mean, yeah the world is shit and that’s affecting mental health, but I at least enjoyed myself while dealing with the existential dread

  23. Is being sensible a problem?
    Wouldn’t young people be criticised for making poor choices and being a burden on the rest of society if they are reckless and get hurt or pregnant as a teen or whatever?

  25. Lol we’re sensible because the other option is renting our entire lives and never being able to afford a family and kids. You fuckers.

  26. Well they have to be miserable, neoliberalism is the only way we can live, now get down that mine for Musk’s cars./s

  27. If these kids want to have even a reasonably comfortable future, they can’t afford a single mistake. This society is utterly unforgiving of it now. They can’t afford to get drunk or anything like that, the only kids their age I know who are doing alright for themselves are exactly like this. They don’t smoke, drink, spend money without needing to, anything like that. They just work, study, and exercise.

    They have to be constantly on point to make it. What do people expect them to do? We lambast them to get good jobs, get on the housing ladder, etc etc. Only way they are going to do that is doing very well in school, then landing a good graduate job almost immediately out of university, and then successfully keeping up with the speed of the societal treadmill for their entire lives.

    I know personally, in this country, you slip out of that treadmill even once, you’re pretty much done. I worked in London as a Data Scientist earning very good money in my 20s. One bout of poor mental health, I lost it all, I’ve never been able to recover from it. You’re not allowed one gap on your CV, one non-middle class job, any of that makes you a highly suspicious person for life.

    These kids know that.

  29. Its almost like people can barely afford to live and have no disposable income.

    I thought this was what people wanted anyway though?! I thought kids spend too much money, too much fun, too much “life experiences” not enough 7 day working weeks, too much avocado toast.

  30. Well I certainty feel left behind and utterly missed out on a social life. In these 24 years I’ve never drunk alcohol, gone/ been invited to a party/ out, still a virgin, never even dated, no friends, basic job, no future and no real reason to keep living. my work/hobbies literally just exist to get me through the day into the next.

    I ruined my life unknowingly by doing what I was told was the right or the sensible thing. but all doing that really meant is that I haven’t actually **lived** at all and I’m a wreck because of it. The worst part is that I’m 24 now, its too late to bring it all back. I’m not going to grow up with any memories to look back on or stories to tell. those years might as well not existed, I got nothing from them.

    I’m so far behind this is just going to be the reality of my life from now on. I really wish I could mulligan and try again.

  32. I don’t want to continue this debate because we’re too far in our opinions, but the UK buys most of our energy from France. So if anything we’re subsiding them, along side them owning parts of our public transport network.

  33. My 12 year old is really struggling with anxiety and doesn’t really like to do anything other than being online. She has a great friendship group but gets panic attacks if she goes to a sleepover or trip out or other social event. She’s had 6 weeks of online counselling but it’s not really helped and she’s started pulling her hair out now. I worry that she’s missing out on what should be her fun care free years.
    She’s such a great kid and I hate seeing her miss out on life.

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