24% of those in Gen Z said they felt pressured by friends to take trips they can’t afford, per Empower.
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24% of Gen Z’s have asshole friends
I think a lot of Gen z kids just don’t comprehend others being tight on money and not being able to just do stuff like this regularly. One the flip side, a lot of Gen z won’t stick up for themselves and tell their friends what the deal is.
I don't think it's sticking up for themselves, it's just FOMO. Gen Z kids will flat blurt out that they're broke to strangers. They just don't think it's worth holding onto money for opportunities that will never come, it feels arbitrary, they're weighing out living a life vs not having one anyway even if they save up because some disaster or sudden expense will nyx it away anyway. They don't see a future for themselves but they're willing to juggle a little, which of course is anxiety inducing so they're aware that social pressures like spending too much exist.
I mean I agree with that for sure. I guess I was more so speaking on the 25% or whatever percent that feel pressured into it in reference to the title.
Definitely a lot of us are more carefree in the sense you speak, but that doesn’t mean we’re all just recklessly spending money on vacations we can’t afford.
We like to all tell strangers how broke we are so our pains are known to the system but telling your friends you can’t go on an awesome vacation with them cause you can’t afford it is a little different imo. It’s easier to tell strangers that than your close friends.
I would say a lot of silver spooners are this way. I had a friend in college (emphasis on “had”) who would be annoyed when we would go on trips and I would need to find a Wells Fargo atm more than once in a few days. He couldn’t seem to conceptualize that I pulled my last $20 out of the account 2 nights before.
Edit: this was 20 years ago.
100%, they literally just don’t understand
I would say Gen Z and Boomers are the most obsessive over social media for all the wrong reasons. I can’t tell you how many Gen Z I’ve seen thinking the stuff they see on social media influences is normal and is completely influenced into thinking that’s the lifestyle.
I also see articles about how Gen Z are prioritizing work life balance, but the truth is I see more of them doing things that are outside of their ability to afford because they see it on social media. So it’s not that they prioritize work life balance, it’s that they’re influenced by a lifestyle that is not sustainable. It’s not that I’m clowning on the idea of work life balance because it is important, but it’s the fact that bad financial habits is being disguised and justified as work life balance.
At the same time younger people wanting to travel and explore experiences is normal, but I would say peer influences definitely doesn’t help especially when many of them are influenced by social media.
I mean everyone is affected by the “keeping up with the Jones’s” aspect of social media imo. It definitely does skew the world’s view on what’s reasonably expected or “real”.
There’s a lot of blame being thrown at Gen z, but people are trying to do the best with what they’ve got. Unfortunately America is set up to where you either work to make money or you’re spending money, there’s not much free things to do with your time besides sit on your phone (which is a huge issue people complain about too).
It’s all a symptom of capitalism and the American culture.
Also just because cool things get popular on social media doesn’t mean that’s the only reason people do it. I’d say rich people are actually the most guilty of doing frivolous “social media cool things” like spending thousands on gold leaf stakes with some influencer dude cutting it all weird.
People going to expensive concerts is not the issue, the concerts being that expensive in the first place is the issue. I really don’t see gen z doing anything too crazy or out of line with past generations.
Would love to hear some examples of what you have in mind though!
😜
24% need to grow a spine and say no.
Peer pressures all ways going to be a thing
Exactly this
More like 24% of Gen Z don’t have the basic ability to resist peer pressure.