In a recent visit to my parents house they mentioned that when they were younger, no one in their age group, from 18 to 28, were talking about politics, let alone interested in it. This came up after I brought up that among my friend group, people at work, and even in random run-ins with strangers, politics is a common topic of conversation. Not only is the news reporting on political events daily, but our talk-show hosts, celebrities, and sports heroes feel the need to make it a part of their identity as well. It seems to have seeped into everything we care about, from movies and video games, sports, and even to what people generally spend their time watching on the internet for fun.
What changed?
It might be an easy answer on it's face to say that the invention of the internet and social media has allowed us to become more connected with everyone and everything around the world, therefore exposing us to politics and the effects it has on our daily lives. This is certainly true, but is it the only reason?
It's no secret that everything is more expensive. Young adults who have graduated college and spent a few years in the workforce are looking to start a family struggle to find the funds to buy a home. This is a big difference from those of the same age who grew up in the 1980's.
Around 1985, wages and job-growth were on the rise. Young couples could easily buy a starter home on a dual income, with the median home price at $85,000. That is a stark difference from the median home price today at over $400,000. Even with a dual income, most young adults are questioning if they'll ever be able to afford a home that isn't falling apart at the seams. With this nipping at their heels, it's no wonder this younger generation is trying to find out what's causing this nightmare.
Even before they leave school, students are met with the startling realization that they will be paying off their college loans for decades. Student loans were minimal or non-existent for those who grew up in previous generations. For those who have to dump a large portion of their paycheck each month into paying off these loans, they're wondering why they ever went in the first place, and more importantly, why these costs are so expensive as it is.
Aside from not being able to afford the same luxuries as their parents at their age, young people are more isolated than ever before. They are keeping to themselves and drowning their days in Youtube, TikTok, and video games. With more young people forced to rent apartments for longer than previous generations, and the post-pandemic invention of remote work, people have become victims to social isolation.
With this isolation comes boredom, and with boredom comes the search for meaning and an overall purpose in life driven by constant rumination as they rot in their studio apartments. Unless they are cut-off from technology in every sense, it's only natural that they will attach their identity and purpose to politics. We've seen the plump, blue-haired, nose-ringed college kids and their like-minded groups of friends protesting on the streets or campuses for any number of causes that takes them out of their own heads, if even for a day; climate change, pro-choice, #MeToo, etc.
Their parents were focused on where they would all be meeting on Friday after work. Spending time at bars or clubs was much more common, and even contributed to the birth of many of these young people today. Nowadays, bars are seen as a waste of money. Not only is it not in the budget, it's seen as a waste of time. In the 1980's, 65% of 18-25 year old's reported regular drinking, while 47% of those the same age report drinking today.
With all this free time and no meaning, their needs to be an outlet, and politics has found it's host in this generations youth. It's not healthy to be constantly bombarding ourselves with the latest political events, especially when they seem to be becoming more intense as the days go on. It's good and necessary to want to be informed on why things are the way they are, and what's causing all the pain for this generation, but it's also important to take a step back, find ways to meet new people, and spend time doing what makes you happy.
Have you tried pickleball?
