Anxious and cynical, Generation Z sees the world as a scary place

Generation Z, made up of people born between 1997 and 2012, has developed a negative perception of the world in which we live. Recent research shows that these young people perceive reality as unstable, dangerous and difficult to transform.

This feeling comes from experiences since adolescence, marked by crises, rapid changes and a significant flow of negative information. This is reflected in higher levels of fear, anxiety and distrust about the future.

Why is the world scary for Generation Z?

A study led by Professor Gabriel Rubin of Montclair State University in the United States surveyed more than a hundred young people and showed that fear, anxiety and cynicism frequently appear in news reports. For many of them, the world seems increasingly difficult to understand and control.

Among the main reasons are experiences such as the Covid-19 pandemic, political debates, episodes of violence in schools, economic and climate crises. Added to all these problems, topics circulate almost all the time on social networks.

Negative news, strong images and alarming speeches end up increasingly reinforcing this feeling that the risk is always present. In this scenario, fear is no longer specific and influences how young people view the future, make decisions, and interact with the people around them.

“Generation Z is more exposed to crisis situations from an early age. They are young people who grew up receiving a lot of threatening stimuli, which keeps the body and mind in a state of alert. In clinical practice, we do not see greater fragility, but people who have matured without enough time to deal with losses, organize their emotions and build a sense of security,” explains neuropsychologist Leninha Wagner.

Sensitivity or excess risk?

Although labeled as fragile or overly sensitive by other studies, Generation Z does not necessarily have a weaker emotional structure. What we observe is a context with more threatening stimuli, and worse, all experienced prematurely.

Sensitivity, in this case, functions as a coping mechanism. Young people who grew up without emotional stability tend to develop greater vigilance and greater concern, not out of fragility, but as a form of protection in the face of an environment perceived as hostile.

Generation Z, fear of the future and suspicious relationships

The difficulty of imagining a stable scenario ends up interfering in the daily decisions and the future of these young people. Doubts about work, money, technology and politics cause them to avoid long-term projects or choose paths considered safer, even without real desire.

As a result, planning your life becomes more difficult, as the focus shifts from what makes sense to what seems to offer the least risk at the moment. Many people postpone important decisions or consider options simply to feel more protected.

“Cynicism appears when young people feel that individual effort and collective mobilization do not produce real changes. This perception of powerlessness erodes motivation, reduces commitment and reinforces the idea that trying is not worth it,” emphasizes psychologist André Machado, member of the Regional Psychology Council of Rio de Janeiro.

Besides the decisions themselves, fear also interferes with interpersonal relationships. Young people are wary of different opinions for fear of judgment and of the institutions that organize life in society, such as governments, political parties and the judicial system.

This distrust means that more complex topics, such as politics, social rights, economics or gender issues, are avoided in everyday conversations. Fear of judgment, criticism or conflict leads to shallower, safer conversations without going any further.

Young Gen Z women feel the effects of fear and insecurity even more

Ways for Gen Z to Manage Fear

Even in the face of all this uncertainty, there are ways to manage fear without ignoring reality. Therapy can help separate real risks from exaggerated worries and strengthen emotional control.

Additionally, seeking support from other people, focusing daily on one’s own personal development, and regulating constant contact with negative news are strategies that can help.