Why there is an Absolute Hatred for 2023 Among Millennials and Gen Z
The confused journey of 2023 has left an unforgettable mark on the collective psyche of Millennials and Gen Z, guiding in a wave of emotions ranging from frustration to overwhelming despair. As we reflect on the past year, it becomes evident that the confluence of personal and societal challenges developed a unique narrative, prompting a profound reflection of individual experiences.
How do you describe the feeling of the whole year? Do you remember what exactly happened every month in the first place? Honestly, I don’t. I remember only good and bad things and not ‘just the days.’ So, when someone is asking you the question ‘How did this year go for you?’ is less about listening to you and more about expressing theirs.
Mental breakdown, frustration of things not happening according to the plan, career breakdown, relationship breakdown, and the pressure of attending family events (marriages) became the reason to overthink in 2023.
A Whirlwind of Overthinking:
Overthinking is the major emotion that millennials and Gen Z have used this year. Social media platforms, particularly Twitter, are now awash with tearful emojis, symbolizing a poignant response to the diverse challenges faced. Whether it be the elusive job search, the quest for social media validation, or the societal expectations surrounding relationships, these concerns have converged into an overwhelming sense of being attacked. These seem silly, but it depends on the mindset they are going through.
Pandemic Fallout:
The pandemic is the central plot here. It happened to the Gen-Z at the end of their graduation, and a year-long pause made them think life is short and there’s a rush to success. ‘The stressful days are coming to an end’ is a popular emotion on the internet. I have seen many writings about ‘the worst year, the worst year is coming to an end.’ Why such hatred for this particular year? Is this only for 2023 or every year since 2019?
The Lingering Weight on Millennials:
On the other side, millennials are saying they have been feeling stuck since 2019 and nothing great happened in many of their lives since the same year. On the other hand, most marriages that happened since 2019 are in the year 2023. So, how does the sorrow come in? Stress. The stress of getting married, seeing friends getting married, seeing everyone settling down, not settling down, seeing everyone traveling, sitting at home, and you name it. This is a constant emotion that no one wants to escape from. Memes have emerged as a coping mechanism, shedding light on the harsh reality of self-bullying and self-criticism that permeates the meme culture.
The Changing Landscape of Humor:
Memes are another stress buster this year. But the memes are not funny anymore instead, they have taken a serious undertone, reflecting the evolving emotional landscape. The podcasts and reels we see are about a life settlement, understanding life, how to deal with stressful days, how to get rich by just doing nothing by an influencer, how to do side hustles that make you earn lakhs of money, and how to maintain finances in your relationship. Someone talking about a startup business and the other is feeling stressed about being born as an older one at home and doing nothing but just worrying that life isn’t good. So much to take from social media. The two reels / the two types of content you see in an order do not even match a bit. This disagreement underscores the abundance of content that reflects the chaotic and contradictory nature of contemporary life. The ceaseless flood of information leaves individuals grappling to make their own narratives.
There’s no wonder to hate this year because everything we laughed at is not funny anymore, everything we followed and read is not making sense, and everything we are trying is not working out anymore. So, the progress has been shut and frustration will absolutely come out for every tiny reason.
The Pursuit of Results:
The bottom line is that people need results. They try hard, they do whatever they can, and when the result is not as expected then the stress coming out will take many shapes. You know the names of all emotions and you name it. Nothing is as sad as failing at something — true, but social media is making it so big that people can’t even move on from their failure. After all, it is a part of life. And people who say such kind words are less on the internet, though they are more, they are getting out of the way in this shit. A calm and composed mindset will give you peace, I can only say this.
Because I too hate this year more than anyone.
Happy reading 🙂
