Gen Z through my eyes a reflection on resilience, struggle, and the world we’ve built.

The weight of a label

I’ve spent years observing Gen Z not as a distant analyst, but as someone who has worked alongside them, mentored them, and learned from their perspectives.

The phrase “lost generation” keeps surfacing in conversations, articles, and even policy debates. It’s a label that feels heavy, unfair, and fundamentally misleading. From my experience, Gen Z isn’t lost.

They’re navigating a world that was never designed for them, and they’re doing it with a creativity and resilience that often goes unnoticed.

This reflection isn’t about statistics or broad generalizations. It’s about the individuals I’ve met the young professionals burning out in gig economy jobs, the students organizing climate strikes while drowning in debt, the artists and entrepreneurs building communities online because the “real world” feels inaccessible.

It’s about the contradictions I’ve seen a generation that’s more connected than ever but lonelier, more educated but more anxious, more aware of global crises but more powerless to act within broken systems.

What follows isn’t an analysis.

It’s a personal account of what I’ve witnessed, the conversations I’ve had, and the questions that keep me up at night.

Because if Gen Z is “lost,” then we those who built this world are the ones who failed to leave them a map.

1. Watching them hustle in a rigged game

I remember a conversation with Maria, a 22-year-old barista with a degree in environmental science. She worked three jobs to pay off student loans while applying to entry-level positions that required “3-5 years of experience.” When I asked how she stayed motivated, she laughed and said, “I don’t. I just survive.” That stuck with me.

Gen Z didn’t invent the gig economy, stagnant wages, or the housing crisis. They inherited them.

Yet, we call them lost when the game was rigged before they even started playing. I’ve seen friends’ kids brilliant, hardworking forced into “side hustles” just to afford rent, while CEOs post LinkedIn humble brags about “grinding.”

There’s a cruelty in that contrast that we’ve normalized.

And this isn’t about laziness. It’s about a system that rewards exploitation where internships are unpaid, benefits are gigs, and “follow your passion” is a trap when passion doesn’t pay the bills.

I’ve watched Gen Z adapt by monetizing their skills on TikTok, building co-ops, and unionizing workplaces not because they’re entrepreneurial by nature, but because they have no choice.

2. Isolation and unexpected strength

I’ll never forget the silence in 2020 not the absence of noise, but the absence of presence. I worked with a group of college students during lockdown, and the change in them was visceral. One, James, told me he went six months without a single in-person conversation outside his family. “I forgot how to talk to people,” he admitted.

That’s not laziness. That’s trauma.

But here’s what we missed in the “lost generation” narrative, they adapted. The same students who struggled with isolation organized mutual aid networks, created virtual study groups, and built online communities that provided the support institutions failed to offer. They turned loneliness into collective action.

That’s not weakness. That’s resilience in real time.

3. The fear we taught them to carry

Someone that participated on a climate protest in 2022, a 19-year-old, Lena, held a sign that read: “We’re not anxious about the future. We’re terrified of your inaction.” That sign haunts me.

Gen Z didn’t create climate change, but they’re the ones living with the psychological weight of it. I’ve had conversations with young people who genuinely believe they won’t live past 50 because of ecological collapse.

That’s not dramatics. That’s the logical conclusion of growing up in a world where adults in power keep kicking the can down the road.

Yet, instead of despair, I’ve seen them channel that fear into action suing governments, divesting from fossil fuels, and building sustainable brands.

They’re not waiting for permission. They’re demanding a seat at the table.

4. Connection without closeness

I stop using some social media accounts in 2021 after realizing I was scrolling to avoid feeling. But Gen Z doesn’t have that luxury. For them, social media isn’t just entertainment it’s where jobs are found, movements are built, and identities are formed.

I’ve watched friends’ teenagers curate perfect lives online while crying in their rooms. I’ve seen the algorithm-driven anxiety, the way a single post can dictate their mood for days. But I’ve also seen them use these platforms to organize, educate, and resist. The same tools that harm them are the ones they’re repurposing for change.

The problem isn’t that they’re “addicted.” The problem is that we designed a world where their worth is measured in likes and follows, and then we call them lost when they struggle under that weight.

5. The elephant in the room

I grew up in a time when billionaires were rare. Now, they’re celebrated like demigods while the rest of us scramble. I’ve had Gen Zers ask me, “Why do we cheer for people who hoard wealth while we can’t afford healthcare?” I don’t have a good answer.

The concentration of wealth isn’t just an economic issue it’s a moral one. When a 25-year-old tells me they’ll never own a home because three men own more than the bottom 50% of the country, that’s not cynicism.

That’s math. And yet, we act surprised when they’re disillusioned.

But here’s what gives me hope, they’re not just complaining. They’re building alternatives. They’re redefining success on their own terms.

6. Democracy on life support

I voted in my first election with optimism. Gen Z votes with urgency because they’ve seen what happens when we don’t.

The political exhaustion they feel isn’t apathy. It’s betrayal.

They’ve watched governments fail on climate, student debt, and healthcare, and they’re done waiting. That’s why they’re turning to grassroots organizing, mutual aid, and direct action.

They don’t trust the system because the system hasn’t earned their trust.

7. Race, division, and the lies we’ve been sold

I grew up being told “survival of the fittest” justified cutthroat capitalism.

They’re the most racially diverse generation in history, and they’re rejecting the artificial divisions that previous generations accepted. They see race as a social construct, not a biological fact and they’re demanding systems that reflect that.

When I hear them talk about reparations, decolonization, and intersectionality, I realize, they’re not lost.

They’re further along than we ever were.

8. How we hijacked their brains

I’ve caught myself mindlessly scrolling more times than I can count. But Gen Z was raised on this. Their brains were wired for instant gratification before they could even read.

I have seen babies staring on tablets, and 5 years later, they own a phone. It’s not their fault, but the disgrace of parenting.

The dopamine economy isn’t their fault.

It’s a deliberate design by tech companies to keep them (and all of us) hooked. The result? A generation that struggles with focus, memory, and patience not because they’re weak, but because their attention was monetized before they knew what attention was.

Yet, I’ve seen them fight back, digital detoxes, screen-time limits, and reclaiming their focus.

They’re learning to unplug in a world that profits from their addiction.

9. The battle for truth

I remember when fake news was a fringe problem. Now, it’s the default.

Gen Z is the first generation to grow up in a world where truth is relative, where algorithms decide what they see, and where facts are debatable. I’ve watched them fact-check in real time, call out misinformation, and build media literacy skills out of necessity.

They’re not gullible. They’re skeptical because they have to be.

10. What I’ve learned from them

If there’s one thing my time with Gen Z has taught me, it’s that they’re not waiting for permission to fix what’s broken.

They’re:

• Reclaiming community in a world that sells loneliness.

• Redefining work in an economy that exploits labor.

• Demanding truth in an era of misinformation.

• Building alternatives when systems fail them.

They’re not a “lost generation”.

They’re a generation that sees the world clearly and refuses to accept it as it is.

11. Small steps to break free from the digital grip

The question of how Gen Z can improve their lives in a world that feels stacked against them is complex, but the answer doesn’t have to be. It starts with small, intentional shifts not grand gestures or overnight transformations.

From my observations and conversations, the most powerful changes begin with three core principles, critical thinking, communication, and resilience. But equally important is reclaiming time, space, and autonomy from the digital world that profits from their attention.

1. Question everything

Critical thinking isn’t about cynicism it’s about asking why. Why am I scrolling? Why do I feel the need to post this? Why does this platform make me feel this way?

I’ve seen young people unfollow accounts that make them feel inadequate, fact-check before sharing, and consciously consume media instead of passively absorbing it. It’s not about rejecting technology it’s about using it with intention.

2. Real connections over virtual likes

One of the most striking things I’ve noticed is how loneliness and isolation persist even in a hyper-connected world. The solution isn’t more screen time it’s meaningful interaction.

Gen Z can start by:

• Prioritizing face-to-face conversations, even if it’s just a coffee with a friend.

• Joining local groups or clubs book clubs, sports teams, volunteer organizations anything that fosters real-world connections.

• Setting boundaries with digital communication. Not every message needs an instant reply. Not every thought needs to be shared online.

I’ve watched friends’ kids transform when they step away from screens and into real communities. The change isn’t instant, but it’s profound.

3. Building a life that isn’t dictated by algorithms

Resilience isn’t about toughing it out it’s about creating a life that doesn’t constantly test your limits. For Gen Z, that means:

• Reducing online presence without guilt. You don’t owe the internet your constant attention.

• Spending more time offline walking, reading, creating, or just being without the pressure to perform.

• Embracing a healthy work-life balance. Hustle culture is a trap. Rest isn’t laziness it’s necessary for survival.

I know this sounds harsh especially when companies and platforms beg you to stay. But here’s the truth: You can have a personal life and still maintain a small, intentional online presence. You don’t have to choose between existing online and existing in real life.

4. The advantage of late adoption

Previous generations like mine had the luxury of maturing offline first. We didn’t grow up with smartphones in our hands or social media shaping our identities. We learned to distinguish fiction from fact before we were bombarded with curated realities.

Gen Z didn’t get that grace period, but they can create it now. They can:

• Designate tech-free zones or times (e.g., no phones at meals, no screens before bed).

• Engage in activities that don’t require validation journaling, hiking, cooking, or playing an instrument.

• Seek out mentors or peers who prioritize real-life experiences over digital ones.

It’s not about rejecting technology it’s about taking back control.

5. The power of small steps

Improving life isn’t about drastic changes it’s about small, sustainable shifts. Start with one thing:

• Delete one app that drains your energy.

• Replace 30 minutes of scrolling with a walk outside.

• Have one real conversation instead of a hundred text exchanges.

The goal isn’t perfection it’s progress. And the beauty is, every step away from the digital noise is a step toward a life that feels more like your own.

A personal plea

So here’s my ask. Stop calling them lost.

They’re navigating a world on fire with more grace than most of us ever could. Instead of labels, let’s give them resources. Instead of judgment, let’s offer solidarity.

And instead of writing them off, let’s follow their lead.

Because if Gen Z is “lost,” then we’re the ones who failed to guide them. And it’s not too late to do better.

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About the Author
Diamantino Almeida is a tech leader, coach, and writer reshaping how we think about leadership in a burnout-driven world. With over 20 years at the intersection of engineering, DevOps, and team culture, he helps humans lead consciously from the inside out. When he’s not challenging outdated norms, he’s plotting how to make work more human one verb at a time.