Gen Z Years: The Actual Birth Years, Age Range, and Where Millennials Really End
Generated Title: Gen Z's "Death Friendliness" is a Disaster for Investors
The Kids Aren't Alright (For Your Portfolio)
Okay, so apparently Gen Z is all chill with death? I saw this article talking about how they're joking about climate change wiping them out before 50. Crying-laughing emojis, people. Crying-laughing.
And now I'm reading that these same kids are gonna be staging protests that topple governments in emerging markets? Seriously? What is this, some dystopian YA novel come to life?
According to some "expert," these "tech-savvy youthful populations" are the biggest political risk facing emerging markets next year. Not volatile elections, not geopolitical tensions... but teenagers. Give me a break.
But wait, it gets better.
Apparently, the fact that these protests "erupt at a moment's notice" and "have no political figurehead" makes them investor kryptonite. Because, you know, investors love predictability. They want to know exactly when and how the revolution is going to happen so they can short the market accordingly.
I mean, I get it. Instability is bad for business. But acting like a bunch of Zoomers with TikTok accounts are a bigger threat than, say, a nuclear war seems a little dramatic, don't you think?
Olds vs. The Internet
The article points out that many emerging economies have "youthful populations led by ageing political elites." Cameroon, apparently, is the poster child for this mess. Their president has been in power since before Gen Z's parents were born.
Okay, that's pretty messed up.
But is it really a surprise that young people are pissed off? They're inheriting a planet on fire, an economy rigged against them, and a political system run by out-of-touch dinosaurs. What else are they supposed to do, write strongly worded letters?
And let's be real, the "corruption, limited press and political freedom, anaemic growth and the lack of jobs" they're protesting? Those ain't exactly new problems. They're just finally reaching a boiling point, thanks to the internet giving everyone a megaphone and a platform to share their grievances.
Which, offcourse, is a problem for investors. Because fixing those problems requires "austerity, tax rises or both." And nobody likes those, especially when they think the politicians are just gonna pocket the cash anyway.
So, What's the Play?
So what’s the play here? Are we supposed to short every emerging market with a median age under 30? Are we supposed to invest in gerontocracy futures?
The article also mentions that Gen X is worried about leaving a mess behind. Passwords scattered across fifteen different apps? Sounds about right. Millennials are scared of dying before they've "actually started living." I feel that one. Student debt is a real motivation killer.
But Gen Z? They're scared of how they'll die. School shootings, police violence, climate catastrophes... it's like they're living in a permanent disaster movie. I asked Boomers, Gen X, Millennials and Gen Z their biggest fear about dying. The answers reveal everything
And honestly, can you blame them for developing a dark sense of humor about it all? If I had to grow up watching the world burn on TikTok, I'd probably be cracking jokes too.
But, maybe I'm missing something here. Maybe these kids are gonna change the world. Maybe they're gonna tear down the old order and build something better. Or maybe they're just gonna keep posting memes until the planet melts. I honestly don't know anymore.