Ugly truths older people must accept about how we’ve left younger generations stranded.
Boomers, it’s time to get real about something we’ve been dodging for too long. We’ve left younger generations stranded in a world that’s way harder to navigate than the one we grew up in. We had opportunities handed to us that today’s kids and grandkids can only dream about. And yet, we act surprised when they struggle or call them lazy when they can’t get ahead.
The truth is, the world has changed drastically, and a lot of those changes are the result of decisions made by us and the generations before us. It’s convenient to blame them for not trying hard enough, but it’s dishonest. What’s really happening is we’ve built a system that sets them up to fail. And unless we’re willing to face some uncomfortable truths, nothing is going to change. It’s time to own our part in this mess.
1. We’ve handed them a broken economy with no path to recovery
Boomers, we grew up in a world where a decent job could support a family, buy a home, and even leave enough for a comfortable retirement. But that world is long gone, and we need to admit we helped dismantle it. We built an economy where profits matter more than people, where corporations prioritize shareholder returns over employee well-being. Stable, well-paying jobs have been replaced by gig work, low-wage service jobs, and part-time roles that offer little to no benefits, states Luke Allchin for RFI Global.
The cost of living has skyrocketed, while wages have remained stagnant, leaving younger generations trapped in survival mode. They’re not lazy or entitled—they’re struggling within a system we’ve rigged against them. The American Dream we once chased is nearly impossible for them to achieve. It’s time we own up to the damage we’ve done if we ever hope to make things right.
2. We’ve priced them out of higher education
For us, college was a realistic path to a better life. Tuition was affordable, and student loans were manageable. But now, reports Eric Spitznagel for the New York Post, higher education has become a financial death trap for younger generations. The cost of college has soared to obscene levels, leaving many to question if a degree is even worth the crushing debt it brings. For those who can’t afford it or choose not to take on the debt, society judges them as if they’re lazy or unmotivated.
Meanwhile, we continue to push the narrative that college is the only path to success, even when the return on investment barely exists. We’ve created a generation drowning in student loan debt before they even have a shot at building a stable future. If we’re honest, we’ve let greed and neglect destroy one of the few reliable ladders to success that we once took for granted.
3. We’ve made homeownership a pipe dream
For us, owning a home was a realistic goal—something you could achieve with a steady job and a little hard work. But for younger generations, that dream is nearly impossible. Skyrocketing housing prices have turned homeownership into a cruel joke, according to experts at the National Mortgage Professional website. We’re talking about bidding wars, cash buyers, and real estate markets designed to squeeze every last dollar out of people just trying to find a place to live. And renting isn’t much better. Absurd rent prices and lack of affordable housing have left them trapped in a cycle of paycheck-to-paycheck living.
When the foundational promise of homeownership has been yanked away, it’s no wonder they feel betrayed. We built a system where real estate is more about making money than providing shelter. Until we acknowledge how badly we’ve messed this up, younger generations will continue to feel like the deck is stacked against them.
4. We’ve ignored climate change and left them to deal with the fallout
We had decades to address climate change, and what did we do? We ignored the warnings, denied the science, and kicked the can down the road. Now, Gen Z and Gen Alpha are left holding the bag. They’re growing up in a world where natural disasters are more frequent, resources are dwindling, and the environment is on the verge of collapse. It’s not their fault, but it’s certainly their problem now.
While we continue to debate whether climate change is real or not, they’re the ones suffering from the consequences, suggests Domenic Purdy in an article for Climate 360 News. Instead of passing down a healthy planet, we’ve handed them a crisis. Sadly, we’re still not doing enough to make things right. If we truly care about their future, we need to take responsibility for the mess we’ve left behind and do whatever it takes to start cleaning it up.
5. We’ve created a mental health crisis and failed to address it
The world we built has left younger generations mentally and emotionally exhausted. High-pressure education systems, financial stress, social media comparison, and constant political chaos are just part of the problem. Anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues are on the rise, yet our response has been pitiful. We tell them to toughen up or blame their problems on a supposed lack of resilience. We’ve created a world where mental health struggles are practically inevitable.
While we had the opportunity to improve mental health care systems and remove the stigma around seeking help, we didn’t. Instead, we left them with a broken system that’s inaccessible, unaffordable, and not taken seriously. It’s not just neglect—it’s cruelty. If we want to make things right, we have to start listening to their pain instead of dismissing it as weakness.
6. We’ve glorified a toxic work culture that’s burning them out
The “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” mentality we’ve pushed onto younger generations is killing them. We glorified relentless hustle and grind culture, convincing them that overworking themselves is the only path to success. They’re burning out before they even get a fair shot at building a stable life. When they inevitably break down, we criticize them for being lazy or unmotivated. Boomers created a society that values productivity over well-being, and it’s costing them their mental and physical health.
Rest is seen as weakness, and taking care of yourself is often labeled as selfish. The pressure to succeed has become so overwhelming that many are giving up before they even start. We failed to create a balanced world where hard work is rewarded without sacrificing well-being. It’s time we take responsibility for pushing a toxic narrative that’s breaking them.
7. We’ve let political corruption destroy their faith in the system
Younger generations are growing up in a world where political corruption feels like a given. They see leaders making big promises to fight for the people but ultimately serving corporate interests and wealthy donors. This broken system leaves them feeling hopeless about making any real change. While we enjoyed an era where activism led to genuine progress, they’re stuck trying to navigate a political landscape riddled with greed, hypocrisy, and incompetence. We’ve allowed a system of pay-to-play politics to fester, turning democracy into a game where the rich win and everyone else loses.
We dismiss their frustration as naivety or rebelliousness when they speak out. But we’ve handed them a broken system and expected them to fix it without the tools or support needed. Until we confront this corruption, younger generations will continue to lose faith in everything we once believed in.
8. We’ve pushed consumerism over true fulfillment
We’ve raised younger generations in a society obsessed with material wealth and status. The message has always been clear: more is better, and success is measured by how much you own. Instead of teaching them to find purpose and fulfillment, we’ve taught them to chase money and possessions.
And when they struggle to afford the lifestyle we’ve glorified, we criticize them for being shallow or financially irresponsible. But how can we blame them for trying to live up to the standards we set? We built a culture where the worth of a person is defined by their net worth, and then wondered why so many of them feel empty. The pressure to achieve financial success has overshadowed the pursuit of happiness and personal growth. If we want to help them find true fulfillment, we need to start questioning the values we’ve been pushing all along.
9. We’ve allowed inequality to flourish
We grew up in a time when social progress was being made, but instead of continuing the fight for equality, we’ve allowed inequality to thrive. Economic, racial, and gender disparities are still deeply rooted in our society, and younger generations are bearing the brunt of it. They’re expected to succeed in a world where the odds are stacked against them, and when they can’t, we label them as failures. We’ve failed to address systemic injustices and left them to deal with a world that remains unequal and unforgiving.
While we grew up benefiting from social programs and policies that leveled the playing field, we’ve pulled the ladder up behind us. Until we confront the deep-rooted inequality we’ve allowed to fester, we can’t expect them to thrive. We owe it to them to rebuild a world that truly values fairness and opportunity for everyone.
10. We’ve ignored their need for genuine connection
Technology was supposed to make the world feel smaller, but instead, it’s left younger generations feeling more isolated than ever. We’ve created a world where digital interactions have replaced real human connection, and it’s taking a toll on their mental health and well-being. Instead of encouraging meaningful relationships, we’ve celebrated superficial popularity and social media validation. When they struggle to find true connection in a world obsessed with followers and likes, we label them as antisocial or overly sensitive.
But the truth is, we’ve allowed technology to dominate their lives without teaching them how to balance it with genuine connection. If we want to help them thrive, we need to stop dismissing their loneliness and start encouraging real relationships built on empathy, compassion, and understanding. The superficial connections we’ve allowed to flourish aren’t enough to sustain a healthy, fulfilling life.
11. We’ve dismissed their struggles instead of listening
When younger generations speak up about the challenges they’re facing, we’re quick to dismiss their concerns as whining or entitlement. We tell them to toughen up or work harder, refusing to acknowledge that the world they’re navigating is far different from the one we grew up in. By brushing off their struggles, we’ve only deepened the divide between us and them.
Instead of offering support or trying to understand their perspective, we cling to outdated beliefs about how success should be achieved. And when they inevitably struggle, we place the blame squarely on their shoulders. But if we truly want to make things right, we have to start listening to what they’re saying. Their struggles are real, and until we acknowledge that, we’re only setting them up to fail. Empathy and understanding are the first steps toward building a future where they can truly thrive.