The morality of their parents left their members forever Generation Zwho stubbornly avoid any manifestations coming of age. Representatives of this generation do not want, for example, to obtain a driver’s license or to delay the process.

At 18, they give up the traits and habits of adulthood, such as drinking, wage labor, and sex. When the members of the previous Generation X were in their third year of high school, almost 40% of them had sex. In 2021, only 15% of Gen Zers in their third year of high school had sex. “18-year-olds today are like 14-year-olds of previous generations,” explains a psychologist who studies the slowness of the new generation.

This tactic seems to me quite reasonable. Life expectancy has increased, and today an 80-year-old can run for President of the United States. Then it makes sense to take our time and no longer try to cram everything important into the first decades of our lives.

However, Generation Z grew up in an overprotective parenting environment that constantly reminded them of the dangers of life. They have grown up watching media designed to attract viewers and readers and promote conflict and division. They have grown up in a political culture that reinforces the sense of threat, the belief that others are toxic, in order to promote their simplistic, divisive messages and fuel public fears.

The culture of excessive suspicion and belief that those around us are toxic has affected all of us, with the younger generation suffering the most. On the one hand, it made them very wary of danger, as rates of drug use, fighting, and dangerous driving dropped dramatically compared to other generations.

On the other hand, this culture has instilled in all of us, especially young people, an aversion to risk. In 1991, 48% of second and third high school students said they liked to take risks sometimes. In 2021, this figure is 32%.

People who grow up with this culture of suspicion tend to accept self-preservation as their primary code of conduct. These people will become pessimists and stop believing that they can control their own destiny.

As a middle-aged man, I’m glad that Generation Z is behaving more responsibly. Politically, they tend to vote for the left, but remain indecisive and socially conservative.

However, an excessive sense of threat has serious consequences. The 53-year-old woman told her younger siblings how she met her current husband after he picked her up to flirt with her in an elevator. According to Generation Z women, this would not happen today, as such behavior would be seen as threatening and slimy.

It’s always good to be prepared to deal with an annoying or dangerous fan. However, excessive suspicion can lead to the fact that you miss the chance to meet the love of your life.