Gen Z is uniquely shaped by their digital experiences, often developing what some might describe as an emotional callus due to constant exposure to negative news. This generation tends to process emotional content through social media, leading to psychological distancing that alters their threat response. As a result, they frequently utilize humor and irony to cope, which may appear unserious but actually serves as a defense mechanism. While this can lighten the mood, therapists caution against over-reliance on humor without reflection, as it may prevent deeper emotional processing.
For Gen Z, this has resulted in a sort of emotional callus; they're rarely surprised by negative news because, for them, it's not a rarity - it's the norm.
Humor, irony and absurdity become coping tools that help them regain a sense of control or reduce emotional overload.
So what might appear as flippancy or being 'unserious' is actually a form of emotional regulation and resilience, albeit one that can be easily misunderstood.
While we're not meant to bear the emotional burden of all of life, a little lightness can help psyche and also prompt movement.
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