Gen Z are lonely and paying for activities to make friends

[Anonymous]

This was exacerbated by covid, but I feel like parents of this generation (myself included) paid to keep the kids in activities and camps, and that's how many learned to socialized. It seems to have segued into young adulthood where these young adults are paying to join social clubs to make friends. I also think social media and smart phones have made it worse for young adults.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/gen-z-loneliness-bad-young-082301328.html

[Anonymous]

That's what the "greatest generation" did as well OP, they liked to join clubs and organizations. It's fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That's what the "greatest generation" did as well OP, they liked to join clubs and organizations. It's fine.

? they paid to join organizations as 24 year olds to make friends? Which organizations were those?

[Anonymous]

Oh please, people have been joining organizations for thousands of years. Haven't you heard of the Rotary? The Elks, the Knights of Columbus? The Junior League? The PTA?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That's what the "greatest generation" did as well OP, they liked to join clubs and organizations. It's fine.

? they paid to join organizations as 24 year olds to make friends? Which organizations were those?

Junior League, country clubs, bowling leagues, etc. Incredibly common.

[Anonymous]

Country clubs? Isn’t this the height of buying friends.

[Anonymous]

I think it's great. I wish they still had ladies' bowling leagues.

[Anonymous]

Indian-American gen-x parent here. Our culture has a tradition of vast social networks and the only cost if participation and reciprocity at the very least.

Our gen z kids are used to organizing, participating and reciprocating with similar activities. It comes with certain monetary cost as well - food, drinks, invites, venue, etc. My kids are used to this, And they are used to participating in ICs that costs money.

[Anonymous]

Open door, walk outside, do things, talk to people. That's it. It's pretty simple but you have to make an effort.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That's what the "greatest generation" did as well OP, they liked to join clubs and organizations. It's fine.

? they paid to join organizations as 24 year olds to make friends? Which organizations were those?

NP. Of course they did. It just looked a little different, because lots of 24 year olds were already married. Upper class men joined Harvard/Yale/Etc clubs, others joined fraternal organization lodges (masons, etc). Women belonged to gardening clubs, junior league, groups that played bridge. UC couples/families belonged to country clubs. Don't underestimate faith communities either.

[Anonymous]

Soho House, the club she belongs to, has been around for decades. It also seems pretty much like a cooler version of the kind of "city clubs" that have been around since Victorian times.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That's what the "greatest generation" did as well OP, they liked to join clubs and organizations. It's fine.

? they paid to join organizations as 24 year olds to make friends? Which organizations were those?

The Masons, the Oddfellows, the Eastern Star, just to name the ones my grandparents were in, even when they were twenty somethings. In fact, my dad said he "had" to join the Masons at age 22 in order to be promoted at work.

Then there was the Rotary, the bowling clubs with matching shirts, the rec leagues, the local photography club, the Women's League, the Junior League, etc...

Almost every older adult I know paid some sort of dues to be a member of some sort of club. It's my Gen X generation who didn't do that.

[Anonymous]

Fraternities and sororities are not exactly a new invention. There used to be tons of ethnic-affinity clubs among immigrants. Church had all kinds of activities. Catholic Youth Organization sports. 4H was formed in 1902. All kinds of charitable societies (SPCA for example). Booster clubs for schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That's what the "greatest generation" did as well OP, they liked to join clubs and organizations. It's fine.

? they paid to join organizations as 24 year olds to make friends? Which organizations were those?

Bowling leagues

Seriously. Look it up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That's what the "greatest generation" did as well OP, they liked to join clubs and organizations. It's fine.

? they paid to join organizations as 24 year olds to make friends? Which organizations were those?

Have you read "Bowling Alone?" Joining groups, paying dues isn't a new phenomenon but does seem to ebb and flow.