Gen Z are lonely and paying for activities to make friends

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This isn’t new.

Kids and young adults have always joined clubs and most groups have fees of some kind. App dating is the same. To be able to filter you have to pay.

Gone are the days of organic social interaction. Not really, I’m being dramatic, but this is the future and millennials were similar, and gen Alpha will be the same.

yea, I know, and I think that's kind of sad. Like everything has to be organized for people to make friends.

Is Gen Alpha after Gen z?

alpha alpha

Delta

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:THat what happens when schools are closed down for 4+ years

Where have schools been closed down for 4+ years?

[Anonymous]

Adults are now paying to go to summer camp

[Anonymous]

Gosh I wish they could just meet in bars and back rooms snorting coke like Gen Xers.

[Anonymous]

This is what OP is complaining about.

https://www.volosports.com/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Gosh I wish they could just meet in bars and back rooms snorting coke like Gen Xers.

Bwhahaha.

As a Gen xer, this new generation seems refreshingly wholesome.

[Anonymous]

This is great news. The death of organized social clubs hurt society.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

but that was for work, not to make friends.

Even if people today are joining organizations, then why are they more lonely than ever?

They aren't. You're really invested in this narrative about Gen Z despite 3 pages of people telling you otherwise.

People like to get together, so they find reasons to do that. Quilting bee, altar society, charitable committee, supper club, sports team, dance hall, youth group, sorority, Rotary, pub trivia ... it's not new or rare.

- Gen X who was in 4-H, scouts, church choir, and a team sport, none of which were free

[Anonymous]

I don't see what's wrong with this. I'm a millennial and social sports were big in my 20s - bocce, volleyball etc. The real point was to socialize -- friends, dating etc. And then I joined a (paid) moms group in my 30s, the purpose was support but also socializing.

With more WFH, young people are meeting fewer friends at work and other organic ways. So this is a good substitute.

It's often nice if the express purpose is actually to make friends and socialize. Makes it less awkward to talk to new people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Not to mention the cultural clubs My grandparents were part of clubs that centered on Italians, Czechs (where they immigrated from). Those were paid clubs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Gosh I wish they could just meet in bars and back rooms snorting coke like Gen Xers.

Bwhahaha.

As a Gen xer, this new generation seems refreshingly wholesome.

100%.

[Anonymous]

It's just a way to keep the busy so our mental health doesn't suffer.

[Anonymous]

They're going to the gym and taking art classes and meeting people along the way? How terrible!

Seriously though, why is the article written as if it's a bad thing that people are seeking connection through shared interests?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:THat what happens when schools are closed down for 4+ years

Where have schools been closed down for 4+ years?

Prince Edward County 1959-1964

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

+1 Also, bridge groups, churches, amateur singing groups, garden clubs, Kiwanis club.