Thanks to tariff confusion and economic changes in the government, headlines about a recession are everywhere. And young people are talking about it, too. YPulse has been seeing “recession indicators” going viral, with Gen Z dubbing everyday observations and behaviors as warning signs of economic doom. While some of these indicators—like empty nightclubs and even skinny jeans—might seem exaggerated, they stem from real anxieties Gen Z is experiencing. But this is a gen who’s known little else besides economic doom, and warnings about a recession are, at this point, a regular occurrence for them. After all, this gen grew up during the Great Recession. YPulse’s data even shows 56% of 18-24-year-olds agree, “I can’t remember a time before the recession.” And while for a short time after they witnessed economic influx, the pandemic and the economic issues that came with it followed shortly thereafter—just as they were entering their adulthood. Most of their lives, they’ve known economic instability. YPulse regularly asks 13-39-year-olds what they think about the current state...
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