“Repayment avoidance” is becoming normalized among Gen Z and Millennials. A Zelle report found that among 1K Gen Z consumers who’ve fronted money for a group expense, 76% said they weren’t fully repaid, and 55% said repayment issues created tension or hurt a relationship. Nearly half have gone into debt covering group costs, and among those who owe friends or family money, 46% currently owe more than $1K. The avoidance itself has become routine, too: 32% admit to delaying paying someone back, while 20% have canceled plans or muted a group chat specifically to dodge payment. A financial therapist who works with Zelle says the frustration isn’t really about the dollar amount, though—it’s about what nonpayment communicates about trust and respect in the friendship. For young consumers already navigating financial anxiety, unresolved Venmo debts are increasingly reshaping who they’ll travel or split costs with at all. (The Cut)
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