Gen Z: From Depression to Resistance

Young people in Indonesia, and globally, are grappling with unprecedented levels of anxiety and mental health challenges. Surveys consistently highlight Generation Z as the demographic most affected by these issues, experiencing depression and stress amplified by the curated perfection of social media, relentless social pressures, and demanding academic and lifestyle expectations.

This crisis is not confined to Indonesia; hundreds of millions of Gen Z individuals worldwide face unemployment and career uncertainty, fostering widespread skepticism and pessimism about the existing world order. However, this pervasive discontent is also giving rise to a nascent wave of resistance. The accumulated disappointment is seen as a potential catalyst for a resurgence among a generation often perceived as fragile.

The article posits that the root of Gen Z's acute anxiety lies in a multidimensional crisis stemming from the fragility of today's global order. Their struggles are framed not as inherent weakness but as a product of their environment, systematically undermined by a secular-capitalist system that prioritizes material success and superficial validation over human and spiritual values.

Compounding these issues, the state's perceived failure to provide adequate support leaves young people to navigate economic uncertainty and social decay alone. Instead of being heard and supported, Gen Z often faces negative stereotypes, labeled as overly sensitive or problematic by older generations. Yet, this critical stance and skepticism, while born of despair, also represent an opportunity for profound change, offering a chance to dismantle a failing capitalist system and build a more humane future.