According to the NY Times story with the same title as today’s blog, many older GenZers (this generation is 12-27 currently) believe they’re aging faster due to the combination of existential external and internal stresses. In the era of TikTok and Instagram, they’re also more concerned about their appearance than past generations. Plus, they have more tools at their disposal to hide their youthful aging—from fillers to Facetune.
According to the Times, “A series of aging-related TikTok trends in recent months are further warping the fun house mirror. There are slideshows in which celebrities are gradually de-aged, like one that begins with Morgan Freeman at 85 and ends with him at 17. There are A.I. face filters that spit out equally believable versions of users as a grandparent or as a teenager.”
Sixty years ago, the famous hippie slogan was “Don’t trust anyone over 30.” As GenZers are knocking on that chronological door today, it’s more like, “Don’t look like anyone over 30.” Just remember, aging and growing are the same thing. Post-adolescence, our growth may not be in physical stature but rather in the richness and depth of our experiences and insights.
-Chip