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Millennials are the generation born between roughly 1981 and 1996, although the actual dates can slightly vary depending on where you look.

In terms of numbers, it recently surpassed baby boomers as the most significant group in the United States, with an estimated population of 72.1 million.

But that doesn't mean the world revolves around them.

Millennials face the most uncertain economic future of any generation in America since the Great Depression—three decades of stagnant wages were followed by the Great Recession (which left more than 15% of those in their early 20s out of work), and then came the pandemic, which upended the financial and housing markets plus impacted employment across multiple sectors.

To paint you a better picture of their struggles, we at Bored Panda covered the subreddit the 'Lost Generation.' But with the Great Resignation and major geopolitical changes reshaping the world, we thought we need to release an update. So continue scrolling to check out some of the posts that recently went viral within this online community.

#1

Found On Another Sub, Another Issue Blamed On Us

Found On Another Sub, Another Issue Blamed On Us

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Mama Penguin
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So binge watching Netflix is not okay but owning multiple gas guzzlers and private planes is okay? Got it.

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#2

Yes Right They Are The 1% In The World

Yes Right They Are The 1% In The World

SarahMiller20 Report

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Eric G
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1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's the point. A bunch of rich people convincing the middle class that poor people are the problem while minimum wage has stayed the same since 2009. Hint, if minimum wage goes up, then so does everyone else's salaries. This is why minimum wage hasn't been increased and no politician wants it to increase because it will affect their stocks.

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We managed to get in touch with Reddit user u/Adahn5, one of the moderators of 'Lost Generation,' and they agreed to tell us more about this community.

"Millennials have come of age during the later stages of development of neoliberal economic reforms that began in the 1970s. Because this led to the repeal of many worker protections and social safety net policies, along with a substantially declined rate of profit compared to post-war America, millennials simply weren't able to access the kinds of benefits and security that the Keynesian economic measures created by the New Deal had originally set up for working-class people," the mod told Bored Panda.

"Their economic opportunities have been stunted out of the gate. If we study economics, we can easily see how there is a natural tendency within capitalism toward reduced profits over time for a number of reasons, and since material costs are relatively fixed because of global value chains, the ones who pay the cost are ultimately workers. Millennials, and now Gen Z, being the most recent generations, experience the worst effects in this outcome, and we can expect the same for Gen Alpha, the generation coming after them."

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#4

Yep

Yep

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Mama Penguin
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Blame your employer, don't blame people literally trying not to starve or get evicted because they lost their jobs.

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#5

Friendly Neighborhood Preexisting Condition

Friendly Neighborhood Preexisting Condition

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Mama Penguin
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

He's not Bruce Wayne or Tony Stark. He can't afford the emergency room trip.

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Millennials have adopted a somewhat global mindset, with factors such as social responsibility and the environment frequently playing a pivotal role in placing their money.

Thus, as a generation, millennials choose to follow either their instincts or go along with their peers regarding individual investment choices.

However, the distrust of financial advisors doesn't seem to apply to all of them. Investopedia's Affluent Millennial Investing Survey, for example, revealed that nearly two-thirds (65%) of the affluent millennials surveyed do, in fact, trust financial advisors.

#6

The Retirement Age

The Retirement Age

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Laura Mende (Human)
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Now a revolutionary proposal: Why don't we give power to the people who have to live with the consequences of their actions for several decades to come? Current politicians will no longer live when their decisions come to fruition...

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#7

Preach

Preach

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Lola
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Because Bob did a lot of “research” online and found out what’s good for you.

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#8

Everything Is F**ked

Everything Is F**ked

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TrickQuestion
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Plus, the absorbing of all the lies from "certain we're-not-mainstream-media outlets" have taught people that anything even slightly good is bad by default. Spite against progress. Dunning Kruger "researchers"

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#9

Schrödinger's Worker

Schrödinger's Worker

CommercialStandard65 , twitter.com Report

The survey gathered information from 1,405 millennials who reported a median income of $132,000 and also found that those who consider themselves knowledgeable about investing are more than twice as likely to have a financial advisor.

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Interestingly, many millennials are interested in having a personal connection with those who manage their money, despite their comfort with the use of mobile and online technology to perform many investing functions.

Considering all of that, it shouldn't come as a surprise that millennials are often characterized as conscious spenders.

Sustainability and customer service are high on the list of what they buy and how they shop. Millennials spent over $4,000 on travel in 2021, and high-net-worth millennials spent upwards of $5,000 or more. According to Expedia, millennials travel 35 days per year.

#10

Here Comes The Boom!

Here Comes The Boom!

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Tonk Terrier
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Agreed. The Reagan generation handing over power to the corporate liars and their insane marketing of how being poor is good for the economy

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#11

How Many Of Us Are Actually Enjoying Life?

How Many Of Us Are Actually Enjoying Life?

Revolutionary_Mix941 , twitter.com Report

#12

The Lesson Of Taking Big Risks

The Lesson Of Taking Big Risks

Pleasant-Force , twitter.com Report

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Corrsfan
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Fully agree with the sentiment but I thought Mark Zuckerberg *did* go to Harvard?

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However, when they're not traveling, millennials are enjoying their food and beverages.

On average, this generation spends more on dining and shopping online than previous generations. Millennials and post-millennials spent 47% of their total food spending on dining out or take-out food, according to 2018 figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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Their desire to indulge themselves could be explained by the uncertainty of the future we mentioned before. If you don't know what tomorrow will bring, you might as well enjoy yourself today.

#14

Now Another Invention From Health Care Capitalism

Now Another Invention From Health Care Capitalism

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Lola
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I’m not proud to live in a country where pregnancy is considered a pre-existing condition. Try to wrap that around your brain.

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#15

The Big Corporation Is Our Problem

The Big Corporation Is Our Problem

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Mama Penguin
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Seriously? They're just trying to grow some food and survive. What kind of fresh hell is this?

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#16

Let's Talk About This

Let's Talk About This

Revolutionary_Mix941 , twitter.com Report

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moose man
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

you expect me to be working at twitter since i came out of my moms vagina?

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But u/Adahn5 doesn't think millennials are left to deal with their problems alone. The mod of the subreddit believes different generations can actually talk and, most importantly, understand each other.

"The issue at play isn't a problem of language, the impasse is ideological," they said. "Younger generations simply can't buy into the notion that capitalism as a socio-economic system is capable of bringing them well-being or moderate prosperity.

"Working-class people, whether baby boomers or millennials, live under the same system, but the latter were able to live through a period that still maintained some of the Keynesian social-democratic reforms that made their existence much easier than it is now. Lower costs and higher access to things like higher education, homeownership, and job security make them unable to empathize, which is to say put themselves in the shoes, of millennials who don't have the same economic support systems."

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#20

Game Theorists

Game Theorists

iota1atg , twitter.com Report

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Richard George
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Millenials learn to cut own hair and tailor own clothes as they can't afford for others to do it for them.

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#21

Employment Lesson

Employment Lesson

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Beeps
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

…and get passed over for promotion, as the company wants to keep them in their current position.

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Millennials are most worried about saving money, managing debt, and planning for retirement. But data shows most of them remain hopeful about their financial future.

u/Adahn5 said the reason for this optimism might lie in the support of the system. "If you read some of the philosophy behind how ideology operates, particularly from writers like Engels, Lukács, Marcuse, or Zizek, we understand that ideology isn't just in what we think or what we say, it's in the doing of it," the mod said.

"Zizek in particular has an example he likes to trot out about belief in Santa Clause. If you ask parents whether they believe or not, they'll tell you, 'No, I'm not an idiot. I'm the one who buys the presents, but I do it for the children.'"

"When you ask the children, though, you get a similar response. 'No, of course not, I'm not a dummy. I just pretend not to hurt my parents.' The extra toys probably don't hurt either."

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#22

Basically, The Laws Exist To Protect The Capitalist Class

Basically, The Laws Exist To Protect The Capitalist Class

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#23

Tell Me We Are Living In A Dysfunctional, Dystopian Nightmare, Without Saying We’re Living In A Fucking Dysfunctional, Dystopian Nightmare

Tell Me We Are Living In A Dysfunctional, Dystopian Nightmare, Without Saying We’re Living In A Fucking Dysfunctional, Dystopian Nightmare

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#24

Couple Gives Up Baby Because They Can't Afford One

Couple Gives Up Baby Because They Can't Afford One

Canadian_Kartoffel Report

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Anyone-for-tea?
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No, this can’t be true?? This is absolutely disgusting and heartbreaking. Doesn’t the US have child benefit or child tax credits or whatever the equivalent is? That poor couple, I hope they do get to meet him again one day 😥

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#25

This Is Unthinkable Today

This Is Unthinkable Today

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Mama Penguin
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nowadays, a person with a bachelor's or master's degree can't even afford to buy a home.

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"Neither groups believe, but the ideology sustains itself nonetheless because both continue to act as though it does. Why do millennials and Gen Z continue going to college despite the fact that they don't believe it will guarantee them a job anymore? Why do they continue thinking that homeownership is the fastest pathway to 'building generational wealth'? It's what the system has articulated for them, and what the system allows in so far as what a single person can do in this day and age as they go through life."

#26

Give This Guy A Medal!!

Give This Guy A Medal!!

LuthandoFuze , twitter.com Report

#27

Know The Real Culprits

Know The Real Culprits

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Lsai Aeon
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The entirety of Texas did this when we had the freeze of February 2021 and then the heatwave that summer. Cut off the power to the residential areas and left the power on to the businesses that weren't open. Then tried to tell us that even though it was over 100 outside we needed to conserve power and not use the A/C. THEN the power companies gouged prices to those that didn't lose power during the freeze. They want us all to die, it's simple as that, human life is now worthless unless you're a millionaire or "better"

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#29

Time To Start Building Our Hobbit Holes

Time To Start Building Our Hobbit Holes

Fairyslade1989 , twitter.com Report

The moderator of 'Lost Generation' believes "the remedy to all of this won't be found in the bosom of social democracy; not when the mechanisms that pressured it into being after the Great Depression were eliminated."

"Millennials and Gen Z seem to understand this and are seeking to build up working-class political organizations, and unions, use direct action, engage in mutual aid, and reinvest their time and efforts into community organizing. The future is uncertain, but people by and large aren't giving up."

#30

Totally Normal

Totally Normal

CommercialStandard65 , Debs_Kropotkin Report

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Libstak
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Every single day. I'm 54 yet I see the d3cay in living standards with absolute clarity for the young. We are glorified slaves of the 1% at this point. Will be suffering poor masses in years to come.

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#31

Bosses Decided To F**k Around...now They Are Finding Out

Bosses Decided To F**k Around...now They Are Finding Out

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TrickQuestion
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's very refreshing that the current generations are standing up for themselves. It's sad that they have to .

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#32

Damn True

Damn True

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#33

Thanks To Investors For Pumping Housing Prices

Thanks To Investors For Pumping Housing Prices

AyoCaesar , twitter.com Report

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Liam Walsh
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wouldn't work for me anyway - my only remaining parent remarried a much younger person and they'll get it all. Their money, their choice 🤷

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#34

See The Problem

See The Problem

SarahMiller20 Report

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Caro Caro
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes, I see the problem. Unfortunately the politicians don't see or have a problem with this.

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#35

Millennial's American Dream Is To Rent An Apartment Without A Roommate

Millennial's American Dream Is To Rent An Apartment Without A Roommate

Comfortablejack , twitter.com Report

#36

What Do You Think?

What Do You Think?

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#37

Oh Noooo, Not Negative Prices For Electricity!

Oh Noooo, Not Negative Prices For Electricity!

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TrickQuestion
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why else would people demonize the green new deal so badly? They and the people that own them will lose a ton of cash.

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#38

The Most-Educated Generation Is The Poorest

The Most-Educated Generation Is The Poorest

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Lucifer
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1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

“A lot of these cultural crimes I’m complaining about can be blamed on the Baby Boomers. Whiny, narcissistic, self-indulgent people with a simple philosophy: ‘GIMME IT, IT’S MINE!’ ‘GIMME THAT, IT’S MINE!’ These people were given everything. Everything was handed to them. And they took it all: sex, drugs, and rock and roll, and they stayed loaded for 20 years and had a free ride.” “But now they’re staring down the barrel of middle-age burnout, and they don’t like it. So they’ve turned self-righteous. They want to make things harder on younger people. They tell ’em, abstain from sex, say no to drugs; as for the rock and roll, they sold that for television commercials a long time ago…so they could buy pasta machines and Stairmasters and soybean futures. These people went from ‘Do Your Own Thing’ to ‘Just Say No.’ They went from ‘Love is All You Need’ to ‘Whoever Winds Up With the Most Toys, Wins.’ And they went from cocaine to Rogaine.” -- Carlin 1996

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#39

This Is A Good Example Of The Events Necessary To Cause Laughing And Crying At The Same Time

This Is A Good Example Of The Events Necessary To Cause Laughing And Crying At The Same Time

SarahMiller20 , twitter.com Report

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Mama Penguin
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well, we can't afford hospital bills if we get a heart attack or stroke. So we're just trying to stay healthier by eating homemade food.

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#40

Empty Flights As The World Burns, The Efficiency Of Capitalism

Empty Flights As The World Burns, The Efficiency Of Capitalism

CommercialStandard65 , twitter.com Report

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Caro Caro
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I really hate this. It makes my blood pressure go crazy I'm so pissed off.

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