by Mehal Agarwal
Humour is an enduring part of our lives and it has evolved with time. We share intimate and memorable moments with our loved ones through inside jokes. On a rough day, looking at memes helps us lighten our mood. Studies show that 91% of men and 81% of women consider humor to be an important attribute in their life partner. However, in the case of Gen Z, humor has taken a significantly dark, quirky spin. Possibly, this might have to do with the chaotic times that we live in.
Some blame this humour’s existence on a collective anxiety, resulting from current affairs and the social pressures placed on our age group. If it is down to the effect of consistent bad news that Gen Z’s are waxing lyrical with a poisoned pen, then it would be worth taking a deeper look at just how bad the news has been for this generation. Posts like this could easily have been influenced by literally anything. They have managed to find their own unique sense of humour under the bleak circumstances of an uncertain economy, climate change and a global pandemic. Humour is no longer solely used in cheery and light-hearted situations, but in times of tragedy and misery as well. Social media platforms are flooded with memes that express the unconventional sense of humour. Using sarcasm has become a daily staple when it comes to coping with anxiety and stress.
So, why are Gen Z’s such optimistic nihilists? Why do we joke about adverse situations? Where did this unique sense of humour come from?
One trend that’s caused the most concern is that of young people making fun of their own mental ill health. Studies show that Gen Z’s are the loneliest and most stressed-out generation yet. While the posts we see might seem worrying, they could also be a sign of people learning to deal with their own problems through humour, and using social media as their canvas.
Gen Z’s humour has often been described as niche and maybe even nonsensical, with older individuals not being able to grasp our jokes. Aside from taking the edge off stressful situations, members of the Gen Z community also use humour to hold important discussions about socio-political issues, and express themselves. Understanding the humour of this generation is key to unlocking important conversations and bridging gaps with people from other age groups. Gen Z is known to be a very connected generation and a big part of our shared identity is how we joke about topics. Though the memes and jokes may be transient, this sense of humour is what unites us as a generation.
The Watercooler 