Zoomed Out: Gen Z Chronicles

WP3 Genre: How-to guide/ informational essay

WP4 Genre: Podcast script

Introduction:

Hi! Welcome to Zoomed Out: Gen Z Chronicles. I’m your host, Amera Finnie. This podcast is all about the generation born between 1997 and 2012—who we are, what makes us unique, and how we’re navigating life as a generation shaped by social upheaval. Each episode dives into the distinctions of Gen Z like the impacts of COVID-19, generational divides, the influence of digital media, and the ways we cope and adapt to make sense of this chaotic world.

For this inaugural episode, “A Breakdown of Gen Z humor: LOL or SOS?” I want to dive into something that defines us as a generation: our humor. Let’s be honest with ourselves, our use of irony isn’t just a tool to make fun, but a way of concealing. It’s a survival mechanism, underneath the layers of irony lies something deeper, a generation grappling with profound social and emotional challenges. Instead of addressing these issues head-on, we often rely on humor as our go-to coping mechanism. Here’s the twist, while memes and jokes offer relief, they might also be holding us back.

Meme culture is more than just a quick laugh. It reflects our struggles with isolation, despair, and even the inability to process emotions directly. Instead of unpacking our feelings about politics, relationships, or identity, we resort to articulating this pain through the medium we know best, memes. Here’s the problem: this coping mechanism is not only inefficient but also deepens our struggle to sincerely process emotions and engage in meaningful communication.

While we’ve constructed a system of humor designed to deflect and keep us from reflecting on our raw emotions, I encourage you to listen to this episode with an open mind. Take a moment to reflect on how we can be more mindful of our reliance on ironic humor.

So my fellow Gen Z’ers, I ask you this: Is the humor we know and love keeping us stuck in emotional limbo? Is it time for us to wake up and confront our honest emotions?

Breakdown of Irony:

Before we dig deeper into this emotional minefield, let’s talk about irony—the foundation of Gen Z humor and, honestly, the reason it’s such a chaotic mess. Believe it or not, irony is a multi-layered concept. While you may be unfamiliar with these terms, odds are you have unknowingly integrated these patterns into your own humor style. I know I have. In fact, it wasn’t until digging deeper into this topic that I realized we’ve naturally adopted these habits as digital natives.

*Shoutout to Youtuber Olivia who goes by the handle “oliSUNvia” for her breakdown of these levels. Check out her video for a deeper analysis of each level.

First, there’s irony itself. When the intended meaning of something is the opposite of what’s explicitly stated. I’ll be referencing a chart (pictured above) from Olivia’s video to help give context for each layer. Moving back a step there’s pre-irony which is the base layer, a true statement with no joke implied at all. Let’s begin with the statement “I am not a furry.” The ironic version of this same statement would be “Haha, I’m a furry guys.” This is a false statement. For irony, part of the joke is that what you say and what you mean are opposite of one another.

Then comes post-irony, a “return to sincerity.” Urban Dictionary describes it as when something seems ironic, but the speaker actually means it. It may not appear like a joke, but it acts like a joke. To continue with the same example, post irony would look something like “Haha, I’m not a furry guys, stop it.” This is a true statement, however, it is framed to look as though you meant the opposite when you don’t, which is part of the joke.

To complicate things even more, Gen Z takes things a step further with meta-irony. This Gen Z creation makes it almost impossible to differentiate sincerity from irony, obscuring the intent of the message and leaving you wondering, “Wait are they joking or not?” It doesn’t quite appear or act like a joke but is one. Meta irony would sound something like “Guys I’m not a furry hahaha stop it, It’s not like I have a furry suit or anything, stoppp, I’m really not.” Here, the truth can’t be determined. There are several layers of irony present, blurring the line between what’s sincere and what’s a joke. Therefore, the confusion created is part of the joke.

With meta-irony, the only way to figure out the truth behind the humor is to know the person making the joke. And that’s where things get interesting. This reliance on knowing the source creates an air of exclusivity around Gen Z humor, making it feel like one giant inside joke.

Have you ever seen a TikTok and wondered, “What the heck is going on?” When you reference the comments for clarity, expecting everyone else to be as baffled, they all seem to be in on the joke. Say there was an original video the creator is mocking, if you haven’t seen the original video, then this video may just seem outright absurd. However, the ambiguity of the joke’s intention adds to the humor for those who get it.

To give another example, I’m sure most of you are familiar with the @affirmations account on Instagram. They post sparkly bright photos with messages that convey quite the opposite, Gen Z’s existential dread. Examples include phrases like “Actually, I am not extremely depressed,” set against a backdrop of rainbow sparkly flowers, or “I deserve so many friends,” paired with an image of a blooming field of flowers. The context and imagery accompanying the image blur the line between sincere and ironic. There’s nothing to clearly indicate whether the meme is ironic or not, and it’s left up to the interpreter to make their own conclusion.

Why Do We Deflect Through Humor?

You may be asking yourself, so what? These jokes seem harmless? Every generation is faced with the challenge of trying to make sense of the world around them and used humor to cope with these anxieties. However, things are a little different for Gen Z. We have grown up in a notably turbulent landscape faced with unprecedented levels of isolation amidst chaos. We endured a total disruption of the political landscape, experienced a pandemic, and live in constant fear of a climate crisis and economic instability all throughout our formative years. Beyond this, we can’t escape the “doomsday” content that overwhelms us in the digital age. With this degree of chaos, it is only natural that we would turn to humor. It provides us with a sense of shared community through times of hardship. But also a shield from sincerely confronting our problems. Why are we so scared of coming off as sincere? Why can’t we take anything seriously?

There are several possible explanations for these tendencies. Isolation is a topic that warrants an entire discussion on its own. Covid-19 obviously played a significant role, forcing us to socially distance during critical years of development. A study conducted by Cigna found that 73% of Gen Z reported feeling lonely always or sometimes. Then there’s the fact that we’ve grown up digital natives. Our standard for communication and social interaction is completely different from past generations. In 2023 the Surgeon General actually issued a warning, calling this an “epidemic of loneliness and isolation” finding that people aged 15-24 now spend 70% less time in person with friends compared to the same age group in 2003.

At the end of the day, it’s undeniable that online interactions will never replace physical connection and relationships. Sure, we’re hyperconnected online, but we’re also living in a socially disconnected world. This will only continue to progress as society pursues convenience. This results in the removal of the need for social interaction creating an increasingly isolated world (Forbes). This under-socialization has fractured our emotional development and resulted in a generation that lacks a lot of basic social skills.

With isolation comes heightened levels of social anxiety. We fear even the smallest things, like everyday interactions or finding the right things to say. The digital world amplifies this by fostering constant comparison and fueling FOMO.

How does this relate to our use of humor? At the end of the day, we all just strive for social acceptance. That’s human nature, right? And irony? It’s our safety net. We latch on to irony out of a fear of saying the wrong thing. When establishing an opinion, adding humor minimizes the risk—it softens the tone, removes the formality, and makes the conversation feel less serious. In reflecting on my own use of meta-irony, I argue that it is centered around social anxiety, self-awareness and reading the room. With the fear that a joke might not land, the extra layer of irony ensures that true intention is indistinguishable. While some view us as apathetic, this shielded humor suggests the contrary. We’re actually hyperaware of ourselves and the people around us. Irony becomes a defense mechanism protecting us from the possibility of embarrassment or coming off as genuine.

Irony gives us distance from our problems. It allows us to acknowledge the existence of our struggles without confronting them head on.

The Cost of Constant Sarcasm

Now let’s address the downsides of leaning on humor as a coping mechanism. When irony becomes deeply ingrained in our language it raises on important question: How do we distinguish sincerity from sarcasm? And when is it time to set the jokes aside and have a serious conversation?

We have constructed a culture of humor that makes it nearly impossible to take anything seriously. While coping with misfortunes through humor might feel comforting in the moment, it can also deepen our emotional ineptitude and encourage detachment.

This emotional detachment has real consequences. In fact, the overload of irony has made vulnerability Gen Z’s worst nightmare. It manifests in our inability to engage in romantic relationships, to have honest, meaningful conversations, and to truly confront and process our emotions. By leaning so heavily on humor, we risk avoiding the hard but necessary work of self-reflection and emotional growth. So, while humor has its place, it’s worth asking: are we using it to connect—or to hide?

Best depicted in Steve Lacy’s top hit “Bad Habit,” reflects the Gen Z love crisis, a fear of rejection, vulnerability, and commitment. Lacy recites the phrase “I wish I knew you wanted me,” which became the anthem to confessing the unexpressed heartbreak of thousands of Gen Zers. Many of us prioritize the protection of our pride at the expense of emotional expression. Our fear of honestly addressing our emotions and opening up inhibits us from forming deeper romantic connections. As a generation trained to take everything as a joke, how are we supposed to switch gears and express emotional vulnerability? How are we to build romantic connections when we only know how to communicate through humor and irony? They protect us, sure, but they also keep us from letting anyone in.

This also impacts friendships. When it comes to Gen Z humor, nothing is off limits. Our humor is absurd, dark, and straight up choas. When everything is a joke how do we distinguish what is too far? How do we know when we’ve crossed the line of harmlessly joking around to deeply offending someone.

It is a fact that not everything should be treated as a joke. While humor can make a difficult topic seem more digestible, it minimizes the gravity of the topic. At the end of the day, joking about the world’s impending doom, our mental health struggles, political unrest, and our climate crisis will not get us anywhere. Our constant use of irony stifles action and social change by desensitizing people to the severity of the problem and applying a dismissive tone to an otherwise pressing issue. This just goes to show that our regular use of irony may have more detrimental effects than we realize.

Conclusion:

To wrap up this conversation I urge for us to seek balance. Humor is a healing power that fosters community, creativity and laughter in times of darkness. It connects us and helps us cope, but it also has its limits. It can act as a shield, preventing us from being honest with ourselves and confronting the emotions we often try to bury.

We can embrace humor for the joy and connection it provides while acknowledging that it’s not an efficient substitute for addressing deeper emotional struggles or societal issues. The next time you feel compelled to make an ironic joke or laugh at a dark meme, take a moment to reflect. Ask yourself: What is this humor hiding? What emotions might I be deflecting by laughing?

By understanding the role of humor, we can use it more intentionally, not just as a means of escape, but as a way to connect more deeply with ourselves and others. True healing and growth come when we pair laughter with honest self-reflection. Let’s make room for both.

Thank you for joining me on Zoomed Out: Gen Z Chronicles.

Part 2

Engaging with the discourse surrounding Gen Z humor opened my eyes to the varying opinions and perceptions of my generation. While there is a wealth of information and data surrounding Gen Z, I was unable to find an article that directly aligned with my argument. Therefore, I was inspired by bits and pieces of past research to compile my own argument. Beyond this, my personal experience, observations and use of humor played a vital role in developing my case.

I performed extensive research to ensure I acquired a holistic understanding of Gen Z humor. In compiling this piece I engaged with a range of texts with varying opinions on Gen Z’s use of humor. Each person had their own distinct take on our humor, its roots and implications. Some called it incomprehensible, absurd, and cynical. Some blamed internet culture, others noted our loneliness and of course the turmoil we’ve endured. Every perspective held a degree of validity but also signaled the depth of complexity surrounding our humor. I ensured to explore the perspectives of people from a range of generations. Millennials speculated on how Gen Z humor mimics yet doesn’t quite align with their own humor. Gen Xers expressed confusion and concern about how this lack of sincerity impacts the workplace. Meanwhile, Boomers expressed complete confusion opting to disengage from involvement. In reading these pieces, I felt no take could quite pinpoint our use of humor. However, their speculation offered valuable insight into where there is crossover with past generations and where Gen Z stands apart.

In writing WP3 I was inspired to bridge the gap between Gen Z and older generations, declaring that we were a misunderstood generation. However, as I continued to go down the rabbit hole of our modern-day humor I found myself drawn to uncovering the multi-layers of this complex realm. In reading other opinion pieces by Gen Z authors, I found that even members of our own generation were missing points of analysis and perspective. This encouraged me to reflect on my own understanding of the humor I use and consume daily. In doing so, I realized much of the vocabulary and implications behind our usage of humor was information I had never even thought about. Watching Olivia’s YouTube video, where she explains the three core layers of irony was the turning point in where my idea came together. This breakdown contextualized and organized the chaos of irony I found overwhelming to comprehend. The ever-evolving nature of Gen Z humor forces us to naturally adopt these habits without ever reflecting or addressing the greater implications behind them. However, I feel it is also responsible for our inability to ever come off as sincere, a tendency I’ve noticed in my own life. I was then inspired to share this revelation with others by directing this piece at my peers. I aim to encourage their own reflections and usage of humor while also recognizing the downsides.

I felt the medium that best engaged Gen Z audiences was through a podcast. I believe that as a long-form piece this platform would best resonate with Gen Z audiences. I framed this piece as the inaugural episode for a podcast centered around Gen Z’s identity and its distinctions.

I also recognize that this argument is unique to each person depending on their own relationship with humor. While I believe my argument mirrors the general Gen Z experience, I realize it may not be applicable to everyone. My analysis is highly reflective of my personal takeaways and use of humor. I was able to integrate my own perspective with the insight of others to piece together my argument. However, I wanted the language to encourage reflection and an open mindset rather than feed an opinion to the reader.