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'Everything got worse': Gen Z express frustration, regret after Trump vote
(navigatorresearch.org)
this post was submitted on 18 Oct 2026
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That's not how algorithmic social media, which is where they source all their "facts" from, works. Gen Z is not a generation that goes out and researches things; they are spoon-fed information (true or false) in bite-sized pieces which they use to piece together a basic world view that aligns with that of their tribe. They are more concerned with being seen to be good or smart by their peers, another product of being raised by algorithmic social media, than they are with being educated on a topic or developing an independent opinion or thought. This is a generation that is notorious for its inability to focus or concentrate or anything, and that severely impairs its ability to think critically and deeply about issues.
I get what you're saying, but I just don't feel like making excuses for dumb people. I believe that if you're raised in a certain environment it doesn't mean you have to end up a specific way....unless you're kind of dumb.
This isn't centuries ago where you're born into a village and that village and its customs are all that you know, forever. All data is accessible now. If you end up stupid, it's kind of your own fault.
I'm not trying to toot my own horn here, but I'm old enough that I lived the first chunk of my life before the internet became a thing and I'm WAY more intelligent with the internet than I was without it. I'm much more aware of what's going on in the world around me. I know so much more about, just, random shit. And I didn't receive some special education. I received a public education in the U.S.
There's really no excuses. I believe the internet, or propaganda in any form, only corrupts if you're kind of generally dumb.
I'm not really sure why you're talking about yourself. You are clearly not Gen Z, therefore your experience is completely irrelevant. It's like a Boomer telling a young person "well I bought a house so there's no excuses for you" - it completely ignores everything that has changed about the world since they were that age.
Yeah, what most people have in their pockets is providing them access to a well-oiled propaganda machine. Maybe the people on Lemmy are on average less trusting of such things, but that's not normal. The right picks and champions influencers nearly constantly. The Dems don't have much success here.
I like to say: we carry a re-education camp in our pockets. And we choose do do so.