The economy is fine! We just have… money dysmorphia. /s
The gaslighting is at warp speed now.
Gaslighting? Did you read the article? It doesn’t say that the economy is fine. It’s about how social media makes people feel shitty about how much money they (don’t) have, because they see so many people living glamorous lives online.
Roughly 43% of Gen Z and 41% of millennials struggle with comparisons to others and feel behind financially
This is the kind of attribution they are making, that its just a psychological condition and not an actual endemic issue that needs to be addressed.
I can definitely see why the term “gaslighting” was used
“Sir, 50% of the population has this virus called COVID.”
“It’s just a virology condition and not an actual endemic issue that needs to be addressed.”
To know how endemic it is to younger gens, we would need a baseline and to know the prevalence in prior gens.
I suspect that the progression of social media and influencers has amplified a false lifestyle perspective — the same as tv and ads/consumerism would’ve amplified them for prior gens — but I haven’t seen any large cross sectional or generational studies; only ones that are, at best, anecdotal.
It also says that people are doing far better than they think according to those who actually service these customers.
Well I’m not young but I haven’t been able to afford to go to the dentist in twenty years so I’d say that’s quantifiably shitty.
This is a muddled message. Are we caught up chasing an illusion, or are we just more acutely aware of our poor condition?
It reads like it is saying the former, but then quotes statistics that reflect real loss of buying power. On the coasts 100k is no longer a large income. People really do live paycheck to paycheck while carefully managing their spending.
I’m inclined to at least partially acknowledge the gaslighting comment as plausible.
Only 14% of Americans consider themselves wealthy
Only 14%? I’m shocked it’s that high!
I thought “Wealthy” was when the passive income of the money you already have, pays more than you typically spend.
Basically when you can “Live off the interest alone.”I thought “Wealthy” was when the passive income of the money you already have, pays more than you typically spend. Basically when you can “Live off the interest alone.”
I see your version of more of “Financial Independent”. Aka “Fuck you money”. At that level you don’t need to work anymore for a decent life, but you’re not living in what most would consider wealthy luxury. If you need a refresher on “fuck you money” I refer you to this primer (language warning).
“Wealthy” is when you have “Financial Independent”, and you don’t have to look at prices of anything before you buy it. At the lowest tier of “wealthy” $100 is like $1. To the highest tier, there is no likely object on Earth that is outside of their reach.
Was it always the case that I would be turned down from multiple studio apartment complexes because I ONLY make ~100k a year? I cant afford spending the 2200 a month on rent and that being 33% or lower so I get denied. Has this always been the case or am I having money dismorphia? I’m only making 2X the median single income salary.
Overwhelming evidence suggests social media has a negative effect on self-esteem.
That’s all they really need to say - it will clearly have an impact on how people perceive their own looks and lifestyle when they’re likely doing fine. I’m not sure they need to invent a new phrase to describe it.
You’re not getting paid too little, you are just money dysmorphic, get back to work
I count myself blessed for having earlier made the realization that I value financial security way more than the shiny new thing. What I also realized that often it’s not the shiny new thing where all my money goes to but it’s the repeating expenses from that daily starbucks coffee to groceries and utilities. If you find a way to save there it’ll start accumulating quickly.
That’s a big if.
A huge percentage of Americans (my family included) live paycheck-to-paycheck. There’s little or nothing left to save. They have everything from student loans to medical debts.
Criticizing someone for spending a few dollars a day on coffee to make their life a little more bearable is placing the criticism on the wrong party. You should be angry that anyone should have to make such unnecessary sacrifices. You should be angry that we can’t all get the shiny new thing if we want it.
My wallet is too fat. I should buy a drone and a Vision Pro.
I can give your bank account liposuction for a modest fee.
