Midlife Crises Are Hitting Earlier

The so-called midlife crisis is no longer waiting for middle age. A wave of new research shows misery peaking earlier than ever, with Gen Z bearing the brunt. One study of 4.8M people found despair has doubled among 18–34-year-olds since 2010. “For the first time in generations,” the Times of London writes,“ the average 22-year-old appears to be more miserable than their parents.”

Discontent isn’t confined to Gen Z. Nearly half of Americans now avoid the news, choosing to mute their anxiety rather than feed it. And the symptoms of broader unhappiness are playing out in real time across social platforms. On TikTok, the “Personal Curriculums” trend reframes adulthood as coursework, complete with syllabi and grades. The “Great Lock In” urges young people to treat life like a boot camp, instilling discipline and structure. Viral TikTok posts compare Gen Z to Generation Jones, the disillusioned cohort of the 1970s who yearned for a better future.

 At the same time, nostalgia floods algorithm-driven feeds: Romanticized 2000s ads, laments about the loss of tween spaces, and even music resurgences are common—like Radiohead’s 1997 track “Let Down”  breaking into the Hot 100 for the first time, thanks to TikTok edits.

Why it matters: If midlife angst now begins in early adulthood, the cultural contract has shifted. For marketers, the takeaway is clear: in an era when people tune out news just to stay sane, brands that offer tools for control, comfort, and small wins in daily life can unlock genuine emotional relevance.  

Other news and trends

Trending across platforms: President Trump’s health. After a weekend of speculation (#TrumpDead ominously trended on X as media outlets debated whether it was appropriate to report on unfounded rumors), Trump announced the relocation of U.S. Space Command headquarters from Colorado to Alabama, citing Colorado’s voting systems as a factor. The announcement and livestream reactions have only fueled chatter about the president’s health across X and BlueSky. 

Today in security: Jaguar’s cyberattack. A major cyberattack forced Jaguar to shut down both manufacturing and retail systems yesterday. (The group claiming responsibility had previously hacked British retailer Marks & Spencer.) While no consumer data breach has been reported, coverage in The Guardian and The Independent highlights the growing vulnerability of legacy automakers at a critical moment for EV adoption. 

• Also trending: Corporate breakups. A decade after their mega-merger, Kraft and Heinz are splitting, with each company returning to independent operations. Shares fell 7 percent following the news as investors question whether the breakup will be enough to recalibrate the food giants’ offerings to modern American tastes. On LinkedIn and X, the move is being dubbed the “un-marriage of food giants.” 

Vogue’s new editor. Just a week before New York Fashion Week, Chloe Malle has been named Vogue’s next editor-in-chief, succeeding Anna Wintour after her 35-year tenure. Industry commentary frames it as both a generational handoff and part of a wider “fashion reset” (on TikTok, #voguemagazine = 130k posts, with commentary on the staffing change and what it signals for the brand).

Contributors: Head of Social Content and Engagement Strategy Cristina Lawrence, Senior Vice President Jerry Lawrence, Group Vice President Andrew McKernan, and Senior Vice President Tammy Pepito. At Razorfish, we help brands define their higher purpose—the emotional reason why they belong in people’s lives. Ready to find your purpose? Learn more here.