I would argue increasing wealth discrepancy is causing far more problems. All three of my kids are in Gen Z. They all have anxiety disorders, some severe. I go

I would argue increasing wealth discrepancy is causing far more problems. All three of my kids are in Gen Z. They all have anxiety disorders, some severe. I got bad news for everyone: this started before they had smart phones. Premise blown. But now that they're okay (after 10 years) I've been talking with my kids what happened. They all said the same thing: high school. In high school, they said, they had College! College! College! pounded into their heads all day, every class period, of every day. The unspoken message they loudly received is if you don't go to college then you're doomed. You're going to drown, college is the only means to tread water or get ahead. I've been in group therapy sessions with anxiety-ridden, suicidal Gen Z kids. They all identify the same source for their problems. Pressure. Intense pressure. You want to play sports for fun? Nope. Gotta be serious about getting a scholarship. Can't go out and play a pick-up game with your friends, either. They're all consumed in playing league sports. Want to do an activity? Better consider how that looks on the college resumé. Better excel at that activity. Be a leader. Can't just join Boy Scouts because you want to hang out with your friends and go camping. Oh no! You need to be an Eagle scout! You need to be a leader! If you do martial arts then there had better be a black belt coming at the other end. All activities serve the college resumé. College! College! College! But wait, there's more! My daughter recently pointed out that the United States had been at war since the day she was born. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan were a constant background narrative throughout her life. It seemed surreal because life proceeded as though we weren't at war. But you always heard about it. Always saying thanks to those who'd served several tours fighting it. Finally, I, being a Gen X'er, was the first of the divorce generation. My generation was hit hard by divorce. What did Gen Z get hit with? The housing crash of 2008. Gen Z is the generation of foreclosure. They saw their families lose their home. They saw their families who struggled to afford their home kicked out of their home and then forced to rent where the rents would go even higher than what they were paying for their own home. Gen Z is the first generation in American history who's not doing as well as their parents. Don't be surprised when they call bullshit on American Exceptionalism or say Okay Boomer! And don't think for a second that the problem is with smartphones. They may not be helping, but they're not the source of all their problems.