There’s been plenty of moments that make it hard to ignore just how doomed this generation is. Whether it’s dangerous challenges, questionable obsessions, or strange stunts, it’s clear that clout means more than common sense these days. People will do just about anything for attention, even if it means hurting themselves or making a fool of themselves online. If these moments prove anything, it’s that we’re heading down a pretty concerning path.
1. The Death of Attention Spans
People can barely sit through a 30-second ad without getting distracted. TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and endless scrolling have trained us to want everything quick and instant. If we can’t even pay attention to a full video without getting distracted, how are we supposed to focus on anything that matters?
2.Vaping Like It’s Oxygen: The Generation That Roasted Cigarettes but Became Addicted to Fruity Nicotine Sticks
Years of anti-smoking PSAs and warnings about lung disease convinced Millennials to avoid cigarettes, yet somehow, Gen Z managed to make nicotine cool again. Instead of cigarettes, disposable vapes became the new obsession, turning every school bathroom into a hookah lounge. Some teens are so addicted that they sleep with their vapes under their pillows, while others take hits mid-conversation like it’s a natural breathing reflex.
3. The Gorilla Glue Incident
In the middle of the pandemic in 2021, Tessica Brown, known as the “Gorilla Glue Girl”, went viral after using Gorilla Glue spray to style her hair, causing it to stay stuck in place for weeks. What started as a beauty mishap quickly spiraled out of control, with Tessica’s desperate attempt to fix the damage turning into an internet sensation.
4.The Pink Sauce Debacle: Buying Mystery Condiments from the Internet Without Questioning Anything
Food safety laws exist for a reason, but that didn’t stop Gen Z from purchasing mystery sauce from a TikTok chef with zero FDA approval. The now-infamous Pink Sauce was sold with no ingredient list, no refrigeration instructions, and a color that kept changing in the mail. Despite its clear health code violations, influencers ate it on camera without hesitation. The internet watched in real-time as people ignored every red flag in the name of supporting a small business.
5.The Tide Pod Challenge: The Viral Trend That Proved Common Sense Is in Decline
The Tide Pod Challenge, which started as a joke about how the pods looked appetizing, quickly escalated into people actually biting into them on camera. The situation got so bad that stores had to lock up laundry detergent behind glass. Nothing screams “we are doomed” like people voluntarily poisoning themselves for the sake of likes on social media.
6.The “Pop the Balloon or Find Love” Challenge: A Wake-Up Call
The “Pop the Balloon or Find Love” challenge proves how lost we are. In 2024, people were reduced to their looks in a split second either popping a balloon or receiving a “find love” thumbs-up. People seeking validation from strangers is valued over making actual meaningful connections.
7. The Obsession with Luigi Mangione
Luigi Mangione became a viral sensation and not for good reasons. Despite being a suspect in the murder of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson, people are out here making TikTok edits of him like he’s some kind of heartthrob. His admirers even show up to his court hearings with posters just to get a good look at him.
8. The Milk Crate Challenge
The Milk Crate Challenge involved people stacking milk crates into a pyramid and trying to climb to the top without falling. To their surprise, many participants fell. While it sounds simple, the crates were unstable, and some people got seriously injured when they landed on their necks, backs, and heads.
