Pierre Valentin, 28, has published "Malaise dans la génération Z" (Discomfort in Generation Z) with Gallimard, an essay that examines the profound unease felt by 13- to 31-year-olds. The author paints a stark picture: this hyper-connected generation is suffering from an unprecedented loneliness. Social networks, far from fostering connections, create the illusion of an active social life while keeping young people in a state of real isolation. "This is the generation that leaves home the least," he explains. The essayist identifies several causes for this epidemic of depression: rampant individualism, a collapse of future prospects, ideological radicalization, and now, anxiety about artificial intelligence.
A generation trapped by screens
This sociological analysis reveals a generation trapped in its own digital den. Screens replace outings, and virtual interactions substitute for physical encounters. For Pierre Valentin, the urgent task is to extricate Generation Z from this confinement that fuels anxiety and depression. The essayist dissects the mechanisms that have led to this situation: the promise of a connected world has transformed into a gilded cage where everyone cultivates their solitude while being perpetually bombarded with demands.
A paradoxical return to religion
The author observes, however, a paradoxical phenomenon within this fractured generation: a resurgence of the thirst for meaning, commitment, and transcendence. "Generation Z is paradoxically fascinated by religious commitment," he notes. Faced with existential emptiness and widespread anxiety, some young people are turning to forms of spirituality or radical activism. This quest for the absolute reflects a profound need for guidance in an era where certainties have crumbled. Pierre Valentin's essay thus offers an illuminating framework for understanding the multifaceted nature of a generation in distress.
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