Rachel H. Janfaza

1 week ago | theupandup.us | Rachel H. Janfaza

To say there’s a lot going on right now is an understatement. From domestic protests and ICE raids to the tragic shootings of two Minnesota lawmakers and now deadly strikes between Israel and Iran, it feels like 2020 in terms of how much news there is, but now, the stakes are even higher. We’re trapped in what I’m calling the Gloomcycle. For this week’s Reality Check, I surveyed The Up and Up’s Gen Z community on our current state of national and global affairs.

2 weeks ago | theupandup.us | Rachel H. Janfaza

The Class of 2025 is graduating into a perfect storm of chaos. In a Reality Check with college graduates, more than 70% of respondents say they feel their job prospects are worse than when their parents entered the workforce. They’re facing economic headwinds, a global trade war, geopolitical tension, and the rise of AI – all while the job market slows and rent is unaffordable in cities big and small.

3 weeks ago | open.substack.com | Rachel H. Janfaza

Nearly six months into President Donald Trump’s second term, a new CNN poll breaks down Americans’ views by age — offering fresh insights into how young people are feeling about a range of issues. This recent poll generated a headline that will sound familiar to longtime readers of The Up and Up – “Young people are skeptical of the American Dream” – which grabbed my attention. The American Dream is a recurring theme in my listening sessions and Reality Checks with young people.

1 month ago | theupandup.us | Rachel H. Janfaza

For months, I’ve argued that a unique pairing of pandemic lockdowns and formative years spent on social media splintered Generation Z. Insights from my most recent listening sessions in Arkansas reveal that these subdivisions will likely become even more stark as new technologies continue to evolve – and as the college landscape changes, with less of social clout granted to elite universities that come with high costs and no guaranteed return on investment.

1 month ago | open.substack.com | Rachel H. Janfaza

For months, I’ve argued that a unique pairing of pandemic lockdowns and formative years spent on social media splintered Generation Z. Insights from my most recent listening sessions in Arkansas reveal that these subdivisions will likely become even more stark as new technologies continue to evolve – and as the college landscape changes, with less of social clout granted to elite universities that come with high costs and no guaranteed return on investment.