Anastasia Denisova quoted in Times article on Gen Z, memes, and WWIII

The recent escalation in international tensions, including ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Gaza, and Iran, has lead to #WWIII trending on X and TikTok. Fatigued by sensationalism and doom-scrolling, it appears that GenZ users have turned to memes and humour to make light of the otherwise alarming news cycle.

In covering this trend, the Times spoke with Anastasia Denisova to understand the motivations behind GenZ meme culture.

Dr Denisova advised, “Dealing with crises with humour is known as a soothing psychological mechanism, as it helps to feel a little bit in control. Seeing something as funny means it is no longer that scary.”

For example, the Times reports, one online commenter declared, “I wanted a summer glow up, not blow up.”

Denisova explained that memes provide a bridge between those who choose to detach from the news cycle and those who engage with it. It is, seemingly, an attempt at collective action against generational trauma.

Read the full article here (note the paywall).

Photo by Vitaly Gariev on Unsplash