Excerpt:
A 2023 Harris Poll revealed something striking. Across all generations, most people agree that young people are too dependent on technology. But Gen Zers are most likely to wish they could return to a world before everyone was plugged in. In other words, the first fully digital generation longs for an analog world.
We can see this not only in the data but in cultural trends. Take what I’ve called “the Stranger Things effect.” When Stranger Things first aired in 2016, the oldest members of Gen Z were in high school and college. Almost overnight, a familiar aesthetic wave hit: Cassette players, bright-colored windbreakers, oversized pullovers, and retro hats all made a comeback. The analog economy surged; vinyl records soared, tabletop board games reemerged, and vintage thrift shops became even more popular. A generation that had never lived in the 1980s’ or ’90s suddenly longed for it.
The New York Times recently highlighted this phenomenon in an essay titled “Why Gen Z Is Resurrecting the 1990s.” Dr. Clay Routledge, a social psychologist who has written extensively on nostalgia, explained that nostalgic memory provides “comfort, guidance and inspiration.” Though it looks backward, it is, he notes, “a future-oriented endeavor.” In other words, nostalgia isn’t simply about escaping into the past—it’s about using the past as a compass for navigating an uncertain future.
But this longing isn’t just about temporal life. Alongside Gen Z’s retro revival is another cultural shift: a growing interest in ancient forms of faith. Recent data suggests that Gen Z now leads in church attendance across generations. Even more striking, after the pandemic, Orthodox, Protestant, and Catholic churches reported growth among young adults. Many of these churches emphasize tradition, sacrament, and rootedness; qualities that stand in stark contrast to a culture defined by constant flux.
Read the full article at First Things.
First Things
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