The Rattled Generation: A unified theory of this American moment

We're living through the most disorienting societal moment since World War II. Almost nobody in a position of power is explaining why, or what to do about it. By most objective measures, it's an extraordinary time to be alive. Americans are wealthier, safer, and longer-lived than at any earlier point in history. U.S. total wealth has soared. Violent crime sank to a 20-year low and is still falling. Life expectancy just hit 79 years—the highest in American history. The country produces more energy than ever after four straight record years. And yet, University of Michigan consumer sentiment just hit its lowest reading in a half-century. Gallup finds most people think things will only get worse. Trust in every major institution—government, media, organized religion, higher education, science—is at or near record lows, both Gallup and the Edelman Trust Barometer find. The gap between reality and feeling is the story of our era. A three-part shock helps tell it: 1) Social media's rise. 2) The chaos of COVID. 3) The rise of AI, political extremism and information bubbles in the aftermath of both.