**The column below represents the personal views of the student journalist.

In 1930, $2 could buy you gallons of gas, loaves of bread, or multiple movie tickets. Nowadays, it could barely buy you a full sized candy bar.

“You’re just lazy.” A sentence that many Gen Z or Gen Alpha have heard many times. We’re too lazy to work, or too focused on trends, and that’s why we can’t afford to move out, even to an apartment. 

Yeah, that’s it, definitely not the fact that housing is nearly 22 times more expensive now compared to the 1930’s. I get it, that’s a 100 year difference, that may seem like too far to look back, but even since just 1990, a 35 year difference, current prices are four times more, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

We can’t even buy groceries due to the rapid inflation affecting the United States, let alone afford to live by ourselves, since wages have not kept up with the growing prices. 

Of course, not just Gen Z is affected by these hiking prices, but as the “generation of the future” why should we have to be so affected by choices out of our control?

Not only do we get affected by the prices, but now we are being profiled. We are being forced into this caricature of a brain dead phone zombie who has no opinions, motivation, or passion, when in all reality most teens are more driven than their adult counterparts. 

26% of teens are actively spreading their voice and opinions, while only 12% of adults, according to Orb Media.

So how are we the lazy ones? Because we want to take a break after working, as well as after school? Why do we have to have school be our responsibility as children, while also having a job but still being called lazy.

36-38% of teens are working in 2025, while only 33% worked during 2001-2011, according to the BLS. 

I understand that sometimes it can seem like teens are just lazy, spending more time on phones than any other age group, but in all reality, that is a break after work and school. Parents-think about it this way: it’s no different than in the mid 2000’s when you would come home and call your friends on the landline or watch MTV. It’s simply a different medium. 

Not only is this lazy stereotyping misguided, but can also be harmful, causing it to become a self fulfilling prophecy. 

Being “lazy” can actually be a manifestation of anxiety, stress, burnout, or even Kakorrhaphiophobia- which is the fear of failure or rejection to the point where some people will avoid doing things entirely, according to Psychology Today. 

This “laziness” can stem from a lack of motivation for certain tasks. This can be shown by teens spending time doing the things they like to do, which can be a reason for the common “you don’t seem to be bored of being on your phone” argument. Try to focus on the specific issue instead of making blanket statements of laziness.

For example, parents, instead of calling your kid lazy for not doing the dishes, say “I notice that the dishes aren’t done”. Approaching the specific issue, rather than insulting them or making them feel bad. 

Maybe next time, parents, before you judge your kids, take the time to try to see it from their perspective. And maybe we teens can help them by showing and telling ourselves.