Why Gen Z is feeling 'money dysmorphia'

The Indicator from Planet Money

NPR

Business

4.7 • 9.2K Ratings

🗓️ 2 June 2025

⏱️ 10 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

A significant portion of young people feel like they aren't on solid financial footing. And yet, the numbers show Gen Z adults on average actually earn more and have more wealth than previous generations did at their age.

This phenomenon has been dubbed (by the internet) as 'money dysmorphia'. Today on the show, we chat with a neuroscientist who co-wrote a book, Look Again, that helps explain this phenomenon.

Related episodes:
Relax, Millennials! You're Doing Great.
Gen Z's dream job in the influencer industry (Apple / Spotify)
There Is Growing Segregation In Millennial Wealth

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Transcript

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0:00.0	NPR.
0:12.9	In a Brooklyn park, a group of 20-something's toss a frisbee.
0:16.7	There are besides some picnic blankets, a bottle of champagne and some red solo cups.
0:20.8	It's a Tuesday.
0:21.9	One guy hovers over a slack line walking the tightrope.
0:25.3	His name is Wilder Troxel.
0:26.8	He's celebrating his friend's 27th birthday.
0:29.6	An audio reporter crashes the party.
0:31.8	What's up?
0:32.3	You all talk about money?
0:33.6	Money?
0:33.9	Damn, yeah, I'll do it.
0:34.8	All right, let's do it.
0:35.9	Wilder works in film and also at a climbing gym.
0:38.5	We chat about his money.
0:40.1	Um, I don't, I do not have a lot of it.
0:44.1	Uh, I think like it's, it would be cool to have more.
0:48.3	Wilder is Gen Z.
0:50.1	He's part of a generation anxious about debt and bills.
0:53.9	Credit One bank surveyed young American adults age 28 and younger,
0:58.4	and three out of five said they were stressed or anxious about their finances.
1:03.4	And yet,
	...

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