How Gen Z’s ‘delulu’ culture impacts their reality | Justine Danielle Reyes | TEDxADMU
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- Опубликовано: 8 сен 2024
- In her thought-provoking TED Talk, Dani Reyes, a licensed psychometrician and researcher based in Manila, delves into the phenomenon of "delulu culture" and its impact on Generation Z's reality. Dani, who has dedicated her career to mental health awareness and education, explores how the term "delusional" has been adopted by Gen Z as a mantra to defy limits and dream big, despite practical challenges. Drawing from her experience as a mental health professional and educator, she highlights the cognitive dissonance this creates, as delusions are traditionally seen as pathological in the field of psychology.
Dani argues that the rise of this culture reflects Gen Z's response to societal dysfunctions like climate change and economic insecurity, which make traditional aspirations seem unattainable. By embracing delusions, Gen Z resists accepting a bleak reality and instead holds onto hope for a better future. She calls for a deeper understanding of this cultural shift and urges societal changes to support young people's aspirations. Dani concludes by emphasizing that what her generation truly seeks is hope-a belief in the possibility of positive change and a brighter future. Justine Danielle Reyes is a licensed psychometrician and researcher based in Manila who works in education. As a psychology undergrad, Dani began to raise awareness on mental health through social media, which eventually led to speaking engagements in different institutions. She worked as a high school teacher for three years, teaching mental health and character education, before she ventured into the world of testing and research in higher education. In 2023, she presented her first research paper about the lived experiences of college students during the pandemic at the 10th National Social Science Congress held in Silliman University, and she was one of the eight emerging film critics who joined the inaugural QCinema Critics Lab. On social media, Dani posts educational content about psychology and mental health on TikTok, runs a blog on Substack and hosts a podcast, both called Therapy for Takeout, where she shares lessons learned in therapy as well as her love for psychology. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx
"Aren't we ashame that the current system we participate in is only bulit for survival and not success?" 🥺
to survive only is not enough we also need to live, find our purpose that's how humanity progress
To survive is to succeed today and live another day, that alone is enough to be successful
Current system? All systems were just about that.
Who is this “we” that she refers to? Why should we be ashamed? The world is unfair and imperfect. It has always been like that. We have made a lot of progress but it simply creates new problems for us to solve. But do you have the maturity to stop blaming whoever u feel has wronged you and accept reality instead of your misguided ideals?
@@bbch088The world being imperfect is not an excuse to refuse to improve it. Those "misguided ideals" are the means by which it is to be improved. Democracy itself was once a "misguided ideal".
“We refuse to accept that this is the reality that we have to put up with for the rest of our lives” ATE!!!!!!
ATE??? What does that mean?
I'm glad I'm not the only one with this thought although my thought process is more along the lines of "people make it this way because it's all they know" not delusion (at least I think so we lie to ourselves easy😅). Change can come and is possible but only if the collective moves as one and takes real action, otherwise it's a frog in the hot water scenario.
@@ElimEx1Onee-chan/Big Sister
@@ElimEx1ate is modern day slang to show admiration and praise for someone, for doing something impressive. like “you ate that” meaning “you perfected that”
@@TheBlackCat0069that’s different in this context … 😭
I feel that the brain wants to protect itself from harm. Delulu is the brain refusing to be miserable...in spite of the stresses of reality. Its what makes us strong in the grand scheme of things. It's not the worst kind of coping there is
Do what you have to! Dont give up!
People like you end up becoming drug addicts lmfao don’t give people advice 😂
Parents and teachers failed to teach them resilience when they were very young. Living in delusion will most likely get you crushed by reality when you enter the work market.
How many Gen Z are making Tiktok about not finding jobs?
The more intelligent and sane someone is, the more depressed they are likely to be.
Sane and smart are in fact admirable qualities, but not if they lead to emptiness and apathy
@@aazhieI really wouldn’t use intelligent/sane as the antonym to “delulu” or delusional. I feel the better word to use is practical.
fr, "delulu is solulu" is quite helpful in reality that we live in today. Mentioned Palestine, climate problems, viruses, economics of countries that are being ruined every day, even in my country there is a big war and everybody is trying their best to not get devastated and keep on going. That phrase on the beginning helps me to go on and do everything I can for myself, my family and my country. Hope, everything works out in the future and all that work won't be in vain.
Yes, Hama'a and other aggressive Islamic terrorist continue to push against national sovereignty of Israel, UK, and USA. However, Arab cultures have waged wars against peaceful enlightened cultures for centuries.
It's always in vain :)
But when it comes to your civil rights and responsibilities you cannot be dululu !
U from ars3real?
@@slavUKR what are you talking about?
“i hope that we stop using the word delusional to describe our very normal, inherent, and human need to want more out of this life” PREACH GIRL 👏👏
thank you for being the voice of gen z, most of us millennials, and the generation growing up into this chaos 😭 all so well said.
And that exactly is the point. It's not yet "normal", thus "delusional" is tragically appropriate. It's what ppl tell to others for merely asking to up decency feom the gutter to "normal"
I love "delusion" because it lets you escape from reality while staying in reality
💀💀Now that's the definition of delulu
right like lemme stay delulu for a while. it's comforting
in delusion, you escape the realism, literally; so you are not staying in reality at that moment.
@@theGneehouse I would say can stay in reality, if you are aware that you are in delusion
But it might be addictive
As a GenZ I loved this. This is very accurate and well explained. I have never seen someone understand and communicate how Gen Z works so precisely.
As an elder Millennial and mental health pro, I'm super glad to hear that. I suspected this was the paradigm behind delulu, and I'm thrilled I was right. We need more collective action and less passive acceptance of dysfunction. Hear for it!
@@kathygehlhausencan you help me to conceptualize this simply? I'd be appreciative of your thoughts as a mental health expert. Also a psychologist, but not a clinician, rather a neuroscience person. But, teach at university full time in psych department. Am very empathetic and care about the kids in my class, but I'm a Gen Xer so I had a radically different developmental experience and my students get very defensive and anxious about issues I never observed in millennial students and younger Gen Xer students. Boomer students, of which, I have taught a much smaller subset, but enough of them, that they don't react like my young students. I know they are a very lonely and anxious population that was handed a raw deal.
@@annmarieknapp I'll try. To me, this is Gen Z's way of looking for hope and optimism. Like the historical moment they were born into and grew up in (the years between 9/11 and COVID essentially) were so extremely intense in ways that threatened or at least seemed to threaten the social order. So in order to feel hopeful about things, you have to let go of how bleak you "know" things are, go delulu, in order to get there. Plus, from what the TED talk shared, this mindset is a defiance of the "well that's how it is" mentality that you and I survived on. To me, "be delusional" is a rejection of acceptance of the status quo and a call to be willing to be delusional enough to risk changing things. My sense is it's harder to find serenity when one grows up saturated with social media, so their anxiety is HIGH. It seems "be delusional" is an expression of a willingness to break the accepted paradigm. Unfortunately when everyone is a disillusioned crusader for social change, it can be really hard to find community. That's my take
“Contrary to the killers we are not doing just fine” 😭 underrated.
But are we at least coming out of our cage?
@slowrunn3r88 well, we gotta gotta be down because we want it all
@@aazhie fair enough, it’s just hard to believe…. It started out with a kiss…. Man, how’d it end up like this? IT WAS ONLY A KISS!!!
I knew this was the reference but my brain just refuses to accept the first time lol
But she's touching his chest now and he takes off her dress now...
Felt like watching a stand up, not for the thing she’s saying. She does know what’s she’s talking about. But for the fact that there’s tini-tiny jokes that only a gen-z crowd would laugh at.
And I loved this talk!
Our generation is heavy on jokes and dark humor, it’s all we have to cope.
Little jokes are a common technique for engaging the audience and getting them on your side
5 minutes into her talk, i literally got confused where was she actually heading to
I'm a millennial and I'm so beaten down by society. I used to have fire and determination and tried to change things, but after a while you can't handle it any more. All you can do is try to focus on surviving and that takes all of your time and energy...
She said is so eloquently, this society is built for survival, not success.
Please stay angry Gen Z, I know us Millennials will back you even if we're too beaten down to start anything ourselves. I have no idea what your slang means, but you guys seem to be trying to push us in the right direction.
Facts. Us millennials have your back now and always. But yeah, we're exhausted.
Remember WWII when the Japanese attacked the US and started a war that killed millions? Was it “genocide” for the US to drop atomic bombs on a nation who was willing to fight and die to the last man for the Emperor? Or was it it an attempt to end the war that Japan started? At what point do you get to start a war and then start claiming “genocide?”
this is one of the reason many people try to stay away from problematic parts of society and find people of their kind. As in have quality of people than quantity so the bad quantity doesn't kill quality in you.
Aren't yall the ones bashing us on the internet saying how lazy and childish we are?
@@lahkooky504westside3 it feels that way cuz some people try to identify themselves or others as a XYZ generation or group than just a fellow human first. and then try to speak for or against that generation but in the end they're all just people that are supporting or discouraging other people. And then an oddly unnecessary war starts between these people when they're fighting the wrong enemy and they should be fighting social issues that bog everyone.
- None of us can speak for a such a whole group of people being a whole generation,gender, country etc completely. Albeit some people with better insights and social awareness can gauge a general consensus of a majority of the group and do end up having to speak as a representative. Minorities still can't be excluded.
I love how there's a good flow of information and before my brain registers it as a lecture she suddenly goes "My dudes, street cred and no shade to the millennials" HAHAHAH 100% bet
Stopped watching right here 😅
@@br8026hater lol
@@br8026 older generation member detected. this video was made for you
It is a lil cringe even if you are gen z
@@mantarayc718Its fine tho. It’s not that bad. If it makes the speaker more relatable to the focused listeners using some saturated slangs are not that bad.
i feel like this phrase is most commonly used when referring to romantic situations which shows how little faith Gen Z has in successful and healthy relationships, a belief either inherited from the media or parents. This also shows the weight that they put on romantic relationships that they are willing to 'be delusional' and avoid reality in order to reserve hope for romance.
this is very true
Yes I often see this used with toxic abusive partners or characters in media. Like being delulu over a hot rich guy that'll never look your way or a bad obsessive (yandere) boyfriend but is super nice with you. Hm that explains the rise in boyfriend asmrs now that I think about it. I didnt know it was a thing until like a year ago. In the anime manga community for me, delulu is often used this way to show affection to a character but some weird people go overboard at times. I think its the same way with Kpop maybe? Or real life actors and such
Absolutely, yes! Using 'delulu' as an excuse when things don't go as expected, or as a coping mechanism, doesn't equal hope. 'Delulu' ≠ hope. The key issue here is the misuse of the word itself-employing it as a way to cope contradicts what being delusional really means.
as a gen z, this is very insightful. thank you for this ms. danielle
Everytime I see the “delusion is the solution “ or rather “delulu is the solulu” ( i prefer the first) I am reminded of the first matrix movie. Neo is reminded that the only limit is his thinking and it has always resonated with me . I think the reason people don’t encourage the idea “ delulu is the solulu” is not because of the context or meaning but rather they hate the way it sounds so made up , childish and non sensible. But in this era of hash tags and trending content- the phrase works perfectly.
you mean to delulu publicly and post online? how it that work? I don't thinks it healthy though
# THERE IS NO SPOON
Underrated comment. That's the way i see it too. People get caught up in the childish way it sounds but behind the words, there's a deeper reality to it. The idea that "you need to believe it's possible" although it appears to be impossible. If you take The Matrix as an example (or a Lucid Dream!), that makes a lot of sense. Believe the wall is solid and you won't walk through it. Believe it has no reality ("be delulu") and you will get to the other side. That's really interesting to see how your assumptions impact your reality in a dream. Although it is, of course, different in real life (won't try to jump from the top of a building to another or walk through a wall 🗿) the principle remains the same.
"Belief that it will get better" is faith. Hope is more like "refusal to fall into despair even it seems like you should," which I think is far more powerful.
to quote maxxxine minx, “i will not accept a life i do not deserve!”
really insightful topic and what an eloquent speaker. she perfectly articulated the gen z delusion concept. kudos to you sista!
This is so hopecore 😭 (seriously tho i hated the title but goddamn is this a good ted talk)
HOPECORE⁉️⁉️⁉️😭😭😭I love this HELP
Hope mcore is so gen z of you too lolol
As Gen Z, I'm scared of my generation. It's easier to run away and embrace escapism through doom scrolling and spending. If something feels uncomfortable we can use words to justify our feelings in the wrong way. Saying "triggers" for certain things when sometimes we have to be honest with ourselves and just realize that life is messy and we have to keep pushing.
We should be aware of our feelings and perspectives but not let them bring us down with it.
When Gen Z will have to help run the world as every generation has, what are we going to do?
I'm sure a lot of us will be ready to step up, but a lot of us will continue trying to escape reality through "delulu is the solulu".
Hearing the stories of now my family came to America, being chased out by Pancho Villa. How life treated them and had to start from scratch.
Our past generations genuinely had trauma. Gen Z likes to make up their own. While not in all cases, I'm sure we have our own forms of trauma. But can you really say it's the same as trying to survive? Or were you just having a bad moment?
👏👏👏 I appreciate your honesty. I’m also nervous to speak my mind because of how hive-minded and ready to attack gen Z can be. Your point is valid. Being physically ran out of one’s home country and showing up ashore somewhere else with no access to online info on how to immigrate or call emergency services, no platforms to search for family or help, not having an identity card because your government won’t let you take it, etc, is a very different and significantly bigger issue than a lot of what is complained about online today. It feels like the trauma Olympics take priority online when really, we need to be outside, talking, helping our neighbors in person. Any little way we can.
I agree. The personalisation of feelings and situations has really put us into the habit of getting triggered. We got crazy potential and I hope we do step up when the situations demand for it
I loved how technical ideas were simplified and made relatable for typical viewers. Truly an eloquent speaker with such a comprehensive talk and I can't wait for more discussions like this. 💯💯💯
i love the way she connects how realities differ in each countries societies and being delusional as a worldwide gen z mantra
I was born in 2005. I'm almost hitting my early 20s and still thriving for a bright future ahead. I love hearing smart and beautiful young ladies such as you delivering knowledge to our society. As you said, "hope" is THE word. I can't never imagine how my previous self would do if I didn't hold onto that word for these past few years. Some decision terrified me and had me lost hope along the way but the sparks never disappear. Sending love from Vietnam💫❤
damnn a Ted Talk from the PH? this is very entertaining and I like the sound of her and the video
PINOY PRIIDDEEE 🇵🇭🇵🇭🇵🇭🇵🇭🇵🇭
there's a lot of ted talks now from ph... go look it up
there are plenty of ted talks from other ph unis from way before
The accent 🤌
yeah none of them ever crossed my feed before, probably just like everyone else who liked my comment 😄
I am a Gen Z and I don’t use this popular quote(this is my sentiments, feel free to correct my mistakes) in my daily living but this scratches the surface of how we live in a 3rd world country. Sure foreign people may find it absurd but as she said, it is GenZ’s way of building the life we wanted instead of just surviving and meeting family responsibilities. Popular phrases may changes for years to come.
However with the influence of social media, I do hope that this will shed us light rather than misleading because people perceived what they see in their accounts. There are thousands of wannabe gurus and shallow advices because of the profit they get so we should be aware of what we consume because that’ll drain and distract you with your own personal views. Pick those ones that really helps you and not forces you to be other person.
Being delusional is a coping mechanism to deal W irl depression. Warm hugs for all gen z who's been going though early adulthood crisis. Everything will be wonderful soon.❤❤❤❤
Thank you 🥹🤍
The tricky part is, you have to play enough of the game to keep yourself able to slowly change it. You can't change anything if you end up homeless, because you chased your dreams in an unrealistic way; and refused to change course if/when things didn't go as planned.
mahirap na nga ang buhay, humirap pa dahil Pilipino tayo. yakap sa lahat!! ang ganda ng ted talk na 'to
Mas mahirap maging Pinoy noong 1980's-90's. Grabe yung political and economic instability ng Pilipinas dati.
@@connordrake5713competition ba?
I think it gets to a point where the future looks so bleak and the present isn't much better, that we have to imagine a different world to not feel dread. I only hope that these 'delusions' will translate into fights for real change, so that we don't have to imagine anymore.
complacency is the enemy of progress
Zers are so chronically online that I doubt it. Not their fault. Millenials not much better. Xers (can’t blame em) saw what was coming and tried as hard as they could within the system. Boomers… honestly the most brain dead, spoiled people to have ever existed.
I’m a 96er, feel more like a millennial; my 98 brother is smack bang a cusper, and the 03 one is very much chronically online: primary mode of socialising is Xbox (great dude, btw, he’s doing other stuff too).
@@ziptink1710 96 is on the cusp 98 is gen z
Justine thank you for this excellent speech! I love that Gen Z demands better treatment because all the generations before us were conditioned to abuse. Loved your writing here today 🎉
Nope, as a millennial, I didn't accept the system to conform to society. Even now in the present generation, the same thing is repeating itself, mostly due to power, control, ego and greed which spans across every generation. Bullying and marginalisation in societies is a "sapien" thing. There's a price to pay for non-conformity.
@@gavinlew8273 I read a lot of different messages in this comment and I’m still confused by your starting Nope. Gen Z can do their thing and you can do your thing and sometimes they may even match 😜
Something is wrong with the society when a whole generation of youth think that a happy fufilling future is just a delusion.
Delusion may foster resilience when facing our reality, but it also invites avoidance of the societal change that the speaker rightly calls for. The words we use are important, especially if they become a generation's battle cry.
"The ability to DELUDE yourself may be an important survival tool..." - Jane Wagner
They may call it delusion, but I say Gen Z has rather grown disillusioned with how people have operated the last half century. This shift is the medicine the world needs.
even just using the word "delusion" instead of optimism shows us how bad things have become
daring to hope and dream for any chance at happiness is now insanity 😂😭
It isn't that our dreams are delusional, it is this world where normal dreams seem to be delusional.
Its very ironic that gen z's are the ones who are dubbed as delusional when they're the generation whos the most politically and socionomically aware.
I would not say we are politically and socionomically aware rather we have access to information that's due technological devices and not that is something we pursue or are interested in.
@@siyabongampongwana990good for you for being willing to say this because to a lot of us on the outside, that is how it appears. I understand the stress and torment of constant awareness, but at some point, we have to remove our hands from our eyes, look past our individual need for comfort, and make real change. Offline.
I thought they were dubbing *themselves* as delusional
It’s more ironic that there’s more actual delusion in the previous two generations than this one lol
I don't see that. Gen Z just seem overwhelmed with info and easy to manipulate with popular views through their social media bubble causing a disconnect with reality.
The online environment is an environment of delusion and annoyminity provides you a security for you express and inner persona that does not match real life.
As an employer of mostly gen z, I can say this. I have had a few lately that come to work, with no experience, and want to be compensated as much as my veteran employees. I had 3 people on the schedule who were "only available" 10-15 hours a week, were constantly calling off, and refused to work weekends, who wanted the same compensation as the people who worked 40 hours a week and rarely called off.
Constantly we would hear about how hard it was to have work/life balance and how hard college is, but as a millennial, we worked full schedules all through college and always worked on the weekends because that was when you could get most of your hours in.
Well, Gen Z is gonna change this "work experience" and "degree" bs. Mark my words. We have the skillset rivaling a work veteran of 30 years in the same field. I have my cloud computing certs from over a year ago and have the skillset. Not hiring me is discrimination based on age
@@birons3708 😂😂😂😂 you don't have the knowledge or the experience or expertise.. of a 10 days old.. what skilset are you taking about.. long discussion mental health discussion or patriarchal society.. or entitlement of being a social media star .. buddy none of it matters in the real world.. face it you are payed for the return you get for the company..
not on the seat you rest your backside on. That real life..
you may have certificate. It doesn't matter until you don't have experience or knowledge to apply it...
In real life certificates don't matter and uneducated logical minded individuals who can solve the problem is 1000 times more important than a person with 1000 certificate..
@@birons3708 and trust me not hiring you is not discrimination based on age. it's avoidance of a future lawsuit 😂😂😂
@@rohand04 Well tell me the reason for not hiring me? Is it my fault I just turned 18 two years ago and I magically dont have lots of years under my belt?
@@birons3708 i did.. the comment is hidden just try to read it up..
nope but starting from scratch like everyone and giving yourself time to truly learn and show your talent.. rather than believe that you are entitled from the first day..
The problem is also due to your whole social media frenzy you believe that miracle happened yesterday.. never see the 2-3 decades of hardwork that went behind it..
You are 18 try starting small don't be entitled for any recognition.. this is life you don't get participation medals
what a time to be alive
To be honest, this hits very close to home.
It actually does.. my aunt told me yesterday to ask a Palestinean American if they **actually** are against the genocide of their people in Gaza as per the Bible, they were enemies to America
As a Gen X woman I find this Ted Talk very informative and feel I have a better understanding of what today's youth are going through.
Basically the mindset of how to live in inverted totalitarianism in a country branded as free.
correct, so unfortunately what this means is History is NOT a "fairytale" where certain things are achieved and people live "happily ever after." no, if/when we get the courage to examine the record what see is that both PRO-gressions and RE-gressions is what actually occurs in History. there is no "great automation" that brings about the success (and sustainability) of any Society into the future. # CIVILIZATION COLLAPSE HAPPENS
I think all generations (including Gen Z) should realize that Gen Z is just in the early stages of their lives. A lot of what they are experiencing are the exact same thing previous generations have dealt with just with a new coat of paint. A little grace for everybody would be nice
bingo, nothing that's happening here with Teenagers to the backdrop of the dual Wars in Ukraine and Palestine is any different than what's ALREADY happened with Teenagers to the backdrop of the dual Wars that occurred in Vietnam and Korea (and also Iraq/Afghanistan).
I hope this is true, and I hope climate change doesn’t ruin our lives.
"What we deem normal in the society is what we continue." AAAAA and when she told how it is a perception between a generation trying to make sense out of reality and a group of experts trying to protect the integrity of a word... very well said!!
Rooting for hopecore!!
She is absolutely correct. It is true that when you see horrors around you for a long period of time, your brain develops a coping mechanism where it starts making a slightly new reality that is less intense and negative. This coping mechanism protects the sanity of a person and also suppresses the harsh realities so that a person can heal faster from trauma. For the lack of a better word, this whole phenomenon is being termed in Gen-Z as 'delusional' which is simply erroneous!!
As working class. My privilege is smaller than hers, and she uses her victimhood as a badge, without thinking about those below.
I don't get why it's always the rich crying about "having a hard life" and making bs excuses for it.
so much empathy for gen z in this video, so well spoken
omg it’s dani, love her soooo much! she’s always been informative, so happy to see her here on ted talk 💗
The point about what is really mental disorder vs healthy coping in a disordered society is very important and interesting, happy you brought it up! Great talk!!
As a millennial born in 1994 I’ve been saying for over a decade that I resonate and relate with younger generations because my fellow millennials were so pro status quo with late stage capitalism, irony, and nihilism. I want to live in a world where we don’t just recognize the injustice in it, but actually do something about it proactively… before it’s too late.
I'm also 1994. Somedays I'm a nihilistic doomer and other days I have hope for our future. I have friends older and younger than me, it's a wild ride.
"WHAT COLLECTIVE CHANGE NEEDS TO HAPPEN FOR SUCCESS TO BE THE NORM AGAIN?" 🤔
My answer to this is to show up to my responsibilities with grace, to be honest about the struggles that come with these duties, and to acknowledge the community that make the day-to-day load bearable. Operating from survival mode is a weapon we use against ourselves; living with vulnerability and kindness kindles a fire that burn cultural and generational hurts. Of course, these are easier said than done. And while sometimes seen in action, commitment and concious choices integrate these to our character.
Great talk, Dani!! Congratulations 👏 I love that you put emphasis on collective change over individual efforts. Stay hopeful!!
- much love from me, a Filipina Millenial with four Gen Z siblings 💖
I like this :)
I deal with delusions and I genuinely hate that people are using this terms as something else. It hurts
This was a lovely talk, I really get where gen z is coming from about the world seeming really bleak right now. I was born in 92, 5 years before gen z, and I've seen a lot of the same stuff that you have and felt a lot of the same ways about it.
But look, this idea that the world is worse right now than it ever has been before is false. Historically, demonstrably, patently false, in almost every way. Like, I get it - there are wars, there is economic inequality, it's hard to buy property right now. But it mostly seems like it's "worse" now because you have more access to information about the world around you than any generation ever has before. You're more focused on the big picture than any other generation has ever been.
There have been much worse wars in history than the ones happening right now, worse class mobility, times when it was actually impossible to buy property and you had actually be an indentured servant just to live somewhere. Not leaving out climate change either - there have been spans of years when entire countries couldn't feed their populations due to potato famines and bad winters and etc. None of this erases today's problems, they still exist, but it's helpful to have some perspective about it instead of despairing. Historically, humanity moves forward, not backward. You are better off living your life now than you would have been 200 years ago almost (we are obviously not talking about Palestine or Ukraine here) anywhere in the world. This is especially true if you're a woman, if you're queer, if you have a disability, or if you're in a minority ethnicity where you live. More of the world is starting to gain access to abortion, modern healthcare like vaccines and life saving surgeries, the internet, and basic things like food and education. In broad strokes the world is moving forward, not backward. The constant daily focus on the world's problems can sometimes seem to erase these realities that are happening at the same time as the problems.
A lot of current issues are magnified online. I don't wanna be the millennial gently and lovingly telling gen z to touch grass...but sometimes it helps to get off the internet for awhile and live your individual life instead of focusing on all the world's problems and taking them on your shoulders. When Dani says in the video that gen z is lonely and feeling isolated but is also a very social and empathetic generation, my first thought is that isolation causes anxiety, worsening mental and physical health outcomes, and a host of other problems for people who experience it. The tendency to over-empathize with people you will never meet instead of seeking out community in person/close to home is maybe not a healthy one. So yes, demand better treatment, be your wonderful gen z self, a lot of millennials totally agree with those values and want the same things! But also, consider that it's not your personal responsibility to fix all the wars in the world or right all the world's injustices. Care, but take care of yourself too. Don't let your concerns run your life. Progress is being made already, it's just slow. It's not delulu to dream of a good life for yourself.
I'm glad that this girl talked about this because it seemed like it was just a small niche on tiktok but she showed us that this is a far reaching social idea that is being demonized from the older society we live in. It's hard to live in an old society that doesn't look for change when there is no want to change from those who control it. As soon as we change the minds of the controllers, we can change society.
When people hold you and your dreams down, constantly telling you your dreams are "delusional" it is an attempt to reclaim the word or statement
Dear Gen-Z: You can't be practical if you are delusional. Lots of love.
you probably havent been near a gen-z to see how we juggle both "lots of love" you say lol youre the condescending she's talking about in 8:20 btw !
So everyone in the comments assumes that life was perfect throughout human history except for now? That seems to be the general attitude, which is beyond unenlightened because the reality is you live in one of the best times in human history to be alive (especially if you live in western society) you're just choosing to be ungrateful for the (extremely) good parts.
Excellent! Dani's speech about Gen Z embracing the concept of 'delusion' as a coping strategy for dealing with a dysfunctional Real World - reminded me of members of the Boomer Generation of the late '60s flirting with the alternate state of mind of 'Schizophrenia,' of creating a personal world of one's own to ward off the social ills of the 'Real World' back then: a Cold War of opposing ideologies, the Vietnam Syndrome, the prevalence of mind-altering drugs and everything in life being reduced to commodities, including oneself, in a For Sale Society.
I'm a younger millennial, and it's like... I don't disagree with the basic premise, but I just don't think it's delusional to be hopeful - I think it's actually more delusional to believe everything is hope- less. Just because we are exposed to more bad news doesn't mean there actually is more bad than there used to be. Pessimism is in many ways just as delusional as optimism because it blocks out the good that's happening, and makes you believe the bad will last forever, and unfortunately the way the news and algorithms currently work, if you look for darkness, the dark is all you see. If it helps Gen-Zers to couch it in these terms and better focus on *real* good, that's fine. I just think it's less about being "delulu" and more about just... being brave. Or as Elizabeth Gilbert calls it, having "stubborn gladness". And we all of us have to be brave in this life, no matter the generation.
I remember what TED Talks used to be.
So basically, what she's saying, everyone outside the gen z spectrum are not smart or capable enough to realise that the world is fckd up? Idts? In my own opinion, everyone from our ancestors until us is quite aware that the world is crazy and unfair. We just had different ways of dealing it and we didn't give every single situation a label. It's just how the world is. And also the word practically is somehow different. Like now, being practical is not having kids, changing jobs every time you get a higher offer (6 months-12,24). Etc, for me growing up practicality is nit buying phones when its needed, or not eating out when there's no celebration etc... if you're saying it's not practical to have you're own family but instead you get dogs or cats, change your hair colour everymonth, go traveling on the weekend, well it's not practically, it's life preferences...
Well said
Totally agree.
@Oceanwaves-d8l quoting 1/8 of what I said doesn't prove yours or her point.
Great talk, Dani ♥ Congratulations!
If Gen Z picked words that actually reflect what they intend, their ideas would catch on faster. Delusional is a very hot word. Choosing "extreme" words only negates their intention which is to be integrated. "Revolulu" would be better.
Revolulu, probably not. Because even Revolulu carries a delulu. We need to rebuild every concept so that a new world, a completely new world could emerge. Its like a breaking point in history where everyone was once living in an apartment now actually lives in, say, tiny tents under the stars where you don't have a village chef or anything, but everyone takes responsibility for the little community that has formed naturally. Imagine. No classes. No village chief. Just a system where everyone is allowed to tweak it according to their abilities. Forming laws to accommodate. Creating structures to reflect this. And we still get to sleep under the stars with our fellow animal companions which are seen as "the other persons". We may still go to war because that's human, but we may not try to scorch the very Earth who is actually feeding us. Call it delulu if you will; but by doing so, we pass up a chance of shaping the civilization in a different way. Change is going to come. The question is: Will we take it in our hands or will we wait for Nature to sweep us in a direction we don't necessarily want to go? We might be thinking that the coming pacific war is a thing we chose, but the way I see it is this: Nature chooses a proxy to deliver massive change and if we resist, the proxy will be chosen from amongst us to be delivered forcefully. So, it is up to us. Delulu is the solulu.
@@busedemirdelen1792 The solution you offer is radical idealistic anarchy and while it is fun to think about, the challenge on Earth is to work together, and change over time using some old and some new creates lasting growth, my friend. Keep your passions alive in art and writing and local grassroots groups.
Your lengthy answer reflects my assertion that Gen Z’s mission is too extreme in their approach to assimilate in this world that already exists.
@@brittanymarriott8742 Actually, the system I'm referring to isn't idealistic anarchy. It is more in the vein of "the nomadic state", or "the nomadic government", where the rules aren't written but they are ingrained in societal rules, which are sacred and treated as the rules of the Universe. This concept might seem foreign to my fellow Western friends; but it was and in some parts still is a reality in Central Asia. Everyone, including the chief had to abide by that rules. Of course I'm aware that the whole logistics and manufacturing need to be redesigned (and another economic system to go with it!) but; I think it's worth giving it a try and who knows; maybe while we try, we may end up with a working solution that is implementable. I'm not saying we will end up exactly there; but it can serve as a guide. So what's your take friend? What kind of a world would you like to live in? What steps we might need to get there? What sources? I know these questions are hard but we might stumble unto something. Thanks! (The lengthy answer is probably because the hardest part of anything is the beginning and I was thinking out loud hehe, cheers!)
I loved the talk and the issue raised might seem small for now but the impact it has on the generation is impeccable.
Me being a gen z , I remember during corona time, I was hugely infused by the genz culture,my thinking pattern, contents I consumed, preference everything made me content in who I was. I didn't feel the need to change or become someone else . I was just okay with everything going on being unhinged by my surroundings. Now, I feel I can't live my life like that. I should be well awarded about things, delusion pushes you to have a false illusion of everything being perfect whereas it's not the case everytime . You can't be in a comfortable place everytime you need to step out and give your best 100% in situation and know the pros and cons of it and decide accordingly.
The best thing I got out of it from this talk is being dululu may help you survive but wont help you succeed that's so eye-opening because success is something we all should strive for as a collective rather than survival
Oh my GOODNESS finally someone talked about this! I am someone who is psychotic with genuine delusions that greatly impact my life.
“Delulu” is a massive pet peeve of mine because it’s made to seem like this “cute and trendy” thing, even something to aspire to. It’s very trivializing by people who don’t actually know or experience delusions.
Simply lying to yourself, or being overly optimistic is NOT being delusional. I understand the argument and reasoning for why people use it, but I wish they would find an alternative.
You'd have to be "delulu" to persist and make change in the world today. I think this mindset is the exact thing that will make the change we so desperately need.
Filipino here and Christian Gen Z who have more depressed and no hopes for better living in built families. I hope pray gen z make task and takes a hard dream to accomplish successful life. ❤❤
the irony that "hope" and "faith" are just acceptable words to describe delusions of one's reality...
THATS MY ATE !!!!!!
Congrats to your sister! She is very articulate and well-informed. I loved how she talked
11:13 this is on point 💯
++++
Thank you po for highlighting social and economic issues we are facing today. As Gen Z We are really pressured to do what boomers want but yeah we are in different generations and we think/survive differently 😊😊
The fact that this is a Ted talk is so funny
Amazing how Dani can dip in and out of the fun of gen z’s delulu culture and balance it out with how serious and scholarly the mental health meaning of delusion is. One thing I was waiting for her to mention lang which is a big chunk of being delulu is the romantic (or hopeless romantic) side of it. Sobrang galing!
Never did I ever think I'd hear "good vibes di ba" in a Ted Talk. Proud pinoy moment
There is more opportunity and abundance than ever.
I agree.
They have all the information literally at a press of a button and still lacks “perspective”. 😢
It’s hard to accept that most people, if not all of humanity, are not that important.
You do indeed fill my heart with hope! I am old enough to have seen that youthful rebellion is a feature, not a bug. With my whole heart I want you to rebel against the _truly_ delusional narcissism of older generations.
Im a millennial and I agree with her. Dream big my young siblings!
This is probably one of the more beautifully thought out ted talks I've heard in a while. Her honesty is beautiful.
Delusional: having false or unrealistic beliefs or opinions. Dont be delusional, you will drown in all the possible perspectives, you have to pick one and do the best you can.
This has been a thing since the dawn of time. Superstitiousmess, religiousness, delusions, denial, pathological fantasizing have ALWAYS been huge coping, defensive mechanisms for all humans worldwide.
Everyone I have ever met has been delusional. It's not just Gen z, in fact the older the person is the more delusional they are in most cases
This is a fine line to meddle in, since once you carry on that delusion into your emotional processing, it indeed take form of a pathology. You can be delusional into working hard for a big job, but you cannot delude yourself out of a mental health crisis and it's what my sister has been doing and is upholding as her primary coping mechanism and is failing her rather severely.
Delusion is how humans sent men on the moon, but certain things need to be kept on check. i.e health, money management, media consumption.
The biggest issue is that influencers are making a living from these cultural mindsets
well, the job market is a nightmare; so it feels like we have no choice but to just "play pretend" and hope it can be manifested into *SOMETHING* that gets food on our table...
I can’t believe this was an actual TED talk but I’m here for it ❤
cries in survival mode😭
While having a smart phone and internet, that may be hard mode but not survival mode.
If you’re from the same school as the speaker, then definitely not even hard mode. 😅
What is telling is that there is a place for manifesting or wishful thinking in this micro culture but the fact that they have taken to calling it a version of ‘delusional’ shows their opinion of it.
As a Gen Z I feel like I'm stuck in other generation's needs and beliefs that stop me from finding my true potential and what I want from life and that also makes me scared that when I'm finally able to choose, it will be too late. I'm already in my mid 20's I don't want marriage and I don't want kids even though the older gens want that from me. I want freedom to choose what I need and what I want without thinking about others because as she said our gen is full of empaths and even though older gen is calling us rude because we don't want to follow the rules that they followed for so long we deeply care, and that's what makes us stuck in one place, hoping that we can manage to make everyone happy in the process, but that's impossible. That's why I feel like if I'm not delusional, I'll go crazy from all the pressure.
We have enough food and shelter, yet millions goes hungry and cold.
Can attest, practical is the word. We're practical with everything. Happiness. Emotions. Responsibility. Care. Jobs. Living.
A true gen Z. We can feel the nervousness in her ever sentence but she keep going despite that, respect.
love love love love LOVE this video … thank you
Now this is a TED talk 👏 👏 👏 big respect and appreciation for the way you laid this out!
I think you mean the word "attitude". The right attitude keeps us going.
If we are so practical why is everybody’s car payments so big ?
We live in an age of knowledge and information at our fingertips. Learning has never been easier. But it comes at the cost of not owning a house, barely surviving, in debt, unhealthy, anxious, stressed, cost of living too high…you can’t thrive when are struggling to survive. We can’t take advantage of the learning potential when we can’t put food on the table and feel we don’t have a future.
As a person who struggles with escapism, cognitive dissonance and overthinking (a potent mixture leading to delusion), I really think sometimes relying on delusion is the only way to move forward in our society and current situation. There are so many things this generation has to deal with which goes unnoticed by our predecessors', often blaming us without the proper knowledge of our suffering and labeling us "entitled" without knowing the truth of our predicament, that there is nothing left to do except adapting to the "it is what it is" mindset and being delusional. It is the only way I can allow myself to be hopeful in this dystopian reality.
It allows me to be "free" and work hard towards a reality that I can have faith in.
Thanks, this is one of the most comforting TEDTalks that I have ever heard so far... I also live by the same mantra for being a Gen Z human. It's funny yet you have interesting points about how this generation needs to probably improvise considering the inherited issues that we got. Would love to see Dani's updates in the future...
So much of this resonates with me. I'm 46 -Gen X-, but became chronically ill at 29. What little chance I had of making a better life for myself, a better future, vanished. The "aren't we ashamed that the current system we participate in is built only for survival, not success?" hits really hard when you can barely work. Great talk.
Not trying to undermine the challenges faced by Gen Z but I would like to highlight that every generation feels they are facing more difficult times with different challenges faced by previous generations. This is how the world and humans evolve. Good example would be current worry of AI displacing jobs… isn’t this very similar to decades ago where machines and automation replaced lots of manual human labour jobs that our grandparents or parents were doing? They also whined about inflation, rising costs.
Don’t worry too much, all is not dark, new opportunities will evolve. You will survive and some of you will excel.
I surveyed a few Gen Zs and none have heard the phrase "Be Delusional". Perhaps it's a region specific thing? However I really like the talk, and agree the concept captures a kind of dark optimism in its own interesting way
The phrase "Delulu is the solulu" is more popular. If you asked the phrase "Be Delusional" it'd be unfamiliar to ears and hard to connect to the first phrase. The word delusion makes people think about the mental health side more.
And absolutely not region specific things. If they're active online (and speak english) they'll pass by the phrase at least once. But, the type of community they interact with and active in might affect how much exposure to the phrase
same never heard it like wut. 😂
I feel like this is some tiktok trend that people who have tiktok thinks is famous but in reality is just in their bubble...
Wdym? I've heard of it and i don't even use tiktok. She's from the Philippines and I am too, all of my classmates basically know this phrase, it's a miracle if you're gen z and you're not chronically online ngl
Probably a local thing. Here in the Philippines, we use the term “delulu” for it
Just unique to the "well off" Gen Zs. The fact that she'd mention common world problems as sort of unique to the Filipino, while at the same time, chant to Free Palestine, is almost peak delulu. It just means we're far from rock bottom.
they really need to give people good microphones with pop filters and water. I am so tired of hearing every person up on stage, smacking their lips, dry swallowing, and breathing into the microphone