As we celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, we reflect on our shared good fortune. Becoming a citizen, either by birth or by choice, affords us a special kind of privilege. It’s a form of privilege unmatched in the developed world. Our country is by no means perfect, yet the freedoms, opportunities, vast natural beauty, and rugged individualism remain abundant. Even so, these advantages can feel routine if it’s all we’ve known.
The United States in 2026 is the wealthiest and most advanced it’s ever been. In many measurable ways, it is safer than the America that previous generations inherited. Our level of healthcare and access to resources is unparalleled. Generation Z is inheriting unprecedented prosperity and technological convenience.
So why does it seem Gen Z, generally defined as those born between 1997 and 2012, collectively love America less? Is it just one stop on the natural progression of age? Or have older people failed to give them a compelling vision of our country that’s worth believing in?
Data show that Gen Z is the most connected yet loneliest generation. This undoubtedly plays a role in whether young people see present-day America as good and their futures as hopeful. According to 2023 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a whopping 40% of high school students “reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness in the past year.” And the Cigna Group’s “Loneliness in America 2025” report shows that 67% of Generation Z consider themselves lonely. This is the highest among the four generations. Only 44% of boomers consider themselves lonely.
Two defining characteristics of Generation Z are that it’s both extremely privileged and technologically captured. The striving of previous generations allows an inherited comfort that gives way to complacency. And before long, that can give way to this thought, especially in younger minds: What’s so great about this country anyway? Add to that the inescapable 24/7 news cycle, a sense of instability, real and imagined, and Generation Z is left depressed and exhausted.
The solution to imbuing younger people with patriotism is twofold. Firstly, Gen Z must grow up a bit more. There’s a lot in life that can’t be taught, but must be experienced. Love for one’s country often deepens as maturity grows. Adulthood, family responsibilities, and observing the wider, less privileged world beyond our borders cultivate this appreciation. Secondly, older people, millennials, Gen X, and boomers alike must model an appreciation for this land in both word and deed. Certainly, older people are cynical in ways younger ones are not. However, reality should never dim the blessing of protected freedoms in a prosperous land such as ours.
It’s tempting to give up on younger people when we see frequent displays of thanklessness and rejections of patriotism. But we must remember that the youth of today will be the leaders of tomorrow. What Gen Z learns will lay the foundation for their individual and collective futures. That’s why it’s imperative that we older people invest in today’s youth. Far too many are being taught to hate this country instead of appreciating the good fortune of being American.
In some ways, our nation’s 250th anniversary feels like it’s something happening to us. We celebrate, but it exists outside of our control. While it’s true that time marches on regardless of man’s actions, we are still responsible for ensuring patriotism doesn’t die with us. Looking to the future has always been a feature of our short yet brave time as a country. A free and flourishing America will only exist if we put in the work now. That requires a commitment to our fellow Americans, young and old. This great nation of ours is as much of a feeling as it is a responsibility.
During a speech on July 6, 1987, President Ronald Reagan famously said, “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. It has to be fought for and defended by each generation.”
We should never take freedom for granted, nor waver in encouraging the generations that follow us to preserve it for themselves.