A Time They Never Knew — Why Gen Z Longs for a Past They Never Lived

A Time They Never Knew — Why Gen Z Longs for a Past They Never Lived

I talk to youth every day. As a counselor and mentor, I try to be a steady stepping stone for kids learning to believe in themselves. One of my core beliefs is simple: when a young person begins to believe in themselves, everything else starts to fall into place.

I feel for this generation. They’re growing up in a world we never had—a world of constant notifications, online comparisons, sleepless nights, and eyes glued to glowing screens. They’ve never known the full experience of walking into a record store, flipping through albums, taking one home, peeling off the plastic, dropping the needle, reading the lyrics, and studying the album cover while the music filled the room for the very first time.

Today’s teens live in a culture where everyone is “together” but alone—where laughter at lunch has been replaced by laughing emojis, and isolation hides in plain sight. There’s a quiet ache in their generation, a longing for something more real.

They look back on our childhoods with nostalgia—not for their own memories, but for a time they never knew. And that realization hits hard. I wish I could give them what we had. But I have hope—and so does Freya India, a Gen Zer who captures this feeling beautifully in her essay, “A Time We Never Knew.”

I encourage you to read her full piece, but here are a few key takeaways worth reflecting on:

Highlights from Freya India’s Article:

• Gen Z’s nostalgia isn’t for their own past—it’s for the one we had. They long for simplicity, slowness, and genuine connection.
• They feel robbed of a real adolescence. Their childhood memories are filtered through screens—shared, edited, and performed instead of lived.
• Technology made them spectators. Many young people feel like they’re watching life unfold rather than experiencing it.
• They crave authenticity. Real friendships, laughter that echoes, and moments untouched by filters or algorithms.

There’s still hope. By naming what’s been lost, this generation can begin rebuilding a more human, present, and connected way of living.

What You Can Do (for Adults, Parents & Educators):

Here’s how we can help kids rediscover what it means to live offline, connect deeply, and belong in the real world again:

Model presence. Put your own phone down during meals, rides, and conversations. They notice what we do more than what we say.

Talk about your past. Share stories from your childhood—bike rides, music, boredom, and all. It helps them imagine a world beyond screens.

Encourage analog experiences. Go to a live concert, visit a thrift store for vinyl, play board games, take walks—remind them that fun doesn’t have to be digital.

Set gentle tech boundaries. Create phone-free zones and times, not as punishment, but as protection for real connection.

Ask how they feel—not just what they’re doing. The digital world often numbs emotion. Help them reconnect with what’s real and human.

Keep hope alive. This generation isn’t lost—they’re searching. And they need adults who will help them find their way back to what matters.

We can’t give today’s teens our childhood—but we can help them rediscover its spirit. Every small step toward connection, presence, and real-world living reminds them (and us) that life offline still matters.

Stay connected,

– Ryan