| APRIL 20TH 2024 |
 SUBSCRIBER ONLYCover StoryHow we chose this week’s image |
 Zanny Minton BeddoesEditor-in-chief |
| People who fret about the young are often convinced of two things. First, that they will grow up to be worse off than their parents. Second, that having spent their formative years glued to social media, they will be sadder and more anxious than their elders. Our cover story this week examines these ideas and reaches different conclusions. Although it is true that in rich countries members of “Generation Z” (those born between 1997 and 2012) are more likely to describe themselves as anxious, there is not enough evidence to blame this on smartphones. (Indeed, some of the apparent rise may reflect a greater willingness to talk openly about mental health.) And when it comes to material prosperity, the picture is rosier than people think. Gen Z are making comfortably more money than earlier generations did at the same age. |
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| Our team were fizzing with ideas for how to illustrate this nuanced story. One early sketch showed a teenager staring into a smartphone—or is it a mirror?—and forming a “Z” with her body. Another emphasised angst: a young woman perched on the headline, looking troubled. |
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| We wanted something more upbeat, though, to match our analysis. This one was blingtastic: a diamond-studded necklace with the “Z” resembling a dollar sign. An even simpler version fashioned a Z out of stacked $100 bills. |
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| We worried, however, that these images lacked a sense of agency. The young are wisely acquiring marketable skills, from medicine to engineering, and this explains some of their success in the job market. A pastiche of Superman’s costume conveys this idea in an eye-catching way. A balloon surrounded by darts gets across the notion that Zoomers are overcoming life’s obstacles. |
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| Unfortunately, a prominent “Z” can look too much like the symbol Vladimir Putin uses to glorify his invasion of Ukraine. We wanted to steer clear of that. How about an emoji displaying both anxiety and financial success? This was a bit confusing, and did not work with the headline. We tried a collage of emojis, which allowed us to hint at a wider range of experiences common among Zoomers: from study and work to romance and political protest. |
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| Someone suggested putting our headline on a makeshift placard. This offered a nice juxtaposition. The placard-waving reminds us how angry many young people are at the state of the world; the headline introduces the idea that things aren’t as bad as people think. But in the end we opted for a face. An early version had dental braces with dollar signs, evoking youth and prosperity. For the final version we brought back the diamonds and spelled out “Gen Z” on the braces themselves. A bit of sparkle, an irreverent tongue sticking out—an arresting, cheerful cover. |
| Also from The Economist |
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