'Recession Indicator': Why Gen Z Thinks Everything Is a Sign Of Recession

It's 2025, and while economists speak in data points and charts, Gen Z is speaking through memes. On TikTok and Instagram, the phrase "recession indicator" has become a cultural punchline. But behind the humour, there's something more serious, anxiety about money, work, and an unstable future. From pink lip gloss to capri pants, almost everything is being called a "recession indicator" on the internet lately. But what started off as a TikTok joke has now turned into a trend that reflects how young people really feel about the economy, confused, anxious, and unsure.

What Are 'Recession Indicators?'

The term "recession indicator" is usually used by economists to describe patterns that signal a slowing economy, like rising unemployment or drops in consumer spending. But on social media, it's become something else entirely. Online, it means spotting everyday or nostalgic things, like juice boxes, logo tees, or even fast food packaging, and joking that their sudden return is proof we’re heading into a recession.

Young people today are dealing with high inflation, job insecurity, and rising living costs. Many can't afford rent without roommates, and the dream of homeownership feels out of reach. With real financial stress growing, turning serious topics into memes is a way to make sense of something that feels out of our control.

The popularity of the trend also shows how financial literacy is changing. Instead of reading economic reports, many young people are getting their cues from viral posts. That doesn't mean they don't understand what's happening; it just means they're expressing it differently. The return of trends from the 2000s or childhood snacks being sold again feels like déjà vu, and that familiarity gets tied to the feeling that we've been here before, just like before the 2008 crisis.

Gen Z Humour and TikTok Trends

Still, not everyone agrees with the trend. Some economists say this kind of content spreads misinformation or makes people panic unnecessarily. Others argue that it's a cultural mirror, showing how different generations react to financial pressure. For Gen Z and millennials, the internet is often where they process news, emotions, and stress, all at once.

What's clear is that "recession indicators" are less about predicting the market and more about expressing the mood. In a way, it's a creative response to a heavy topic, using humour to express what numbers can't always show, that a lot of people are worried about what's next.

Views expressed by the author are their own.