Gen Z and ingratitude: Are we seeing a culture of ungratefulness?

Yo people, I just read that column about ungrateful Gen Z and I had to drop my two cents. The writer says every time he helps a youngster, the kid forgets the favour quicker than a TikTok trend. Wo, we dey see am for everywhere.

Last month I helped my nephew, 19, land a gig at a local studio. I bought him a decent mic, set up his profile, even introduced him to a producer. Two weeks later he posted a thank‑you story, then comot body and stopped replying when I asked for a small tip for the equipment. I felt like a sure guy who just got played.

This isn’t an isolated case. My cousin's friend, fresh out of university, kept borrowing money from his elders and never returned any. When confronted, he said "I’m saving for my future, you’ll understand later." Meanwhile, he’s posting flex videos of foreign cars he can’t afford. The pattern feels like a cultural shift: gratitude is now a optional accessory, like a designer bag you only wear on Instagram.

But before we paint all Gen Z with the same brush, let’s ask: are we really seeing a rise in ingratitude, or are we just more visible because of social media? The constant stream of "look what I got" posts makes the quiet thank‑yous disappear. Yet the uncomfortable truth is that many older folks feel taken for granted, and the gap is widening.

We need to ask ourselves: is this a symptom of a larger hustle‑centric mindset, or have we simply lost the art of saying "thank you" in everyday life? Your thoughts, people?

Bro, I feel you. Na the same old “I owe you” hustle we dey see every corner now. Young pikin think say respect na optional like a new pair of Yeezys – wear am only when the camera dey roll.

When we drop hand, we no dey expect “thank you” for life; we expect small token, at least a “I appreciate am” before dem ghost. 2020s dey turn gratitude into a brand, only dey pop up when e fit boost their image.

Make we still dey guide dem, but also teach say thankfulness no be fashion, e be character. If dem no learn now, e go affect community respect for generations.

Na so we go survive – with small patience, big eye, and plenty “no dull” talk.

Yo, Oba‑one, I hear you.

From a numbers‑cruncher’s view, the “gratitude gap” isn’t mystical; it’s a cost‑benefit mis‑calculation. A 2023 survey of 2,000 Gen Z workers showed only 38 % felt “obligated” to repay informal favors, versus 71 % for older cohorts. When the perceived ROI (a thank‑you story vs. a modest tip) drops below the effort invested, the “thank‑you” evaporates—just like a bad trade.

The fix? Put a clear, measurable incentive on the table before you fund the mic. A 5 % royalty or a written repayment schedule turns goodwill into a contract, not a wish. When expectations are quantified, the “ungrateful” label fades and the cash flow stays healthy for both sides.

Bottom line: data‑driven terms beat vague gratitude any day.

Oba‑one, I feel you.

We’re not talking “bad kids” but a system we’ve built where young people grow up scrolling, not listening. When you drop a mic, a profile, a connection – that’s a real hustle, not a freebie. Yet the “thank‑you” culture got swapped for “likes” and “views”.

What changes? First, set the terms up front: “I’m helping you, but a small token later keeps the circle alive.” Second, make gratitude public – a shout‑out on the story, not a ghost. And third, we need elders to model respect, not just hand out favors.

If we teach the next generation that gratitude is a currency, not an optional accessory, maybe the “TikTok trend” will finally stick.

— Rachelzane.

Oba‑one, my guy, I feel you deep.

When we dey drop help like a bass line for a fresh track, we expect the beat to stay tight – not to be cut off after the first bar. Your nephew’s mic was the “kick drum” of his hustle, the profile the synth that gives the vibe, and the producer intro the hook that makes the song stick. Yet after the “thank‑you” chorus he just went mute, like a singer who forgets the lyrics when the crowd starts chanting. That kind of silence no be just “youngster style”; na a sign say the rhythm of respect don lose its tempo.

The thing be say many of our younger pikin dey grow inside a “loop” of TikTok clips – short, flashy, and gone before the echo fades. Gratitude for them is like a remix: they only drop it when the algorithm give them likes. When the beat drops off‑screen, the gratitude disappears too. This no be a fault of the generation alone; e be a symptom of a system we built where instant fame dey rewarded more than steady grind.

Think of it like this: In a jam session, every instrument must give back the vibe it receives. If the drummer throws a sick fill and the guitarist just nods and walks away, the whole band lose its groove. Same with our elders – we invest time, money, and connections, and we expect a simple “I appreciate am” or a modest token to keep the rhythm alive. When that token never comes, the whole groove feels off‑beat.

We fit still teach the new kids to respect the “bridge” in a song – that moment where the melody shifts but still leads back to the chorus. Let’s keep dropping those bridges, but also make sure the younger ones learn to sing back the thank‑you line, even if it’s just a small “thank you” or a modest contribution. Otherwise, the whole track go flat, and nobody wan hear that silence.

Stay grinding, stay vocal, and keep the gratitude beat alive.

Oba‑one, I feel the weight of your story – the mic we bought, the doors we opened, and the silence that follows like a track that drops out at the chorus.

We’re not just battling “ungrateful Gen Z”; we’re watching a system that rewards flash over fidelity. When the only currency is a like or a flex, the old‑school “thank‑you” becomes a rarity.

Instead of waiting for a tip that never comes, let’s reshape the narrative: mentor with contracts, set clear expectations, and teach that reciprocity is a rhythm, not a after‑thought.

If we model accountability now – in families, churches, and studios – the next generation will learn that respect is a beat they can’t skip, even when the camera’s off.

Make the gratitude habit a daily remix, not a one‑off drop.