From mid-2000s cargo shorts to viral “can’t afford Starbucks” memes, Gen Z has found a tongue-in-cheek way to read the economic tea leaves.
You can keep your stock market charts and your dire cable news tickers. If you really want to know when the economy is about to tank, forget the Federal Reserve — just open TikTok. There, Gen Z has quietly perfected a system of recession “indicators” that are less about GDP and more about, well, cargo pants and the resurgence of Chef Boyardee.
We’re talking about the digital generation that’s lived through more “once-in-a-lifetime” financial disasters than there are Spider-Man reboots. Maybe that’s why they’ve developed their own, very online, and very funny ways to spot the next downturn. If you see more people making iced coffee at home, if everyone’s suddenly cool with DIY haircuts again, or if your entire For You Page is full of “affordable date ideas,” congratulations — you might just be living through a Gen Z-certified recession.
Scrunchies Are Back—And That’s Bad News for the Economy
First up on the list: fashion trends as economic mood rings. Gen Z has noticed that the second the economy gets wobbly, so does our style. Suddenly, thrift shops are the hottest destination, Y2K accessories flood Instagram, and everyone’s wearing the kinds of jeans last seen in a 2008 Delia’s catalog. According to viral TikToks and Reddit threads, this isn’t nostalgia — it’s survival. One user summed it up: “If we’re all in wide-leg pants and using claw clips, things are about to get real.”
Gen Z’s logic is almost economist-level sharp: when you can’t afford new clothes, you embrace the weird stuff in your closet. When life gives you lemons, make lemonade — but when life gives you the 2009 recession, make Ed Hardy shirts and Uggs your personality.
“If you see enough iced coffee tutorials and ramen recipes
on your feed, just check your bank account. Trust us.”
When the Spam Sandwich Hits Your Feed
Another recession “tell” that’s blown up online: food choices. On r/Frugal, TikTok, and Twitter, you’ll spot the jokes about ramen noodle recipes, five-minute meal hacks, and grocery hauls that look suspiciously like those you survived on in college. “The moment my entire feed is talking about how to make 30 meals from one rotisserie chicken, I know it’s time to check my savings,” says Tessa, 24, whose viral “Depression Dinner” series has become a comfort for thousands.
The real sign, though, is the shameless embrace of “recession-core” eats. Gen Z isn’t embarrassed — they’ll post a taste test of Vienna sausages and make it a trend. When the world’s on fire, why not romanticize canned tuna and make it a vibe?
TikTok Therapy: Group Coping or Soft Panic?
Beyond clothes and food, the ultimate Gen Z recession indicator is a sudden spike in “coping content.” Videos about side hustles, “quiet quitting,” and hot takes on living at home with your parents rack up millions of views. There’s irony in their memes, but also a collective, oddly reassuring sense of “Hey, we’re all in this together.” In the comment sections, you’ll find more economic analysis than in some newsrooms — but with better punchlines.
Some of the top “red flags” shared by Gen Z online include:
- “When everyone’s making #MillennialDebt jokes again.”
- “Can’t afford Starbucks, but can afford existential dread.”
- “When the TikTok algorithm thinks you need to know how to make bread from scratch.”
The running gag? If you see enough of these signs, it’s time to cut back on DoorDash and maybe text your mom for her casserole recipe.
Are Gen Z’s Recession Signals Legit?
While these signals aren’t exactly what you’d find in The Economist, they’re not entirely unserious. Gen Z’s economic humor is really just a fresh, highly relatable language for talking about stress. Instead of dry stats, they use group therapy memes and vintage fits to mark the financial mood.
Financial analyst Lauren Knoll says, “If people are collectively changing their habits — even in funny, low-key ways — that’s real economic behavior. Sometimes, the vibes really are off, and Gen Z is just the first to admit it.”
In a world that’s always between crises, maybe it’s time the rest of us took a cue from the TikTok generation and started watching for the return of puka shell necklaces or viral DIY pizza bagels. At the very least, it might be more fun than doomscrolling the Dow.
