‘You can be made a laughing stock to millions’: can gen Z escape the fear of being cringe?
Gen Z faces a pervasive fear of being perceived as 'cringe,' which affects their self-expression and emotional openness. This phenomenon, often exacerbated by social media, has been linked to a culture of surveillance that discourages young people from pursuing their passions. Experts suggest that this fear of embarrassment may be hindering the ability of many to fully engage in life.
- ▪A Yahoo/YouGov poll revealed that over half of Gen Z feels hindered by the fear of being cringe.
- ▪Academics have noted that this fear is a new form of shame that affects self-expression.
- ▪Experts argue that the surveillance culture of social media contributes to young people's reluctance to pursue their dreams.
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Illustration: Igor BastidasView image in fullscreen Illustration: Igor BastidasYoung people‘You can be made a laughing stock to millions’: can gen Z escape the fear of being cringe?With the constant risk of being recorded, many young people are afraid of showing enthusiasm – let alone doing something so potentially embarrassing as dancing in public. Is there a way to set themselves free?Ellie Violet BramleyWed 3 Jun 2026 00.00 EDTSharePrefer the Guardian on GoogleIn a video posted to TikTok, where Katie Whitney has 2.5 million followers, she says to camera, bluntly: “This video is for Cynthia Erivo. If you’re not Cynthia Erivo … you can keep on scrolling.” Her demeanour then shifts, her voice becomes softer; more the way a person might talk to their puppy: “Hi Cynthia. Hi baby. Hey baby.
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