Some benchmark achievements represent the stage at which society recognizes an adult. A new study found that fewer than a quarter of young people were meeting these representative, traditional markers. With an ever-changing economy and fewer opportunities, some of these milestones are just unattainable. Combined with new social norms, people might not find them as important. Their happiness suggests it's all a big mess.
The U.S. Census Bureau shared a report exploring the changes in modern young adults reaching these 5 markers. The study focused on the challenges linked to uncertain economic downturns as well as attitudes toward the modern family experience. The 5 markers traditionally considered to achieve adulthood are: moving out of the parents' home, completing higher education, entering the workforce, marriage, and having children.
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What the research tells us
Comparing the collected data from 2005 and 2023, the researchers found some considerable changes. The first discovery is that young people between the ages of 25 and 34 face difficulties in achieving education, jobs, and moving out. However, they are still, in general, able to achieve the basics of these three markers. The number of people moving out and purchasing a home has changed due to the burden of cost weighed against available jobs with better salaries. Secondly, financial independence is a strong determinant for young adults' willingness to marry and begin a family. Those numbers have significantly changed. In 2005, about 62% of adults were married, and by 2023, that number had dropped to only 44 %. Having a child in those homes went from 55% to 39%.
One particularly interesting fact was the effect of metropolitan areas. People in cities tended to have improved financial markers, but also a significant drop was found in marriage and children. Overall, the modern transition to adulthood still emphasizes career and education, with marriage and parenthood often being delayed.
Financial independence comparing married to single lifestyles
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Many people believe that being single offers them more financial flexibility. Studies show that cohabitation of wealth through a marriage or relationship is significantly higher. Oxford Academic shared a 2025 study that showed marriage was linked to wealth. In general, people with stronger finances are more likely to marry.
The question to be raised is whether financial independence is a key determinant for marriage. A 2023 survey reported in Financial Advisor found 65% of Americans considered a partner's debt a dealbreaker, and 19% married specifically for financial reasons. If fewer people are financially capable of marriage, what does that mean for the singles?
Happiness and satisfaction for singles
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Lifelong singles with no history of long-term romantic partnerships tend to have lower scores of overall satisfaction. Research from Psychological Science revealed that singles suffered elevated loneliness and reduced social support from family and/or partners. These are general scores, so outliers most certainly exist. However, the National Library of Medicine shared a study on A Global Perspective on Happiness and Fertility, which covered 86 countries. People over 40 reported much higher levels of happiness after having had children. The National Bureau of Economic Research reported, once financial struggles have been managed, children increase their life satisfaction. This number was especially significant for parents under the age of 45.
Navigating today's economy
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If studies show that the statistical likelihood of attaining all five benchmarks is reliant upon financial security, how are young people supposed to acquire the necessary capital? All these studies signify one very important consideration: it's complicated. As people attain greater control over their job choices, decisions are no longer attached to finances. HR Future shared a 2021 study that showed 71% of Gen Z would accept lower-paying jobs if they supplied more meaningful work.
Economic uncertainty is higher than it's been for decades. The communal norms are crossing new territories as people seek out life advantages that no longer follow traditional pathways. Getting a higher education, buying a home, getting married, and raising a family hold less importance. Young people want to find meaningful work, keep a flexible mobility, have relationships that require less investment, and push thoughts of building a family and having children for 'down the road.'
These new ideas will come with their own sets of challenges. There will be benefits and downsides. No one will know the true outcomes for these choices until studies tell us in the future.
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21 products that are gaslighting us into thinking they’re essential when they’re not
Some things in life are actually necessary—clean water, decent healthcare, basic human decency. But then there are the things that feel like they’re gaslighting us. The things we’re told we can’t live without, even though we survived just fine before they existed. Things like "smart" fridges, lawn fertilizer services, and yes—whole body deodorant.
Recently, our sister-site Upworthy asked their Facebook audience the question: What's a product or service that feels like it's gaslighting all of us into thinking it's necessary? More than 8,000 responses poured in. The answers were passionate, funny, and surprisingly unified.
Here are 21 products, services, and systems people called out for pretending to be essential—when they might actually be optional, overpriced, or flat-out invented.
1. Whole body deodorant
"Take a shower," said Shannon H.
“How did we ever manage all those years without it!! 😂😵💫” added Karen R.
Others noted it may help people with medical conditions—but for the average person, it's definitely a marketing creation.
2. Health insurance
It topped the list. Erica L. explained: “My doctor prescribes, the pharmacist issues meds, nurses care for people, surgeons do surgery—Health Insurance stands between health care and patients and says no, exclusively on whether they think it’s financially effective to treat you.”
Important note: Health insurance can provide life-saving access for many—but what people are frustrated by here is the profit-first system, not care itself.
3. The wedding industry
Multiple people slammed the high cost of modern weddings.
JoElla B. put it plainly: “We spend too much time and money planning one day, and not enough thought on how to blend two lives in a mutually beneficial one.”
Others called out expensive dresses, venues, and pressure to perform for social media.
4. Bottled water
Carole D. said: “Water in plastic bottles! Get a cup!”
While bottled water has value in emergencies, it’s often just filtered tap water—sold for profit in plastic.
5. Baby product overload
“Most baby products,” wrote Kelli O. “They really aren’t as needy and complicated as companies want us to think.”
6. Fabric softener
“It’s bad for clothes, bad for the Earth, bad for the wallet, and totally unnecessary,” said Gail H.
Some experts agree—many softeners contain chemicals that can reduce fabric lifespan and irritate skin.
7. Smart appliances
“Adding ‘phone controls’ to every appliance instead of making them last as long as they used to,” wrote Sherry S.
When your fridge needs a software update, something’s gone off the rails.
8. Makeup and anti-aging products
“Anything anti-aging,” said Melissa T., “Please just let me age into the gargoyle I was meant to become.”
Others questioned products designed to “fix” eyelashes, eyebrows, pores, and graying hair.
April S. added, “Products that women are convinced they MUST have in order to be ‘beautiful’ and therefore ‘loved.’”
9. Cosmetic surgery
Ron P. called out the industry as a whole. And while body autonomy matters, many commenters questioned whether insecurities are being commodified and sold back to us.
10. Ticketmaster and “convenience fees”
“Let’s go back to waiting in line at a record store,” wrote Nicole C.
Zaida B. added: “Convenience fee for online purchases—then charging $10 more at the actual event.”
11. Engagement rings
James P. didn’t mince words: “Engagement rings.”
The diamond industry has long been criticized for manufactured scarcity and marketing-fueled necessity.
12. Lawn chemicals and services
“Plant native grasses and you don’t have the pests or need for constant watering,” wrote Jamie B.
Environmental groups have raised similar concerns over runoff and unnecessary pesticide use.
13. AI and generative tech
“This stuff squeezes the lifeblood and individuality out of the human experience,” said Teresa L.
Saskia D. and others echoed skepticism about its necessity, even as many of us are being pushed to use it.
14. Funeral services
Amy W. shared: “My parents both have already paid to have themselves cremated and are very adamant that they do not want anything big done for them. In their words, ‘I won’t care, I’m dead.’”
Of course, some families find comfort in tradition—but the cost and pressure can feel overwhelming and predatory.
15. Rinse and repeat
Amy D. nailed it: “It’s just to sell more. Not even sure you need it at all.”
16. Credit Card Surcharges
Shawn S. took aim at the extra fees popping up at checkout: “That is the cost of doing business and shouldn’t be the burden of the purchaser.”
Many questioned why customers are increasingly being asked to pay extra simply for the convenience of using a card.
17. Constant phone upgrades
“Apple are notorious for releasing the same shit every year,” said Steph S.
Diana H. added, “Needing to upgrade our phones so frequently.”
Built-in obsolescence and marketing cycles drive most of the demand.
18. Vitamins and supplements
“If I took every supplement they say I NEED I wouldn’t need food. Nor could I afford it,” said Tausha L.
19. Fake pockets on women’s pants
Jessica W. said, “I have to buy men’s pants for work because women’s pants would just get torn up too fast!”
Form over function, and then they charge more for it.
20. Disposable everything
“The ‘convenience’ of disposable everything,” said Rick R.
It’s killing the planet—and draining wallets.
21. Tipping
“I’m sick of supplementing for corporations that refuse to pay a living wage,” wrote Susan V.
Tipping culture has evolved into something far removed from its original intent, and for many, it now feels like a burden shifted onto the customer.
The bigger picture
People aren’t saying all these things should vanish tomorrow. But when we start seeing convenience sold as necessity, and insecurity turned into billion-dollar markets, it's worth asking: who benefits from all of this?
And more importantly—who pays?
This article originally appeared earlier this year.