Why is Gen Z obsessed with dark humor? | Zeynep Küçükmustafa | TEDxUskudar American Academy Youth
Why does Gen Z laugh at tragedy? From memes about pandemics to TikToks about depression, their humor often shocks older generations. But behind the irony and absurdity lies something deeper: survival. This talk explores how dark humor, irony, and memes function as coping mechanisms in an age of constant crisis revealing that behind every laugh is fear, grief, and resilience. Zeynep Küçükmustafa is a 9th grade student at Üsküdar American Academy in Istanbul, where she is deeply involved in academic and extracurricular activities. She currently serves as the president of the World Scholars Cup club and has represented her school in various international competitions. Zeynep is passionate about social issues and is actively engaged in projects like Econofem, which promotes economic literacy in Turkey. She is the new treasurer of the Student Council and also an advocate for marginalized voices through her involvement as the liaison manager in Turkey’s Unheard Voices. In addition, Zeynep participates in the MUN club, bettering her leadership and diplomacy skills while working on global issues. Through these efforts, she demonstrates her commitment to creating positive change and making her voice heard. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
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