(Why) is it more difficult nowadays for adults to be more determined about life?

[Dana223]

It seems that there's a massive amount of time wasted on social media. Or video games. Or various other media like Netflix, YouTube and the rest.

it also seems (to me) that even young adults from my age at least are trapped into this world of entertainment. Yet, none of these fulfill their happiness.

[ShiftingMonke]

It's all about self control and priorities.

Social media and the other media gives everyone the chance to live vicariously; why work to experience nice things, when you can watch ornery enjoy it? Yeah, you can reach that if you tried, but that means you'll have to do more of what you don't want to do. People have lost resolve, lost resiliency. The path of least resistance is getting beaten into an interstate of minimum effort.

There has been some social effort to improve otherwise stagnant sectors, but the social malaise is palatable. Folks have lost hope, and I don't necessarily blame them; at the same time, I lament the loss of sacrifice, the dogged determination that helped build what we love. There will not always be immediate gratification, if any. But we must keep trying anyway. Even if we can't change the world, we can change our world.

There is no shame in losing: but there is shame in giving up. Without our pride, we are already gone.

[TheSpaceGnome]

Ultimately the goal for most people is to retire and spend all of their time doing things that you think are a waste of time.

Time not spent receiving joy, are wastes of time. Joy is why we do anything, it's the point of existing.

Video games are the best at creating joy, you can do anything, be anyone, go anywhere, experience any scenario, practice any skill, learn any lesson, hear any sound, see anything, and go to any point in time. All while having the company of anyone, be it a real person or AI or both at once, in any number.

[TheSpaceGnome]

I also find it very strange that you think entertainment does not bring happiness, despite the fact that being entertained is defined as being "pleasantly occupied", which is what being happy is.

[Alex8736]

unfortunately when the COVID lockdown began people were looking for alternative ways to stay entertained which in turn became sites like TIK-TOXIC and the mainstream media doing nothing but spreading negativity causing a mental health crisis. When it came time to return to the office a lot of people quit think the covid relief benefits would last forever.. Fortunately for me working in healthcare my job was essential so it didn''t really interrupt my get up and go attitude and ethic and another positive thing i did was delete all social media as a new years resolution going into 2019 and by the grace of god i'm so happy i did

[SnowedIn]

I'm way oversimplifying the answer but I think it comes down to 1) there are way more distractions these days from what you aptly termed entertainment and 2) it's way harder to do anything: college, car, house, job, life. That's not an excuse nor should it be but, yeah, it's more difficult.

[Vázquez613]

well look at cooperation life. the way the private sector fucks people over out of their retirement and hard. the boomers had it easy back in the days because they had something to work for. i think its smart not giving your heart and soul to a company that will discard you like trash. just work a chill ass job and spend more time enjoying life and less time working hard. you want people to work hard give them reason to.

[art84]

I noticed I am more on my phone now than playing videogames which I would do a lot in my 20's but now I just play for 2 hours at the most. i know my brother who younger than me can watch Netflix and play videogames all day if he doesn't have to work. Like he will buy newly released games and brag about them while I just wait for a sale. Even if I had a new game it wouldn't bring happy.

[CrimsonAngel09]

Because we don't want to stress the fuck out.

[NathanDavis]

can't accomplish much on the small screen that are our phones...

[asianfreak]

Mostly from lack of drive and discipline, as well as lack of self-honesty and self-accountability if you ask me.

[TheFlak38]

I'm sure it's impossible to do something in my life and at the same time enjoy movies and games.

[Brando10222]

I have no idea. I've noticed people don't want to work hard but want easy money