We're On Our Own, Part I
We're On Our Own, Part I
Social & Consumer | Jan 2025
Inferential Focus
AI, Artificial Intelligence, Chatbots, Congress, Disinformation, Distrust, Environment, Friends, Government, Instability, Insurance, Leaders, Leadership, Loneliness, Men, Mental Health, Misinformation, Natural Disasters, Preppers, Prepping, Safety, Safety Nets, Social, Social Change, Social Contract, Socializing, State Government, Supreme Court, Survivalism, Teenagers, Teens, Trust, Truth, Youth
In 1992, after Hurricane Andrew destroyed a neighborhood in Miami and FEMA failed to show up to help, a man posted a sign on his front porch exclaiming “We’re on our own.” He probably did not anticipate that his verbal frustration would fit American society decades in the future. But here we are; distrust is widespread, disinformation is commonplace, leaders seem intent on shredding safety nets, socializing is declining and individuals are turning to algorithms for companionship. The first of a two-part description of current American conditions, this one examines two storylines that outline the central message that we are, indeed, on our own.