Gen Z is grappling with global chaos—here's how they're coping with 'inheriting broken systems'

This career expert thinks it's ‘BS’As the first digital-native generation, Gen Z is exposed to global instability in a way that no other generation has been

Skynesher | E+ | Getty ImagesAs the first digital native generation, Gen Z is grappling with exposure to global instability in a way that no other generation has. "We were raised with war bleeding through our screens

We've seen more armed drones, missiles and mutilated children before 9 a

Than any generation before us," said 25-year-old neuroscience and AI reer Amogh Mehrotra

Gen Z is also struggling with inflation, increasing housing prices, climate change and mass corporate layoffs — and they're seeing all of it play out right in front of their eyes

This has created a found sense of uncertainty for many in the generation as they try to build their future. "Many of us feel we're inheriting broken systems, and yet we're expected to fix them," Mehrotra told CNBC Make It

To cope with the realities of a challenging global landscape, some young people are injecting wry humor into serious situations. "First war, kinda nervous," one TikTok showing missiles dropping on cities is captioned

Another TikTok with 480,000 s shows outfit ideas for "World War III" with concepts such as "military chic" and "political prisoner streetwear. "Delaying adulthoodWhen Tanushree Srivastava first arrived in the U

The young Gen Z immigrant her master's in fashion communication, hoping to break into the industry

However, in order to stay in the U. , she needed a Skilled Worker visa, which limited her options

Many employers in the country are reluctant to hire immigrants with the five-year visa due to the associated costs

After two years of job hunting, Srivastava finally found a company that would sponsor her — she is now an account executive at a PR and communications agency. "That wasn't my plan," she told CNBC Make It. "I'm from a middle-class family, so I took a loan to come here, and now it's so hard to get jobs, and with inflation, everything changing around government policies and geo, it's so hard to actually believe that tomorrow is known. "Srivastava said she feels "hopeless" her future ambitions because the of immigrants is precarious both in the U. "It has literally limited me in so many ways that I'm not very happy and joyous it, and with now what's happening, [war], I don't know if we'd exist tomorrow, so I'm not sure how much to plan. " The spect of war made her anxious for her family's safety in India, she said, especially with the recent India-Pakistan spat

To add to her worries, the thought of buying a house or having a family feels out of reach. "It seems very risky at this point

We just need to basically survive right now, it's really expensive. "Srivastava isn't alone in her anxieties

Many Gen Zers are delaying adulthood as financial insecurity remains top of mind

Almost half of Gen Z respondents said they don't feel financially stable, and 52% said they're living paycheck to paycheck

While many Gen Zers are anxious, some cope by taking agency over their s

UC Berkeley graduate Amrita Bhasin was supposed to begin her full-time role with Meta before she ultimately decided to renege on her contract with the company

The 24-year-old came to that decision after realizing how unstable the nology industry had become

After watching many of her friends get laid off and seeing companies increasingly outsource jobs to artificial intelligence, she that "big was not going to be cushy and stable forever. "There [are] people who go to college, they spend $200k to $300k on a private school computer science degree, and then they can't get a job

The blem is that what's at the end of the path is just no longer guaranteed

Amrita BhasinCo-founder and CEO, Sotira"There [are] people who go to college, they spend $200k to $300k on a private school computer science degree, and then they can't get a job," said Bhasin. "Then they're : 'But I ed the path

I did [everything] I was supposed to do. ' And the blem is that what's at the end of the path is just no longer guaranteed," she said. "And so I think [Gen Z is] just : 'Why would I a system if it doesn't guarantee me a job. '"Seeing that other industries were also unstable, Bhasin decided to start a company of her own. "Entrepreneurship wasn't any more unstable than the others," she said

Today, she is the co-founder and CEO of Sotira, a venture-backed B2B marketplace for overstock in the logistics and freight industry

Young people tend to aspire to work for themselves

Rather than just doing work for work's sake, it feels more important than ever that the time [and] energy that I put into something

Actually leads to a better future for me and for humanity

Harsha PoojariFounder and creative director, An Honest Media CompanySimilarly, 29-year-old Harsha Poojari had decided to cope by focusing on her own happiness

Today, she has her own called An Honest Media Company, where she works as a visual strategist and creative director on a fractional basis

She said that while this generation faces mounting mental health challenges largely due to social media and the internet, that very access to information presents them with a unique opportunity

Growing up being exposed to so much news on her smart phone pushed Poojari to want to help create a "better world" by choosing to work with clients that are more impact-driven. "We have this opportunity that

Generations before haven't had, of really owning the means of duction and being able to [say] I want to quit and

Work for myself," said Poojari. "There's more agency and freedom with what we can do. ""I'm able to spend my time doing the jects that I want to do, and [can] say no

If the work doesn't align with me," she added

If any generation were to be the one to have to address these issues, our generation is doing a [really] good job

Amrita BhasinCo-founder and CEO, Sotira"Rather than just doing work for work's sake, it feels more important than ever that the time [and] energy that I put into something

Actually leads to a better future for me and for humanity," said Poojari

Ultimately, although Gen Z is grappling with navigating their own s in the midst of global chaos, many remain optimistic and have chosen to take control over not just their own futures, but also the future of the world. "The geopolitical conflict has kind of shown a lot of issues in society, right

There's a lot of blems, there's a lot of holes, and I've gone after solving it," said Bhasin. "Gen Z is choosing, in my opinion, to tackle big blems," she added. "If any generation were to be the one to have to address these issues, our generation is doing a [really] good job. "Want a new career that's higher-paying, more flexible or fulfilling

Take CNBC's new online course How to Change Careers and Be Happier at Work

Expert instructors will teach you strategies to network successfully, revamp your resume and confidently transition into your dream career

Plus, for CNBC Make It's to get tips and tricks for success at work, with money and in life.