Gen Z vs Indian parents: Should today's youth struggle just because their parents had to? Man questions 'romanticizing poverty' attitude

Conversations around the differences between Gen Z and their parents often go beyond careers, technology or spending habits. One of the biggest points of disagreement is whether younger people should make use of modern conveniences or go through the same hardships that earlier generations experienced. That debate has once again taken over social media after an X post argued that many Indian parents expect their children to struggle simply because they had to, prompting a wave of reactions from users.

The discussion began after X user Prem Soni shared a post claiming that younger people are often criticised for choosing convenience over unnecessary hardship.

‘Why repeat struggles that no longer exist?’

Soni wrote, “Indian parents are facing a massive existential crisis because Gen Z refuses to suffer for no logical reason.”


He went on to joke that a 24-year-old ordering groceries on Blinkit instead of spending “45 minutes inhaling road dust and fighting a vendor to save ₹12 on tomatoes” is somehow considered the wrong choice.

“How dare they value their time over unnecessary trauma?” he added.

According to Soni, many parents proudly talk about the sacrifices they made to give their children a better life, but still expect them to live the same way they did decades ago.

He illustrated the point with a fictional exchange: “We sacrificed our whole lives so you could have a comfortable future. Great, I will take an Uber instead of changing three crowded buses. NO. You must suffer exactly like I did in 1995!”

He also argued that young professionals are expected to earn well in today's economy while proving they remain "grounded" by avoiding conveniences. Pointing out what he saw as an irony, Soni noted that the same parents who criticise delivery apps are often tracking their own Zepto orders on smartphones.

Ending his post, he wrote, “Parents, you won. You upgraded the country so your kids wouldn’t have to fight for basic daily survival. Stop romanticising poverty-level struggles and let them live in the economy you built for them.”

Social media users offer different perspectives

The post quickly gained attention, with many users agreeing while others challenged Soni's view.

Supporting the argument, one user commented, “The most retarded belief is that choosing the harder way makes you a better person. Struggle only matters if it creates a better outcome. If tech saves time, the harder path isn’t discipline, it’s retarded. Progress exists to kill low-value problems, not preserve them 4 nostalgia.”

Another user felt the issue was more balanced, writing, “Problems exist and always will, you must learn to be resilient and improve them simultaneously. Life cannot stop merely because of problems. Although nothing wrong with ordering Blinkit or using comfortable transport, as long as it is your money.”

Some pointed out that convenience often shifts hard work to someone else. One commenter wrote, “Let's see. The delivery company guys get magical clean air to inhale. Paying them a charge to sit in the comfort of their home while another person inhales road dust? This is okay? Or should we address this road dust issue ?”

Another user made a similar point, saying, “Blinkit delivery guy still struggles. He will tell his kids: I struggled & delivered groceries for 5 Rs per order so that you have a better future. His kid will have some other technology 50 years from now.”

Others argued that comfort should not replace self-reliance. One user remarked, “Yeah, one job loss & these gen z guys will be like a cocaine addict who doesn't know how to live without cocaine.”