A TikTok user has shared insights on why members of Generation Z might feel particularly detached from the shooting incident involving UnitedHealthCare CEO Brian Thompson.
The shooting occurred in New York on December 4, resulting in Thompson’s death. Luigi Mangione, 26, has been arrested and charged in connection with the incident.
Reactions online to Thompson’s death have been mixed, with some expressing outrage and others making jokes. The incident has reignited discussions about the US health insurance system, and a TikToker has now offered thoughts on why Gen Z might react a certain way to this news.
In an interview with NPR’s Ailsa Chang, Jia Tolentino from The New Yorker mentioned that while the responses to Thompson’s death are “remarkable” and “interesting,” they are not entirely “shocking.”
Tolentino pointed out that society often focuses on violent acts like Thompson’s murder, but another common form of life being unjustly shortened is through the denial of healthcare.
She elaborated: “And so the response – the glee that people are expressing at this cold-blooded murder is illuminating the fact that many people think of the private health care system in the US – and specifically UnitedHealthcare – as a company that itself has achieved these billions and billions and billions of dollars of profits in not provisioning health care but indirectly provisioning death through a kind of severe and immoral and unjust violence on its own.”
On TikTok, Rachel Gaede discussed why Generation Z might feel “numb” to the news of Thompson’s death.
Rachel Gaede posted a TikTok video explaining why Gen Z seems indifferent to gun violence affecting public figures.
“All the CEOs out there being like, ‘I’m so scared, violence is not the answer’,” she said.
“Gen Z is really sitting here like, ‘Omg, y’all really raised the school shooter generation and now you’re asking us for sympathy’. You normalize gun violence to the point that we take days to weeks off of school to practice what to do when an armed gunman comes into our building.”
Gaede highlighted how Gen Z has grown up in a time where lawmakers respond to tragedies involving their peers with solutions like “a bulletproof backpack.”
She concluded: “And now you’re upset, you want us to cry because some man got shot in broad daylight. This happens, welcome to a regular Tuesday at school in America.”
Her remarks have prompted other social media users to share their thoughts.
https://www.tiktok.com/@username/video/7447625707796041002
One user commented: “I’m a boomer and your perspective is not only spot on, but inspirational.”
Another said, “Former teacher and couldn’t agree more!”
A third added: “This…this is a good point.”
And a fourth noted: “This is the take.”