Why Gen Z turns everything – even murder – into a joke

A psychologist explains why dark political humor doesn’t prove young people are nihilistic, but rather reveals what happens when moral seriousness no longer feels credible.

By: Evan Clarkson, Utah Valley University, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: August 6, 2026

Words: 1,454

Last Updated: 1 week, 5 days ago

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By Evan Clarkson, Utah Valley University

After Luigi Mangione was arrested in December 2024 in connection with the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, the internet did what it often does: It turned something serious into a joke.

Although Mangione has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder in New York and to federal stalking charges, viral memes at the time romanticized him as a popular – and incredibly attractive – man of …

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