Gen Z Uses Dark Humor on TikTok Amid Iran-Israel Conflict

As tensions escalate in the Middle East following President Donald Trump's military strikes on Iran and subsequent missile exchanges, Generation Z in the U.S. is responding predominantly with dark humor and social media trends rather than protests or direct activism. This demographic, unfamiliar with war due to their youth during earlier conflicts, is using memes, TikTok videos, and satirical content such as the “my first war” trend and #WW3 posts to cope with fears about war, drafts, and personal safety. Unlike the active protests and solidarity seen during the Gaza conflict, the current response to Iran is marked by a lack of organized activism, partly due to Iran's portrayal as a regional power with less sympathetic public narratives. The humor often masks anxiety, with jokes about everyday concerns like online shopping and personal appearance amidst global conflict. President Trump expressed frustration about the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel, which adds to public unease given his controversial policy history. Overall, Gen Z’s dark humor reflects both a coping mechanism and a generational shift in engagement with international crises.