The Rise of Fragility: What We Created When We Tried to Keep Kids Safe

Are today’s kids truly more fragile or did our culture unintentionally weaken resilience over the past three decades? In this episode of The Ryan Vet Show, generational futurist Ryan Vet explores how a well-intentioned “safety-first” culture, shifting emotional language, and always-on technology reshaped childhood and changed how young people experience risk, discomfort, and adversity.

Through stories, research, and generational analysis, Ryan uncovers how psychological safety, overprotective parenting, and media-driven fear created environments where children avoided the very experiences that build confidence, independence, and anti-fragility. This episode examines why Gen Z and younger generations often struggle with conflict and uncertainty—and what parents, leaders, and educators can do to rebuild resilience.

What you’ll hear in this episode:
• How the rise of psychological safety changed childhood
• Why new emotional language (“unsafe,” “triggered,” “harmful”) reshaped expectations
• The impact of smartphones, constant monitoring, and tech-enabled parenting
• How media fear cycles amplified parental anxiety
• The difference between fragile, resilient, and anti-fragile development
• Why removing discomfort leads to long-term consequences
• What risky play teaches that structured environments can’t
• How cultural pendulums influence generational behavior
• Practical steps to help kids grow stronger, not weaker

This episode is for parents, teachers, coaches, mental health professionals, leaders, and anyone trying to understand the generational shifts shaping today’s youth. If you’re curious about childhood development, resilience, psychology, or generational change, you’ll find this conversation both eye-opening and hopeful.

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About Ryan Vet

Ryan Vet is a USA TODAY bestselling author, futurist, and international keynote speaker whose insights on generations, culture, and the future of work have been featured in Forbes, Financial Times, ABC, NBC, and CBS. His research helps leaders understand emerging generational patterns and anticipate societal shifts before they fully unfold.

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