As a young person in today's digital age, the stress of being alive is almost constant. With a warming planet, high living expenses, high rates of anxiety and depression, the future can look pretty bleak. And arguably no generation has it worse than Generation Z.

According to a 2017 study by the National Institute of Mental Health, approximately 18.5 percent of seventeen-year-olds in the United States suffer from depression, and according to a 2000-2004 study from NIMH, around around 32.1 percent of 15-16 year olds suffered from any anxiety disorder. Those are big numbers folks, and they do not seem to be improving. In addition, treating these mental illnesses can be tricky, as therapy is expensive (therapy sessions can range between 75-100$ per session), and for those living in rural areas, mental health services are extremely limited.

So how do teenagers manage to cope with high rates of depression and anxiety? There are a variety of resources but a common way appears to be through memes, a staple of our vibrant Gen Z culture. It makes sense after all, comedy (especially black comedy) is a tried and true way to deal with all of life's stresses. However, the memes of today tend to be a bit more, unique. Back in the day, memes used to be more straightforward and have a consistent standard format, with sensations such as 'Bad Luck Brian" and "Good Guy Greg," making these memes more accessible to a wider audience.

Nowadays, memes are geared more towards the obscure humor of millennials and Gen Z-ers, and many are rooted from the underlying anxieties many of us face on a daily basis.

And then you have some that are virtually incomprehensible.

But at the end of the day, no matter how strange and terrifyingly bizarre our taste in internet comedy can be, memes are a form of self expression enjoyed and created by millions of young folks. And in times like these, the more the better.