Are the kids ok?
On millennial milestones, a new president in South Korea, Poland’s shift to the right, and a potential major privacy breach.
Lately, in conversations with friends, colleagues, and even strangers around my age (late 20s to early 30s), a common thread keeps emerging. Many of us are struggling to keep up with the pace and direction of our lives: aligning work with a sense of purpose, deciding whether to start a family (and what that even looks like), or questioning where (and if) we want to put down roots.
These aren’t new questions, nor are they exclusive to our generation. A product manager I recently met was torn between pursuing a passion for academia through a PhD in cybersecurity policy and continuing a lucrative tech career. A similar dilemma faced a news director I met, who, 30 years earlier, left a high-paying chemical industry job to become a journalist and restart his career from scratch. The tension at the core of these decisions is the same.
However, something about the environment in which these decisions are made feels different now, and many of the milestones once expected by this age feel increasingly out of reach.
More than half of U.S. households now spend over 30% of their income on rent, a common threshold for housing affordability. In cities like New York or San Francisco, hitting that benchmark requires a six-figure salary that is getting increasingly close to $150,000. Homeownership rates among millennials trail behind those of previous generations. Inflation, while slowing, still shadows many households, especially in sectors where pay growth hasn’t kept pace. Factor in looming tariffs, sluggish labor demand, and rising living costs, and it’s no wonder so many feel like they’re sprinting just to stay in place.
And then there’s the pandemic. We rarely talk about how it stalled our personal growth, not just professionally, but also emotionally and socially. It stole what were supposed to be our prime years of testing, failing, and figuring out how we fit into the world. Instead, we stayed indoors, distanced from each other, and watched a global crisis unfold in real time on our screens. Every generation has had its trials, the Cold War, recessions, conflicts, but COVID’s reach was total. It bent every aspect of millennials’ lives just as we were preparing to step fully into adulthood.
So, are the kids ok? First, we’re not really kids anymore, even if it doesn’t always feel that way. And second, I think we’re doing alright. We’re still catching up in some ways, and we’re navigating a volatile world while drafting backup Plans A through Z. However, an article on The Atlantic recently argued that we may be more ready for the challenge than we’re given credit for. Another thing we’re doing better than ever is talking about it: sharing the hard parts, asking for advice, and being honest when something feels off. That is no small thing.
I can’t close this introduction without acknowledging that June is both Pride and Men's Mental Health Awareness Month. If you care about these causes, and I do very deeply, there's no better time to be an ally and stand next to anyone who might need it.
With that, let’s dive into what might not have made the headlines this week:
South Korea elected a new president
Progressive Lee Jae-myung has taken office as South Korea’s new president, promising to unite the country and stabilize the economy after months of political turmoil. His election follows the impeachment of conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol, who declared martial law in December, triggering mass protests and his eventual ousting from power.
Lee, a political rival of Yoon, campaigned on restoring democratic norms and economic confidence. He struck a conciliatory tone during his inauguration, while also promising accountability for those who backed martial law. That balancing act may prove difficult in a country still sharply divided.
Economic recovery is likely to dominate Lee’s agenda in his first months in power. South Korea’s economy contracted in the first quarter, and the stock market plunged amid global trade shocks. The record-high 80% voter turnout suggests citizens are watching closely and expecting results soon from this new administration.
Interested in more? NYT - South Koreans Have a New President, and Mixed Emotions
The ECB cuts interest rates again
The European Central Bank has lowered its key interest rate for the eighth time in just over a year, bringing it from 2.25% down to 2%. The move follows a slight dip in inflation, now at 1.9%, and growing concerns over the economic impact of U.S. tariffs.
The ECB said recent growth, a 0.3% uptick in the first quarter, may not last. Officials warned that trade tensions and sluggish business investment could weigh on the eurozone economy in the short term. Still, the bank expressed cautious optimism that defense and infrastructure spending could drive growth in the medium term.
ECB President Christine Lagarde emphasized that rising wages and steady employment should help consumers weather global uncertainty. But she acknowledged that much remains unclear, especially with retaliatory trade measures on the table.
Interested in more? BBC - Europe cuts interest rates as U.S. tariffs loom
Meta may have quietly tracked incognito browsing on Android devices
Researchers have discovered that Meta was covertly linking users’ web activity to their Facebook and Instagram accounts, even when they were browsing in incognito mode or using a VPN. The system, active since late 2024, exploited a vulnerability in Android browsers and captured detailed user behavior.
The method allowed Meta to bypass privacy protections, including incognito browsing and cookie restrictions, by communicating directly with its apps installed on a user’s phone. This meant Meta could associate private browsing with real user identities.
Meta disabled the system after receiving media inquiries, calling it a “misunderstanding” of policy. However, Google has since issued patches, launched an investigation, and warned developers that such techniques violate fundamental privacy principles.
Interested in more? El País - The covert method Meta uses to track mobile browsing without consent — even in incognito mode or with a VPN
Right-wing wins Polish presidential vote
Poland has elected Karol Nawrocki as its next president. Nawrocki narrowly defeated liberal Warsaw mayor Rafal Trzaskowski with 50.9% of the vote. This result may complicate Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s efforts to push forward a pro-European agenda.
Although the presidency is largely ceremonial, Nawrocki’s veto power could slow or block major reforms. He has voiced support for Catholic family values, national sovereignty, and opposition to the EU’s climate and migration policies, a contrast to Tusk’s more integrationist stance.
Tusk, acknowledging the political challenge ahead, has called for a vote of confidence in parliament. With a simple majority expected, he’s likely to win. But the narrow result signals a deeply divided electorate and signals more potential legislative gridlock in a crucial EU member state.
Interested in more? BBC - Conservative historian wins Polish presidential vote
Activity in Mount Etna sends a cloud of smoke and ash
Mount Etna sent a massive ash cloud into the Sicilian sky on Monday after part of its southeast crater collapsed, triggering lava flows and tremors across nearby towns. The eruption, Etna’s 14th in recent months, was dramatic but not dangerous, according to Italian officials.
The ash cloud extended into the air before subsiding by the afternoon. No injuries were reported, and authorities did not issue evacuation orders.
Etna, Europe’s most active volcano, has become more unpredictable in recent years, with scientists monitoring changes in its craters, which have grown rapidly in both size and activity.
Interested in more? The Guardian - Italy’s Mount Etna, Europe’s largest active volcano, spews plumes of ash
That’s it for this week. If any of these stories stood out, feel free to share this edition and pass it along to someone else who might find it interesting.
As always, I’d like to hear from you: thoughts, tips, or even just something that made you pause this week. Thanks for reading. I’ll see you next Sunday.
Any views expressed in this space are solely my own and do not reflect those of my current or former employers, or any institution I’ve been affiliated with.