Gen Z Discovers Bankruptcy Is The New Adulting Hack
KEY POINTS
- ā¢Over 533,000 US individuals filed for bankruptcy in 2025, an 11% increase from the previous year.
- ā¢Attorneys Chad Van Horn and Ed Boltz said rising filing rates among Gen Z stem from inflation, stagnating wages, and credit access.
- ā¢TikTok users are publicly sharing bankruptcy journeys, believing itās a healthy strategy to escape overwhelming debt.
In 2025, over 533,000 Americans waved goodbye to their debts with bankruptcy, marking an 11% rise post-pandemic lows. Florida's bankruptcy maestro, Chad Van Horn, clarified that young folk arenāt reckless college dropout stereotypes but financial casualties of what he called 'one of the most financially distorted environments in decades.' Meanwhile, North Carolinaās Ed Boltz blamed this mess on government stimulus hangovers inflating costs while paychecks got ghosted. TikTok became the unofficial bankruptcy support group, with young petitioners proudly declaring bankruptcy the best thing since sliced bread. If youāre young, busted, and boldāBusiness Insiderās waiting to hear your breakup story with money.
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(1 of 3)Turns out Gen Z's career plan isn't 'TikTok influencer' or 'Tech CEO' but 'Professional Debtor' with bankruptcy as a rite of passage. Welcome to adulthood, where your life's biggest flex is wiping away debt like a five-star Yelp review.
If credit cards and rent prices had a baby, it would be called Gen Z bankruptcy ā raising kids broke and with zero savings since birth.
Young people treating bankruptcy like itās a Spotify playlist: hit reset, cancel debt, repeat, while the economy plays sad background music.
Source: Businessinsider | Published: 4/4/2026 | Author: Natalie Musumeci
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