'We were sold this unachievable dream': Georgia woman explains the 'broken' system that has young Americans fearing for their futures. Is this narrative right?

“We were sold this unachievable dream that if you work hard, you get what you want,” she said.

But as the world and the economy changes, so do the realities of all generations — and the truths they learn.

Why young Americans are pessimistic

Hardesty believes the American dream may no longer be obtainable, and one reason is because she and many of her peers can no longer afford to buy homes.

Another TikTok user, real estate agent, Freddie Smith, points out that the housing crisis isn’t just a problem for now, but could create long-term economic problems. If young people aren't able to have homes now, they may never be able to retire in the future.

Many people purchase a home to build wealth via equity. But if young people rent for their entire lives, they can’t do that, which could fuel a retirement crisis. The median price of a house in the U.S. is $417,700, according to the St. Louis Federal Reserve, a figure that puts obtaining a mortgage out of reach for many Americans.

The median yearly earnings for 25- to 34-year-olds is $56,160, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. You’d have to get pretty thrifty if you wanted to make a 20% down payment ($83,540) that’s a year and a half's worth of salary.

“It seems like no matter how many hours you put in, you’re getting nowhere,” Hardesty said.

Economic revolution

At the end of her video, Hardesty issues a call to action for her viewers: vote for younger candidates.