Is Despair Trending?

Across continents and communities, signs of public despair appear to be rising.

In Georgia, mass protests challenge creeping authoritarianism.

https://manage.kqed.org/page/email?mid=c47b662ee4684ae598d2317a9f52f776

In the United States, digital influencers stir unease by blending political nihilism with cultural grievance.

https://thedispatch.com/article/georgia-democracy-europe-russia-protest/?utm_source=iterable&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=teaser_sutton_071725-a

Meanwhile, surveys reveal growing public pessimism about democracy, the future, and institutions once trusted.

https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/16/politics/trump-manosphere-theo-von?utm_medium=email&utm_source=cnn_Evening+Newsletter+-+Friday%2C+July+18%2C+2025&bt_ee=sS2ZdYZxLAvsIjuN2lNssx01yVGU5rmEaov1rcgW7EXeOWI7e1CBGbkEtpAlLyOM

Each of the articles portrays a current display of public despair. Are we witnessing a global unraveling–a rising trend of social despair, or simply viewing unrelated examples of how despair is expressed?

Are the articles simply a provocative collection of selective headlines and viral moments, or a more complex, evolving picture of public sentiment on a global scale? Is the public display of despair a trend or just trendy reporting? You decide.