Whether in your group chat, on your FYP, or from certain celebs, whispers of family estrangement are everywhere. Younger generations are seemingly pushing back against those before them, saying they don’t have to tolerate unacceptable behavior just because someone is related to them by blood. Today, certain young people appear to be far less rigidly beholden to the idea of family obligation above all else, even at the cost of their own happiness. And the data doesn't lie either. In 2020, 27% of Americans over the age of 18 were estranged from a family member. Although there is a lack of long-term research, the rise in millennials and Gen Zers coming forward to discuss their own crises (#ToxicFamily has billions of views on TikTok) may suggest that families are severing ties at an all-time high. At the link in bio we explore why so many young people have made this decision. Photo: Getty Images