17 People Are Sharing The “Ticking Time Bombs” That Will Likely Explode In Our Lifetime, And I, For One, Am Stressed
Recently, Reddit user Thick_Caterpillar379 asked, “What\“s a ticking time bomb you believe will explode during your lifetime?“ and people had A LOT to say. Here are some of the most interesting replies below:1. “Elder care is currently a widespread issue that will only be exacerbated over the next 10 years. More people will age into needing services and residential care, and many places in the US still haven\“t rebounded from the mass exodus of healthcare professionals during COVID.“ /uploads/allimg/2025/10/5455850813467519190.jpgThe Good Brigade / Getty Images
—zhakhmir
2. “Antibiotic resistant bacteria.“
—JailYard
3. “Deadly fresh water shortages and wars.“
—taintedtowel
4. “The dead internet, . It’s not just a theory anymore.“ /uploads/allimg/2025/10/6895369945887067617.jpgMalorny / Getty Images
—Fun-Space2942
“Bot farms are already controlling so much social messaging on the internet.“
—Common-Click-1860
5. “Pensions are disappearing. The money won\“t be there in the future.“
—StGuthlac2025
6. “A MAJOR cyber attack on critical infrastructure that will not get turned around quickly, which will likely lead to a mass panic incident.“
—Apprehensive_Ask1157
7. “Social Security. The year it becomes insolvent happens to be the year I\“m supposed to retire.“ Backyardproduction / Getty Images
—rworne
8. “The decline of third spaces and increased social isolation. At this rate, the day will come fairly soon when the only reason anyone leaves home is for work or the grocery store — assuming delivery and online orders don\“t fully take over as well — and that\“ll be a sad day.“
—OneDegreeKelvin
9. “Banana extinction. They\“re very challenging to mass produce and constantly fighting catastrophic disease.“
—nlefko
10. “The anti-vaccine movement is reviving old diseases.“ Denis Novikov / Getty Images
—dropthemagic
11. “The disparity between wages and housing prices just can\“t go on.“
—chriscotheque
12. “The streaming bubble. Eventually, people will get tired of paying for so many different subscriptions and the constant price increases, and the whole system will crumble.“
—Rosemary-Sea-Salt
13. “Social media rotting the brains of multiple generations. I have to think there will be some dire consequences, some of which are already being experienced.“ Nuthawut Somsuk / Getty Images
“And yes, I know Reddit is social media — I understand the irony of posting this here.“
—TallKnee9
14. “Environmental collapse caused by climate change and loss of species habitats, pollinators, and biodiversity.“
—georgekourounis
“And global crop failure due climate change.“
—YJSubs
15. “Student loans. So many people owe and so many people can\“t pay.“ Alexsl / Getty Images
—genesissoma
16. “The AI bubble. It\“s already gotten people to die by suicide.“
—DotGroundbreaking50
17. And finally, on a lighter note: “My piece of shit washing machine.“
—FrontSpecialist6720
Is there a particular thing you believe that will likely explode in our lifetime? Tell us what it is and why in the comments or in the anonymous Google Form below:
Some replies have been edited for length and clarity.
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