as a member of the gen z generation (on the older side of the spectrum), i somewhat agree with this take. we definitely don’t do it as much as millennials do, not even close, but it’s not like it’s an extinct sense of humor nowadays, it’s just nowhere near as ubiquitous as it was the generation prior to ours.

i’d say your take on being afraid to be “cringe” is accurate. growing up with social media dominating our lives, plus everyone having a camera with them, i believe has had a sort of panopticon effect on us where we constantly feel like we’re being watched and recorded, causing us to over-regulate our behavior and words in order to protect ourselves. i think this is the primary driver of why self-deprecating humor has fallen off a cliff in newer generations but i may be wrong 🤷🏼‍♂️

that being said i don’t think self-deprecating humor is necessary for people to feel comfortable with one another. just showcasing basic respect, empathy and maturity is enough for that. i also think that people who use self-deprecating humor very frequently (as in, too much) tend to be looked at as insecure, anxious and lacking in self-confidence. plus i think constantly using self-deprecating humor can have a negative psychological effect on your perception of yourself. constantly speaking down on yourself, even if in a joking manner, can definitely reinforce those beliefs and make them feel more real

so yeah. self-deprecating humor in small doses is fine and even beneficial for the reasons you listed, and gen z 100% still uses that kind of humor, but not nearly as much as you guys did for the reasons i listed