The Hidden Cost of Constant Connection
Gen Z is more connected than any generation in history, yet the most anxious, depressed, and emotionally exhausted. Social media is designed to keep us constantly plugged in. This not only shortens our attention spans but feeds us an endless loop of comparison and darkness.
According to research by the Walton Family Foundation, 42% of Gen Z struggles with depression and feelings of hopelessness which is nearly twice the rate of Americans over 25 (23%).
This is not a small difference. Frankly, it’s too big
Constant Connection
Most of us check our phones within minutes of waking up. TikTok trends and political drama keep us glued to our phones daily. We’ve created a world where we are never truly offline, and it’s destroying our sense of peace.
There’s no time to be bored and use that time to reflect or be creative. Instead, we are hit with constant content that tells us we’re not doing enough, we're not good enough and that the world is falling apart around us.
Comparison Culture Kills Mental Health
It’s not just the doomscrolling but it's the comparison. Everyone online seems like they’ve got it figured out. The perfect business or that dream relationship. We see these posts and compare them to our real lives. But there is nothing healthy about that.
The problem isn’t a lack of self-care tips but a lack of meaning and purpose in a world obsessed with appearances and likes online.
What’s the Way Out?
Fixing this issues starts with regaining your attention:
Take breaks. Go outside, touch grass and live offline for a bit.
Don’t start your day in a doomscroll spiral.
Follow people who uplift others.
Limit angry political content. It’s keeping you distracted, not informed.
Bottom Line
We need to start asking what kind of future we are building when our generation is too burned out to care? Maybe the first step is learning to log out and remember what real life feels like.
