Our generation has had access and benefits that other generations have not had. This has created a boundary and clear differences between Gen Z and the older generations. 

The first reason our generation differs from the others is due to the introduction of social media. The use of social media has skyrocketed in the past decade, giving the easily accessible platforms influence over the new generation’s lives. Social media influencers and trends highly impact people, in both positive and negative ways. The more time kids nowadays spend on social media influences their behavior and actions towards other people, and according to the Mayo Clinic studies there have been “observed links between high levels of social media use and depression or anxiety symptoms.” 

Teens can feel pressured to look or act a certain way due to what’s trending. Not fitting into this mold can cause teens to have depression or anxiety. A 2016 study “of more than 450 teens found that greater social media use, nighttime social media use, and emotional investment in social media — such as feeling upset when prevented from logging on — were each linked with worse sleep quality and higher levels of anxiety and depression.” 

This negatively impacts our generation, because the use of social media is negatively affecting their mental health.

On a more positive note, our  generation is very outspoken about mental health. Prior to our generation, it had been considered taboo to openly speak about mental health and daily challenges. However, more now than ever, people of all ages are advocating for mental health resources and support. There are online hotlines and constant support on all social media platforms, and mental health resources are being introduced in schools, making all help easily accessible to people in need. This is a good thing, due to the fact that now it is normalized to speak about your feelings and express yourself, which is an outlet for many people who are struggling.