The Lonely Generation: Why Even Social Teens Feel Isolated (and How Moms Can Help Them Reconnect)
SheKnows
If your teen is constantly FaceTiming, group-chatting, gaming with friends, and replying to 100+ Snap streaks a day, “lonely” might be the last word you’d use to describe them. But research shows otherwise: Gen Z — the most digitally connected generation in history — is also the loneliest.
According to GWI’s global survey, “Eight in 10 Gen Z respondents (80%) agree they’ve felt lonely in the past 12 months,” and strikingly, “The most connected generation in history is also the loneliest.” The CDC reports that “4 in 10 students had persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness,” a sign that emotional disconnection is becoming more common — even among teens who appear socially active.
Experts see it every day. Licensed counselor Sarah Whitmire, LPC-S, explains that “the lack of face-to-face interaction, which is crucial for building empathy and emotional bonds, leaves many teens feeling isolated despite being constantly connected.”Report ad
And social media heightens the pressure. As Dr. Lisa Pion-Berlin, ACSW, ACHT and CEO of Parents Anonymous, told us, “Social media creates a platform for comparison — teens view idealized representations of others’ lives, which makes them feel isolated and inadequate.”