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Gen Z Faces Rising Anxiety Amid Violence and Social Media

9/27/2025

35 5 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Gen Z's anxiety rises; over 33% affected by anxiety disorders, with gun violence and social media.
The pandemic worsened mental health; 75% identify mass shootings as a major stressor; nearly 40% feel almost constant stress, linked to cannabis use.
Shrekking trend: Gen Z pairs with less attractive partners for kinder treatment; credit scores drop to 676, lowest among age groups.

History

Historical Context

The 2018 National Institute of Mental Health report indicated that 19.1% of U.S. adults experienced mental illness, a trend exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and rising social media use. By 2023, over 33% of Gen Z reported anxiety disorders, reflecting a broader youth mental health crisis that began in the early 2010s, intensified by events like the 2012 Sandy Hook shooting.

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Story summary

Gen Z's anxiety rises; over 33% affected by anxiety disorders, with gun violence and social media.
The pandemic worsened mental health; 75% identify mass shootings as a major stressor; nearly 40% feel almost constant stress, linked to cannabis use.
Shrekking trend: Gen Z pairs with less attractive partners for kinder treatment; credit scores drop to 676, lowest among age groups.

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