A 2021 study by ExpressVPN shows that social media’s influence on Gen Z users is troubling. Of the participants, 86 percent indicated that social media directly impacts their overall happiness and mental health.
The study, which was completed in conjunction with Pollfish, targeted users aged 16 to 24 in the US and across parts of Europe.
In addition to impacting both happiness and mental health, the results suggest that the majority of Gen Z users place a higher value on online fame than privacy.
Social Media & Gen Z Users
Whether it’s the number of followers or interactions on a post, the majority of participants attributed this as having varying levels of impact on their mental wellbeing.
- 86 percent say their happiness is linked to social media ‘success.’
- 85 percent link self-image and self-esteem to social media
- 83 percent say social media affects their anxiety
- 81 percent say feeling lonely is a result of social media use
- 79 percent note that social media contributes to feelings of depression
ExpressVPN data shows that the percentages for the above are similar on either side of the gender divide, with men and women stating overall happiness as the most affected factor.
Among users who stated that their self-esteem was linked to social media, 57 percent said their follower count had a bearing, while 61 percent noted the number of likes as a factor.
In 2020, Facebook and Instagram, which are owned by Meta Platforms Inc., introduced the ‘hide likes’ feature. With this enabled, users can control if a post’s likes are displayed or hidden.
ExpressVPN’s study showed that 47 percent of users surveyed had deleted a post when it didn’t garner enough likes. According to statements from Meta, giving users the option to hide like counts may counteract the pressure some users feel.
No less than 70 percent of the study’s respondents noted that the ‘hide likes’ feature had made posting “more authentic and enjoyable.”
Online fame versus privacy
Notwithstanding the already substantial role social media has in Gen Zers’ lives (and its reported links to emotional well-being), a surprising number of users (78 percent) were happy to exchange more personal information (including about their sexuality, gender, and political affiliations) for greater online fame.
These figures are even more troubling when considered in light of Gen Z’s lack of trust in social media platforms. Of those surveyed, 67 percent were concerned about personal images being used in facial recognition tech, and 65 percent had concerns around personal data being leveraged for advertising purposes.
Collectively, Gen Z seems to have a solid conception of how social media platforms harness data and generate revenue, but despite this recognition, most users would choose social media popularity over deleting all social accounts. The study suggests that social media fame is more important than data security, and the damaging effect it has on our mental wellbeing might be worth it despite the consequences.
It’s an intriguing position, especially given that 50 percent of the respondents noted that they were “envious” of those with no online presence.
