We are all aware of the changes that social media has brought to our lives, even as we, as adults, can remember life before it arrived. But how would you imagine the impact of social media on your life if you were born within the age of social media and social media was all you knew?
This describes the situation of Generation Z. They are the generation born around the millennium between 1995 and 2010 and have grown up in the age of social media.
Studies have shown that over a third of this generation are affected by anxiety disorders, with almost 47 per cent report feeling anxious and 44 per cent report persistently feeling nervous. However, Gen Z are also open to talking about issues related to mental health, even if they usually talk about in videos they share on social-media platforms.
Dina, born in 2012, says that “we just found social media in front of us. We had no other option but to use it.”
“Mental health is extremely important, especially at our age. We all get exposed to anxiety and pressure, and the videos that Gen Z post about their struggles can be beneficial as they talk about their problems and life challenges whether with peers, society, or family,” she said.
“But not all the videos are helpful, and I might be more interested to watch videos that talk about mental health presented by experts.”
Dina said that she thinks her generation is more prone to anxiety and stress, due to struggles with parents, for example. “At this age we tend to bond more with our friends than our family, and this is natural at our age. We have common interests, and we like to go out together and share stuff that some of us can’t share with our parents,” she said.
“We also tend to be stubborn at this age, and we have conflicts with parents because we don’t want to feel obliged to think or act in a certain way. Some parents act as friends of their children, and I believe this is very smart. My mum is my friend, for example, and I can tell her many things.”
Other reasons why Gen Z may feel anxious can be problems with peers and friends, as well as the pressure of studying. Losing a loved one like a grandparent and other traumas can also cause psychological imbalance.
Dina said that watching reels on social media can also cause anxiety and pressure. Too much exposure to social media can be another source of pressure, and she said she tries to balance social-media usage.
“Social media is a double-edged sword, and it depends how you use it. It can help us, or it can make us depressed, so it depends how we let it into our lives,” she said.
Youssef, born in 2006, said that “I believe I have started to feel the psychological changes that any Gen Z would normally go through. But as time passes, the more I feel I know who I am and what I want.”
“I watch videos that Gen Z post on social media, and I believe they can be helpful as we all belong to one generation and we go through similar challenges,” he said.
“If I am going through a certain psychological challenge, I would be looking for a solution, and whether watching Gen Z videos can offer a solution or not, they can be helpful because they make me feel I am not alone in my challenges.”
However, there could be dangers in such videos, Youssef said. Talking about psychological challenges on video might lead to bullying, for example, since not everybody accepts the openness of others about psychological struggles.
“I believe that the fact that social media has always been part of our lives can explain why so many of us are addicted to mobile phones,” Youssef said.
“Some of us experience isolation and this affects mental health. Poor communication skills with parents can create anxiety when parents don’t listen to their kids. Excessive social-media usage can also be harmful, as it wastes time and is mentally exhausting, especially in the presence of poor content.”
Mariam, born in 2009, said that she finds the name Gen Z strange, since “we are just teenagers. The fact that we have a new name is strange for me.”
Some of the videos on social media are fake and overrated, she said, while others are helpful. “The videos that grab my attention are the ones that talk about bullying,” she said, adding that they talk about an important issue for many young people.
“However, if as a Gen Z I make a video about my own personal problems, this might be a bad indication. It might say that I can’t communicate well with my friends or parents. Speaking for myself, I might prefer to talk about my personal problems with my friends and parents rather than on social media,” she said.
Mariam said that “we all go through struggles, and at this stage in life we want to be independent from our parents. My wish would be that all parents should try to be friends with their kids, especially mothers. We all go through different levels of anxiety, and we need to let out our fears, whether to friends or family.”
Salma Al-Baradei, a psychotherapist, explained that society tends to focus on physical health, meaning that we understand when someone is suffering from a physical disease. But society might be much less understanding when someone says, “I am depressed or anxious,” not even understanding what these things mean.
“But it is mental health that gives us the ability to be successful social beings,” Al-Baradei said. “It is what helps us think, feel, and act properly.”
In her view, Gen Z goes through many psychological struggles, like isolation, identity crises, and cyber-bullying, and they are also very affected by social media. They compare themselves to each other in a virtual world, and this affects their confidence.
Overusing social media can create anxiety and deprive them of more beneficial activities, like playing sports, meeting people in person, and having family time, she said.
“The choices social media presents can also be very stressful. Having a large number of people you can talk to can be overwhelming and can create anxiety. Bear in mind that Gen Z were born at a time when they had many virtual choices available,” she added.
Some Gen Z might have virtual friends that they have not met in real life. But these are not real relationships, and they can lead to poor communication and interpersonal skills.
“As for the videos that talk about mental health and how some Gen Z share these and follow content related to mental well-being, some of them are well educated about these matters and understand the importance of therapy and good mental hygiene,” Al-Baradei explained.
She said that in order to enjoy good mental health, people should take regular exercise, get good quality sleep, regular nutrition, and balance leisure time between social media usage and meeting family and friends in person. Good community engagement is also a must, she said.
“Regulate your screen time and take responsibility for it. If you experience anxiety, or stress, or constant comparisons with others, talk with an adult or a professional therapist,” Al-Baradei said.
Parents should be actively trying to understand their children and should aim to understand the cyber pressure they experience, she added.
“Be a role model,” she advised. “If I want my kids to do something, I do it first. Reduce your screen time and chat together more, and if your child wants professional help don’t oppose it,” she said.
* A version of this article appears in print in the 26 March, 2026 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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