The Social Connect

Erica Coe et al

Much like many relationships a person might have between ages 18 and 24, the relationship a young person has with social media can be complicated. No matter where they live, respondents in a new global survey said social media usage can lead to a fear of missing out (Fomo) or poor body image, but can help with social connections and self-expression.

McKinsey Health Institute's (MHI's) 2022 Global Gen Z Survey asked more than 42,000 respondents in 26 countries across continents questions based on the four dimensions of health: mental, physical, social and spiritual. MHI then analysed differences and similarities across generations and countries, with a hope of informing the dialogue around Gen Z mental health.


Gen Zers, on average, are more likely than other generations to cite negative feelings about social media. They are also more likely to report having poor mental health. But correlation is not causation, and our data indicates that the relationship between social media use and mental health is complex. One surprise: older generations' engagement with these platforms is on par with Gen Zers....

While negative impacts of social media were reported across cohorts, positive effects were even more common - more than 50% of all groups cited self-expression and social connectivity as positives from social media.

From 'Gen Z Mental Health:

The Impact of Tech and Social Media', McKinsey & Co