11 Things Older Generations See As Perfectly Normal But Give Gen Z Serious Anxiety
Craig Adderley | PexelsAlong with not knowing life without technology and coming of age in a period of economic turmoil, Gen Z seems to be particularly anxious. Even the most ordinary things tend to worry them, and while not every Gen Zers suffers from anxiety, they do still seem to be on edge.
Clinical psychologist Chelsea Dudley said that this is understandable. "Some stressors are fairly common during this life transition — career decisions, finances, planning for the future... I believe something is different about what 20- to 30-year-olds are dealing with right now," she stated. While Gen Zers are anxious about these situations, older generations find them completely normal.
Older generations see these things as normal, but they make Gen Z anxious
1. Driving cars
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Most people consider driving to be a necessary life skill, unless you live in an urban area where public transportation is popular. Gen Z doesn't quite see it that way, though. In fact, they wish driving was a thing of the past and feel anxious getting behind the wheel.
As journalist Daniel Knowles explained, "Driving has gotten a lot more stressful in... the past decade or more. It's gotten particularly worse in the last few years... it seems like an awful lot of people are just driving a lot worse. We see this in the rise in the number of deaths and rise in the number of car crashes."
At a time when many Gen Zers are entering the roadways and getting their drivers licenses, many are choosing to forego driving altogether. This normal, everyday situation is giving Gen Z a huge amount of anxiety and makes them uncomfortable.
2. Talking on the phone
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While talking on the phone is something completely normal for older people, Gen Zers get anxiety just from seeing their phone light up with a call coming in. They grew up texting and messaging for almost everything. It's likely that sending a voice message would even feel more natural than a phone call to most.
Up to 90% of Gen Z feel anxious during phone calls, and some even agree that awkward phone calls is one of the top three things they would like to avoid. Communication expert Mary Jane Copps noted that she sees Gen Z's phone anxiety increasing, but she doesn't think the skill will become obsolete.
3. Socializing in large groups of people
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Socializing is a typical part of day-to-day life. It's hard to make it through the day without having to talk to someone you don't consider to be part of your close circle. Gen Zers aren't a fan of this. While making small talk may come easier to older generations, Gen Zers largely prefer to avoid it.
Professional counselor Janeé Steele said Gen Z is known as the "anxious generation" for a reason. And according to a report from Harmony Healthcare IT, over 60% of Gen Zers say they feel anxious, with many reporting social anxiety.
Everyone feels socially anxious at some point. It's completely normal to not feel like socializing all the time. But this makes it hard for Gen Zers to interact in social situations where they aren't around the people who are closest to them.
4. Going to work
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While not everyone works, many people do, and it's just a regular part of their daily lives. Work is certainly not unusual for Gen Zers, unless they haven't entered the workforce yet. Still, it brings with it a level of anxiety that few other things do.
While the act of simply going to work can be stressful in itself, there are other contributing factors that make it difficult. With the current instability in the workplace and the economy, many are fearing for their jobs and livelihoods.
For Gen Z, this volatility seems particularly toxic. There's a "permacrisis" that exists in the workforce right now, and 91% of 18- to 24-year-olds feel stressed. This generation was sold an idyllic life that's no longer within reach. The workplace is anxiety-inducing to them, as they desperately want some stability in their lives.
5. Paying bills
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As unfortunate as it may sound, paying bills is one of the most common situations in the world. It's a part of life everyone has to deal with, no matter how unpleasant it may be. For Gen Z, they have anxiety over paying bills because of their money trauma.
A Deloitte survey of Gen Zers and millennials found that Gen Z's top concern is cost of living. Around 46% "live paycheck to paycheck and worry that they won't be able to cover their expenses." Gen Z is actively worried that they won't be able to pay their bills, which is causing a great amount of anxiety for them.
6. Using social media
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It may seem strange that Gen Z would feel anxious about using social media when they're the first generation to fully grow up with it. Because they're so accustomed to social media, they use it almost constantly and feel like it is a necessity.
A survey from McKinsey Health Institute that examined different generations' relationships with social media found that Gen Z was the most likely to have "negative feelings" towards it. In fact many Gen Zers wish social media didn't even exist.
While social media can be a great tool for connecting with other people, it can also be a way to compare yourself. Gen Z, who spends so much time on social media, understands this all too well.
7. Dating to find 'the one'
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Dating is stressful for everyone, but Gen Z seems to be particularly anxious about it. In a world where aesthetics are everything and people care about the appearance of their partner almost as much as they care about their own, there's a lot of pressure to choose the one.
Many young people are tired of the ever-present dating apps and are searching for connections in-person instead. But because of how Gen Z was raised, this is a tall order. According to culture and internet reporter Daysia Tolentino, "Some [Gen Zers] grapple with social anxiety and avoid interacting with strangers. That has created a unique challenge for some Gen Zers who are seeking to find dates in person."
8. Shopping during economic turmoil
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Gen Z is coming of age during one of the most unpredictable economic periods. While it was once a staple to find young people at the mall, the same can't really be said anymore. Now, most shopping occurs online. Even groceries can be ordered right to your doorstep.
But that doesn't really make shopping anxiety-inducing. Instead, it's all about cost. According to a Consumer Affairs study, Gen Z has much less purchasing power than baby boomers did in their 20s. Coupled with inflation, Gen Zers are facing some major shock at the store.
What was once affordable just isn't anymore, and older generations are finding it difficult to sympathize with Gen Z as the classic formula of working hard and saving money worked for them. Gen Z is seriously hurting financially, and they're struggling to make ends meet.
9. Going to school
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Just like going to work is anxiety-inducing for Gen Z, so is attending school. There are so many concerns about grades and the future, about academic performance and standing. Add to that the fact that mental health can directly affect grades and they've got another reason to feel stressed out.
Reporter Arianna Prothero explained the results of a Gallup poll examining Gen Z's increasingly declining mental health. She revealed, "This all matters for academic achievement: the middle and high school students in the survey who said their mental health is excellent were more than twice as likely to say they get excellent grades in school compared with students who rated their mental health as fair or poor."
School is causing Gen Zers to feel anxious, which brings their grades down. It's all one vicious cycle. As Gen Zers struggle to keep their heads above water, they know how important getting good grades will be to their future. They simply can't catch a break.
10. Paying off debt
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For older generations, it's completely normal to pay off debt. It's just a part of life. But for Gen Zers, it makes them incredibly anxious. It would be false to say that paying off debt is pleasant for anyone, but it's just how life is. People borrow money and have to pay it back.
For Gen Z, this process is complicated by high student loans that can be predatory, as well as mounting credit card debt. Basically, Gen Z has very little money to work with, so buying things on credit is the only way to get what they need.
The average Gen Zer had $22,950 in student loan debt in 2024. While this wasn't as much as Gen X, the generation with the highest amount of student loan debt, it's still significant, especially as something to be saddled with just as you're starting out your life. A study from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York also found that Gen Z was more likely to have delinquent or maxed-out credit cards.
11. Attending family gatherings
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For many, family is a safe space, a place to retreat and escape from the cares of the world. For Gen Z, it's not quite so simple. Family divides are strong between young people and their elders. As new political and social movements take shape, people are finding themselves more at odds than ever before, and being related by blood does not make one immune.
Psychologist Joshua Coleman and Will Johnson, CEO of The Harris Poll, wrote about the stark divisions among society. "Historically, those dividing lines were differences like religion, race and ethnicity, age and gender," they explained. "Today, political affiliation is the most significant determinant of this us-them division, research shows."
While older people looked forward to family events and seeing distant family members, Gen Z are anxious to attend these same gatherings because of what they might find there. They know that many family members have views that differ starkly from their own, and that being in the same room isn't always healthy.
Mary-Faith Martinez is a writer with a bachelor's degree in English and Journalism who covers news, psychology, lifestyle, and human interest topics.
