Study Says Young People Aren't As Happy As They Used To Be

There's a quiet hum of restlessness that pulses beneath the surface of Generation Z, a generation that was promised everything but handed uncertainty at every turn. From global pandemics to economic instability, and a digitally saturated culture that never sleeps, Gen Z is coming of age in an environment that feels more like a pressure cooker than a playground. And for many of them, it's taking a toll.

According to a 2024 survey conducted by Harvard University's Making Caring Common Project, a staggering 58% of young adults between the ages of 18 to 25 reported struggling to find meaning or purpose in life. They're not just overwhelmed, they're uncertain of why they're even doing it all. This isn't a generation that simply wants a job, they want their lives to matter. And yet, the pathways toward purpose seem clouded, blocked, or, for many, simply missing.

For decades, research showed that the way people experienced happiness across their lifetimes looked like a U-shaped curve: Happiness tended to be high when they were young, then dipped in midlife, only to rise again as they grew old. But recent surveys suggest that curve is starting to flatten. 

The Illusion of Digital Intimacy

For years, Gen Z has been dubbed the "digitally native" generation, tech-savvy, connected, and quick to adapt. But this constant connectivity has come at a cost.

As highlighted in Fortune, the Harvard survey revealed that high levels of social media use correlate with significantly lower life satisfaction. Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter have become both mirrors and magnifiers, reflecting insecurity while amplifying it. It's difficult to form an identity when you're constantly measuring it against filtered versions of everyone else's.

When Work Feels Hollow

The Harvard research found that Gen Z reports the lowest levels of job satisfaction among all age groups. This isn't about laziness, it's about disconnection. They aren't resistant to hard work, they're resistant to meaningless work.

Fortune's report emphasises that many young workers feel disengaged, unmotivated, and unsupported at their workplaces. They want to contribute to something greater than themselves, but find themselves stuck in roles that lack alignment with their values or dreams.

Perhaps the most paradoxical insight? The most connected generation is also one of the loneliest. Despite constant online interaction, Gen Z reports a deep lack of strong, in-person relationships. According to the Making Caring Common report, meaningful connections with friends and family, especially offline, are key predictors of mental wellness, yet these are often missing.

The pandemic exacerbated this gap, but the issue runs deeper. Gen Z's relationships, both romantic and platonic, are increasingly shaped by digital platforms, leaving many with a gnawing sense of isolation.

A Generation in Search of Something Real

If the research tells us anything, it's that today's young adults are asking deeper questions than they're given credit for. "Why am I doing this?" "Who am I becoming?" "What’s the point?" These aren't dramatic outbursts, they're quiet echoes of a generation craving clarity.

As Richard Weissbourd, the lead researcher from Harvard's study, told Fortune, "There's a gap between what young people are feeling and what they're able to express, or even understand." That gap is where the crisis lies.

To meet this moment, solutions must go beyond surface-level fixes. Mental health apps and corporate wellness emails won't be enough. What Gen Z needs is mentorship, spaces for honest conversations, and cultural systems that value human beings over productivity.