Piper Howell – Contributor

Every morning, before we are even fully awake, we reach for our phones. Within seconds we are scrolling through headlines about jobs being replaced by AI, classmates landing impossible internships and yet another reminder that the future feels both wide open and completely out of reach. No wonder we are called the anxious generation; we are triggering our own anxiety before we have even gotten out of bed. 

Photo courtesy of Piper Howell

Social media might be the biggest source of anxiety today. What was created to connect us now keeps us comparing ourselves to everyone else and feeling like we will never measure up. The worst part is, half of what we are comparing ourselves to is not even real. Social media only shows the best parts of people’s lives. No one posts about being drowned in schoolwork or stuck in the library at midnight; they post when they are lying on a beach in the Caribbean with an endless supply of pina coladas. NYU psychology professor Jonathan Haidt, in his 2024 best seller “The Anxious Generation” states, “This is the great irony of social media: the more you immerse yourself in it, the lonelier and more depressed you become.” Most of the posts online are not about connection; they are about chasing the dopamine hit from the likes and comments. Before we know it, hours have disappeared while we check and recheck our phones, waiting for that quick rush of validation. 

Gen Z could easily be considered the most globally aware generation, but is it even by choice? Every time we open our phones, we are exposed to events happening in places we have never been, often without context. The constant stream of information creates an unshakeable sense of urgency and anxiety. Even the performative nature of online political or social awareness adds pressure. People repost issues they barely understand, simply following trends and opinions of people they do not even know. The result is the constant flow of information that blurs meaning and makes everything feel overwhelming.  

Thinking about the future adds a whole new layer of stress. We’re told to plan ahead, build careers, find stability, but what does that look like anymore? AI is changing the job market faster than we can keep up, and the paths that once felt secure now seem uncertain or temporary. It’s hard not to wonder if we’re preparing for a world that won’t exist by the time we get there. The finish line keeps shifting, and with it, the definition of success. 

But the anxiety most of us experience does not mean we are weak. If anything, it shows that we care that we are empathetic and deeply aware of the world around us. It also means we have the potential to channel this awareness to drive action and change in the world. By using our “fifth limb” (our phones), intentionally, we can bring attention to the world in ways that do not create anxiety but instead inspire curiosity, learning, and meaningful engagement 

That said, balance is crucial. We cannot engage with the world or drive change if we are constantly overwhelmed by it. Take a break, log off and prioritize your wellbeing before it consumes you. Even a little time away makes space to think, learn and act with intention.