Gen Z Users Say Social Media Benefited Their Lives -- But Also Wish It Was Never Invented: Poll

25% of Americans Use Social Media to Learn Languages, with Spanish as Top Choice, Survey Shows Freepik

The generation known for their social media use appears to have mixed feelings about it's impact on their lives.

According to new research published by The Harris Poll, about half of Generation Z wish social media apps TikTok and X didn't exist.

The Harris Poll conducted their research in collaboration with social psychologist and best-selling author Jonathan Haidt.

What if there was a national no social media day, for 24 hours friends would genuinely enjoy each other’s company and families would have good conversation in their cars and at their dinner tables & all the concerts will be watched and enjoyed instead of just videoed for Snapchat
— HanSue Gloger (@hansuewilson) January 20, 2019

I kinda wish that social media was just taken away from us, like we could contact our friends but not post pics and feel like we have to be accepted by others & compare ourselves cba
— abi dickson (@abidickson01) June 11, 2020

I really want social media to like no longer exist, the repercussions it has on society is SOOO insane
— 🇯🇲 (@_Chanelllee) September 17, 2024

Haidt, who wrote the book The Anxious Generation, has long been researching the impacts of heightened communication, increased levels of technology and social media on children and childhood.

Gen Z uses social media in part because they are trapped by it. 1/3 wish Instagram was never invented. Nearly half say that for TikTok. Hardly anyone says that for any normal consumer product.
(I teamed up with Will Johnson of The Harris Poll)https://t.co/6kh5iNHY3Z pic.twitter.com/EyzEvLZ5B1
— Jonathan Haidt (@JonHaidt) September 17, 2024

According to findings, 47% of Gen Z wishes TikTok didn't exist, and 50% wish the same for X. This comes from a nationally representative poll of 1,006 Gen Z adults (aged 18-27).

52% of those sampled say social media has benefitted their lives in some way, but 29% reported that it has hurt them. The study found that members with marginalized identities are more likely to be harmed. 44% of women and 47% of LGBTQ respondents said social media negatively impacted their mental health.

Data also demonstrated social media usage patterns within these young adults. 47% of adult Gen Z social media users stated that they use social media for 2-4 hours daily. 60% spend at least 4 hours a day, and 22% said they spent seven or more hours each day.

unpopular opinion: social media has ruined our generations ability to be truly happy. we’re always seeing someone else who we think has it better than us and comparing ourselves & sometimes it makes us think that what we have isn’t good enough
— fresh (@DamiTheOG_) March 11, 2019

While TikTok and X got the most votes for individual platforms members of Gen Z wished "was never invented", other platforms followed not too far behind. Significant percentages of respondents wished apps such as Snapchat (43%), Facebook (37%) and Instagram (34%) had never been invented, either.

"We interpret these low numbers as indicating that Gen Z does not heavily regret the basic communication, storytelling and information-seeking functions of the internet," Haidt writes. "If smartphones merely let people text each other, watch movies and search for helpful information or interesting videos (without personalized recommendation algorithms intended to hook users), there would be far less regret and resentment."