But even Haidt’s research only scratches the surface. Anxiety and depression are just two unintended consequences of social media use. Nor is social media the sole culprit.

According to new research from Outward Intelligence, Generation Z deserves another somber slogan: “The Generation of Doubt.” Of all generations, Gen Z is the least confident in their own instincts, with only 19% expressing trust in their judgment versus 34-39% of older adults.

It is natural to assume that Gen Zers are inherently more doubtful because they are still maturing. As generations age, doubt normally recedes. But the Internet’s omnipresence calls that into question.

Unlike past age groups, Gen Z was born into the Internet, knowing that the digital world can reflect different versions of identity and truth based on the user, what they’re using, and with whom. No group is more fluent in the Internet’s fragmented reality than Gen Z, which embraces AI chatbots as life advisors and potentially even marriage material.

Entering an already online world, Gen Z was supposed to inherit the glossy digital utopia promised by the early optimism in Silicon Valley. Along the way, Gen Zers have run into something more chaotic – from AI bots and deceptively altered Instagram photoshoots to sponsored media campaigns and algorithmically curated realities.

That’s why Gen Z is less likely to cite misinformation as a major problem (41% versus a majority in older generations). Young Americans aren’t necessarily naive; their baseline assumptions are just different, filled with skepticism and cynicism. They don’t expect the Internet to be accurate, safe, or fully human for that matter.

Doubt is the downstream effect, and not just online. Raised in a world where basic truths are fluid, Gen Z finds it harder to trust their instincts even when the smartphones are down and the AI life coach is snoozing. Today, Gen Zers are half as likely as older generations to trust their own instincts and about 50% more likely to feel overwhelmed by the pace of change in the world.

What happens when doubt wins? Gen Z searches harder, desperate for information, knowledge, and truth. In the last six months, Gen Zers have increased their use of search engines more than any other generation (41% versus 20% of older adults). They are also using X at 1.5 times the rate of millennials and four times the rate of baby boomers. Despite being separated by fewer years, Gen Zers and millennials generally use X for different reasons: Gen Zers are more likely to log in to stay informed (26% versus 3% of millennials), while millennials primarily use it for entertainment (36% versus 15% for Gen Z).

Even when Gen Zers and millennials care about the same issues (e.g., misinformation), they experience the Internet differently. For Gen Z, the Internet isn’t something you turn on or off; it is constant. This “always-on” relationship means Gen Z can’t just turn off their doubts.

Millennials were the first digital natives, logging into AIM, trying MySpace, and navigating the early Wild West of social media without a roadmap. It was a more hopeful, unblemished Internet.

Gen Z, on the other hand, encounters the Internet’s blemishes everywhere. For one, most millennials are now parents, with many expressing concerns about anxiety and depression. They were too early to the game to consider the mental health ramifications of opening a Facebook account, whereas Gen Zers have been called “anxious” for years. Eventually, you pay attention.

Today’s doubt is a sign of more to come. With Gen Zers already struggling to trust their judgment, Gen Alpha risks growing up even more skeptical, cynical, and overwhelmed. Decades later, a less hopeful America may cast the American experiment itself in doubt.

So what do we do now? When it comes to broad, complex issues like misinformation or online safety, most Americans believe responsibility is shared across the public and private sectors, plus individuals themselves. Indeed, when asked who is responsible for addressing media literacy and the lack of critical thinking skills, 62% of Americans point to individuals – far surpassing technology companies (30%) or the government (35%).

Even if social media age verification laws are successful at the state level, they are not silver bullets. Our youngest generations won’t just need stricter guidelines or stronger safety filters; they will need sharper instincts. In an increasingly fragmented world, our most powerful defense is not an algorithm or even public policy; it is the ability to question, verify, and think critically. It is us.

Education and skill development are vital, but nothing is more important than individual responsibility. From Gen Alpha to older Americans, we must take it upon ourselves to consume content better.

Otherwise, doubt will be a death spiral for Gen Zers — and every generation to come.