Over half of Zoomers may be on drugs amid rampant social media addiction

Spencer Lombardo, DCNF

Technology addiction and economic challenges may be contributing to Gen Z becoming America’s most mentally unstable generation.

Approximately 46% of Zoomers have been diagnosed with a mental health condition and 37% suspect themselves to have one as of May 2025, according to a Harmony Healthcare IT study published Wednesday. The study suggests social media use is among the leading contributing factors to this, with 78% of respondents saying they feel addicted to their phones or social media.

Harmony Healthcare IT did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.

46% of Gen Z adults have been diagnosed with a mental health condition, with anxiety being the most common

source: Harmony Healthcare IT pic.twitter.com/ZTvywdMmxM

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Social media comparison (39%), uncertainty about their future (22%), and the economy (11%) reportedly had the most negative impact on Zoomers’ mental health.

Confidence in the U.S. economy fell from -20 in February pre-Iran War to -45 in May, according to Gallup.

Anxiety, depression, and ADHD were the leading diagnoses in that order. Approximately 42% of Zoomers reported going to therapy — a 22% increase since 2022.

However, many Zoomers reported resorting to unconventional methods of coping with their mental health. Approximately 37% engaged in “manifesting,” 36% relied on the advice of wellness influencers, and 35% shopped for comfort.

Additionally, while 34% reported taking prescription medication for their mental health, 19% reported that they self-medicate, according to the study. The Center for Disease Control reported in June that 20.4% of adults ages 30-44 and 18.2% of adults ages 65-74 were medicated such conditions as of 2024.

Approximately 3% of the 1,010-person study identified as non-binary. Harmony Healthcare IT surveyed the respondents — who were between the ages of 18 and 28 — in May 2025.

The number of teenagers facing depression increased 59% between 2007 and 2017, Pew Research Center reported in July 2019. Additionally, approximately 76.3% of Americans feel “uneasy” leaving their phone at home as of January 2026, according to Reviews.org.

Gen Z spent an average of 6 hours and 27 minutes on their phone per day in 2024, according to a previous Harmony Healthcare IT study. This is around 1 hour more than Millennials, and almost 2 hours more than Gen X.

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