Would Gen Z in the UK Have Been Better Off Without Social Media?

Gen Z grew up surrounded by technology and social media . Photo: Jacob Lund/Adobe Stock

Gen Z - the digital natives. These confident, outspoken, and pragmatic individuals practically came out of the womb holding a smartphone or tablet. Born 1997-2012, Gen Z have seen Musical.ly become TikTok, streaming giants like YouTube and Netflix slowly phase out television, and the birth of AI with Siri, Alexa, and algorithms. 

Although these 14-29-year-olds have spear-headed conversations around social justice, the environment, and mental health, three quarters of young adults struggle with real life conversations and reach for their phones after two minutes, according to AXA. 

In December 2025, Australia instigated the world’s first social media ban for under 16s. Now the UK, among other nations, might follow suit. But could Gen Z have benefited from this?

There is a direct correlation between social media usage and mental health. A study conducted by the National Institutes of Health found that university students who use social media for more than three hours daily are 7.4 times more likely to experience social isolation and loneliness than those who spend three hours or less daily. 

Checking Instagram is the new morning coffee - young people can’t start their day without it. And it doesn’t stop there. Phones sit out on school desks. There’s mindless scrolling at the dinner table, in front of the TV, and under the bed sheets at night.

The phone keeps pinging, pinging, pinging - until it’s thrown across the room, weighed down by internalised beauty standards, hurtful comments, and a growing desensitisation to images of self-harm and violence.

The UK might be doing Gen Alpha a favour in banning social media to protect their wellbeing, but can it make up for what’s already been lost in roughly 20% of the population?

That being said, this digital caffeine has brewed up some good. Apps like Snapchat and Instagram foster social connection reducing loneliness among young people. 15 second TikTok videos can deconstruct your lectures’ jargon, making the online world a crucial educational tool for nearly eight in ten 13-17-year-olds. 

For years, Gen Z have been exploring their values, beliefs, and identity through social media. Every like, comment and share is processed by algorithms to form curated feeds that is (scarily) like looking in the mirror. Now, they are a generation of head strong entrepreneurs, proud activists, and authentic individuals. 

So, could Gen Z have benefited from a social media ban? The answer is unclear. On the one hand, restrictions may have led to better sleep, fewer comparisons, and healthier wellbeing. On the other, social media has been an outlet for self-expression and creativity. Banning social media goes beyond age restrictions - it also involves social media design, regulation, and usage. Striking this balance without limiting self-discovery is one that governments, social media companies, and the next generation will be left to figure out.