Over Half Of Zoomers May Be On Drugs Amid Rampant Social Media Addiction
Technology addiction and economic challenges may be contributing to Gen Z becoming America's most mentally unstable generation.
Spencer Lombardo · Jul 16, 2026 · 2 min read
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.
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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All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.