The Toll of Social Media on Gen Z’s Wellbeing

In the bustling state of New Jersey, there lives a generation teetering on the brink of a peculiar crisis. The Gen Z group grew up in the digital age and seems to navigate their existence through the lens of social media.  I have heard a lot of controversy about the use of children using social media lately. Some lawmakers want to limit the amount of time use of kids using social media.

In this article I found in Daily Mail, there's a trend identified by the US Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, regarding the declining well-being of Gen Z individuals. The decline in well-being can be attributed to their extensive exposure to social media. The concept of an early 'mid-life crisis' among young adults due to social media influence is something doctors are now concerned about.

A global well-being survey found that 15 to 24-year-olds are reporting lower levels of happiness compared to older generations. This goes against the traditional thought that youth is associated with higher levels of happiness. Instead, younger individuals seem to be experiencing distress to what was previously associated with mid-life.

Dr. Murthy believes that allowing children to use social media raises concerns about the lack of regulation and understanding we have of the impacts of social media on mental health. Teenagers spend an average of five hours a day on social media.

The United States has dropped out of the top 20 happiest nations, with under-30s ranking even lower at 62nd.  Experts are proving the negative effects of social media on wellbeing. This trend is not isolated to the US.  Other nations are also seeing a decline in happiness among young adults.

Maybe the call for legislation to mitigate the harms of social media on youngsters is important after all. Measures such as limiting features like 'like' buttons and constant scrolling can help reduce addictive behaviors. The negative psychological impacts on our youth will have me thinking twice about the amount of time my kid should be on social media.

The findings in this article convinced me that there is a need for proactive measures to address the negative effects of social media on the mental health and well-being of Gen Z individuals. Perhaps we can look into policy actions regulating usage.  I do believe further research is needed.  For now, as a parent,  we should consider the happiness and overall health of future generations in the digital age.

Ever since Lady Gaga burst onto the music scene, she has never been one to shy away from taking chances. Born Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta on March 28, 1986, in New York City, Gaga has described her high-school self as "very dedicated, very studious, very disciplined" but also "a bit insecure." She considered herself a misfit and was mocked for "being either too provocative or too eccentric." The pop star began playing the piano at age four when her mother insisted she become "a cultured young woman." She took piano lessons and practiced throughout her childhood. The lessons taught her to create music by ear, which Gaga preferred over reading sheet music. Her parents encouraged her to pursue music and enrolled her in Creative Arts Camp.

As a teenager, Lady Gaga played at open mic nights. She also studied method acting at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute for ten years. She later said of her inclination towards music: "I don't know exactly where my affinity for music comes from, but it is the thing that comes easiest to me. When I was like three years old, I may have been even younger, my mom always tells this really embarrassing story of me propping myself up and playing the keys like this because I was too young and short to get all the way up there." Admitting she wasn't a natural dancer, Gaga declared: "But I am a natural musician. That is the thing that I believe I am the greatest at."

In 2006, Gaga began working with producer Rob Fusari, who she began dating later that year. He helped her develop her songs and claimed to have been the first person to call her "Lady Gaga," derived from Queen's song "Radio Ga Ga."

See below Lady Gaga's sexiest posts on social media:

Looking like a sexy Chippendale or cocktail waitress, Gaga stuns in this pinup-style makeup -- one of her many makeup go-to's. The sleeveless white button-up she wears is paired with a glittering bow-tie that makes her look like a Vegas girl. That's fitting: she had a "Jazz & Piano" residency in from August until October in 2023.

Gaga captioned this heart-stopping black-and-white photo: "Last night in Vegas living my dream," but she is living our dream. The singer rocked a sultry siren look with this gorgeous laser-pleated gown with an Old Hollywood glam hairstyle and makeup to boot.

While giving bedroom eyes and pulling her hair back, Gaga captions the carousel of photos: "I can’t give you anything but love Sarah Vaughan style." Asking her 56+ million Instagram followers to "look it up," the power, range, and flexibility of jazz singer Sarah Vaughan's voice was known as "Sassy" or "The Divine One." She often wore strapless gowns, just like Gaga is in this post.

In this cheeky poolside photo, Gaga looks back and smiles at the camera, showing off her buns and impressive estate she's at. Her physique looks impeccable and we love how her teal bikini makes her platinum blonde locks stand out even more.

While sitting at a white grand piano, Gaga smolders, looking back at the camera. She wears a glittering flapper-style dress with an elaborate feather headpiece, iconic red lip, and dramatic cat-eye. In the second slide, she places a dollar bill over her eye, giving major burlesque vibes.

In this classically sexy coming out-of-the-pool video, Gaga wears a red-orange tie-string bikini that features stars on her bosom. She amped up the sexiness with a chain that hangs off her hips and holds her hair up as she struts out of the water.

Kicking off the start of Pride Month in 2021, Gaga posted playful videos of her laying in some grass. For those who didn't notice the grass until we pointed it out, the "Born This Way" singer wears a cream-colored onesie with the straps hanging off her shoulders.

With the sea far off in the distance, Gaga lays on the pavement wearing a blue tie-dye cheeky bathing suit. The ground is wet by her feet, presumably from the pool that is not featured in the photos, with a wine glass placed precariously by her toes.

Promoting her makeup brand, Haus Labs' bronzer and highlighter duos, Gaga is seen lying down with her products. As her long, silver mermaid-like tresses are covering her breasts, she censors her nudity with her hands as she looks into the camera.

In this photo from 2018, Gaga shared this nude image taken by Eli Russell Linnetz as she puts on a pair of nude tights. Her breasts are censored by pixelation, and the pop star's platinum blonde hair is full and glamorous.