Members of Generation Z — the Zoomers — are far likelier than older generations to open extra accounts and live alternate online lives.
A study by tech company Lenovo found that nearly half of Generation Z leads a double life online.
Generation Z includes individuals born between 1997 and 2012.
What Experts Discovered
Lenovo surveyed 2,000 Americans across age groups. It found that 46 percent of Zoomers say their online persona differs significantly from their real-life self.
One in five participants across all ages admitted to having a secret online account. That was most common among Zoomers.
Participants were divided into groups by generation.
The survey found that 38 percent of Millennials, born between 1981 and 1996, 18 percent of Generation X, born between 1965 and 1980, and 8 percent of Baby Boomers, born between 1955 and 1964, said their online identity is very different from who they are in real life. Nearly a third of Generation Z reported that they hide their online world from their families, and more than a quarter of Millennials said the same.
More than half of Generation Z and fewer than a quarter of Baby Boomers said they find it easier to express themselves online than face to face. Forty percent of all survey participants shared that view, according to the Daily Mail.
The survey showed that 68 percent of Generation Z respondents feel a disconnect between who they are online and offline. Those who reported this split said it leads to anxiety (18 percent), loneliness (17 percent), and depression (15 percent).
When Zoomers were asked which topics they feel more comfortable discussing online than in person, about 20 percent said they are more likely to share their thoughts in the digital space. Specifically, 22 percent talked about their likes and dislikes online, 19 percent shared their beliefs (political and otherwise), 17 percent discussed their fears and insecurities, and 15 percent talked about their values.
The study also found that the majority of Generation Z (61 percent) would prefer to have difficult conversations with friends and family in person.
Among young people who feel more comfortable online, 27 percent said they are confident they would not face judgment in the digital realm, 22 percent said they feel free to be genuine online, and 23 percent said they have formed strong relationships specifically in the digital space.
At the same time, 54 percent of Generation Z said talking to a professional psychologist would boost their self-confidence and help them communicate more openly with loved ones in real life.
Conclusions
The study’s authors urged people to meet with friends and family more often in person “to understand each other’s worlds.”
Gerald Youngblood, Lenovo’s North America marketing director and the study’s lead author, said, “One in five young people worldwide suffers from a mental health issue.” He said this reflects a global communication crisis.
Youngblood hopes the social experiment will encourage more face-to-face conversations among friends and family, helping people understand each other better and supporting mental well-being.
