Is Rising Loneliness Creating Atypical Anxiety Symptoms in Gen Z?

[Shree]

Many teens feel socially present online but lonely offline. This mix can create restlessness, irritability or sudden emotional crashes. Are these symptoms tied more to loneliness than classic anxiety? What helps teens build deeper offline connections?

 

[Hazel]

Yes, rising loneliness seems linked to atypical anxiety in Gen Z. Persistent isolation, digital social patterns, and lack of deep, face-to-face connection can amplify worry, restlessness, or avoidance behaviors. When loneliness becomes the norm, anxious responses often show up in ways that don’t fit traditional models of social anxiety alone.