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Shocking number of Gen Z shut-ins report zero face-to-face human interactions per day
nypost.com • • health
Key Points:
- A Financial Times analysis of US Census data reveals that nearly 10% of Gen Z adults (ages 23-29) have zero daily face-to-face interactions, a significant increase from 3% before the COVID pandemic.
- The pandemic triggered this shift by forcing young people indoors during critical social development years, creating a lasting class of socially isolated young adults who have not fully recovered post-pandemic.
- While the most socially active young adults have seen their in-person interactions rebound close to pre-pandemic levels, the bottom quarter remain largely isolated, with daily social time near zero since the pandemic began.
- Screen time among Americans has increased significantly since 2015, rising from 25 minutes to 37 minutes per day in 2025, with teenagers averaging 90 minutes daily on computers and social media.
- Remote work remains prevalent, with 35% of employed Americans reporting some or all work done from home in 2025, more than three years after COVID restrictions were lifted.
