Feckless youth.
America’s youngest adults are spending Friday and Saturday nights on the couch — not because they’re antisocial, but because they’re flat broke, burned out and just plain lonely.
A new Harris Poll survey paints a surprisingly bleak picture of Gen Z’s social life, revealing a generation of prime-of-their-lives 20-somethings who desperately want real-world friendships but often can’t afford the price of going out, and lack human-to-human skills.
The numbers are striking.
Gen Z confesses they spend the weekends in their PJs, instead of going out to party. Jack Forbes / NY Post Design
More than half of Gen Z adults (51%) say they feel lonely on a typical weekend — the highest rate of any generation and a staggering 37 percentage points higher than 62-to-80-year-old Baby Boomers.
Nearly half (49%) admit they don’t have enough friends to spend time with in person, while 65% say they now experience their social lives more through their phones than face-to-face.
“I want more spontaneous moments in my life to meet new people or make more friends,” one respondent admitted.
The revealing survey revealed Gen Z wishes they had the social skills to make real-life friends. LIGHTFIELD STUDIOS – stock.adobe.com
Instead of bars and parties, staying home has become the new normal. Nearly three-quarters (74%) say they spend at least half of their weekends lazing, while 73% say staying in has become their default plan.
They don’t party hard like Gen Xers did.
Nearly nine in 10 (88%) actively avoid at least one classic nightlife environment, including loud crowded venues, expensive nights out or alcohol-centered gatherings. Almost three-quarters (73%) wish there were more social spaces where drinking wasn’t the main attraction.
Alcohol-fueled fun isn’t appealing to Zoomers, who are seeking healthier ways to make real-life friends. Pormezz – stock.adobe.com
They’re looking for something calmer, cheaper and more meaningful.
Nearly eight in 10 (79%) want more affordable ways to spend time with others, while 76% prefer quieter, less overwhelming environments. More than half (54%) would rather socialize during the day than late at night.
Wellness is also replacing nightlife. Sixty-five percent say they feel more socially connected in fitness classes, wellness activities and similar settings than they do in bars or clubs.
One of the biggest reasons Gen Z stays home is financial, while the other half is for health purposes.
The survey respondents admitted they devote weekends to their mental and physical health. DragonImages – stock.adobe.com
Almost half (49%) say they stay in to save money, while 47% say they need the weekend to recharge physically and mentally after a stressful week.
For many, nights out have become a luxury they simply can’t justify.
More than two-thirds (68%) say going out isn’t worth the damage it does to their wallet, while 62% admit they avoid making weekend plans altogether because they don’t want to regret spending the money afterward.
The financial squeeze is especially severe for renters and women. Among Gen Z renters, 42% say they don’t go out because they simply can’t afford “fun.” For women, the figure is 41%.
“Going out these days isn’t worth the damage it does to my wallet,” said one survey respondent, while another admitted: “I avoid making weekend plans because I don’t want to feel financial regret afterward.”
Yet the survey suggests this isn’t a generation rejecting friendship.
The 20-somethings admitted they envy older generations their human-to-human social skills. Getty Images/Maskot
In fact, 60% say they would rather spend time with friends in person than online, while 62% truly wish their online friendships would turn into real-life meetups.
Even more telling, 71% say they feel they’re missing out on the kinds of in-person experiences older generations enjoyed when they were their age.
Lonely Zoomers admit they envy Millennials, Gen Xers and Boomers — who learned to negotiate real-life relationships, social skills Zoomers were never required to master in the digital age.
Despite the gloomy statistics, the report offers a note of optimism.
Zoomers are finding cheaper ways to spend time with friends by inviting them to home get-togethers instead of expensive nights out on the town. Getty Images
An overwhelming 85% say they’ve already found creative ways to socialize on a budget, from hosting friends at home to attending free community events and using discounts to stretch every dollar.
The message from America’s youngest adults is simple: they still want to connect. They just need a social life they can actually afford.
