South SFV Today

Stanford psychologist Jamil Zaki has highlighted the challenges faced by Generation Z in forming social connections, attributing this struggle to the current online and polarized environment. This disconnect is having a significant impact on their happiness levels, which are reportedly lower than those of middle-aged and older adults.

Zaki's research suggests that people often underestimate how friendly and kind others can be. However, with some encouragement to take risks in social interactions, new connections can form, enhancing well-being. Together with Rui Pei, a postdoctoral scholar, Zaki co-authored a chapter on the importance of social connection for young people's mental health in the 2025 World Happiness Report. He is also known for his book "Hope for Cynics: The Surprising Science of Human Goodness."

The traditional understanding of happiness across different life stages has shifted. Previously represented as a U-shaped curve—high in youth, dipping in middle age, and rising again among older adults—the trend now shows young adults experiencing less happiness than both middle-aged and older groups.

Two main factors coincide with this decline: increasing economic inequality leaving many young people vulnerable and an overwhelming presence of negative information in media outlets. According to Zaki, "Bathed in negativity, it’s not hard to imagine why young people would feel less positive."

Social connection plays a critical role in mental health improvement by increasing happiness and reducing stress. However, today's focus on self-care tends to prioritize solitary activities over communal ones.

One barrier to forming these connections is what Zaki describes as "social inertia," where modern conveniences encourage solitude over community engagement. There is also a prevalent cynicism about human nature that deters individuals from initiating interactions that could enhance their happiness.

In today's polarized climate, social connectedness requires more effort but remains crucial. Misconceptions about opposing political views exacerbate divisions; however, Zaki's lab experiments show that when people engage across differences, they often find common ground.

For Gen Z looking to improve their social ties, recognizing the mutual desire for connection is essential. An intervention at Stanford University demonstrated this by revealing data on students' friendliness and encouraging them to interact more openly. The result was an increase in friendships over six months.

Zaki concludes that while distrust may serve as protection, it also limits opportunities for collaboration and community building—a theme explored further in his latest book advocating for "hopeful skepticism."