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Is Gen Z Really Anxious About Answering the Phone and Driving?

Gen Z does have social anxiety, but they’re not universally afraid of the social situations headlines say they are…

Written and Edited by the YPulse Editorial Team

Aug 26 2025
North America

KEY TAKEAWAYS

While recent headlines portray Gen Z as having crimpling social anxiety, the reality is more nuanced—it’s not the overwhelming majority who feel this way
Some Gen Z do feel anxious without their phones, but young adults are anxious about making calls on them, too
Young adults are actually more likely than teens to feel anxious about some common social interactions, likely because they’re navigating without the safety net of home

Gen Z is known as the “anxious generation”— and their worries go beyond big picture issues like financial instability, climate change, or even politics. But recent headlines have amplified this narrative, claiming their anxiety also shows up in the more every day, social moments, including meeting new people and answering phone calls. From “Gen Z is afraid of talking on the phone” and “Gen Z Teens Don’t Care About Getting A Driver’s License Anymore Because Driving Makes Them Too Anxious” to “I’m A Millennial And I’ve Noticed Gen-Z Is Too Anxious To Function In Society — ‘They’re Too Afraid To Say Hello’,” they paint a picture of a generation paralyzed by fear, even doing the simplest things. But how true are these headlines—and just how many are really anxious about doing the things other generations seemingly thought nothing of? YPulse’s new Generation Doom report shows 48% of both teens (13-17) and young adults (18-24) say they experience social anxiety. This is a gen that’s growing up constantly comparing...