Gen Z’s fear of cringe is holding them back from being themselves. Every generation is afraid of being embarrassing or awkward when they’re young. But a new study by Yahoo and YouGov actually found that more than half of Gen Z adults have avoided expressing themselves online out of fear of coming across as cringe. And whether online or off, more than half of survey respondents said their fear of appearing cringe has held them back from opening up to others emotionally. Others said the fear has hindered their romantic lives and prevented them from trying new hobbies and going for professional opportunities, too. For a generation that grew up sharing their most awkward teen years online, the fear stems from the increased self-awareness and social pressures that come with being picked apart on social media—as YPulse explained in our 2025 Cringe trend report. Even as young people crave authenticity, they’re stuck at a crossroads. (Yahoo)
👀 Read more from YPulse: Gen Z’s 10 Biggest Sources of Anxiety, In Their Own Words
