'We were guinea pigs': The Gen Zs who grew up online reflect on social media
Members of Gen Z who grew up with social media reflect on its impact, describing themselves as "guinea pigs" in an unprecedented digital experiment. They discuss the positive aspects of online connection alongside the challenges of constant comparison, privacy concerns, and mental health effects they experienced as the first generation to navigate adolescence on social media platforms.
Background
- Gen Z (born roughly 1997–2012) are the first generation to grow up with smartphones, social media platforms (Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok), and algorithm-driven feeds from adolescence onward — making them a kind of "unplanned experiment" in constant digital connectivity.
- The article reflects a growing retrospective among older Gen Zs (now in their mid-20s to early 30s) who feel their formative years were shaped by platforms designed for engagement, not well-being, and who are increasingly disillusioned with the always-online life.
- This conversation sits within a broader public debate about teen mental health, smartphone bans in schools, and regulatory efforts like Canada's Online Harms Act and proposed social media age restrictions.
- Key context: The phrase "we were guinea pigs" echoes a common Gen Z sentiment that they were the test subjects for social media's effects before any guardrails or research caught up.