US research shows Gen Z youths severing parental ties and higher suicide risk from heavy social media use

A survey of 7,000 U.S. parents conducted in April found that one‑third believe health‑care workers have encouraged their adult children to cut off contact with them. Around 5 % of young people blame parents for all their problems and nearly 10 % have completely ended contact. Other respondents attribute mental‑health difficulties (25 %), relationship issues (17 %) and lack of motivation (15 %) to their parents.

A separate American study by the University of Texas, involving more than 1,000 participants aged 11‑22, linked extensive social‑media use to mental‑health risks. Teens who spent six or more hours per day on social platforms were twice as likely to report anxiety and three times as likely to experience suicidal thoughts, with the effect stronger among girls. About 17 % of the sample fell into the high‑use category, while 8.5 % used social media for less than an hour daily. Researchers noted that causality remains unclear, as both excessive use and pre‑existing anxiety could influence each other.