Policymakers Push for Safer Digital Spaces as Mental Health Pressures Rise for Gen Z

The Council of the European Union has urged member states and the European Commission to create a safer, healthier, more age-appropriate digital environment for children and teens. PHOTO: Cottonbro Studios

Mental health concerns among young people are climbing fast, and two developments in recent weeks signal how urgently this crisis is being recognized on both sides of the Atlantic.

In Europe, the Council of the European Union has urged member states and the European Commission to create a safer, healthier, more age-appropriate digital environment for children and teens. Meanwhile, in the U.S., a new Naropa University survey shows a staggering 97% of Gen Z report feeling mentally overwhelmed.

EU Council Calls for Action to Protect Youth Online

This isn’t just an American issue. Last week, the Council of the European Union issued conclusions urging member states and the European Commission to take stronger action to protect the mental health of children and teens online.

“In a world where the digital landscape is constantly shifting, protecting the mental health of our children is not a choice, it’s a duty,” says Izabela Leszczyna, Poland’s Minister for Health. “We must act with clarity and compassion to shield the youngest minds from harm and empower them to thrive online and beyond,” she says.

The EU’s proposals include:

Collaborating with key stakeholders such as digital platforms, educators, families and local authorities to design safer online environments

• Raising awareness among parents, caregivers and educators about the risks posed by the digital environment and the benefits of delaying early exposure to digital tools

• Promoting media and digital literacy among children and adolescents to counter disinformation and deal with online bullying

• Enhancing privacy and safety-by-design features in tech products to protect young users from being manipulated or exposed to risks that impact their well-being

• Strengthening reporting mechanisms to curb online sexual exploitation and encourage adults, children, and teenagers to report inappropriate behaviour or harmful content

97% of Gen Z report feeling mentally overwhelmed, highlighting urgent need for safer digital spaces and stronger mental health support. PHOTO: RDNE

Balancing Digital Risks and Rewards

To be clear, digital spaces can support mental health. The Council of the EU acknowledges the upsides: access to support networks, mental health information, remote therapy, learning opportunities, and community engagement.

These benefits help create social connections, especially among teens, which can strengthen their mental health and overall well-being.

But these benefits are offset by real dangers including cyberbullying, inappropriate content, excessive screen time, online gambling, and drug exposure.

The risk: a generation increasingly connected online, yet more isolated offline.

New U.S. Survey: Gen Z is Mentally Maxed Out

The Naropa University survey, conducted online by The Harris Poll in May 2025, paints a striking picture of emotional overload among Gen Z (ages 18–28).

Many Zoomers see themselves as natural helpers, often at the expense of their own well-being. They are emotionally overloaded and unsure how to find relief, even as they turn to digital platforms in search of support.

The generational stress divide is becoming harder to ignore. While more than 80% of Gen Z are on social media, it may not be able to deliver the support they need.

While 80% of Gen Z use social media, many say these platforms fail to provide the meaningful support they need. PHOTO: Mikhail Nilov

Key findings:

• 97% of Gen Z and 94% of U.S. adults say they sometimes feel mentally overwhelmed

• 68% of Gen Z say they often put others’ emotional needs before their own

• 61% don’t know where to turn when feeling emotionally overwhelmed

• More than 80% are active on social media platforms, yet many feel those platforms aren’t providing meaningful support

“The mental health issues experienced today require fresh approaches to how mental health professionals are trained,” says Charles G. Lief, President of Naropa University. “That includes recognizing and anticipating the very real risk of professional burnout experienced by therapists, teachers, first responders and others in the helping professions,” he says.

Social Media: A Band-Aid for a Broken Bone

Mental health content is everywhere online, but is it helping?

A generational divide is emerging:

• 63% of Gen Z and Millennials (ages 29–44) get mental health information from platforms like TikTok, YouTube and Instagram

• Only 18% of Boomers (ages 61–79) do the same

But much of that content is seen as surface-level at best.

“Gen Zers are emotionally intelligent and aware, but they are stressed,” says Dr. Azara Santiago-Rivera, Dean of Graduate Psychology at Naropa. “Gen Zers are open to receiving mental health services and are proactive in seeking such services, including online services. That openness has led to increased demand for services. Our findings show a generation hungry for deeper, more meaningful self-care than the superficial tips they find online,” she says.

58% of Gen Z say self-care tips found on social media are like putting a band-aid on a broken bone. This growing disillusionment highlights a deeper need for real-world support, professional guidance, and coping strategies that go beyond quick fixes.

How Gen Z Copes: Music, Doomscrolling and Touching Grass

With traditional resources feeling out of reach, Gen Z has adopted a range of coping mechanisms, both online and off.

What helps them cope, according to the survey:

• 64% listen to music

• 47% binge-watch TV

• 29% doomscroll, the highest of any generation (compared to 17% of Millennials, 6% of Gen X, and just 2% of Boomers)

• 27% turn to retail therapy

• 31% “touch grass” (spend time offline or in nature)

• 31% take tech breaks to go “off the grid”
  

“These are insightful techniques,” adds Santiago-Rivera, “that can open people up to a more formal introduction of mindfulness and other contemplative tools to break out of the mental overload which is negatively affecting anyone seeking a level of relief and healing,” she says.

Whether you're a policymaker, parent or educator, now is time to act, support safer digital spaces, invest in mental health, talk to young people, and keep the conversation going. PHOTO: Tomasz Kulesa

Non-Playable Characters in the Game of Life? A Sign of Growing Disconnection

A particularly telling data point: when asked to imagine themselves as characters in a video game...

• Only 19% of Gen Z feel their “energy levels” were full, compared to 26% of Millennials

• 8% say they feel like an NPC (non-playable character) when thinking about the state of the world, a potential indicator of rising disassociation and nihilism

Final Thoughts: Likes Aren’t Enough

While Gen Z remains the most connected generation, connection doesn’t always mean care. From Europe to the U.S., new policy moves and stark survey data are converging around one truth: Mental wellness in the digital age isn’t about more content, it’s about better systems, real tools, safer spaces and human support.

What You Can Do

Whether you’re a policymaker, parent, educator or digital platform, the moment to act is now:

• Advocate for safer online environments and responsible tech design

• Talk openly with young people about their digital experiences

• Invest in mental health education and accessible support

• Share this article to keep the conversation going
  

Mental health can’t wait, and neither should we. Let’s work together to make digital spaces part of the solution, not the problem.