Gen Z to Boomers: Why Social Media Affects Us So Differently with Dr. Zeynep Özkök and Dr. Jonathan Rosborough

The latest edition of the World Happiness Report focuses on the effects of social media on well-being. In this episode of Live Happy Now, host Paula Felps sits down with Dr. Zeynep Özkök and Dr. Jonathan Rosborough, co-authors of one of the report’s chapters, to unpack their research on internet use, trust, social connections, and emotional well‑being. They reveal why social media affects Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, and Boomers in dramatically different ways, and how online environments are reshaping foundational elements of happiness such as trust, safety, and real‑world social ties. In this episode, you'll learn: Why the impact of social media on well‑being varies sharply across generations. How Internet use is linked to declining trust, social comparison, and reduced in‑person connection. What researchers believe this means for the future — especially for Gen Z and the emerging Generation Alpha.