Gen Z wants to turn back the clock as more of the young generation yearn for days of no social media

NewsWorldAmericasGen Z wants to turn back the clock as more of the young generation yearn for days of no social mediaMore Gen Z adults say they’d rather live in the past than skip ahead to the futureGraig Graziosi in Washington, DC Friday 24 April 2026 17:35 BSTBookmarkCommentsGo to commentsBookmark popoverRemoved from bookmarksClose popover{"translations":{"comments":"Go to comments","share":"Share","copyLink":"Copy link","bookmark":"Bookmark","removeBookmark":"Remove bookmark"},"showComments":true,"showBookmark":true,"articleId":"b2964488","articleMeta":{"url":"https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/gen-z-social-media-instagram-tiktok-poll-b2964488.html","title":"More Gen Z are wanting to live in a world pre-social media, poll finds"}}CloseRelated video: Social Media On TrialThe latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekdayYour briefing on the latest headlines from across the USYour briefing on the latest headlines from across the USEmail*SIGN UPI would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice{"className":"sc-1ge0fwe-0","newsletterData":{"regSourceNewsletter":"IND_Evening_Newsletter","regTitle":"Evening Headlines","subscriptionGroup":"us_evening_headlines","subscriptionGroupId":"4326e634-422a-4447-8e1e-604a937cd3b5","type":"daily_news","pathPrefix":["/us","/news/world/americas","/news/world/americas/crime"],"title":"The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday","mobileTitle":"Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US","imageSrc":"https://static.independent.co.uk/static-assets/images/newsletters/usEveningHeadlines1_1.png","label":"I would like to receive morning headlines Monday - Friday plus breaking news alerts by email","newsletterKey":"receiveEveningHeadlinesUSNews","regSourceSection":"Americas","regSourceMethod":"NSCs"},"isClimate":false}Nearly half of Gen Z is ready to unplug and wish...