After years of digital overload and spiritual drought, more Gen Zers are rediscovering faith and family in their search for real happiness.
At a Glance
- Gen Z ranks 62nd in global happiness despite unprecedented digital connectivity
- A growing number of young Americans are turning to religion and family for fulfillment
- Social media use correlates with lower life satisfaction, while faith-based lifestyles trend happier
- Gen Z remains the least religious U.S. generation, but shows signs of spiritual reawakening
- Church attendance often rebounds during marriage and parenthood, signaling possible future revival
Virtual Life Leaves Gen Z Spiritually Empty
Generation Z may be the most online cohort in history, but it’s also the loneliest and most depressed. According to the 2025 World Happiness Report, Americans aged 18–29 rank just 62nd in self-reported happiness among 140 countries. Meanwhile, the Survey Center on American Life reports that Gen Z is the least religious generation on record—yet the most spiritually adrift.
Social media, long hailed as a revolutionary force for connection, is now being blamed by many Gen Zers for their chronic loneliness. “Social media in and of itself is a very negative and toxic place,” said Kevin Alexander, who credits his Christian faith for helping him navigate challenges like cerebral palsy. “It makes people very comfortable being alone,” added Ben Feinblum, noting that even in social settings, “they’re texting people who aren’t even there.”
Faith, Not Followers, Boosts Fulfillment
Despite widespread secularization, a significant number of Gen Zers are now rejecting the digital mirage and returning to timeless sources of meaning. Young adults who limit their time on social media and engage with faith communities consistently report higher levels of happiness. Pastor’s daughter Sarah-Elisabeth Ellison says growing up in a religious household taught her how to find joy and purpose beyond online approval.
Watch a report: Gen Z reveals their secrets to staying happy.
While only about 34% of Gen Zers report regular church attendance, the numbers may not tell the full story. Many young people still express spiritual hunger—just not always within traditional institutions. Some find meaning through faith-based books, influencers, or small peer groups rather than formal worship.
A Measured Revival, Not a Mass Movement
Still, claims of a widespread return to religion among Gen Z must be tempered by reality. According to Pew Research, only 45% of Gen Z identify as Christian, while 44% report no religious affiliation at all. But that doesn’t mean they’re uninterested in spirituality. The Springtide Research Institute finds many young people actively engage in personal spiritual practices like meditation, prayer, or connecting with nature—even as formal church attendance declines. The trend reflects not a rejection of faith, but a shift in how it’s practiced: less institutional, more individual.
Rebuilding Traditions—One Family at a Time
Historically, young adults have stepped away from religious practice during college and early career years, only to return as they marry and start families. That pattern may hold true for Gen Z as well. “We’re just a busy generation,” said one student in a BurntXOrange interview. “I don’t find time to go to church nowadays.” But busyness may not be the root issue.
Only 38% of Gen Z reported having daily family meals growing up, compared to 76% of baby boomers—a shift that, according to Daniel A. Cox, reflects broader breakdowns in communal life and intergenerational traditions. Yet the very emptiness of these routines may be what drives Gen Z to seek them again.
Despite decades of cultural pressure to abandon faith and family, reality is calling Gen Z back. And as tech fatigue deepens and digital idols disappoint, more young people are rediscovering that spiritual fulfillment isn’t found on a screen—but around a table, in a church, and through a belief system that predates smartphones by a few millennia.
