Enhanced screen time, pollution, unlimited vaping, alcohol, and stress are leading to faster ageing of GenZers compared with their millennial precursors.
Recently, social media platforms have been buzzing with claims that Gen Z is ageing like milk.
Gen Z themselves are pointing out that they are looking much more mature for their age.
This entire discussion began and went viral on social media when Jordan Howlett, an influencer with more than 7 million followers on Instagram and a GenZer himself, shared his own story.
Jordan, a guy with a dense beard, thick glasses and grey hair, revealed in the video that when he’s with his mom in public, some people think he’s her older brother.
He also said when he tells people he’s going to hang out with his family, they assume he’s talking about his kids (he doesn’t have any), not his parents.
The video not only went viral with more than 42 million views, but it also started the debate about Gen Z ageing faster than others (btw, no one in the comments either believed that he was 26, including Dwayne himself).
The physical signs of ageing include shifts like hormonal changes, alterations in sensory skills, decreased bone and muscle strength, or an increased risk of organ malfunction and medical conditions.
Now, even though there is no scientific study or research to prove that Gen Z is ageing faster, many experts are saying Gen Z is overdoing it when it comes to skincare. Thanks to influencers who promote items on social media, Gen Z is too aware of everything, including skincare.
Thier information is often half-filled as they get it from social media. Hence, when you use too many products that one might not even need, and this can lead to skin problems, causing one to look older than actual.
Others say, it is due to increased digital space-time and associated indiscipline that is leading to faster ageing.
Social media can create pressure on an individual. Social media can contribute to issues concerning self, self-esteem, self-worth, and their entire belief system.
Gen Z is working out and going all-out body-building, which has extensive health benefits, but due to poor guidance, they are also indulging in “steroids and hormones which have major negative health impacts in the long run”.
A doctor said, children today are smoking and vaping at an early age, and also doing recreational drugs. Binge-drinking is also on the rise, along with eating unhealthy junk food. All this leads to obesity and metabolic syndrome, which leads to a plethora of health problems and early ageing.
She said she sees many very young patients suffering from polycystic ovary disease (PCOD) and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which is nothing more than a disease that shows hormonal imbalance (another sign of early ageing).
Poor lifestyle reflects on a person’s face as well, leading to wrinkles, hair loss, and pigmentation.
Who doesn’t love a good ramen, or a huge piece of cheesecake? But it looks like Gen Z’s craving for food, especially processed or unhealthy food, is causing a lot of trouble for them.
Not only this, but thanks to social media, trends like rat-snacking are also promoting an unhealthy lifestyle and bad eating habits.
Compared to millennials, Gen Z is eating much more processed food from outside.”
Millennials are still reaping the benefits of a simpler childhood with home-cooked food.
A 2020 APA’s Stress survey in America showed that Gen Z is the most stressed generation, scoring an average stress level of 6.1 on a scale of 1-10.
This high level of stress can also show an impact on Gen Z in the form of ageing.
She further adds that other factors like a better diet and lifestyle choices have caused them to look much younger than their age.
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