As we celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, we reflect on our shared good fortune. Becoming a citizen, either by birth or by choice, affords us a special kind of privilege. It’s a form of privilege unmatched in the developed world. Our country is by no means perfect, yet the freedoms, opportunities, vast natural beauty, and rugged individualism remain abundant. Even so, these advantages can feel routine if it’s all we’ve known.The United States in 2026 is the wealthiest and most advanced it’s ever been. In many measurable ways, it is safer than the America that previous generations inherited. Our level of healthcare and access to resources is unparalleled. Generation Z is inheriting unprecedented prosperity and technological convenience. So why does it seem Gen Z, generally defined as those born between 1997 and 2012, collectively love America less? Is it just one stop on the natural progression of age? Or have older people failed to give them a compelling vision of our country that’s worth believing in?
Data show that Gen Z is the most connected yet loneliest generation. This undoubtedly plays a role in whether young people see present-day America as good and their futures as hopeful. According to 2023 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a whopping 40% of high school students “reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness in the past year.” And the Cigna Group’s “Loneliness in America 2025” report shows that 67% of Generation Z consider themselves lonely. This is the highest among the four generations. Only 44% of boomers consider themselves lonely.
