The double-edged sword of Gen Z's therapy speak
Gen Z has fully embraced being in their feelings. 'Therapy speak' is ingrained into young adults' everyday vernacular, especially in online spaces. While many health professionals argue destigmatization can lead to positive health benefits, there's also concern that the high cost of in-person therapy sessions means many young people rely solely on digital resources.
Mental health content on TikTok has surged in recent years, but over 83% of related advice on the platform is misleading, which could exacerbate cyberchondria. Solutions like BetterHelp have also attracted controversy — the US Federal Trade Commission found that the telehealth provider sold patients' sensitive health information to companies like Facebook, Snapchat and Pinterest.
Additionally, online discourse about mental health trivializes experiences that can be truly debilitating and can normalize issues that shouldn't be (case in point: some social media users made light of psychiatric hospitals). While Gen Z now has a vocabulary for describing how and what they're feeling, pop-psychology shortcuts can lead to false and harmful self-diagnoses and thwart genuine, deeper conversations.
The conclusion? More words don’t always lead to better, clearer and more honest dialogue. Whether your brand wants to provide mental support or get Gen Z talking among themselves, consider these three trends:
📣 COMMON TONGUE: Use lingo that inspires empathy rather than superiority and utilize platforms that are already Gen Z native. Despite the generation being chronically online, some conversations are best left face-to-face.
🤖 OPTI-BOTS: Consider how you might provide e-relief to those who can't always discuss their concerns with friends. If all else fails, they could also turn to their future self for advice.
✅ FACTUAL HEALING: Help discern medical fact from fiction and ensure your own activations are trustworthy in terms of advice and privacy, too. Get your next initiative reviewed by teens (and health professionals!) and guarantee data security, especially when it comes to sensitive topics.
