Gen Z was the first generation to have unlimited access to the internet, raised in a world where any and all information is always at their fingertips. Though this constant connection has its benefits, did it do more harm than good?
The internet has long been a melting pot of creativity, allowing people to build communities around shared ideas, interests, and art. However, this also gave rise to some strange communities that focused on evoking thoughts of fear and discomfort in others. Online horror stories became quite popular around 2010, with unique characters blurring the lines between truth and fiction, contributing to a culture of fear, paranoia, and even real-world violence.
Specifically, stories like the Slender Man became quite popular, though rather disturbing. Originally, Slender Man was just a scary picture, but soon he evolved into another famous horror figure. His story revolved around an urban legend of a tall man with no face who lurks in the woods, representing the fear of the unknown and the feeling of being watched. His existence played deeply into people’s paranoia, and heightened existing anxiety.
What began as a harmless internet myth slowly took a dark turn in 2014, when two young girls, Morgan Geyser and Anissa Weier, were charged with attempted murder, after luring a friend into the woods and stabbing her. The reason? They claimed Slender Man had told them to do it.
“I actually thought he was real, because I saw him,” Weier later told investigators.
Geyser was later diagnosed with early-onset schizophrenia, a condition worsened by the anxiety and paranoia she experienced while frequently consuming online horror content.
While events this extreme are rare, Gen Z has been consistently associated with higher levels of anxiety and stress compared to previous generations. Though there is no single cause, it is worth reflecting on how the internet, and especially the media we consume, shapes our thoughts, emotions, and mental health.
In a digital age where fictional horror can feel all too real, it is more important than ever to be mindful of the stories we tell and the ones we internalize.