Spending weekends alone in their PJs instead out going out to have fun: study

Feckless youth.
America’s youngest adults are spending Friday and Saturday nights on the couch — not because they’re antisocial, but because they’re flat broke, burned out and just plain lonely.
A new Harris Poll survey paints a surprisingly bleak picture of Gen Z’s social life, revealing a generation of prime-of-their-lives 20-somethings who desperately want real-world friendships but often can’t afford the price of going out, and lack human-to-human skills.
The numbers are striking.
More than half of Gen Z adults (51%) say they feel lonely on a typical weekend — the highest rate of any generation and a staggering 37 percentage points higher than 62-to-80-year-old Baby Boomers.
Nearly half (49%) admit they don’t have enough friends to spend time with in person, while 65% say they now experience their social lives more through their phones than face-to-face.
“I want more spontaneous moments in my life to meet new people or make more friends,” one respondent admitted.
Instead of bars and parties, staying home has become the new normal. Nearly three-quarters (74%) say they spend at least half of their weekends lazing, while 73% say staying in has become their default plan.
They don’t party hard like Gen Xers did.
Nearly nine in 10 (88%) actively avoid at least one classic nightlife environment, including loud crowded venues, expensive nights out or alcohol-centered gatherings. Almost three-quarters (73%) wish there were more social spaces where drinking wasn’t the main attraction.
They’re looking for something calmer, cheaper and more meaningful.
Nearly eight in 10 (79%) want more affordable ways to spend time with others, while 76% prefer quieter, less overwhelming environments. More than half (54%) would rather socialize during the day than late at night.
Wellness is also replacing nightlife. Sixty-five percent say they feel more socially connected in fitness classes, wellness activities and similar settings than they do in bars or clubs.
One of the biggest reasons Gen Z stays home is financial, while the other half is for health purposes.
Almost half (49%) say they stay in to save money, while 47% say they need the weekend to recharge physically and mentally after a stressful week.
For many, nights out have become a luxury they simply can’t justify.
More than two-thirds (68%) say going out isn’t worth the damage it does to their wallet, while 62% admit they avoid making weekend plans altogether because they don’t want to regret spending the money afterward.
The financial squeeze is especially severe for renters and women. Among Gen Z renters, 42% say they don’t go out because they simply can’t afford “fun.” For women, the figure is 41%.
“Going out these days isn’t worth the damage it does to my wallet,” said one survey respondent, while another admitted: “I avoid making weekend plans because I don’t want to feel financial regret afterward.”
Yet the survey suggests this isn’t a generation rejecting friendship.
In fact, 60% say they would rather spend time with friends in person than online, while 62% truly wish their online friendships would turn into real-life meetups.
Even more telling, 71% say they feel they’re missing out on the kinds of in-person experiences older generations enjoyed when they were their age.
Lonely Zoomers admit they envy Millennials, Gen Xers and Boomers — who learned to negotiate real-life relationships, social skills Zoomers were never required to master in the digital age.
Despite the gloomy statistics, the report offers a note of optimism.
An overwhelming 85% say they’ve already found creative ways to socialize on a budget, from hosting friends at home to attending free community events and using discounts to stretch every dollar.
The message from America’s youngest adults is simple: they still want to connect. They just need a social life they can actually afford.