They spend hours hunched over computers and mobile phones, and now it appears young people are paying a painful price for their social media addiction.
A survey found that Generation Z takes more days off for back problems than their grandparents.
About 24 percent of people ages 16 to 26 have called in sick with back and neck pain in the past 12 months, compared to just 14 percent of Baby Boomers (people age 59 and older), 18 percent of Millennials (ages 27 to 26). 42) and 12 percent of Generation X (ages 43 to 58).
Fransen said there was a correlation with being the first true generation of tech natives.
About 24 percent of people ages 16 to 26 have called in sick with back and neck pain in the past 12 months (file shows scoliosis in one patient, right)
Victoria Fransen, co-founder of technology company Alvica Medical, which carried out the survey of 2,000 people, said it was “alarming” to see so many young people struggling with back and neck pain.
He added: “They are the hardest hit when it comes to doing their jobs and there is certainly a correlation between this and them being the first true generation of digital natives.”
Overall, 63 percent said they had experienced back and neck pain in the past 12 months.