32 unread messages. Joy put down the phone, frustrated. How would Joy get through the next few days? He had his O/L stress, family pressure, and everyone was texting him but no one really understood him. Looking for answers, or distraction, Joy picked up the phone and started watching videos. One video caught Joy’s eye. A remarkable individual, a young Christian pastor on TikTok, talking about something religious or spiritual – about finding peace in Jesus when life feels too noisy. Joy couldn’t quite make it out at first, but Joy was interested and found something impressive, maybe admirable, about the person. So, Joy continued watching and he felt something different. The pastor was not preaching in a boring way, he was talking like a Gen Z friend, about anxiety, loneliness and how God can give a fresh start.
After that Joy thought he started his life new. He started watching more and more videos daily, he was always on his phone learning about life, motivation, faith. But he didn’t actually live it. He was connected to the phone, listening to unknown persons ideas every day, but no connection with his family and friends. At dinner he was on his phone, his mother was talking but he ignored. His friends stopped calling him.
Years passed fast. Joy didn’t change, he just got lost in the phone. Finally one day he looked at himself, he is old now. Time for marriage and life passed. He got overweight because no playing, no going out, just scrolling. No real friends, no family close. Finally he got depression. He had 1000 videos saved but no one to talk to. This is what I feel about Gen Z now, we watch life on phone but we forget to actually live it.
This story was submitted as part of the King’s Study Phase of the Gen Z Role Models Project. Added October 2026.
“he felt something different” (S235) © 2026 by The Gen Z Role Models Project is licensed under CC BY 4.0
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