Gen Z teen girls are 4 years older because of Covid

More than four years since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, discussions about its consequences continue, not so much related to the infection itself but to the psychological effects of the lockdown on young people. A concern shared by many: the idea of staying indoors, unable to experience crucial years of growth and socialization with peers, could not have been healthy for teenagers. According to a recent scientific study by the University of Washington, published in the academic journal PNAS, the 2020 lockdown caused premature aging in the brains of adolescents. Specifically, according to the study, girls were the most affected, showing aging equivalent to nearly 4.2 years, while for boys, the average aging was 1.4 years. The causes are multiple: from the lack of social interactions to constant anxiety, to the traumatic "fight or flight" response in such an extraordinary context.

The study was conducted by comparing MRI scans taken at three specific times: in 2018 (before the pandemic), in 2021 (during the lockdown), and in 2022 (after the lockdown). Researchers observed a significant thinning of the cerebral cortex in adolescents, a feature that, in behavioral science, is one of the main indicators of mental maturation. The most surprising discovery was that this thinning was not equal between the sexes: in fact, the cortex of girls was three times thinner compared to their male peers. Patricia K. Kuhl, one of the study's authors, explained that «a girl who participated in the study at age 11 and returned for further tests at age 14 showed a brain comparable to that of an 18-year-old». Kuhl hypothesized that this gender difference could be due to the fact that girls tend to rely more on interpersonal relationships to cope with difficulties and growth during adolescence.

Researchers have emphasized that it is still unclear whether these changes in adolescent brains are permanent or whether, with a return to normal social life, brain development will resume its usual pace. If brain aging does not slow down, a generational gap could emerge, and the phenomenon of young influencers from Gen Alpha and 12-year-olds already passionate about skincare and makeup becomes almost understandable. Perhaps it's not about wanting to grow up quickly but rather accelerated growth caused by Covid-19, which forced many pre-adolescent girls to mature faster. Of course, the constant media bombardment of a society obsessed with aesthetics and botox only worsens teenagers' perception that they are no longer suited for typical activities of their age. But TikTok and its “misguiding content” are not entirely to blame. Unfortunately, the cusp between Gen Z and Gen Alpha found themselves spending their middle school years at home during a historical moment that will be forever remembered.