Survey: AI Becomes 2nd Most Common Emotional Support for Young Job Seekers, Surpassing Parents and Elders

104 Job Bank today released its "Swipe Generation Anxiety" report. According to the survey, 54.4% of respondents rated themselves as being in a state of high stress, while only 8.5% considered their stress levels low. The primary source of stress was "work/job hunting," accounting for over 80%, followed by "financial situation" and "self-ability and future." This reflects the younger generation's anxiety about career development and competitiveness under the influence of AI disruption, economic uncertainty, and social media comparison culture.

The survey found that social media has become a significant factor affecting the psychology of the younger generation. Respondents spend an average of 3.95 hours per day on social media platforms. Among them, 38.5% have felt inferior after seeing others' lives on social media, and 37.5% believe that the content they share online is more about managing their image than reflecting their true selves.

Furthermore, nearly 40% of respondents felt they were performing below their peers, and 48.3% had refrained from applying for desired jobs because they felt they weren't good enough. Another 27% belong to the "high anxiety, low motivation" group, feeling only anxiety when seeing the achievements of their peers, rather than positive motivation.

Cross-analysis shows that heavy users who spend more than 5 hours daily on social media are more prone to feelings of inferiority and reluctance to submit resumes compared to those who use it for less than 3 hours.

In addition to social media comparison, AI has become another source of anxiety for young job seekers. The survey shows that 32.3% of respondents are highly worried about their future workplace value being replaced by AI, leading to feelings of helplessness. Students and job seekers in science and engineering fields reported the highest levels of anxiety, followed by those in hospitality and lifestyle fields.

The survey also found that among respondents who are "very worried" about AI, a staggering 74.6% admitted to feeling lost about their future careers, with some even considering "lying flat" (giving up). This indicates that the impact of AI has extended from the technical level to psychological security and career planning.

Regarding sources of emotional support when feeling down or stressed, "friends/partners" ranked first (about 50%), while "chatting with AI" ranked second at 35.1%, higher than seeking help from parents or elders (22.4%). On the other hand, about 30% of respondents said they would handle their emotions on their own without seeking external help, meaning one in three people is in a state of emotional isolation.

Wang Jung-chun, Chief Sustainability Officer for Careers at 104 Job Bank, stated that contemporary young people face not only traditional academic and employment pressures but also the uncertainty brought by social media comparison culture and rapid technological change. Many people, even if capable, underestimate themselves due to long-term comparison, thereby losing the motivation to seize opportunities.

Wang pointed out that "Swipe Generation Anxiety" reflects not just individual psychological issues but is also related to the social environment, educational culture, and digital ecosystem. He suggested that individuals should moderately reduce mindless social media consumption habits, and that families, schools, and workplaces need to jointly build a support network, replacing labeling with understanding and companionship to help the younger generation face a rapidly changing future.

104 Job Bank conducted the "Swipe Generation Anxiety" online survey from April 1 to 29, 2025, targeting job-seeking members aged 18 to 30. A total of 1,114 valid samples were collected. At a 95% confidence level, the sampling error is plus or minus 2.94 percentage points.