“I Read It, But Did It Change Me?” How Mental Well-being and Tech Savviness Shape Digital Behavior in Millennials and Gen Z

It started with a tap.

Lina, 29, scrolled through a nutrition post on her phone—something about sugar in smoothies. The information seemed neutral, maybe even helpful. But she kept scrolling. A month later, after engaging in a digital program in augmented reality (AR), Lina stopped mid-scroll. The content now felt more relevant, more persuasive. Why? What changed?

That moment—common among Millennials and Gen Z—became the core curiosity behind our randomized controlled trial: How do mental well-being and technology readiness shape how younger generations engage with digital content over time?

The Study We recruited 142 smartphone-savvy Millennials and Gen Z adults, ages 21–44, from platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and WhatsApp. Each was randomly assigned to one of two experiences:

• A non-AR (standard digital content) group

• An AR group that experienced messages in augmented reality

  
  

Participants completed surveys on their mental well-being (WHO-5) and technology adoption (TAPI), then engaged with digital nutrition content over 28 days. Later, they chose actions based on the transtheoretical model of behavior change and rated the persuasiveness of different messages.

What We Discovered

By Day 1, there was no difference. Mental well-being and tech comfort did not shape how

participants reacted to the content.

But by Day 28, everything changed.

• Those with higher tech adoption scores responded more to neutral and correct messages.

• Mental well-being also played a role—just not at first. It took time and exposure for

  participants to engage differently.

• Oddly enough, corrected messages—those aimed at fixing misinformation—had no

  significant effect, regardless of well-being or tech savviness.

And here is a twist:

More than 80% of participants never researched the information, even after a month... So much for digital curiosity?

Why This Matters

In a world flooded with wellness advice, nutrition reels, and AR filters, it is not just what those matters—but the who, when, and how. Our study reveals that behavior change in digital spaces is slow-burn—shaped by mental wellness, comfort with technology, and thoughtful message design. Content may be ignored at first—but with time and the right context, it can start to stick.

Limitations to Keep in Mind

• We used a convenience sample from social media.

• Most participants were from Jordan, Syria, and the U.S., which may affect generalizability.

• Responses were self-reported, which can introduce bias.

Final Takeaway

Digital behavior is not just about content; it is about readiness.

Mental well-being and technology adoption don’t change behavior overnight—but given time, they shape how Millennials and Gen Z respond, engage, and act in digital spaces.

This research was presented at the Society for Digital Mental Health Annual Meeting in June

2025, contributing to global conversations on the future of mental health, tech, and behavioral change in digital environments.

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