Britain's 16- to 24-year-olds, the so-called Facebook generation, are lonelier than any other age group, even pensioners.
One in three said they were bored with their lives, compared to just eight percent of pensioners, and 28 percent complained that loneliness was making them unhappy.
More than a quarter revealed they turned to alcohol for comfort, and half admitted to using junk food as an emotional crutch, reports the Daily Mail.
The depressing picture of life for young people in Britain emerged from a survey into national happiness levels, conducted for BBC Radio 3.
Asked what made them unhappy, 70 percent of the Facebook generation said finances topped their list of concerns.
More than a third were worried about holding down a job, compared to a quarter of middle-aged respondents.
One in three said they were tormented by family or relationship problems, and they were also the age group that were most likely to struggle over their social status.
Overall, money was the biggest cause of unhappiness across all age groups, above work, relationships and loneliness.
But while older age groups shared the Facebook generation's finance fears, they were more fulfilled in other areas of their lives.
Almost a third of the youngest generation reported they had relationship problems, which dropped to just eight percent among 55 to 64-year-olds.
Behavioural psychologist Jo Hemmings said: "Real friendships are made through shared experiences and bonds. Some social networking "friends" are barely even acquaintances, without any real meaning or intimacy."