There are different facts that contribute to social anxiety and “it” being a trend is not one. Teens have high expectations and pressure to succeed. Between standardized testing and a culture of achievement, today’s youth can feel pressure to succeed in ways previous generations did not. Also, we’ve seen an increase in school shootings, with resultant drills and lockdowns in schools. We’ve seen shootings in public places. There have been terrorist attacks around the world taking many lives. From just watching or reading the news, it is reasonable for anyone to feel afraid in public spaces that previously would have felt safe. Today’s children and teens are constantly connected to social media. It’s not surprising that their self-esteem and worldview becomes connected to responses to social media posts. It’s hard for them not to compare their life and social connections to what they see others posting on social media.