That's so Gen Z: One third of younger people believe they're psychic, according to survey

Published on 29/04/2026 - 11:07 GMT+2

In a world of constant uncertainty, psychic abilities have never seemed so appealing.

Fortunately, if you were born between 1997 and 2012, you might already possess such powers - or at least believe yourself to.

One third of Gen Z Americans claim to have had twice as many psychic moments as Boomers, according to a survey by Talker Research. This means their sixth senses only tingle about once or twice a month - but you can't always be on the crystal ball.

While psychic abilities can include anything from communicating with the dead (mediums) to gleaming visions from objects and places (clairvoyance), the Gen Z respondents claimed theirs refer to a strong intuition for knowing how situations will unfold.

In the survey, 33 per cent said they knew when something was "off", 28 per cent cited being able to sense dishonesty, and 26 per cent reported a gut feeling about when to walk away from a situation.

For those over the age of 29 and feeling left out, rest assured that some psychic intuitions also crossed generations. Both Boomers and Gen Z shared a sixth sense for finances, while Millennials tied on dating.

Gen X were also the likeliest generation to correctly predict outcomes, according to the survey.

Although some of you might be shaking your head and muttering, "that's not psychic ability, that's just common sense", these New Age beliefs have become increasingly prevalent since the rise of social media.

Interest has spiked in tarot cards, crystals and astrology, while buzzy theories like manifestation and ‘delulu’ have also gone viral - both centred around the idea that believing something enough will make it happen.

A 2025 study by Pew Research Center found that 30 percent of Americans consulted astrology, tarot cards or fortune tellers at least once a year, with most claiming to do this just for fun.

It coincides with growing anxieties about the state of the world. Socioeconomic instability, geopolitical turmoil, climate anxieties and a lack of mental health support mean some younger people are searching for a sense of control elsewhere.

But while psychic intuitions might provide illusions of guidance, the majority of young people still remain sceptical - or at least unsure about their validity.

Of all the survey's respondents, 35 per cent said they did not feel confident in differentiating between their instincts and anxiety.

And maybe that uncertainty isn't such a bad thing. It means anything is still possible and endless riches and world peace could be just around the corner.

But hold on, we'd better consult our crystal ball to be sure.