One in four Gen Zers have been sick with back and neck pain in the past 12 months, compared to just 14% of Baby Boomers.

Hours are spent hunched over computers and mobile phones, and now it seems young people are paying a painful price for their addiction to social media.

A survey found that Generation Z take more sick days off than their grandparents.

About 24% of people aged 16-26 have been ill with back and neck pain in the past 12 months, compared to just 14% of baby boomers, those aged 59 and over , 18% of Millennials (aged 27 to 27). 42) and 12 percent of Generation X (aged 43 to 58).

Ms Fransen said there was a correlation with being the first true generation of tech natives

About 24 percent of 16- to 26-year-olds have called in sick with back and neck pain in the past 12 months (file shows scoliosis in patient, right)

Victoria Fransen, co-founder of technology company Alvica Medical which carried out the survey of 2,000 people, said it was “alarming” to see so many young people struggling with back and neck pain.

He added: “They’re the most impacted when it comes to doing their jobs, and there’s certainly a correlation between that and being the first real generation of digital natives.”

Overall, 63 percent said they had experienced back and neck pain in the past 12 months.