Gen-Z: Cool Or Hooked

Vartika Upadhyay

Our dependency on technology has evolved to the point where it wakes us up in the morning, keeps us company throughout the day, and reminds us to go to sleep. Digital assistants like Alexa and Google Home can schedule our meetings or even turn on the AC with just our voice. 

We can perform all our actions on one single device and control most of the things around us. The internet creates a different neighbourhood for each individual where we play different roles based on the various digital platforms. We have been using technology to such an extent that it controls us instead of us controlling it. 

We can spend hours scrolling through social media without realising that it is affecting us. Social media, in my opinion, has become an integral part of our life. It has simplified our life in a variety of ways, from dating to e-transportation to ordering food online.

Like every coin, social media also has two sides. According to a study conducted by the American Psychological Association, the number of young people and adolescents experiencing unpleasant psychological symptoms has increased dramatically. 

Jean Twenge, professor of psychology at San Diego State University, there was a significant rise in serious depression and suicidal thoughts. There were more attempted suicides after 2010 compared to the mid-2000s. This increase was by far the biggest among teenagers and young adults.

We have forgotten how to live in the moment and are instead focused on meeting our digital goals, such as taking photographs of meals before eating them to share on social media. Plastic surgery is inspired by filters and photo editing apps. Surgical treatment is viewed by teenagers as a way to fit in and appear acceptable to their classmates and peers. 

From the Kardashians to the Hadid, all the big fashion icons represent one set of body features, which creates a sense of insecurity amongst the public. Body comparison starts unhealthy eating habits that can be seen more in young people. 

We are so keen on looking in a certain way that we forget that no one posts about their insecurities but only positive aspects are kept in our social media feeds. A single photo has to get airbrushed to be put in a magazine and it is achieved after several clicks. 

Mental health issues arise from the way we consume social media in an unhealthy manner. The anxiousness we feel when our sleep schedule gets mixed up. The distressed feeling waiting for the likes and comments causes us to overthink the situation as it is form of validation. We feel a sense of desperation, agitation when we are not using our cell phones. 

We are in a denial that we are all just coping with the virtual world standards without actually acknowledging whether we are enjoying it or not. We do it to look cool and to be seen amongst others, but in reality we are just hooked to social media.