Stay out of the loop—taking a break from digital noise is good for your mental and physical health.
As the world seemingly waited with bated breath to see how Gen Z’s screen use would affect their psyche, the results are now in. The screen-based childhood has profoundly changed how Gen Z interacts with their peers, views themselves, and connects with the world. On average, 60 per cent of Gen Z adults say that social media has a negative impact, while still averaging upwards of seven hours per day on their phones.
With so many university students tethered to the internet for information on their courses, assignment drop boxes, and extracurricular opportunities, such as clubs and events, the concept of going off the grid seems impossible. Despite the claim that the internet makes education easier, always being tethered to the internet is making learning less efficient. 97 per cent of post-secondary students use their phones for non-educational purposes during lectures.
According to the Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey, the percentage of Ontario students who rate their mental health as fair and poor is the highest it’s been since the study’s genesis, rising by 27 per cent since 2007.
Core aspects of being online are contributing to the rapid decline in Gen Z’s mental health. Asynchronous social activity, public social media presences, and digital photo editing software all negatively impact the health of developing minds.
Being constantly available to all your friends at the sound of a phone buzz negates the need to interact with others in person. Most teens prefer online communication over meeting with friends in person, contributing to the decline in Gen Z’s average mental health.
Most electronic devices have easy access to social media and texting, which means that most young people bring accessible communication devices wherever they go.
The problem with this generation’s screen use is that it’s paradoxical. Cell phones are making Gen Z anxious and depressed but leaving them means leaving the social sphere they’ve built online. The cycle feels endless and disheartening.
It’s all too common for members of Gen Z to check their phone mid-conversation. The devices which were meant to keep Gen Z better connected with others are taking away from their real-life relationships. From 2010 to 2019, Gen Z reported record lows for dating and record highs for friendlessness and depression.
The solution is evident. A return to a world that is primarily focused on being present, slower paced, and more intentional with our relationships. Shifting away from sharing your time with your loved ones and their devices. Allowing yourself to be present and thoughtful creates a meaningful bond, especially as humans thrive on social interactions.
Despite our intentions, social media is ruining this generation’s ability to be social. We shouldn’t give time to devices that have been proven to ruin our mental health and fuel isolation. The answer is simple—leave your phone at home more often and live in the present.
Claire is a third-year English literature student and The Journal’s Assistant Photo Editor
Tags
Cell phones, gen z, Mental health, Screen time
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