Over the years, human beings have always strived to make their work much easier and their lifestyles more convenient and durable through technology. Technology is any scientific procedure of method that human beings can use to make their work much more interesting, creative and efficient. Generation Z which is the generation regiment that emanates from the mid-90s to the post-millennium period is the population that is mostly affected by technology. Although technology generally makes life much easier and convenient, it has a lot of negative effects on the generation Z who are living beyond their ages and time due to the sophistication that the internet provides. Most people from the other generations which are X and Y are becoming much more concerned about the high levels of technological addiction particularly that of the internet by generation Z. In order to stop the people of generation Z from becoming engulfed in technological and social media addiction, it is essential to establish interventions that are aimed at identifying their addictions and give specific remedies for them.
The generational divide
People from generation z have both been shaped and shaped technology as they are the generation that has had much time to interact with technology. It is apparent that people from generation Z form the basis of the young people whose lives rely so much on technology and the use of social media. Unlike with the other previous social media forums like Facebook and twitter, people from generation z prefer a much more interpersonal form of communication such as snap chats and wats up (Adler 21). Technology has resulted in a generational divide which has changed the previous outlook and definitions of the different generations. Technological trends have immensely altered the elements used to define and categorize the generations which are currently being divided on the basis of their social media platforms. The changes and gaps which form the generational divide are becoming immense and pronounced and hence making it much more difficult to categorize people's generations based on their years of birth.
The members of the generation z are, therefore, influencers in the digital world in the sense that they have the ability to exist and fit in an almost digital world more than any other generation. As a result, unlike the other generations that were unable to attain a celebrity status, generation z has broken the barriers that prevented them from becoming celebrities (Demir 22). You-tube, snap chat, and Instagram have provided convenient forums that could elevate anyone to a celebrity status. The generation z has differentiated themselves from the new millennials through the use of creativity in the social media. The creativity is also a way of enhancing social interaction and development as evidenced by the impending virtual reality "wave" that is threatening to take over the social media.
How technology and the social media negatively affect generation z
With the rapid increase in the use of technology and the social media among generation z, there are various negative effects that emerge. Some negative effects include health effects, social problems, and privacy problems. For most people of the generation z, computers and phones offer the most widely used means of communication. Staring into the dimly lit screens of the phones and computers often affects the eyes in the long run as the screens also produce some radiations that damage the eyes (Seemiller 61). Since the brains of most of the people belonging to the generation z are not fully developed, they often fall prey to psychotropic medications such as bipolar disorders, depression, and anxiety which are increasingly becoming common. People belonging to the generation z often fail to interact physically with other people in the society and hence end up keeping to themselves and feeling dejected.
The members of the generation z also fall victims of security and privacy issues which is currently a menace all over the world. Individuals and corporations have currently developed strong soft wares and tools that can track personal information through a person's IP address. Phones and computers have IP addresses which makes them vulnerable and easy prey for internet predators and hackers who often exploit them for money. Additionally, there have been several incidences of private information exposure which has often violated both personal and social rights of the users. Hackers sometimes send malware that often break into important and sensitive dockets such as bank accounts and hence extort people financially (Seemiller 60). Most people from the generation z are greatly motivated by such behavior which is currently trending through the use of the social media.
Although technology has presented itself as a powerful transformative tool, there has been an increase in the misuse and overuse of technology especially among people from the generation z. Games have been programmed to become as realistic as possible and hence issues like violence and prostitution are directly projected for underdeveloped minds. As a result, Boluk (112) claims that children who play games frequently are reporting to adopt violent or antisocial behavior. The American society is witness to the effects of the overuse of technology as there is currently an abnormal rise in the number of gun violence and mass shooting in within America's school setups. Psychologically the constant exposure to violence and blood often reduces empathy and the regard for the human life especially among young people who have not acquired the ideals and values that shape their lives. In addition, the games further make the participants adopt a much more antisocial behavior despite the participants being in a position to communicate and interact. People from the generation z are reported to spend much more time playing games compared to the people from the other generations and thereby end up having a poor concentration spun.
Solving the problem of addiction
It is essential to establish an intervention with a trained medical practitioner who can help the affected people identify their specific type of technological addiction and give a way forward. Just like in the other form of addictions such as alcohol and drug addictions, the psychiatrist will prescribe a well-thought plan to the affected person which will be in line with the level of addiction and personality trait. One way of assisting technological addicts to reduce their over-reliance on technology through initiating activities that do not include the use of technology. Activities such as hiking, having open conversations without the use of their phones and participating in physical exercises that engage the mind will assist in taking the minds of the addicts from the overuse of technology (Hello Gen Z: Engaging the Generation of Post-Millennials 22). B giving the members of the generation z an alternative fun activity that does not include the use of technology, their minds will slowly et detached from the over-reliance in technology and instead part take in other activities such as the interaction with nature which will equally help boost their memories and self-worth.
Although the problem of internet and social media addiction among the people from generation z is still a new element that has not been deeply researched, trial and error provide potential evidence and remedies. It might be difficult for the people of generation z who are the victims of addiction to break out of it on their own and hence a different person like a parent or an elder sibling might come in handy. To help the people from the generation z to control or even regulate their frequency of the internet usage instructors or parents should start tackling the issue at the grass root level. Parents need to cultivate a culture of self-reliance and among their children so as to boost their mental abilities and give them alternate problem-solving techniques. According to Freitas (71), parents should encourage their children to read books, have conversations without their phones and even device different techniques to study and entertain themselves. The process of breaking the technological addiction is often gradual and slow to the user who has been using technology since they were born.
Generation z is the trendsetter in terms of technology and communication patterns that are rapidly changing. Since the people belonging to the generation z category spend so much time using technology, they are much more technologically advanced and creative. Online researchers have given substantial evidence proving that people from the generation z are much more equipped and suitable to fit the current employment structures as compared to the people from the other generations. Creativity has since increased among the people of generation z who are constantly working to ensure that they device new communication patterns (Seemiller 61). If properly guided and motivated, the cohorts of generation z have a great potential to transform the current interaction patterns to virtual where everyone will be participating in. Generation z, therefore, presents a leeway to the next big leap into a more advanced technological society.
Although people from the generation z are much more polished and knowledgeable in the current trends in technology, they are being overwhelmed by the same technological advancement. The over-dependence of the internet and the social media has made the followers of generation z slaves to the strong influence of the internet and technology. The over-reliance on technology to solve or address the daily needs such as communication and thinking has made the people of this generation antisocial in addition to resulting in psychological effects such as depression. Online crime rates such as cyberbullying have also been on the rise due to the quickly evolving technology that is unchecked among the people of generation z. Some possible remedies to address this issue include seeking guidance from trained professionals such as psychiatrists, seeking assistance from family and friends as well as the individual initiative to reduce the usage of the internet and technological devices. However, the people from the generation z are also the future of the current technological trends and hence should be guided and given adequate facilities to enable them to improve and restructure the current technology to a better one.
Works cited
Adler, Alfred. Social Interest: A Challenge to Mankind. Mansfield Centre, Conn: Martino Pub, 2011.
Boluk, Stephanie, and Wylie Lenz. Generation Zombie: Essays on the Living Dead in Modern Culture. Jefferson, N.C: McFarland. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland 2011.
Demir, Hilmi. Luciano Florida’s Philosophy of Technology: Critical Reflections. Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands, 2012.
Freitas, Donna. The Happiness Effect: How Social Media Is Driving a Generation to Appear Perfect at Any Cost.
New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2017.
Hello Gen Z: Engaging the Generation of Post-Millennials. West Ryde, N.S.W.: Hello Clarity, 2017.
Seemiller, Corey, and Meghan Grace. Generation Z Goes to College.San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass. 2016.
