Mental Health Matters.
Society has witnessed an unprecedented surge in technological advancements that have reshaped the way we live, communicate, and interact. With these rapid changes, it is extremely important to be aware of the effects that this technology apocalypse has on the growing generations after us. The prevalence of social media and digital communication platforms has transformed the way younger generations interact and communicate. The majority (97%) of Gen Z consumers say they own a smartphone. With this increasing percentage also comes increasing mental health struggles. It is our social responsibility to look out for the younger generations as they grow up surrounded by technology, with no way to avoid it. Mental health matters.
Digital natives are the newest generations, and the largest growing generation. Digital natives grew up surrounded by technology, not knowing a world without it, forced into a world of constant digital immersion. They did not choose to grow up in this world, however are greatly affected by technology effects and consequences.
Digital natives are young people who grew up surrounded by and using computers, cell phones and other tools of the digital age. Because of this they think and process information fundamentally differently from their predecessors. Those that did not grow up surrounding technology are “digital immigrants.”
Digital natives are facing a significant mental health crisis, with some of the highest levels of depression, anxiety and other health conditions reported. One of the defining aspects influencing their mental health is the omnipresence of technology. While technology has undeniably revolutionized communication, education, and access to information, its constant presence also brings forth adverse effects. Gen Z is the first generation to grow up entirely in the digital age, where social media platforms dominate interactions and shape self-perception.
Technology can also be incredibly frustrating. Other generations often assume digital natives have natural instincts about how to use or fix computers and other digital products, however having this assumption can be extremely harmful to digital natives mental health if they are constantly trying to live up to this technological expectation.
“42% of GEN Z Struggle with their mental health.”
Social media is everywhere. Even if digital natives don’t have social media profiles, the implications of its culture have taken over the world. Social media has been proven to cause increased negative feelings, such as fear of missing out, poor body image, and problems of self-comparison. Older generations’ engagement with these platforms is on par with Gen Zers. However in most surveyed countries, a higher share of Gen Zers report poor mental, social, and spiritual health compared with other generations. They have been surrounded by social media from a young age with no way to escape it.
“Today’s students are no longer the people our educational system was designed to teach”
- Marc Prensky
The education system was created in 1642 and has relatively remained the same since then. However, the technology boom of the early 2000s created a “digital divide” within the traditional system, and digital natives are demanding more collaborative technology and adaptive changes within classrooms. This digital divide can either make students feel like technology has taken over their education with no way to escape the long screen times, or begging for more adaptive tech within the classroom. With too much technology in homework and classes, students are complaining of over 10 hours of screen time a day, with no way to escape it. Many students reported feeling groggy and brain dead after staring at their computers for too long. It is important for educators and teachers to keep students' mental health in mind, assigning less homework or tech-less assignments. While technology presents incredible opportunities for learning, the excessive screen time demanded by educational tasks has led to complaints of fatigue and mental exhaustion among students.
The COVID-19 pandemic has further exacerbated these issues, with 26% of those diagnosed with a mental health condition being diagnosed during the pandemic. The pandemic sent millions of children home, forcing their in-person class time to Zoom. For almost two years students were on their computer for four to six hours for class time, and then sent to do digital homework. This prolonged exposure to screens not only set many children back in their education but also had a detrimental impact on their mental health.
“I feel like I can’t get away from technology. I have over five hours of homework a day, looking at my screen. It makes me feel tired and unmotivated.”
- Sarah Pyrce, Journalism Major at Northeastern University.
It is our collective social responsibility to prioritize the mental health of younger generations and work towards creating a balanced and supportive digital environment for their well-being.
This digital era has brought immense connectivity but has also cast a shadow on mental health, evident in the rising rates of depression, anxiety, and other health conditions among Gen Z. Educators and policymakers must prioritize mental health by re-evaluating educational systems, finding ways to integrate technology more mindfully, and creating spaces that encourage healthy tech use.
Take care of yourself. Know when to step back. Your mental health matters.
NOW CLOSE YOUR COMPUTER AND GO OUTSIDE!