A Digital World

Within the world of pixels and screens, where connections are made with a click and a like, and emotions are conveyed through emojis, we find ourselves in an ironic situation. This is the time of texting, social media, as well as other platforms designed to bring people closer, yet somehow, generation Z is more isolated than any generation before us (which is a little ironic because im writing this for a social media site). While everyone in the modern day suffers from an addiction to our cellphones and other devices the affects are most noticeable in Generation Z, people born between 1997 and 2012, This is because we have grown up in the digital age, where socializing is dependent on our phones and ability to respond quick enough. This reliance on our phones has led to an increase in anxiety and inability to communicate effectively with a lack of social awareness and ability to comprehend nonverbal signs, which can be awkward. Sometimes you just need to step back from your phone and interact with your surroundings!

I personally feel like my social life is very centered around my phone because I have grown up with this being the most convenient and common way to communicate with other people born in Gen Z. I think that having my phone has affected the ability for me to be present in face-to-face interactions when hanging out with my friends in person, this is true with other people in this digital age proven by MIT professor Sherry Turkle in her book Reclaiming Conversations. This is because when my phone is nearby, I always check it and scroll through it or use it to talk about different topics.  

And I know that many times people will not go out because they will be caught up scrolling through their phones. And I know that this has happened to everyone so don't pretend it hasn't. Texting and sending friends stuff on their phones is very convenient for people in Gen Z and many times the convivence of this eliminates the need or want to hang out and see each other face to face. This was enhanced by Covid-19 and the fact that most members of Gen Z were the age that would typically go out and see friends a lot, but due to this pandemic they were forced to stay inside and communicate only via phone leading to this being seen as the norm as discussed by Jori Hamilton in her blog How The Coronavirus is Impacting Generation Z | Voices of Youth 

As mentioned before our face-to-face interactions are plagued by the underlying anxiety that is amplified by the constant buzzing of our devices, each notification distracting from what should be a heartfelt conversation. Studys from Virginia Tech in 2014 show that people who have conversations with a mobile device feel a greater amount of empathy for the other person, compared to conversations with a mobile device present.  Every time a person chooses to communicate through text message, email or social media rather than face-to-face, many of the neurological keys to feeling empathy are missing from the exchange. Also, the lack of body language, eye contact, and other nonverbal conversation ques leads to a sense of detachment and emotional indifference, leading to constant misunderstanding. The constant multitasking encouraged by technology can affect the ability of gen Z to fully engage and empathize with others as stated by eLearning Industry “Constant multitasking hinders Gen Z's ability to focus and engage with individual tasks despite their reputation for handling multiple tasks (Yousey 2023)”. This detachment caused by the digital world can spiral into broader social consequences, impacting not only personal relationships but also professional environments and community engagement. The diminished capacity for empathy and understanding in communication could lead to an increase in conflict, a decrease in collaborative efforts, and a general sense of isolation among individuals. , 

 the reliance on digital communication tools can impact professional development and career progression. In the workplace, effective communication, teamwork, and leadership are often rooted in the ability to connect with others on a personal level, negotiate in real-time, and empathize with colleagues and clients. The nuances of in-person communication, such as tone of voice, body language, and immediate feedback, are crucial for building trust and rapport. As Gen Z enters the workforce, their comfort and proficiency with digital tools can be an asset, but without the ability to engage effectively in person, they may find themselves at a disadvantage in building professional relationships and advancing in their careers. 

The reliance on smartphones for interactions by Gen Z leads to a learning curve with the development of necessary social skills for interacting with people in person.  This can be seen with Gen Z’s difficulty in developing and understanding critical nonverbal communication skills, discussed by Gabriela Riciardi with Quartz," Younger workers also need help with nonverbal cues—the kind that help you keep eye contact, express through gestures, and read a room.”(Ricardi 2023), proving the curve with Gen Zs skills social skills in the workplace.  

The comfort and control provided when communicating through their phones and technologies can become a crutch for people leading to antisocial tendencies. This leads to an avoidance of in-person interactions. This furthers the severity of gen zs weakened social skills. This avoidance and subsequent weakening of social skills can have cascading effects on mental health and well-being. Without the nuanced understanding and practice of nonverbal cues and face-to-face interactions, Gen Z may find themselves feeling more anxious and less confident in social situations. This anxiety and lack of confidence can lead to a cycle of avoidance, where the comfort of digital interactions is preferred, further limiting opportunities to develop essential interpersonal skills. 

The personalized nature of digital content on smartphones can lead to the creation of echo chambers, where individuals are exposed primarily to perspectives like their own. This reduces the opportunities for gen z to engage with diverse viewpoints leading to a more hostile approach when confronted with someone who has a different viewpoint than them. This can lead to increased polarization and causes constructive dialogue with those who have opposing views to be difficult.  

It creates a feedback loop where Gen Z individuals may find their perspectives increasingly insular and resistant to external influences. The effects of these echo chambers are discussed in the National Library of Medicine as follows, “Echo chamber can act as a mechanism to reinforce an existing opinion within a group and, as a result, move the entire group toward more extreme positions. (Cinelli 2021)“. This digital bubble can diminish critical thinking skills and the ability to empathize with others, as there is less exposure to the challenges and nuances of differing viewpoints.