Camera-confident but awkward in real life: Generation Z feel lonely and disconnected
- 5 years ago
대면 소통이 어색한 Z세대, 연결성의 역설
Those born in the mid-90s or later,... or Generation Z,... are the first to have grown up with the internet and smartphones even as children.
The concern has been that they would grow up glued to technology and social media... to the detriment of important areas of their lives.
Oh Soo-young takes a closer look at Korea's young adults.
Here's a generation that doesn't quite understand how to go offline.
Twelve-year-old Amy Jeon is part of the digital savvy demographic dubbed Generation Z,... born between the mid-1990s to the late noughties.
Swiping seamlessly through multiple devices and up to 5 social media platforms,... she does her homework, makes friends with people halfway across the world,... and uploads YouTube videos on gaming.
But once you remove the screen? It could get awkward.
"In real life, I'm not able to show all of my emotions because it gets a little embarassing at times, but online or on social media they would not be able to see me, so I'm able to be more comfortable."
"Due to their high-tech and hyper-connected upbringing,... Generation Z is expected to have a different mentality from previous generations, with a new set of values and behaviors."
Called digital natives,... Generation Z are fast learners powered by search engines. They're multitaskers as well as natural content creators, armed with video-editing and social media tools.
"They're also keen contributors. They have grown up with online platforms where they can contribute to blogs, or Wikipedia, social media and Youtube. So when they come into the workplace or school, they also want to contribute. They want to be part of finding a better way."
However, there are some concerns that constant connectivity creates an emotional disconnect.
Analysts have linked the lack of face-to-face interactions with high levels of anxiety and depression among Generation Z.
"They're reaching out on social media to fill that void, they want that connection. If they get a response and people to reach back to them, they feel better, if they don't they feel even worse and even more disconnected."
Another source of worry is what Generation Z call FOMO the fear of missing out.
"If everyone else is referencing something that's happened in your friendship ( ) group or an online viral trend that's spread and they're not in the loop, they feel like they've missed out. So social validation has become connected to online use in some ways."
Sociologists say it's critical that families and educators practice and promote regular face-to-face contact and offline relationships,... to overcome the paradoxical implications of being broadly connected but feeling disconnected from reality.
Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.
Those born in the mid-90s or later,... or Generation Z,... are the first to have grown up with the internet and smartphones even as children.
The concern has been that they would grow up glued to technology and social media... to the detriment of important areas of their lives.
Oh Soo-young takes a closer look at Korea's young adults.
Here's a generation that doesn't quite understand how to go offline.
Twelve-year-old Amy Jeon is part of the digital savvy demographic dubbed Generation Z,... born between the mid-1990s to the late noughties.
Swiping seamlessly through multiple devices and up to 5 social media platforms,... she does her homework, makes friends with people halfway across the world,... and uploads YouTube videos on gaming.
But once you remove the screen? It could get awkward.
"In real life, I'm not able to show all of my emotions because it gets a little embarassing at times, but online or on social media they would not be able to see me, so I'm able to be more comfortable."
"Due to their high-tech and hyper-connected upbringing,... Generation Z is expected to have a different mentality from previous generations, with a new set of values and behaviors."
Called digital natives,... Generation Z are fast learners powered by search engines. They're multitaskers as well as natural content creators, armed with video-editing and social media tools.
"They're also keen contributors. They have grown up with online platforms where they can contribute to blogs, or Wikipedia, social media and Youtube. So when they come into the workplace or school, they also want to contribute. They want to be part of finding a better way."
However, there are some concerns that constant connectivity creates an emotional disconnect.
Analysts have linked the lack of face-to-face interactions with high levels of anxiety and depression among Generation Z.
"They're reaching out on social media to fill that void, they want that connection. If they get a response and people to reach back to them, they feel better, if they don't they feel even worse and even more disconnected."
Another source of worry is what Generation Z call FOMO the fear of missing out.
"If everyone else is referencing something that's happened in your friendship ( ) group or an online viral trend that's spread and they're not in the loop, they feel like they've missed out. So social validation has become connected to online use in some ways."
Sociologists say it's critical that families and educators practice and promote regular face-to-face contact and offline relationships,... to overcome the paradoxical implications of being broadly connected but feeling disconnected from reality.
Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.