Society regularly looks to the twenty-somethings for the clues they need to answer the ever-burning question: What is the state of the modern world? Today, it’s Gen Z who is under the collective microscope.
Known as screenagers, digital natives, and the TikTok generation, Gen Z was the first group to grow up in the midst of social media, and while their predecessors are likely to assume that Gen Z would be the first to jump on the AI craze, this isn't actually true. Gen Z is a lot more interested in tangible connection than the rest of us might think—they just have a smarter, more advanced set of tools on their hands to facilitate it.
Photo credit: dcdx
Digital natives or captives?
The term “digital natives” was coined to fit Gen Z: a.k.a., anyone who came into the world between 1997 and 2012. Born with technology at their fingertips and social media in the midst of being established as the great global connector, this age group has been historically hyper-aware of how tech shapes today’s world. But while older generations expect Gen Z to be the ones leading the new AI charge, they might not be aware of what Gen Z increasingly refers to themselves as: digital captives.
“Being born into this world of technology hasn’t just meant that we happen to be proficient at using it—we also have developed a complex relationship with it,” said Andrew Roth, Founder and CEO of Gen Z research and strategy firm dcdx. “We know nearly one in two Gen Z-ers wish social media was easier to disconnect from—a technological advance that, for all the good it has caused, has also complicated and challenged the health of many Gen Z-ers, too.”
Roth believes this AI hesitancy is due to Gen Z’s first-hand experience of the consequences of mass technological adoption—something that happened without any thoughts of how it may impact younger generations down the line.
“If we want more young people to integrate AI into their daily lives, we may need to take some upstream measures to ensure we protect the humans of the future—of our future,” Roth said.
How COVID-19 exacerbated a severe lack of in-person community
Coming into the world as a digital native poses immediate challenges to being able to access in-person connection, but what made this even more difficult for Gen Z and Gen Alpha was the mandatory isolation we collectively underwent during the COVID-19 pandemic.
While older generations at least had memories of in-person experiences to call back on and get them through the years-long lack of real life community, what must it have been like to spend formative years of childhood and adolescence completely isolated from your peers?
Photo credit: dcdx
“COVID was a catalyst for already emerging Gen Z behaviors,” Roth said. “Socially growing up as digital natives—or as we call them, ‘digital captives’—Gen Z were already at a disadvantage for social IRL connection. COVID was a major catalyst that accelerated some of the troubling behaviors Gen Z-ers were having.”
Social networks presented themselves as a way for Gen Z to connect with family, friends and acquaintances in wholesome ways, but what they actually got was a reality plagued with loneliness.
“‘Connection’ became less about communication and more about content, designed to keep us connected to the internet, not connected to each other,” Roth said. “There’s a great quote from a 23-year-old in one of our studies on Gen Z’s digital captivity that describes this feeling all too well:
“‘It really is like a chicken or the egg kind of thing. Like sometimes I'm feeling a certain way and my algorithm will naturally mend to give me content to amuse that and then I see the content, and that makes me feel some type of way, it's like a loop. And so it's like, which comes first? Did the TikTok tell me how to feel or did I have this original thought and my algorithm just mended to it?’”
This conundrum only further confuses Gen Z, who feel left to question their own behaviors and feelings. With so many directions and perspectives presented on the internet that has increasingly become home to our youngest generations, many of them find it difficult to make sense of the differing realities.
Photo credit: dcdx
How leading brands and organizations can listen to the cry for connection
Despite all of the confusion, the increase in technology and AI is part of the undeniable evolution of our world. So rather than dwell on the negatives that have come with it, how can we band together as a society to understand what health, wellness, and community should look like today?
“True connection is still happening in the places it always has. As a result, social media should be designed to connect people to enable connection IRL. We all have a responsibility to use social media to drive that in-person connection,” Roth said.
After researching the topic, dcdx came away with the following conclusion on driving IRL connection, specifically as it pertains to major brands and organizations who are regularly influencing our social media feeds:
Places: Using social platforms to connect people to an in-person place.
Programs: Making those gatherings organized and consistent is key for ongoing connection.
Purpose: Integrating the purpose of IRL connection into the organization’s mission.
Bringing community back: How we can utilize technology for the greater good
While Gen Z has struggled with the concept of digital captivity, firms like dcdx are doing the honorable heavy lifting when it comes to standing up, addressing the situation, and telling brands and organizations what they can do to bring about a brighter future.
In the meantime, here’s what we can do on the community level to drive the connection that was once second-nature to us older folks—something younger generations are increasingly desperate to experience themselves:
Block negative, gossipy content and opt for accounts that encourage mindfulness, education, and positive messages. When we first got on social media, we didn’t know what we were doing or how our behaviors might impact society. Unfortunately, online pessimism and content that encourages “brain rot” has become the norm. But thankfully, it’s not too late for us to wake up, become aware, and change the online narrative.
Struggling to find positive content? Make your own. The rise of digital overstimulation can be overwhelming, and that’s why it’s important to curate content that promotes positivity and mental wellbeing. If you look around and can’t find this on your own feed, you can always join the online conversation with the intent of changing its perspective. Support and share content that encourages self-care, mindfulness, and emotional resilience. By doing so, we can help shift the focus from negative and self-deprecating content to uplifting and supportive messages.
Look for purpose-driven activities online so you can attend them in person. Volunteer opportunities, activism, and community service projects don’t just bring people together—they instill a sense of shared purpose and accomplishment. When people work towards a common goal, they build deeper, more meaningful connections. Even if you can’t attend these activities, share them on your page to give your followers and friends a chance to get involved. You never know who it might benefit.
Use your platform to advocate for balanced tech use. Encourage conversations around the responsible use of technology, and support initiatives that educate people on balancing their digital lives with offline experiences. This includes setting boundaries for screen time and promoting digital detox strategies that help people reconnect with themselves and others in the real world.
Stay mindful, empathetic, and open. Older generations: it’s important for us to recognize that the digital landscape has significantly impacted Gen Z’s social development, and they didn’t ask for that. Approach conversations with empathy and understanding. Listen to their experiences and validate their feelings. By acknowledging their struggles and offering support, we can build stronger, more supportive communities together.
As we continue to navigate the evolving digital landscape together, it’s important that we balance the benefits of advancements with the need for genuine human connection, because that need is never going away. Together, we can ensure that technology serves as a tool for connection—not a barrier—and that the craving for real, human interaction is met with compassionate, community-driven solutions.
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