Branislava and Vesna Stevanović Foundation: How the Internet Affects Generation “Z”
Photo by Giles Keyte / Universal Pictures

Alienated in a Networked World: How the Internet Harms Generation Z

A recent Standard Prva research study titled “How the Internet Affects Generation Z” has drawn attention to alarming behavioral trends among young people born after the year 2000. The results confirm what many parents and educators have been noticing for a long time – the digital age has brought a loss of real social interaction, weakened motivation and work habits among young people, and has even turned the youngest children into addicts of YouTube and other digital “pacifiers” for calming them down. Below, we analyze these phenomena and consider how to mitigate the negative trends.

Reduced Social Interaction in Real Life
Generation Z is growing up online – face-to-face socializing has been replaced by texting and endless scrolling. With the development of smartphones, real-life communication has drastically declined, and technology now has a central role in the lives of young people, from socialization to entertainment. As a result, many are deprived of developing basic social skills – such as patiently listening to the person they are talking to, asking questions, and resolving conflicts in real time.

Instead of dialogue, the online world encourages quick-fire arguments, “canceling” those who think differently, and shallow long-distance connections. Many young people conduct almost all their communication digitally, while spending significantly less time in real-life socializing. The average member of Generation Z spends more time daily on the internet than sleeping. Because of this, many feel lonely despite having hundreds of “friends” online – virtual connections cannot replace the warmth of a real relationship. In the long run, weakened social skills and a lack of close contact increase the risk of isolation and emotional difficulties.

Lack of Motivation and Work Habits
Life in the digital comfort zone has also left a mark on young people’s work habits. Many grew up with constant connectivity, instant gratification, and excessive parental protection, which deprived them of opportunities to develop discipline, perseverance, and responsibility early on.

When they enter the labor market, problems arise – they do not have enough patience for the real demands of a job and often show insufficient readiness to truly engage in it. Employers notice that some members of Generation Z have unrealistic expectations about quick advancement. They are often disappointed by the fact that work starts from entry-level positions, that their suggestions are not adopted immediately, and that criticism is an integral part of professional development.

Such fragility and weak work habits are partly the consequence of a digital environment that provides young people constant entertainment and a quick refuge from real challenges. Young people accustomed to the online world find it harder to endure the pressures and responsibilities of adulthood – reduced exposure to direct obligations lowers their resilience and persistence when facing difficulties.

In other words, the internet has, in a way, “spoiled” them, and motivation for long-term effort is declining.

The Digital “Pacifier”: YouTube and Addiction Among the Youngest
It is particularly worrying that even very young children rely on screens from the earliest age. Parents, seeking a quick way to calm or entertain a child, increasingly reach for a mobile phone or tablet. Although this provides a few minutes of peace in the short term, in the long term it carries serious consequences.

Babies and young children spend hours hypnotized by bright colors and sounds instead of playing, exploring, and communicating with their parents. Screens are given even to babies younger than six months – rapid scene changes and loud sounds overwhelm their nervous system and create early patterns of dependence.

Algorithms further worsen the situation: they recommend increasingly extreme content in order to hold attention as long as possible. A child can spend hours watching a series of meaningless and overly stimulating videos.

The consequences are becoming increasingly visible. Experts note a rise in developmental delays: children who spend too much time in front of screens often start speaking later, have more difficulty maintaining attention, and show reduced interest in their surroundings. A phenomenon described as “screenism” is also reported, where a child exposed to screens shows behaviors similar to those on the autism spectrum – withdrawing, not responding to verbal stimuli, and losing contact with the environment.

Restoring Balance: Books and Real-World Activities
How to reverse these negative trends? The key lies in moderation and balance.

Experts emphasize that children under the age of two should not be given screens at all. After the age of two, screen time must be strictly limited, with the rule that the child spends significantly more time in active play than with digital devices. Parents need to be consistent – boredom is not an enemy; it encourages creativity, while constant stimulation suppresses imagination.

Second, it is important to encourage a love of reading. Books develop attention, concentration, empathy, and the ability for deep thinking – all the things that rapid scrolling suppresses. Addiction to short digital content reduces the inclination to read and solve more complex tasks, so it is necessary to actively bring books closer to children and young people through shared reading, interesting titles, and school clubs.

Third, real-world activities must once again become an essential part of growing up: sports, art, walks in nature, hobbies, practical tasks, socializing with peers. All of this gives young people a sense of accomplishment that the virtual world cannot replace.

Finally, the example must come from adults. Young people will not reduce their phone time if they see parents constantly using theirs. Therefore, it is useful to introduce “technology-free zones” – during meals, family gatherings, or before bedtime.

The Branislava and Vesna Stevanović Foundation aims to contribute to the promotion of culture and good living standards, and to encourage a lifestyle in accordance with ethics and civilizational norms.
https://standardprva.ba/fondacija-branislava-i-vesne-stevanovic

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