Beyond Social Media: Why Gen Z Is Techno-Wiser Than Millennials

-Analysis-

ROME — They say: it’s social media’s fault that young people can no longer concentrate or do poorly in their studies or stop wanting to go to school They say: their eyes only light up when they look at their smartphone screen, scrolling through it looking for new posts and videos; they’re ready for anything to find ways to fabricate content that will attract as many “likes” as possible.

A lot is said about Generation Z (or Zoomers), but those who follow them closely know that many of these claims have no basis in fact, and are often the result of generalizations and clichés.

A recent study of more than 5,000 people between 9 and 24 years old (the results of which were published on scuola.net) found that Zoomers are slowly moving away from social media. While they have TikTok or Instagram profiles, they make more passive use of them, using them to relax or to stay informed but posting less and less. There are also those who never post, using mostly fake profiles, in order to protect their privacy.

New trends

Today’s young people seek out news, keep an eye on a few influencers they subscribe to. But they do not have the same obsession with appearances that Millennials had — and still have — from growing up just as social media was disrupting everyone’s lives, including those of Zoomer’s parents and teachers.

Now, younger people prefer to stay behind the scenes. It’s almost as if they seek to protect themselves. Or perhaps, they do not want to be as transparent as their parents, who spend their time complaining about their hyperconnected children, even though they are the ones who cannot tear themselves from their tablets and smartphones.

While Gen Z’s abandonment of social media is not yet mainstream, it is measurable.

Dust under the rug

Regardless of what experts or know-it-alls say (because they love to speak up when they’re going against the grain), the truth is that young people use social media more wisely than adults. Perhaps that is because they are annoyed by the extreme narcissism of adults who, focused always and only on themselves, struggle to see and hear them.

But it is a known fact: when we point our finger at something, it is often because that something concerns us. And then we project onto others that which most torments us. It is we, adults, who are obsessed with visibility and success, as if existence depended on the number of followers on Instagram.

After all, young people are always a symptom of previous generations.

Of course, we often need help from our children or pupils stay up on technology, to figure out new apps or the latest filters. But once we get caught up, we forget and start complaining again about young people’s passivity or lack of critical thinking. But what if, instead, they are the ones showing us the way — or even just pointing out our contradictions?

After all, young people are always a symptom of previous generations, forcing us to come to terms with our contradictions and fractures — despite trying at all costs to hide them. It’s as efficient as sweeping the dust under the rug.