"PARA": Sentiments of Generation Z

073018 Para sa Paggamit ng Gen Z sa Internet

Swiped and Unlocked

Without a doubt, the Internet has truly changed the world and it continuously does so through influencing our perceptions and decisions regarding the simplest things and even towards the most complex issues of the society. I have always had this notion that the Internet has always been one of the most promising-if not the most-inventions that mankind has developed because, truly, through such, information is able to reach us instantly and we are able to communicate with each other even if we are miles away.

However, we live in strange times indeed, don't we? Since nowadays, we tend to become close with someone that is distant and become distant with someone that has been always close. It is truly ironic that as a whole, we have never been so connected, yet never been so alienated from each other (and even ourselves!). In her TEDxUIUC talk, Sherry Turkle has discussed how this mobile connectivity allows us to basically withdraw ourselves from the reality at any time to go to this 'digital world' we have built that is readily available for us with just one mere swipe to unlock.

Bridges or Boundaries?

Undeniably, there are several advantages that the Internet has granted us-from an effortless way of shopping goods to an even easier manner of collaborating with people for school or work. Perhaps, it is even safe to say that the millennials and centennials are much lenient to the Internet since they have grown up and matured with the Internet, both literally and figuratively. Some may not even imagine themselves (myself included) without their phones and gadgets nowadays even for a day or week, as if such has become a part of their wholeness of being-a 'phantom limb' as Turkle has regarded.

However, considering this excessive dependence on technology our society has, did the Internet alter the world for the better or for worse? In terms of modernization and advancement, of course, it has paved way positively to our growth as an entirety, but individually? That is where I would beg to disagree-for up-close, with eyes open, I see nothing, but prisoners of their own 'digital dimensions,' caring lesser and lesser about anyone or anything beyond it.

I know that it seems very hypocritical for me to say this as I regard also my phone as necessity, but the truth does not need any recognition to be such and sadly, yes, we are all captives held by the Internet. Due to the emergence of this new media-social media-we have dialed down physical contact as much as we can and we have forgotten what is the real meaning of 'connections.' Poignantly, we have set more boundaries rather than bridges with other people since this excessive social connection paradoxically led to an inadequate physical socialization.

The World's Biggest Reality Show

Perhaps, you may be asking your selves, what is this reality show I am talking about and to give you hints, the answer may fit perfectly right on your palm and be controlled by your fingertips. Any guesses? Well, it is the huge ploy of social media.

As Turkle has pointed out, we tend to use these platforms offered by technology to create an 'ideal self' to the world where no signs of flaws and vulnerabilities may be seen. Seemingly, we sort of wear masks according to how we would like our peers would view us and mold ourselves to be such. Oddly, nowadays, we tend to keep more things personally, although we are constantly updating our status and so-called 'sharing' ourselves to the society.

As for our relationships, Turkle noted that we tend to cut off conversations in our friendships and professional lives that make our problems more difficult to fix and our performances harder to improve. We have this notion to incline with the Goldilocks effect-a phenomenon wherein we like our personal relationships, only if we can set and control physical and emotional distances within just the right amount-due to the reign of technology. I believe that building such kind of friendships is nothing different to a symbiosis beneficial for both parties involved, wherein they perceive each other as a companion in the 'digital world' that is low-maintenance and does not instigate the fear of 'getting too close.'

However, truthfully, it is not yet too late to actually take off our masks for this huge production and reclaim the conversations we have allowed to derail over time. We may start such through initiating small talks with our own families and peers, by simply asking them how their days went or what events do they look forward for the days ahead. Such simple conversations are the start of re-establishing these real connections which were damaged by technology.

Even though we would not admit it, proper human interaction is a part of being a mature and empathetic being and therefore, we must not just let the Internet and social media take over our whole beings and our real relationships. Unfortunately, addiction to technology is continuously destroying people's ability to carry on a conversation and it saddens me how people are more devoted to a notification rather than talking to the person right across them in flesh.

I hope that we may recognize the fact that being on our smartphones ironically causes more absence, rather than presence. Thus, let us try to build and establish true connections amidst these false relationships we have made to merely fulfill the feeling of emptiness and loneliness we have deep within and before it is too late, may we also learn to unlock these locks we confined ourselves into-social networking sites-that have restricted us for far too long from the real world first before we swipe and unlock our smartphones once again.Even though we would not admit it, proper human interaction is a part of being a mature and empathetic being and therefore, we must not just let the Internet and social media take over our whole beings and our real relationships. Unfortunately, addiction to technology is continuously destroying people's ability to carry on a conversation and it saddens me how people are more devoted to a notification rather than talking to the person right across them in flesh.

I long that we may recognize the fact that being on our smartphones ironically causes more absence, rather than presence. Thus, let us try to build and establish true connections amidst these false relationships we have made to merely fulfill the feeling of emptiness and loneliness we have deep within and before it is too late, may we also learn to unlock these locks we confined ourselves into-social networking sites-that have restricted us for far too long from the real world first before we swipe and unlock our smartphones once again. ■

- Therese Fatima
teriseu