The Art of Disappearing
Over the last few decades, technology has advanced at an unprecedented rate. Generation Z has witnessed massive changes in education, business, healthcare, and other areas. Technology has grown alongside Gen Z. From 4G LTE to 5G, from smartphones and tablets to virtual reality, and from social media platforms to artificial intelligence, this generation is experiencing a once-in-a-lifetime transition.
Unlike previous generations, who grew up without fully developed digital technology, Gen Z became accustomed to receiving things instantly, whether information, products, or services. However, processing all of the world’s information can sometimes become overwhelming.
In our early years, our parents reminded us to take our eyes off our screens. Today, we are increasingly making that same choice consciously. Doing so has opened up the possibility of exploring the world offline. Our generation is gradually realizing the consequences of technology, particularly for mental health and well-being, while still reaping its benefits.
What Our Parents Have Been Warning Us About
Remember when our parents used to set screen-time limits? When we were allowed only one hour on the iPad? When our phones were confiscated because we used them excessively? It left us annoyed and unable to understand why they were taking our phones away.
Many of us were left wondering as children about the dangers of being online. We heard generic explanations like, “It can distract you from studying,” or “It is bad for your vision.” But what is the real cost of using social media at a young age?
According to an article from the Mayo Clinic, the effects of social media vary from one teenager to another. Social media use can be both healthy and unhealthy. Healthy use can offer benefits such as self-expression, connection, coping, and discussion, while unhealthy use can contribute to addiction, unrealistic perceptions, misinformation, and cyberbullying, among other issues.
Why We Are Disappearing
More than ever, we are seeing the negative aspects of social media. People on social media often move in lockstep with trends. Since 2022, when social media use reached its peak, there has been a steady decline. Since then, it has dropped by 10%, with Gen Zers contributing to the decline. Ironically, the generation that popularized social media is gradually growing tired of it.
One factor is the slow disintegration of social media’s original purpose. In its early days, people used social media to disconnect from the outside world. Now, people are taking breaks from it to spend more time engaging with the world. Previously, these platforms were extensions of our daily social lives, providing spaces to catch up with friends, share milestones, and escape the stresses of everyday life. However, with the rise of AI, the internet has become increasingly cluttered with highly edited content that has little to no informative or social value.
Unbeknownst to many, social media shifted into a space where different platforms serve niche purposes. Rather than focusing on their social environments, they became places for making money, consuming news, shopping, and more.
As a result, people are drowning in what we might call “nothingness.” The content we see is increasingly rootless and disconnected from cultural memory. It is optimized for attention rather than meaning, resulting in a kind of semantic sludge: posts that look like language but say almost nothing.
This is where the algorithm comes into play. More and more Gen Zers have noticed that social media platforms are gradually becoming inorganic. During the glory days of social media, there were memes, inside jokes, and niche communities. Now, platforms are overcrowded with advertisements, political outrage, and other things that Gen Zers do not necessarily want to see.
Likewise, according to a Reddit discussion, privacy concerns are among the primary reasons Gen Zers and even millennials delete social media. People have noticed that their personal information is used not only to curate specific experiences through algorithms, but also to expose their content to strangers who may react negatively to it. In turn, this raises concerns about users’ mental health as they navigate this new age of social media.
Mental health is also a significant factor in the decline of social media use. A growing body of evidence suggests that social media and internet use can negatively affect Gen Zers’ mental health, putting them at greater risk of developing problems. As indicated in the 2023 U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory, some of the potential risks of social media include:
Body dissatisfaction
Disordered eating behaviors
Sleep and attention problems
Social comparison
Low self-esteem
Hate-based content, such as racist content
Cyberbullying
Interactions with malicious and exploitative actors
Unfortunately, many people do not recognize these risks until they have a significantly negative experience and begin facing the consequences. Furthermore, social media in its current form may be accomplishing the opposite of its intended purpose: dividing people rather than uniting them. This is where the myth of the social media detox comes in.
What We Are Doing Instead
Some Gen Zers resort to deactivating their accounts, while others delete the apps themselves to avoid the unwanted effects of social media. Disconnecting from social media has allowed Gen Zers to explore face-to-face interactions and move away from parasocial relationships.
“Touch grass,” meaning to participate in activities in the real world instead of spending too much time online, is a common phrase among Gen Zers. According to a recent study, 67% of young people identify as “outdoorsy.” In the same vein, Gen Zers are beginning to embrace outdoor activities as both a form of exercise and an escape from the digital world. These activities include gardening, hiking, bouldering, and much more.
Third places are also in high demand among Gen Zers. In the words of sociologist Ray Oldenburg, a third place is a space that promotes warmth, conviviality, and the unique form of human sustenance known as community.
However, in developing countries such as the Philippines, these options are extremely limited. As noted by Cito Beltran of Philstar Global, third places are typically malls, coffee shops, and other establishments that require payment. In other countries, they can include churches, community centers, public libraries, and other freely accessible spaces.
The Myth of the Social Media Detox
The big question now is how Gen Zers should live their lives while navigating the challenges and changes of the online and offline worlds.
Research from Durham University implies that significantly reducing social media use can reduce both its positive and negative effects equally. In another study, researchers Ihssen and Wadsley found no improvement in participants’ well-being and reported a decrease in positive emotions.
Nevertheless, as the researchers suggest, improving our social media use may be similar to improving our diets: We must know our limits and prioritize the benefits. This can include deleting your account or simply unfollowing toxic people, closing your comment section or choosing not to read comments, and hiding or blocking toxic profiles.
At its core, social media may simply be adapting rapidly to the times. We grew alongside it, and sometimes it is easier to accept that we will outgrow it. It is up to you whether you want to detox for a week, a month, or a year, as long as the break benefits you.
There is no single way to cope in the digital age. Social media can alleviate loneliness for some people while isolating others. In essence, a digital detox is a blunt instrument that must be used carefully to achieve the best results. It is an art form that can be life-giving for some and lifeless for others.