Photo: insta_photos – shutterstock.com
The representatives of the so-called Generation Z are considered independent, progressive and diverse. Climate protection is also important to them, as the “Fridays for Future” movement shows. A life without social media is hard to imagine for Gen Z. The representatives learned to walk when many of today’s social networks were still in their infancy: Facebook (2004), YouTube (2005) and Twitter (2006). In 2007, the first iPhone also saw the light of day. These milestones have changed the way we use the internet and social media has become an integral part of our online lives. Gen Z cannot do without the internet. She moves naturally and safely through the digital world.
This makes it particularly easy for Generation Z to interact with modern media. After all, this generation consists exclusively of digital natives. But the overuse of social media also has drawbacks. So what does it mean to be a “social media native”?
To answer these questions, it is advisable to first look at how young people spend their time online. How does Gen Z use online communication platforms? What interests you and what do you find important? for a study Pollfish polled approximately 4,500 Gen Z representatives on behalf of ExpressVPN about their social media use – 1,500 each from Germany, France and the US. Also the influence of the platforms on emotional well-being and online privacy was one of the topics. All respondents had at least one active account on one of the major social media platforms.
Photo: ExpressVPN
According to the study, the majority of Gen Z spend several hours a day on social media. TikTok leads the way here: 59 percent of those surveyed use the Chinese video portal for more than an hour a day – a tenth even for more than five hours. 40 percent spend at least an hour a day on Instagram. Gen Z’s social networks also often serve as a source of information. 39 percent of those surveyed use social media for their daily news because there is no censorship here compared to traditional media.
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However, online networks pose a risk to privacy that should not be underestimated. Businesses use the platforms’ usage data to drive their marketing and better target audiences. And hackers steal the publicly available information to socially manipulate banking information, account logins or other sensitive data. Still, many Gen Z representatives don’t want to give up their accounts. 47 percent would disclose even more personal data to access new features of the online platforms at an early stage.
The kind of dates Gen Z would share in exchange for social media exposure:
|
E-mail address |
45% |
|
sexual orientation |
32% |
|
Marital status |
28% |
|
sex |
27% |
|
religious beliefs |
25% |
|
phone number |
23% |
|
party affiliation |
13% |
|
ethnicity |
11% |
|
address |
9% |
|
citizen service number |
2% |
And 77 percent said they would trade their personal information for more exposure or notoriety. What sets Generation Z apart from other generations, however, is that they consciously share their data. However, it is likely that many of them do not think about or are aware of the potential consequences of sharing their personal information.
Despite the overuse of social media, Gen Z is also concerned about the effects of TikTok, Instagram and Co on their mental health. A large majority (93 percent) believe that social media platforms have a negative effect on their self-esteem. They also suspect that they influence their self-image (93 percent) and their happiness (93 percent). A large proportion (87 percent) even indicated that the platforms instill fear in them.
This also confirms a Study by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh. There is therefore a clear relationship between the use of social media and the occurrence of anxiety or depression. This applies even with moderate use. Many young people are aware of the possible addictive effects of social networks. Nevertheless, the implications for psychological well-being should be considered more – especially with regard to future generations.
Social media platforms are part of everyday life. Gen Z spend much of their lives here, and that won’t change. Despite the popularity of social media, its negative impact cannot be denied. The psychological well-being of young users in particular is often at risk. Parents and teachers should become active here and explain the potential risks of overuse of social media at an early stage. New features can also help – hide likes, for example.
The fact that social media provide access to personal data and thus to privacy – often also for strangers – cannot be avoided. We are all responsible for our own data. Still, more needs to be done to empower social media platform operators. Young users’ data still needs to be better protected – for example through stricter regulations and restrictions on marketing measures aimed at this target group or through more extensive education about data protection and privacy in schools. (adv)
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