As we are in what I like to call the seventh-inning stretch of the fall semester, my English composition students are preparing to write their final short essay on "Gen Z: Technology and Communication." This is the topic where I feel my students are experts since, as Gen Zers, they are the first true digital-native generation. I had discussion groups in each class where students shared their viewpoints on how they deal with technology and communication primarily through social media, and I learned some interesting and insightful things from them. I provided them with questions that focused on social media and mental health, age-restriction laws for kids' access to social media, holding social media companies accountable for harmful content, and ways to "unplug" from their phones. Several of my female students expressed that social media has harmed their mental health due to the pressure of constantly comparing their bodies and looks to influencers or other celebrities. My male students mostly agreed that men are not as affected by social media as their female peers. Most students also expressed that an age requirement of 16 should be implemented for teens to use social media apps. Those who have younger siblings felt strongly about this, as they mentioned numerous videos on TikTok and Instagram that are inappropriate for children. As for "unplugging" from all this technology, my students shared that they spend time with their families and friends, and some even set app timers on their devices.

My students' thoughts on social media concur with findings from recent studies published earlier this year. A Pew Research Center survey released in April found that "1 in 5 (teens) say social media sites hurt their mental health," and 48% believe that constant sharing is detrimental to their age cohort, which increased from 32% in 2022. Forty-five percent admitted to being on their apps for extensive periods of time, and only 34% said they occasionally get information about mental health through social media. Although the sample size of this study only consisted of 1,391 teens, the results indicate that some Gen Zers are beginning to take their social media consumption seriously.

A July study published in the Journal of Human Development and Capabilities advises parents not to give smartphones to their children under the age of 13. A much larger sample size comprised this study, as it consisted of close to 2 million participants from 163 countries. It has been noted that their responses were self-reported, but the data is convincing, with evidence showing that children under 13 using social media tended to have more suicidal thoughts, be victims of bullying, have lower self-esteem, and experience damaging family relationships. I will be sharing the analysis of these studies as sources my students can use for their essays.

From continued reading on social media research on Gen Z, I often think about how different adolescence is for them than it was for me. As a teenager during the '80s, the world seemed to move at a slower pace; at least that's how I perceived it. We had just enough technology to make life comfortable, although my students have found my descriptions of using answering machines, VCRs and landline phones quite amusing. What my generation saw on television influenced us the most regarding pop culture, but TV was not as pervasive as social media is today. While I was somewhat impacted by what I watched on television, the majority of my social life centered around church as a young person. My friends and I looked forward to Wednesday evening Bible study and choir rehearsal after school. We thoroughly enjoyed the homecooked meals and fellowship, and it provided a significant foundation of faith to help keep us grounded. Looking back on these years, learning scriptures and singing praises to God kept me anchored and enabled me to resist the temptations of peer pressure. Having my mind and soul filled with Bible verses on God's promises and salvation through Christ provided a strong sense of peace that, unfortunately, many young people lack today.

I firmly believe that what makes social media particularly dangerous is the constant barraging of alarming videos and destructive messages that kids are inundated with daily. Nothing good comes out of this toxic fixation. As more teens begin to spend time away from social media, I hope that many of them will look to faith in God as a meaningful part of their lives, just as I did when I was their age.

Dr. Jessica A. Johnson is a lecturer in the English department at Ohio State University's Lima campus. Email her at [email protected]. Follow her on X: @JjSmojc. To find out more about Jessica Johnson and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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