Digital Pessimism
I grew up on social media. I created a facebook profile when I was 10 years old, and was a fairly early adopter of instagram at the age of 13. As a young teen, I spent dozens of hours playing minecraft while chatting in a skype group with others all around the world, learned of most major world events via live tweet, heckled at (and was heckled by) others in xbox live lobbies playing call of duty. As a member of Gen Z, I am part of a chronically online generation. According to UK-based research firm Ofcom, Gen Z spends an average of roughly 6 hours online a day, not counting work. At the same time, OnePoll (another research firm based in the UK) found that 60% of Gen Z self-identified as "lonely". How could this be, if they are spending 6 hours a day on social media? Surely, so much time spent being "social" is an antidote to loneliness? No. It amplifies loneliness. It doesn't want you to be part of a real, tangible community. It wants you to be part of ITs comm...