Brida Community Member, Cléa, a French national currently living in Seoul, South Korea, wrote article which explores the emerging trend of Gen Z rejecting new technologies, particularly smartphones and social media. It highlights the growing awareness among young people of the negative impacts of technology overuse, such as phone addiction, anxiety, and a disconnect from real-life interactions. The article cites examples such as the “24-Hour No Phone Challenge” and the increasing popularity of simplicity trends on platforms like TikTok, suggesting a desire for a more balanced relationship with technology. Additionally, it discusses initiatives by schools and political parties in Europe aimed at limiting phone use in educational environments, demonstrating the increasing societal concern regarding technology’s influence on younger generations. Claire and Sam took the article and discussed it. You can read Cléa’s article: Click Here
Transcript
Sam
All right. So, check this out, right? 72% a full 72% of US teens told Pew Research that they feel, get this, peaceful without their smartphones, at least some of the time. Peaceful. And I don’t know about you, but when I saw that number, I was floored. I mean, we’re talking about the generation that practically invented scrolling here. So, you’ve been digging into this whole Gen Z and tech thing, haven’t you? What’d you find? What’s the deal?
Claire
Well, it’s definitely interesting. You’re right. This is the generation that’s never lived in a world without smartphones. Really? I mean, think about it. That very first one, the IBM Simon, that was 1994. The same year the oldest genz’ers were born practically.
Sam
Ah, I never thought about it like that.
Claire
So, for them to be pushing back against tech even a little, it’s kind of a big deal. Makes you wonder what’s going on.
Sam
It really does. I mean, okay, I get the whole romanticizing the past thing. Like, you see it all over TikTok, right? All those montages of kids playing outside, families actually talking during dinner, It’s definitely a vibe, but is it just nostalgia, you know, or is there something more to it, you think?
Claire
Honestly, I think it’s a little of both. Nostalgia is definitely a factor. No question. I mean, who doesn’t look back and crave a simpler time, even if they didn’t actually live through it.
Sam
Totally.
Claire
But this feels different, you know? Like you sent over those articles about the 24-hour no-phone challenge, right? That wasn’t about reliving the ‘9s or anything. People were genuinely looking for a break from their devices. Actively seeking it out.
Sam
So true. Remember back during lockdown when it seemed like everyone and their dog, maybe literally in some cases was doing that challenge.
Claire
Yeah. I think I saw a few dogs on Instagram trying to resist the smartphone,
Sam
YouTubers, celebrities, even my neighbour’s kid, everyone was doing it. Which honestly kind of makes you wonder, right? Like, did the pandemic fry our digital circuits or something? Especially for younger people who are already living so much of their lives online.
Claire
Yeah. You might be on to something there. Think about it. Sudden isolation, everything, going virtual school, work, hanging out with your friends.
Sam
It was a lot.
Claire
And for a generation that’s used to constant connectivity, that’s that’s intense. So, yeah, maybe that 24-hour challenge was a way to regain some control, you know, even if it was just for one day.
Sam
Right. Right. It’s like hitting the reset button.
Claire
Exactly. And, you know, that actually lines up with some of the research I was looking at. There’s been a huge surge in younger people seeking out those digital detox retreats. Oh yeah, big time. Like post-pandemic, it’s become a thing. And I think it speaks to this growing awareness, particularly among Gen Z, that all this technology, it comes with a cost. They’re looking for ways to unplug and manage that,
Sam
Which makes sense when you think about it. But okay, so we’re seeing this yearning for a break, even if it’s just for 24 hours. But the bigger question is, why? Like what’s driving Gen Z to feel this tech fatigue when they practically invented like Swiping right.
Claire
Yeah, that’s the million-dollar question, isn’t it?
Sam
It really is.
Claire
Well, one psychologist I came across, Dr. Jane Smith, she had a really interesting take on this whole thing. She was saying that the constant information overload, the social comparison that’s just built into social media, it’s a recipe for anxiety and depression, especially for younger users,
Sam
Which makes total sense. I mean, their feeds are basically just this non-stop highlight reel, right? How could that not mess with your sense of self?
Claire
Exactly.
Sam
And it’s not like she’s the only one saying this. Remember that interview with the mom? I think her kid was part of that whole 24-hour challenge thing. And she was saying she actually saw this shift as a positive sign. Like it showed that Gen Z is craving authenticity, peace, even. They just, you know, they’re trying to find it in a world that’s completely saturated with filters.
Claire
It’s true.
Sam
It really got me thinking though, like how do we find that balance between our need for connection, which is a real need, and the anxiety that social media can fuel?
Claire
It’s a tough one.
Sam
It really is. But Maybe, just maybe, Gen Z is on to something here, you know, like maybe they’re the ones who are going to figure it out by searching for these alternatives.
Claire
Yeah. And by questioning the whole thing, the whole way we use technology.
Sam
Exactly.
Claire
Because let’s face it, the digital world, it can be incredibly stimulating, even overwhelming. And that’s for those of us who didn’t grow up with it as a given. So imagine what it’s like for Gen Z, you know, constantly bombarded with information, pressured to project this perfect image.
Sam
It’s a lot to process.
Claire
And then you throw in the negativity. Yeah. all the negativity that’s out there, it’s bound to have an impact.
Sam
It’s like they’re I don’t know, almost like they’re the canaries in the coal mine, you know, warning us about the potential dangers of like unchecked tech dependence.
Claire
I like that. The canaries in the coal mine because really they are. And the thing is it’s not just talk. We’re seeing real world responses to this. You mentioned it earlier with that article about Eton College, that boarding school in England.
Sam
Eton College. Oh, right. With the the brick phone thing.
Claire
That’s the one,
Sam
They’re giving their students those super basic phones, you know, the ones that can only make calls and send texts. Like, that’s it.
Claire
No internet, no apps, none of that. It’s a pretty drastic move, don’t you think? Especially for a school like Eton.
Sam
It’s wild. But their reasoning actually makes a lot of sense. They’re not like anti-technology or anything. It’s more about like finding a balance.
Claire
Exactly. It’s about acknowledging that, yeah, technology has its benefits, but Maybe we need to learn how to use it in a way that supports our well-being instead of, you know, taking away from it.
Sam
Totally. Sometimes you just need a break from all the notifications and the noise, you know.
Claire
Absolutely.
Sam
And it’s not just Eton either. Like remember we were talking about France, that one political party, the Rassemblement National.
Claire
Yeah, I remember.
Sam
They actually want to ban mobile phones in secondary schools altogether.
Claire
It’s a bold move.
Sam
It really is. And what’s crazy is they’re not the only ones. I was reading that other parties are kind of getting on board with that idea, too. Especially when it comes to schools, it seems like there’s this growing concern about how much time kids are spending on their phones in the classroom and whether it’s actually hurting their education,
Claire
Right! It makes you wonder if even the generation that’s most comfortable with technology, Gen Z, the digital natives, if even they’re feeling this pushback, what does that mean for the future of technology itself?
Sam
Exactly. Like where do we go from here?
Claire
It’s a big question and it’s not one I have the answer to, unfortunately. But it’s definitely something to think about.
Sam
It really is because like what if this is the generation that actually figures out how to make technology work for us instead of the other way around?
Claire
Wouldn’t that be something,
Sam
Right? Like what if they’re the ones who prioritize things like well-being and authenticity in their digital creations?
Claire
That would be a real game changer because honestly technology doesn’t have to be this, you know, this all-consuming thing that’s constantly vying for our attention. It’s true. What if instead of just more distraction technology actually helped us connect more deeply with ourselves and with the world around us. I think that would be incredible.
Sam
Now, that’s a tech revolution I think we could all get behind. It’s like we’ve been so busy being amazed by what technology can do that we haven’t stopped to ask ourselves if it should.
Claire
Exactly. We’ve been so focused on the can that we’ve completely forgotten about the should. And that’s why this whole shift in thinking, this questioning of the status quo, it’s so important.
Sam
Because maybe, just maybe, Maybe
Claire
We’ve been going about this whole tech thing the wrong way.
Sam
It’s like we got so caught up in the hype, you know?
Claire
Right. Like, ooh, shiny new gadget that we kind of forgot to ask ourselves if it was actually good for us.
Sam
Exactly. But it feels like that’s starting to change, don’t you think?
Claire
I think so. I really do. And it’s not just about in individual choices either, you know? It’s about shifting that whole conversation we’re talking about like how technology is designed in the first place, how it’s used,
Sam
What it actually stands for even.
Claire
Absolutely. Because right now it’s like the default is just more more apps, more features, more ways to be connected,
Sam
Right? Right. Always connected.
Claire
But what if better actually meant something different? Like what if it meant tech that was more mindful, more intentional? What if it meant tech that actually enhanced our lives instead of just like consuming them?
Sam
Oh man, now we’re talking because that’s the dream, isn’t it?
Claire
It is. And the thing is, I think we’re starting to see little glimpses of that dream becoming a reality. Remember we were talking about the Silicon Valley parents, the ones who are limiting their kids screen time.
Sam
Oh yeah, those ones.
Claire
Like that’s a perfect example right there of people saying, “Hold on a second. This isn’t working. There’s got to be another way.”
Sam
Totally. And it’s not just those super tech savvy people either, right?
Claire
Not at all.
Sam
It’s like it’s filtering into mainstream culture, into education, even into politics. Think about that French political party. The whole banning phones in schools thing.
Claire
Yeah, that’s huge.
Sam
That says a lot.
Claire
It really really does. And I think it just goes to show you that this isn’t just about, you know, a few genzers who are feeling burnt out. It’s bigger than that. This is about a fundamental shift in how we as a society view technologies role in our lives. It’s about reclaiming our time, our attention, our well-being in a world that’s constantly vying for it.
Sam
I couldn’t have said it better myself. And as we wrap up here, it almost feels less like we’re at a conclusion, more like I don’t know, like We’re just getting started, you know?
Claire
Exactly. It’s not an end point. It’s a jumping off point. Like, we’ve been asking all these questions about Gen Z and their relationship with technology, right? And what we’ve realized is there are no easy answers. But here’s the thing that’s really been sticking with me. If Gen Z, the generation that’s practically hardwired to the internet, if they’re already hitting the pause button, questioning this always on mentality.
Sam
What does that mean for everyone else?
Claire
Exactly. What does that mean for the generations that come after them? What choices will they make? And How will those choices shape the future of technology itself? That’s the big question.
Sam
It really is.
Claire
And I think it’s something all of us need to be thinking about. You know, not just Gen Z, but all of us.
Sam
I think you’re right.