Generation Z and Alpha, growing up in a digital world, face unique challenges. Since 2015, smartphones and social media have dramatically changed childhood, replacing face-to-face interactions and unstructured play with a "selfie culture." What began as a way to connect has become a source of pressure, pushing young people to compare themselves, fit in, and meet unrealistic standards. This shift has contributed to increasing rates of anxiety, depression, and self-harm. While both genders are adversely affected, girls often feel inadequate due to comparisons, while boys are more at risk of gaming addiction.
Recent changes to social media laws are a positive step toward addressing the harm caused by these platforms. For years, companies focused on profit have used addictive algorithms that negatively impact young people. Legislation is needed to hold tech companies accountable for exploiting children’s attention and data, which is crucial for creating a fairer digital environment.
The Australian government's social media legislation aims to ban platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Reddit, and X for users under 16, with exemptions for educational and health services. The proposed social media ban for users under 16 is meant to protect young people from harmful content, cyberbullying, and online harassment. It aims to improve mental health, encourage healthier development, and promote face-to-face interactions while reducing social media addiction and helping young people think more critically. The ban also gives parents more control over their children's online activities to keep them safe. However, critics worry that it might push young people to less regulated platforms, limiting their access to education and social connections. There are also concerns about privacy with age checks and challenges in defining which platforms are affected.
Platforms like Instagram and Snapchat prioritise appearance, where looks, popularity, and likes define self-worth. Edited posts set unrealistic beauty standards, leaving many young people feeling insecure and excluded. The constant pursuit of likes and followers, damages self-esteem, distorts identities, and isolates users from meaningful connections. Platforms like YouTube and TikTok are addictive, consuming hours without offering real benefits. Anonymity on some platforms encourages harmful behaviours, like online bullying. Crimes such as sextortion, particularly on Instagram, can have tragic consequences, including suicides.
Technology has shifted toward instant gratification, focusing on immediate rewards rather than reflection. While online activism has grown, it often leads to ineffective and emotionally draining engagement, especially for younger generations. The fast-paced nature of digital media, with its constant flow of information, reduces the sensory richness and context necessary for learning and memory. The brain, designed for stable, multisensory input, is not fully engaged by digital experiences, leading to a decrease in meaningful interactions with the world. The brain's neuroplasticity—the ability to adapt—means that frequent use of digital media alters cognitive development. Digital habits reward quick, short-term outcomes, weakening the ability to reflect and integrate experiences, and hindering long-term cognitive growth. Over time, reliance on digital media reshapes brain function, lowering attention spans, executive control, and neural connectivity, which are crucial for healthy emotional and cognitive development.
These shifts have broader implications. Digital technology often isolates us, replacing deep, embodied connections with superficial, data-driven interactions. While digital media enable quick communication, they often lack the stability, depth, and social context that support meaningful relationships. As a result, our sensory and social experiences are diminished, affecting overall well-being.
The rise of digital technology has transformed how we engage with the world, often at the cost of our attention, time, and space. A major effect of digital media is its ability to capture attention, pulling us away from meaningful, face-to-face interactions. This shift leads to two problematic behaviours: passive consumption (mindlessly scrolling) and media multitasking (splitting focus between tasks), both of which reduce deep engagement and hinder cognitive processing.
Older generations grew up without constant digital connectivity, enjoying face-to-face interactions and spontaneous moments. Today, these simple pleasures have been replaced by a curated digital world that exploits human vulnerabilities for profit. While social media offers quick rewards like dopamine hits and instant connections, it often leaves users feeling empty and disconnected.
'Schools play a key role in helping students navigate digital challenges. Teachers can promote digital literacy by teaching responsible technology use, help build resilience through open discussions about online pressures and encourage offline activities like sports and arts to foster real social connections. Creating safe spaces for dialogue on social media issues and setting boundaries around screen time are crucial.'
Emerging technologies like AI and spatial computing add new challenges, making it harder for young people to develop emotionally and socially. Experts recommend delaying access to smartphones and social media for children, focusing on in-person interactions, and limiting screen time.
Proposed solutions include banning social media before age 16, creating phone-free school environments to improve focus, and encouraging real-world interactions over screen time. By working together, parents, schools, and communities can help young people develop the skills needed to navigate the digital world wisely. Meaningful change requires support from parents, teachers, and leaders to guide young people toward healthier habits. Collective agreements to delay smartphone use can restore independence and encourage a more play-centred childhood. Parents and schools can collaborate to improve mental health and academic performance.
Schools play a key role in helping students navigate digital challenges. Teachers can promote digital literacy by teaching responsible technology use, help build resilience through open discussions about online pressures and encourage offline activities like sports and arts to foster real social connections. Creating safe spaces for dialogue on social media issues and setting boundaries around screen time are crucial. Challenges may arise in Year 10 when some students over 16 can legally access social media, while others cannot. Teachers can also incorporate critical thinking about digital habits and work with parents to reinforce healthy habits. By balancing digital engagement with offline interactions, teachers help students develop meaningful connections and thrive in both the digital and physical world.
Parents should establish clear boundaries around screen time, ensuring a healthy balance between online and offline activities. Protecting privacy by guiding children on safe internet use and discussing the risks of sharing personal information is essential. Open communication is key, encouraging children to share their online experiences and concerns. While parents may feel pressured to provide smartphones to avoid social isolation, they can support their children by fostering offline friendships and promoting face-to-face interactions. By setting guidelines and staying involved, parents can help their children develop responsible digital habits and maintain strong, meaningful relationships.
We must integrate technology in ways that serve a greater, meaningful purpose. The goal is to use technology to strengthen relationships, foster genuine connections, and encourage reflection. Many young people are rejecting the fake perfection of social media, choosing real relationships and rediscovering their self-worth. This shift offers hope for a culture that values authenticity and personal growth over online approval.
Fr Peter Hosking SJ is Rector of Saint Ignatius’ College Adelaide.