There’s been a lot of talk lately about how interested Gen Z is in classic technology, abandoning their smartphones in favor of single-purpose devices like point and shoot digital camera And flip phone. A generation whose childhood was filled with computer screens and smartphones seems to be abandoning modern technology in favor of devices of the early 2000s. So what’s going on?
It is not simply refusing to adopt new technologies; Many Gen Zers still upgrade their smartphones every year. What seems to be happening right now is a deliberate abandonment of false spontaneityExcessive social media indulgence and efforts to regain some of the time have had to stoop in front of the screen.
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So Gen Z is investing in Y2K era technology, such as Nikon Coolpix 200912.1 megapixel digital camera or hot pink of 2006 Razr V3. They will still keep their smartphones, but will choose to leave them at home for one evening and carry a flip phone for a few hours.
It’s Gen Z’s way of unplugging – though – temporarily.
Smartphones give Gen Z an easy dose of dopamine, a quick fix for a bored mind, or an easy way to escape socializing. Whether scrolling through social media, playing a downloaded game, or checking the time to avoid eye contact, smartphones give Gen Zers a sense of comfort.
The first versions of social media apps were all aimed at keeping in touch with friends and family far away. Now, for many people, these places are reservoirs of misinformation, breeding grounds for trolls — and curated catalogs of posts to show off other people’s lives. how perfect.
From wars to catastrophic natural disasters to widespread social unrest, Generation Z is constantly bombarded with bad news. And often, they feel a responsibility to make a positive change in the world. Create petitions, promote GoFundMes and raise awareness about social and political issues is the crux of Gen Z’s traits.
After a while, processing that mass of information and requests becomes tiresome and potentially detrimental to one’s mental health. Some Gen Zs may feel like putting their phones down and taking a break. But that break never lasted very long.
There are ways for smartphone users to reduce the chaos behind the glass screenbut the ‘Do Not Disturb’ and ‘Focus’ settings don’t alleviate Gen Z’s underlying problem of often online.
Gen Z is dealing with these problems by going back to classic technology, especially those born between 1997 and 2003 who still remember flip phones, camcorders and other gadgets. their parents’ early 2000s electronics.
This age group also grew up with technology; As they mature, so do the devices. Many Gen Zs in this group didn’t get their first iPhone until they were 15, and that’s a iPhone 3G. Before that, many people had LG Slider or Blackberry Curve.
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On the other hand, most of the younger generation Z people received a smartphone when they were 10 years old. They were born in the age of smartphones and social media hunting algorithms. They can’t remember a time before modern iPhones and certainly can’t imagine a life without them.
I’d suggest Generation Z in their 20s and Generation Z in their teens and tweens have very different relationships with technology. And older Gen Z is the main group that is turning to their legacy technology to offload digital.
Paul Greenwood, head of research and insights at We Are Social, says these older Gen Zs are always on point. He told the BBC that when young people reach their 20s, they crave “the cultural underpinnings of youth.”
I wrote about the latest version of the famous Sony Walkman music player a few weeks ago. In that article, I said that Gen Z would consider buying this device because it fits the classic aesthetic many people strive to achieve.
I also mentioned that older generations may be interested in this device because of the nostalgic feeling the Walkman can evoke in children of the 60s, 70s and 80s. But from the feedback I have received about this device. In that article, it seems that older people don’t remember their Walkman enough to buy a modernized — and much more expensive — version of it.
But the reasons why I think Gen Z will be attracted to the digital Walkman don’t sit well with the older readers of the article. They say they have no problem abstaining from social media while listening to music. And they seem to enjoy the capabilities of current music streaming services when used with the connectivity of their smartphones.
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Presumably, the driving factors for mass unplugging that I described in the Walkman article — and in this section — are unique to Generation Z. This is the best way I can. relate Generation Z’s media overconsumption to Generation X: smartphones and social media are Generation Z’s TV and 24-hour news cycle for Gen X — but bad than.
Perhaps the older people may not feel doom scroll effect quite intensely or understand how accessing every piece of information that exists can be so damaging to one’s mental health? And maybe they don’t realize how alarming the experience of Gen Zs is loneliness, social isolation, cyber bullying, disrupted sleep patternsAnd legitimate addiction to their smartphonesIs it all due to the ubiquity of smartphones and social networks?
With all that said, I think it’s commendable that some Gen Zs realize that their overuse of technology is causing harm. Being glued to devices is a habit many young people get into and frankly they can even feel insecure.
So empower you, Gen Z. We believe in you.
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